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Jim Snyder

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  1. I'm including the link to the trip here as context. Some of this report might not make sense otherwise: We were myself, Fred Goodwin, Sandy Blanchard, Jeff Charette, Shari Gallant, Bob Levine, Janice Cotton and Ben Rechel. We started under cloudy skies and calm winds but were aware of the possibility of a shower or even a little thunderstorm in the afternoon. We had come prepared with a stand up paddleboard for the barrel retrieval. I couldn't convince anyone to paddle it to Little Misery so we set off with it in tow. Arriving at Little Misery, we found the barrel right where we had left it, but with a few added trash items. The shipwreck was as exposed as I've ever seen it. We spent a little time planning for its exfiltration (the barrel, not the shipwreck) and then left the sup and started the crossing to Bakers. As per our arrangement, I called the lighthouse caretakers, Jack and Beth, from the water to alert them of our arrival time. Jack met us on the rocky beach and gave us an excellent tour of the facility which is now owned by Essex Heritage. https://essexheritage.org/explore/bakers-island-light-station/ After a nice lunch on the beach and very nice weather developing we decided to circumnavigate Bakers before returning to our barrel project. Even with the small swell, the outside of Bakers provided spectacular rocks and an occasional thrill. Next on our itinerary was the barrel. After much discussion and some shenanigans we arrived at a shipment method and prepared to launch from Little Misery. There was some discussion about Bob maybe accompanying the barrel on the return trip but about this time we notice the sky darkening significantly over Misery and decided we needed to get serious. A check of the radar showed a problematic cell over Beverly Farms and headed our way. Bob headed out with barrel in tow but soon it started pouring and some thunder forced us to take shelter in a cove on the north side of Misery with our final destination in sight. Consulting the radar once again, we determined we had a window of opportunity to race back to West Beach. The West Beach personnel had graciously offered to take care of the final dispensation of the barrel and contents if we survived the crossing, which was good since we hadn't quite figured out that part of the plan. Thanks to everyone who made this a fun trip and to Fred and Janice for sharing pictures!
  2. This trip is full. Pease contact me if your plans change or if you'd like to be added to a wait list.
  3. Others may disagree but I think shorter notice trips taking advantage of good conditions don't really belong on the calendar. There is a post pinned to the trips forum describing how to get notifications. People looking for trip opportunities should follow there.
  4. I am starting a fresh thread for this trip now that the date has been established so people following will be notified. Early forecasting looks mild, we will be launching from West Beach on the last day of non resident availability. The leadup planning is here: Contact me by any means (I even answer my phone) If you'd like to come and I'll start a group signup and message.
  5. The Bakers Island Light Station is now owned by Essex Heritage and they have volunteer keepers during the summer who welcome visitors. This trip will also include a mission to complete the recovery of a barrel that is resting on Little Misery, and perhaps a little island hopping beyond Bakers. More background here: Contact me by any means if interested, I will start a group message.
  6. Gary, thanks for this nudge and offer. For the record, some of us planning day trips don't use the calendar but post trips on the forum only. I have a trip next weekend to Bakers Island Light, am hoping to soon schedule one soon to the now open rescue station on Wood, and as in years past will be planning trips to Isles of Shoals and Ogunquit.
  7. Conditions for Friday and Saturday are predicted to be pretty quiet as of now. We're still waiting on a plan from the CRE.
  8. I will be scheduling this trip for next Friday, 6/9 or Saturday, 6/10, from West Beach. Final decision to be made as forecast gets shorter and depending somewhat on participant availability. The trip will include lunch on Bakers Island and an invited visit and tour of Bakers Island Light Station courtesy of Essex Heritage. https://essexheritage.org/explore/bakers-island-light-station/ Ricardo, as CRE, please let me know if my sup is needed. I'm a little nervous about trying to bring it and a kayak. We also need a volunteer RE, Recovery Engineer, to be prepared for disposition of the barrel once back on shore. Please indicate your interest in participating here, including which day works for you, and I will start a group message next week.
  9. To remove your name from the event, click on the calendar listing. Under where it says "You are going" click on "leave event".
  10. I think my SUP might make the best barge, and people might have fun playing with it too.
  11. This trip is now planned for the week of June 5, pending conditions. I expect to be able to schedule a tour of the Baker Island Light during that week. The original BOB reports that he has visited the barrel and added some trash to it which will complicate the recovery. I'd like to nominate Ricardo as Chief Recovery Engineer, henceforth referred to as the CRE.
  12. I have a stand up paddleboard I could bring, someone might want to paddle it too...
  13. I didn't see this part but I think Shari Gallant might have been present...
  14. I've contacted the NSA for recent imagery and it's still there as of 15:00et. If we drill out the bottom for towing it might affect our ability to repurpose the barrel. I heard Mike might want it for a rain barrel...
  15. On a day in late April a group of paddlers to remain nameless launched a non-club trip out of West Beach in Beverly. On the return from a probably ill-advised stop on Baker's Island we encountered flotsam. It was a 55 gallon plastic drum with no lid. One of our group decided that could not stand and decided to try to tow it out. As one who accidentally towed a helmet several miles I can only imagine what it was like towing a mostly submerged drum. The rest of the group formed up in the Misery gut to lounge around telling stories waiting for bucket boy to catch up but eventually decided that wasn't happening and retraced our strokes to look for him. We found him just outside the gut paddling hard but going almost nowhere. After some debate about what to do and realizing there was no discouraging him from relocating the barrel, a plan emerged. I put a tow on the barrel tow-er, who from here on I'll call BOB (barrel on beach), but even with both of us we were making little progress. Then suddenly my boat surged forward! Looking back I saw BOB had gone rogue. He had the barrel on a long rope and was swimming for Little Misery. He managed to fetch up on shore with a little slack still in the rope and proceeded to reel it in like a 400 pound fish. Once on shore he was able to empty it and drag it up to high ground where if man or tides or storms haven't intervened it remains weeks later. If you were there and feel I've exaggerated or left anything out or care to embellish feel free. But I say we have to go back to Baker's, this time as invited guests, then rescue the barrel from Little Misery, bring it back to West Beach and see to it that it is recycled properly. We have a window of opportunity approaching to accomplish this. I can arrange a visit to Baker's Island Light after Memorial Day and we can park at West Beach until June 10th. That gives us 12 days to choose from. The biggest challenge may be to plan for getting the barrel from Little Misery to the beach either lashed to a back deck or maybe to an improvised platform between two boats. We also need to plan for disposition of the barrel. Obviously you needn't have been on the original trip to join this mission but hopefully some will. Post here if you want to join, or if you have suggestions about the barrel. Details to follow!
  16. If you were looking for thrills and challenges, this trip would have disappointed you. It was a beautiful chilly spring day though. We were Prudence Baxter, Richard Blais, David Mercer, Fred Goodman and myself. We started out of Odiorne with a light off shore breeze and a pretty flat ocean, headed for Rye Harbor. This stretch of coast has the potential for a lot of rock play in the reefs and decent surfing but today's swell was barely noticeable. Lunch just inside the breakwater at Rye. .. Amazingly on the return Dave and I managed to catch a ride on the wave of the day at Wallis Sands on the way home. Sadly, no picture.
  17. Reaching out to cancelled Jewell Islanders to join us on Thursday.
  18. This trip is on as planned. I will start a group message later for those who indicated interest here. Let me know if you'd like to be added.
  19. The updated forecast has a 15kt wind picking up onshore after noon. I'll keep an eye on this and see which way it's trending.
  20. While it's better to get these scars while challenging the rocks, I would ignore this and keep paddling. I assume you can't see it from the cockpit. Could you expand on what's involved with "being bullish with my trolley"?
  21. Tentative plan to island hop outside the mouth of the Piscataqua but final route to be determined by participants. Predicted conditions: Air temperatures in the low 60s Water temperature low 50s Winds under 10 kts Seas 1' 10 second High tide 10:58 am at Jaffrey Point, spring tide Drysuits required. Please indicate interest here and I'll start a group message for the trip.
  22. Another beautiful spring day on the water. We were Barbara Ryan, Jody Harris, John Harkey, David Mercer and myself. The current was helping in both directions in the harbor, especially on the flood returning. It always amazes me how much fun around the rocks can result from small long period swell. Lunch in a peaceful Brave Boat, no surfing today. IMG_4144.MOV
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