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This thread is to discuss Plan-B options for the few times each year Walden reaches capacity and closes on a Wednesday. My ideal Plan-B: Is very close to Walden for last minute redirects. Has generous easy free parking. Has clean deep water making it rolling and rescue friendly. Is friendly to late arrivals. Bathrooms are highly desirable. Does NOT have invasive plants. August 9th, 2017 Walden closed for the second Wednesday this summer, so I paddled with Dan on the Concord river. It was a very nice 2 hour and 15 minute paddle. A 7 minute (9 to 16 minutes at rush hour) drive from Walden makes it a very good last minute option. The put-in is free with plenty of street parking. However, it does have invasive plants, it was shallow (I scraped bottom at least 5 times), and water quality was suspect making it neither rolling nor rescue friendly. Within a few minutes of launching, paddlers are also out of sight of the boat ramp, making it less than friendly for late arrivals. Driving to the put-in, I discovered the Concord Visitor Center has some public bathrooms a few minutes away. The put-in itself lacks bathrooms, but is sufficiently wooded and private for improvised solutions. Google Maps describes the put-in as 181-299 Lowell Rd, Concord, MA 01742. White Pond is also close. An 8 minute (10 to 16 minutes at rush hour) drive from Walden. However, AMC Boston’s White-Water paddlers have their pond social there on Wednesdays. That means a crowded boat ramp where we should be extra polite, we can drop kayaks but cannot park. We have to park at the school a couple of blocks away which is a walk, but is also free parking. The pond is rolling and rescue friendly. Practice would take place right at the put-in so it is very friendly to late arrivals. We would put-in right next to a PRIVATE members only swim beach. Technically non-members are not supposed to use the beach restrooms, and there is not enough privacy for improvised solutions. Though I have heard of people getting permission from life-guards to use the restrooms. I have also seen the restrooms closed and locked. I do not know the current invasive plant status of White Pond. The AMC Boston group often goes to a local pizza place afterwards, if we are friendly we would probably be welcome to join them. Google Maps describes the put-in as 5B Plainfield Rd, Concord, MA 01742, the school where we would park is Willard Elementary. Some other options were discussed in the weekly July 19th thread after the first Wednesday Walden closed this summer. The Upper Mystic lake in Arlington/Winchester/Medford was interesting until I saw that Google estimates the rush hour drive on Wednesday from Walden to Mystic at 24 to 50 minutes. Unfortunately, the traffic tends to get worse the closer we get to Boston. Does everyone like the idea that if Walden closes on Wednesday we go with Plan-B even if Walden reopens in the afternoon? If we go with that plan and Walden closes before noon, we could probably relax the "Is very close to Walden for last minute redirects" ideal if there is a much more attractive Plan-C option. Anyone have any other Walden alternative suggestions? Any strong preferences among the Plan-B/Plan-C options?

After cancelling for weather last week, I'm definitely looking forward to visiting Walden this week. The forecast currently looks nice for this Wednesday. I'll plan to arrive around 4pm assuming someone else posts they want to join me. Same plan B as last week. If sometime this Wednesday Walden tweets that they are closed, this week's plan B experiment is the Lowell Rd boat ramp which Google Maps describes as 181-299 Lowell Rd, Concord, MA 01742, about a 7 minute drive from Walden Pond which was discussed in this previous Walden thread. Basically, if I see online before I leave that Walden has closed even if they plan to reopen, or if I find myself locked out of Walden when I arrive, I'm heading to the Lowell Rd boat ramp hoping to find a friendly face joining me there. Otherwise I will enjoy Walden's waters. If you haven't attended before, see the NSPN Calendar Entry for other useful details.

We had a great time last week at Walden. The forecast looks good if a little hot for this Wednesday. I'll plan to arrive around 4pm assuming someone else posts they want to join me. With a predicted high of 89 degrees Walden may be very popular this Wednesday. So same plan B as last week. If sometime this Wednesday Walden tweets that they are closed, this week's plan B experiment is the Lowell Rd boat ramp which Google Maps describes as 181-299 Lowell Rd, Concord, MA 01742, about a 7 minute drive from Walden Pond which was discussed in this previous Walden thread. Basically, if I see online before I leave that Walden has closed even if they plan to reopen, or if I find myself locked out of Walden when I arrive, I'm heading to the Lowell Rd boat ramp hoping to find a friendly face joining me there. Otherwise I will enjoy Walden's waters where Dan has assured me: If you haven't attended before, see the NSPN Calendar Entry for other useful details.

The weather odds look excellent for Wednesday. I'll plan to arrive around 4pm assuming someone else posts they want to join me. If sometime this Wednesday Walden tweets that they are closed, this week's plan B experiment is the Lowell Rd boat ramp which Google Maps describes as 181-299 Lowell Rd, Concord, MA 01742, about a 7 minute drive from Walden Pond which was discussed in last week's Walden thread. Basically, if I see online before I leave that Walden has closed even if they plan to reopen, or if I find myself locked out of Walden when I arrive, I'm heading to the Lowell Rd boat ramp hoping to find a friendly face joining me there. Otherwise I will enjoy Walden's waters where Dan has assured me: If you haven't attended before, see the NSPN Calendar Entry for other useful details.

My husband and I would like to attend. We have new boats and have never done self rescue before, so we would really appreciate some help and encouragement! Although I know it's important to learn, I am feeling quite timid about the whole thing. Is anyone else coming?

The weather odds look good for Wednesday. I'll plan to arrive around 4pm assuming someone else posts they want to join me. I think there is a good chance we will get to Ooh and Aah over Peter's new Gearlab paddle. So this week's Walden is also a Gearlab Rendezvous! Bring your Gearlab or at least Greenland style paddle if you own one. As always everyone is welcome, even if they don't use a Greenland paddle. If you haven't attended before, see the NSPN Calendar Entry for useful details.

Anyone want to join me this Wednesday on Walden Pond? (Note: Jane is traveling this week.) I could get there as early as 4pm, or as late as 5pm.

Weather is looking good! If another person posts they are going, the event is on. (Unless the rangers close the park.)

Last Wednesday some attendees made tentative plans to go out for dinner afterwards this week. Totally optional, but consider yourself invited to join us afterwards. I don't currently have any schedule conflicts, and dinner makes it even more tempting. I'm currently waiting on a more reliable weather forecast before I commit. However you can certainly attend without me. If two people post they are going, the event is on. I don't have to be one of the paddlers attending. Bill

The forecast looks good for this Wednesday. My default arrival time is 5pm, but I'm also open to arriving around 4pm if others prefer. 4pm certainly worked well last week. I plan to be there if someone else posts they will be joining me.

Pond rolling resumes at Walden! If you haven’t attended before, see the calendar entry for logistical details. Last fall we adopted the policy that unless at least two people post their intention to attend, the session will be considered canceled. That way hopefully no one will show up and find themselves alone. I hope to attend the vast majority of sessions, and I certainly hope to see lots of old and new faces there again this year. Come have some fun! If you are attending the 5/31/2017 session, please reply to this thread. (Weather forecast permitting, I hope to post GOING next Tuesday.)

NOAA currently predicts "mostly sunny, with a high near 80." If someone else will also commit to be there, I plan to drag myself to Walden for some rolling despite such a dismal forecast. :-) I would suggest we either arrive around 2pm and leave around 5pm if we want steady air temperatures, or arrive around 3pm and depart around 6pm if we want less traffic on the way home. I'll let the first person who commits to join me pick between the 2pm and 3pm arrival times.

I'm back in town, and looking forward to Walden again this Wednesday afternoon. I plan to be there assuming someone else also posts that they are going. I can be flexible about time, getting there around 2pm, 3pm, 4pm,... Next person to post can pick. I believe the Walden boat ramp gate is now locked at 6:30pm. So plan on getting off the water by 6pm at the latest. By now drysuits are definitely recommended for comfort. Though we will probably still see a few swimmers without even a wetsuit.

Some paddlers are planning to meet at Walden this Wednesday arriving at 3:30pm for rolling, rescues, etc. Everyone is welcome. I'm not sure yet if I personally will be there, I'm recovering from a sprained wrist. I believe the boat ramp gate is now closing at 7pm, which pretty much means off the water by 6:30pm. Though there is a good chance the 3:30pm group won't last quite that long.

This Wednesday is the final 2016 after work summer session I put on the calendar. Hope to see you there. I'm also open to joining Walden afternoon sessions in September. Post or PM me if you want to set something up.

Walden resumes this Wednesday! I sure hope to have some company. For further details see the NSPN Walden Calendar entry.

Would anyone care to join me this Wednesday for lunch and/or Star Trek and/or Kayak Rolling? I'm going to lunch around noon at http://bigfreshfood.com/dineinmenu.html at 50 Worcester Rd, Framingham, MA 01702 • (508) 879-7000. Then down the road to Jordan's to see Star Trek Beyond at Jordon's Natick IMAX the Star Trek Beyond 3D showing on Wednesday 7/27/2016 1:30 PM (Total Amount due is $14.75) at 1 Underprice Way, Natick, MA 01760 After the movie I'll head to Walden pond for some rolling. If Walden is closed when I get there ( https://twitter.com/waldenpondstate ) and not opening by 5pm, I'll head over and join the Boston AMC White Water paddlers social at White Pond ( drop kayak at boat ramp, park at school ) instead.

Any diehards up for rolling at Walden this Wednesday, 4-6pm? means you, BillV Temp. supposed be in 80's YongS