billvoss
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Posts posted by billvoss
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Just found this model which predicts the last day each state can act to prevent overloading their hospital system. Take a quick peek at https://covidactnow.org/.
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On 3/19/2020 at 11:58 AM, Dan Foster said:
That said, all of humanity is in this together, and if social distancing is our best chance to buy some time and flatten the curve, it's counter-productive for everyone to be carving out reasons for why their group activity shouldn't count as a group activity.
I agree with Dan.
The stress is getting to me, and all my normal social gatherings and exercise outlets which help me manage stress have just become unavailable. I don't like thinking about a summer without rolling or surfing. However, I don't think group paddles would be a responsible alternative. Our generation has been called to sit on the couch. Lets not mess this up.
Solo paddling, especially on low-risk fresh water, is probably an option if and only if isolated put-ins are available.
If you really must paddle in a group, I suggest you form a small group of about four people who figure they will probably all either avoid or contract the disease as a group. Then paddle only with the people in that group until the restaurants are fully open again to limit the spread. Still try to maintain 6 foot spacing instead of presenting a bad example, but realize that spending lots of time together will still increase the chance or spreading disease.
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Great idea! Though I personally doubt I'll attend many if any sessions because of the 9am meeting time.
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Sadly I will not be able to attend this weekend. Our dog developed severe vestibular issues Wednesday, basically severe vertigo. For now I need to carry him down the stairs every time he needs to go out to use the doggy facilities. So for the moment I'm confined at home except for short trips immediately after taking the dog out.
Have fun without me.
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8 hours ago, prudenceb said:
Come to the NSPN pool sessions starting in January and we’ll spot you there, Bill!
Pru, what I need to figure out is how many pool practices I am up to attending per weekend, and pick which ones!
For December 2019 the choice was easy, Kevin is the only nearby show. For 2020 the choices are harder.
- AMC sessions in Nashua, NH about 15 minutes from my home some Saturdays at 6pm
- Kevin's sessions in Lowell about 30 minutes from my home most Sundays at 3:30pm.
- NSPN's sessions in Haverhill about 45 minutes from my home on various days scheduled by a morning person.
- and in past years when not injured I've also helped teach white water rolling with AMC Boston historically on Sunday evenings in March.
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I've signed up to practice on December 8th and 15th. I hope some of my NSPN friends will be there to spot me!
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My back is not sufficiently improved to play with kayaks today.
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According to CBS Boston Body Of Missing Cambridge Man Found In Walden Pond report dated September 9, 2109 at 1:19pm. So there is a good chance they will reopen the boat launch Tuesday. Though they haven't done so as I post this.
What they have done is moved the close time a half hour earlier. So they will be locking the boat ramp gate at 6:30pm assuming they reopen the boat launch. Which means we would have to get off the water around 6pm.
Unfortunately, I strained my back about an hour ago. I hope it will be all better by morning. However, my own ability to attend Tuesday has become uncertain.
Unless someone else posts before noon that they definitely want to go this Tuesday, I won't be taking a kayak to Walden or White's Pond tomorrow.
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I'm hoping someone else will also post they are coming, so I don't have to drive home during rush hour around 5pm Tuesday after working with my White-Water rolling student.
We might be meeting at White Pond this week (details in this old calendar entry) because Walden Pond is currently closed while police search for a missing man. Will decide which venue Tuesday based on https://twitter.com/waldenpondstate.
Though someone else can post an event for the following week if they wish, I will be out of town. By September 24th sunset will be 06:38:50 PM which will probably mean the NSPN Walden after work sessions are finished for 2019.
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If the weather forecast holds, around 5pm I'm expecting to practice with a rolling friend who hasn't been to Walden recently. Everyone is welcome to join us.
-Bill
I might also be working with a white-water rolling student before hand.
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Hi Ken,
Walden will soon start closing the gates earlier to stay ahead of the sunset. They will also close the beach and its building fairly soon for winter. They announce these changes on https://twitter.com/waldenpondstate. They will eventually close the boat ramp for winter, but I think the park itself is open year round. I recall one year a group of paddlers meet at Walden during Thanksgiving Weekend and carried our kayaks from main parking down to the pond to practice rolling because the boat ramp was closed for winter.
Dan Foster only added Walden to the calendar through today, which is traditional. Some years the NSPN sessions at Walden have continued into September on a week by week basis, often moving the start time earlier. It is very weather and interest dependent. You are a paid member, so you can start a trip thread asking if anyone wants to join you at Walden. The weather might cooperate. I might join you. Others might join you. Eventually nobody will respond, then nobody will post, then NSPN Walden is done for the season.
However, the water definitely cools off with the shorter days and colder nights. I will probably resume wearing my drysuit for comfort this week. Though it is certainly not required for safety yet.
-Bill
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Anyone expect to join me this Tuesday for the last Walden on the calendar for 2019?
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Since we are hijacking Joe's trip report today. I'll tell a personal scary rolling experience that I always relate to my beginning rolling students.
Back when I was trying to get my pool roll to work on the river, I took a rolling on the river training class. Most of the class was spent peeling out into a play spot, capsizing, rolling up. Below the play spot the current quickly smoothed out, and there were rescue paddlers standing by to assist. I missed my 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and perhaps 4th roll attempt before deciding I was out of air. From my laid back position I tried to sit up and reach the grab loop. Instead of reaching the loop my helmet hit the now shallow sandy bottom. The current was still fast, but the water was too shallow for me to reach the loop. I tried a second time, then switched to plan B. I grabbed the side of my spray skirt and got the skirt off the edge of the coaming. No air left to be fancy, I pushed down on the kayak with both hands like I was pulling off a pair of pants and felt myself leaving the kayak. My feet felt tangled in something, and I flutter kicked them until I was free and breathing that wonderful air. A rescue kayaker reached my kayak, righted it, and declared that my skirt was still on the kayak, which was news to both of us. I have never again worn a skirt with suspenders. I always make sure my beginner rolling students demonstrate they can pop their skirt without the grab loop, and I make sure they know it is possible to leave their skirt behind.
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Assuming the weather cooperates, I expect to work with a white water student until around 5pm, then join any NSPN participants who show up. As far as I can tell the DCR universal access program will not be reserving boat ramp parking next week, so returning the NSPN Walden event to Tuesdays.
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I'm sad about it, but lets skip this week.
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I don't see a second person definitely attending, but I do see a good chance of rain and thunder in the forecast for tomorrow. So I'm thinking about skipping this week. Anyone have a burning desire to go?
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Meeting Wednesday instead of Tuesday this week because we expect the DCR Universal Access program to reserve most of the boat ramp parking on Tuesday. Keep your fingers crossed on the weather.
Weather permitting, I should be finishing up with a former white water rolling student around 5pm, after which I'll join whom ever decides to show up from NSPN.
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I expect to be at Walden this Wednesday. I should be finishing up with a former white water rolling student around 5pm, at which time I'll join who ever decides to show up from NSPN.
We will probably be meeting at Walden on Wednesday next week as well because Walden is hosting a large group on Tuesday, before returning to the Tuesday schedule.
-Bill
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Wednesday, August 14th this week? Mainly because of the rain in the forecast, not because of the adaptive program.
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I did some web searching, and it may be less of an issue than we expected last night. Based on https://www.mass.gov/info-details/adaptive-program-schedule#kayak-with-waypoint-adventure-
QuoteBeginners of all ages at Walden Pond State Reservation, Concord
Tuesday, July 16: 5 p.m.–7 p.m.
Tuesday, July 30: 1 p.m.–3 p.m.
Tuesday, Aug 6: 5 p.m.–7 p.m.
Tuesday, Aug 13: 1 p.m.–3 p.m.
Tuesday, Aug 20: 3 p.m.–5 p.m.
Walden Pond State Reservation, Concord Introductory level
Tuesday, July 16: 2 p.m.–4 p.m.
Tuesday, Aug 6: 2 p.m.–4 p.m.
Tuesday, Aug 13: 10 a.m.–12 p.m.
Tuesday, Aug 20: 12 p.m.–2 p.m.
Unless I missed a listing, it looks like the adaptive program is supposed to end around 3pm on August 13th, and 5pm on August 20th. Even allowing them time to cleanup, it looks like only August 20th is likely to impact us.
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Looks like at least 3 this week. See everyone there.
Bill
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I haven’t wet my paddle since September 12th, 2018. This coming Tuesday I hope to wet my paddle, kayak, and head with Walden Pond water. Afterwards I hope to enjoy dinner with friends at Comella’s.
I’m not leading anything for NSPN or AMC at this time. However, I do want to show up to see old and new friends, and I am willing to sign an NSPN waiver as a participant if someone else brings the waiver.
For those unaware, I’ve been out with a back injury. I’m certainly not entirely recovered, but I do now have medical clearance to resume all activities.
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You probably want a helmet that meets standard CE EN 1385 CLASS I/IV – Helmets for canoeing and white-water sports. As far as I know there is no separate Sea Kayaking specific standard.
Personally I've settled on the Sweet Protection Strutter helmet mainly because it fits my swollen head better than any other helmet I've tried. It was in fact the only helmet Zoar had in stock half a decade or so ago that I could comfortably fit on my head. Obviously your head is probably slightly different in size from my head.
Personally I'm glad the Strutter doesn't have drain/vent holes because I occasionally use it as an impromptu bucket to dump water, usually over myself to cool off. Lack of holes also prevents the sunburn stripes that some of the very well ventilated bicycle helmets I've owned in the past are prone to allow.
Sadly, I must also advise you to only purchase helmets from reputable merchants. Apparently fake helmets which look like the real thing but don't perform like the real thing have become an issue. For example this recent NPR report about bicycle helmets, and this Youtube Motorcycle Helmet example.
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2 hours ago, Jim Snyder said:
Maybe it's my technique.
When I was training as a drysuit scuba driver, they taught me to use my hands to pull the opening wider as though it was a rubber band before pulling my head through when putting the suit on or taking if off. They said the latex has lots of stretch available in that direction compared to the minimal stretch available in the other direction. They did NOT want students ripping their rental suit's neck gasket!
This NRS YouTube video calls that "widening the opening with your hands:"
Is it possible to have group day paddles and maintain social distance?
in General Message Board
Posted
For a lot more detail on society's options this is a great article: https://medium.com/@tomaspueyo/coronavirus-the-hammer-and-the-dance-be9337092b56