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I thoroughly enjoyed your trip report, Pru! Thank you so much for sharing!

Congratulations, Cathy!

Never mind - I thought this was for Sunday - misread the date and can't do today.

Rob - My day has unexpectedly freed up - can I join you tomorrow? If so, I will p.m. you a float plan.

Congratulations, Mel!

In reading your reply to Warren - no paddling skills were taught, per se. You had to already have rescue skills to participate - the "class" was a chance for you to go out and try different rescue skills in bigger conditions with someone who had the experience to help you if you got in trouble. There was a little instruction about entering currents and ferrying across a current, though.

Josko, Several years ago, after I had been kayaking for a few years, had good flat water rescue skills and somewhat of a roll, I saw a one day class offered by AMC NH that was titled something like "ocean skills" or "rough water skills." - something along those lines. It was geared to people who already could do rescues, but wanted to and were ready to go out on the ocean and try their skills in rougher water under the guidance of skilled paddlers. The class also offered an introduction to currents, and touched on the very basics of charts and navigation. The class was held off of Portsmouth with skills practiced In Little Harbor, around the Wentworth bridge and off of Whaleback Light (we had nice 2+ ft. chop to play in,) and it was very well attended. Having that exposure boosted the confidence of the people attending and for some lessened the fear of paddling on the ocean. For me, I had already been paddling on the ocean, but in pretty much protected areas. This is class ignited the fire learn more, ramp up the skills, and push the comfort zone. I feel that a class like this is so valualble in bringing paddlers to the next level. There are many paddlers, in NSPN and in the several large paddling Meetup Groups in our area, who can do rescues and have some decent equipment, and who would love to try sea kayaking, but are a little intimidated. They paddle with group of friends and all have similar skill sets; they have no one with the experience to take them to the next level. The AMC class was advertised on several Meetup sites and there was a fee to take the class. AMC membership was not required. Unfortunately, the class was not offered again after I took it, and the sea kayaking component of the NH chapter has faded away. The class was a nice stepping stone from the world of L2 paddling to the world of L3 and beyond and to more formalized training and lessons. It might be an idea to start with something like this and then tie some trips to it. Something to think about. Liz

I heard back from her several hours after my initial email and received registration forms, etc. and a request for a deposit. I contacted her at the email address in Janice's first post: nzane@unity.edu

I am planning to attend - I am dire need of water therapy and will happily don bunny ears to get some!

I am thinking of looking for an inexpensive, no-frills motel.

As of last night, Bass Pro Shop had the glove attachment online for $14.99 and there was a code for free shipping - lowest price I saw.

Didn't know there was a glove attachment - will have to look into it.

I have been using a Peet dryer for the past several years for winter gear as well as kayaking boots and gloves and love it. The neoprene gloves do take longer to dry than the boots and I find I have to position them just right to allow for good air flow. It is nice to have dry, odor free gear.

Seems to me I have paddled there in Nov and found the gate closed. Tried to find something on line, but was unsuccessful.

Pru, I have not been there recently, but there is a chance that the state park launch at Odiorne is closed for the season. Is this where you were thinking of launching? There is a small launch across the creek from it, but it will only accommodate 3 - 4 cars. Pierce Island launch is open all year. Thoughts?

I would love to join you - name the time and place and I'll be there!

Pru!! I can't wait to see you again! I may have to make a run to NJ to check in on my Dad next weekend, but if I don't go, I would love to join you on the water

Sorry - this auto thing drives me nuts!! I meant to type Josko!

Josip, I have a Cetus LV and will be paddling it Sat. i am happy to swap kayaks so Mel can test drive it.

I would love to join you!

Count me in for some practice . . . I have been known to be prone to head lacerations and hypothermia from time to time! ?

Congratulations, Warren!

Awesome! Congratulations!

It was around this time that I got a concerned email from David's wife Donna asking me if I had been keeping tabs on David's SPOT broadcasts. I said I had, but hadn't looked at the website that day. When I looked, I noticed that David had been off the grid for many hours after having regular checkins up till then. Donna and I began speculating about the cause of this and I decided to check the weather. I saw that there was significant weather in the area and we concluded that it was interfering with the SPOT broadcasts. Around 11 pm, much to our delight, David appeared back on the grid and Donna was relieved to be able to get a good night's sleep. However, the next day brought very sporadic checkins with the locator showing up in random places on both the land and water all over the area. Donna and I came up with all the kinds of scenarios that would cause David and his SPOT to show up in the random locations. Our favorite one was that the group had finally met the dreaded bears, the object of lots of dicsussion prior to the trip. The random broadcasts were not the weather, but the group being pursued by the bears and running and paddling for their lives! Once the weather settled, the checkins went back to their regular pattern. We watched the group's progress as they took to the water again, and Donna could breathe a little easier!

Glad you and Dave are back and that the trip was such a wonderful experience. Can't wait to hear all about it!