rossjb1

S WINDS 10 TO 15 KT. GUSTS UP TO 20 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS 3 TO 5 FT. PATCHY DENSE FOG IN THE MORNING. A CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND TSTMS IN THE AFTERNOON. SOME TSTMS MAY PRODUCE GUSTY WINDS...SMALL HAIL AND HEAVY RAINFALL IN THE AFTERNOON. VSBY 1 NM OR LESS IN THE MORNING. Hmmmm..... On second thought! Well if a drastic change in the weather happens then I'm game.

Just back from fresh water paddling in upstate NY and in need of some saltwater. Thinking about something local. Manchester, Cape Ann, etc. anyone interested? I'm open for ideas.

Big swells! Loads of fun! Ross

"Interesting analysis" hmmm...sounds like a polite way of saying that I'm off a little. Yes tomorrow we'll see. Stay tuned. Ross

Well it looks as if high tide is at around 2:10. swell (I think) is heading northwesterly. Your big "but" (see above "NOAA says 2-4', but") is making me thinks Will the tide be pushing those swells in making for more than a "little" ocean swell at around noon? Dave, am I on the right track here? We'll be heading out around 10:00 so I will keep that in mind and be careful. We'll see tomorrow. Dave thanks for the post. Ross

Tucks Point in Manchester everyone. Laura I got your message late if your interested give a call 914-489-2673 Ross W WINDS AROUND 5 KT...BECOMING S IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS 2 TO 4 FT. AREAS OF DRIZZLE AND PATCHY FOG IN THE MORNING WITH VSBY 1 TO 3 NM. I think its going to be a good day on the water a dreary, foggy, drizzly, a little ocean swell. Perfect New England paddling weather!

Great! You know gainful employmnent is overrated anyway. Of course I am lucky, being a teacher I have summers off. 9:30 is Fine Ross

Dana and I are planning on launching from Tucks point@ 10:00 to explore the Islands. Nothing too strenuous (L3 paddle). We'll probably play around in some of the rocks, work on skills, boat handling etc. Ross

I've got Thursday off so I was thinking about heading out for a level 3 or possibly level 4 paddle. Something around Manchester (L3) or possibly circumnav Cape Ann (L4). I'm open for ideas. Put them up here, we can come to a consensus and then repost the definitive trip. Ross

Sorry Gene but I couldn't resist.

Ty I didn't know what ROTFLMAO meant so I googled it and got the Urban Dictionary. Sorry brother but this is what came up.... 3. ROTFLMAO A chatroom abbreviation used mainly by imbeciles, usually in response to something mildly, often very mildly, amusing. People who use this type of shorthand should be avoided like the Spanish flu. I would've married her, but I found out that she goes into chatrooms and uses shorthand like LOL and ROTFLMAO. Therefore, I broke off our engagement and changed the locks to my apartment. I'll really have to think hard about any future trips with you. No seriously, I look forward to paddling with you again Ross

Excellent! Looks like the club is back to its normal important and pressing issues. Ross (Not to say the past few days issues were'nt important also)

Hey Heidi, where did you get that cool little toilet monster from?! I want one for my post! Ross

"Maybe those who went together on this trip should get together for a beer, dinner, walk in the park, etc... and debrief. A face to face discussion is almost always easier and more helpful than discussions in cyber space." Hey how about we all go out on another paddle!!!? Wait.... on second thought maybe we should just go out for a beer. We'll be sure to use the bathroom in pairs.

I'm leaving right now be there 'tween 5:30-6 Ross

"write your message. go get a beer. if you still want to post it after the beer is gone, go ahead and do it, otherwise delete." YES.... Jeff I remember reading this post and have been thinking about it, great advice. Tyson thank you for researching and finding it. This should be the golden rule for all of us. If beer isn't your pleasure then have some milk and cookies. Just step away from the computer for a little while. Ross

Gillian, I am hoping that you are not suggesting that those of us on this trip threw safety, planning, and fellowship "out the window".

No, I didn't take it as bashing at all, just staying involved in the discussion to avoid future incidents such as this. Wanted to clarify what happened and detailing the steps that we took afterward especially since I posted the trip. Of course this is a learning experience for all of us. Ross

Heres what happened from my perspective, it was known that Gene had headed back to shore. When we arrived back at the put-in (approximately 3:30?) Tom noticed that his car was still parked next to his. From that point on we were determined to wait until his return (thanks Deb). We scanned the water while others drove up the hill for a better view but there was still no sign of him. A returning kayaker as well as a tri-yaking couple had not seen him either. We received info from Ipswich police that a kayaker was being assisted on the beach. We waited a short while longer, wrote a note with mine and Tom’s numbers on it, placed it on his car, then headed out for ice cream just outside of town. Rob and I returned to Ipswich, checked in with the police who informed us that the Kayaker being assisted was OK. Rob and I then headed back to the put in to see if we could assist Gene upon his return (helping with boat etc.). Still no sign of him. We waited but finally decided there was really nothing more we could do at that point. I returned to the police station to make sure that we were talking about the same kayaker. They referred me to the CG. I called the CG at 6:00 and got confirmation that it was indeed Gene and the he was OK. I offered my assistance to drive him and his boat back to the put-in but they informed me that his wife was picking him up. I drove into Newburyport on my way home and passed by the CG station. (I naively thought that I could “pop†in to see if he was OK, of course the place was fenced off with lots of imposing fences and no trespassing signs). It seems that the incident could have been avoided had Gene been accompanied back to shore with at least 1-2 other people. But I do now have questions about the groups responsibility to a paddler who decides to head back or to leave the group. Perhaps this is where the person heading back as well as his/her fellow paddlers need to take responsibility. “I need to head back and would like someone to accompany†or “I will accompany you until a point when I can visually see you safely landing at the beach or put inâ€. I would also like to point out that the CAM system needs some tweeking but to some extent it did work. We noticed a fellow paddler who stated he would be returning to shore had not returned. After that we waited and then proceeded to make every effort to find him (visually searching and calling on the radio) and then alerted authorities of the situation. We followed through until we were certain that he was safe. I am keeping abreast of these postings so that I will know how to avoid this type of situation again either as a "trip initiator" or one who simply joins an already posted trip. Ross Gene, this could have happened to anyone of us at some point in our paddling careers. Its good that it is helping us to work out the kinks of the CAM system.

Yes Great Day Great Paddle! Everyone home safe and sound! Ross

Yes Gene meet at 11:00. I stopped writing BIB times because whenever I did it seemed I was always the last one to get there making people wait while I got my BIMB. (Butt in my boat) I don't do well with commitments. A reformed hippie I am Ross

Tyson, do you want to borrow a boat? I have an extra. Ross

I reposted this trip... Pavilion Beach, Ipswich 6/13 @11:00. Yes Tyson you are welcome to come. Thanks for checking though, see you there! Ross

Heres what we decided... Pavilion Beach Ipswich @11:00. Level 3 Trip, maybe a little surf on the ocean side of beach some current through channel. We could do a circumnav. or meander along the beach if we get lucky and there is some surf. We'll decide as we go. See you there! Ross