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  1. This AMC trip consisted of three paid NSPN members, myself, @Joyce Carpenter, and @Frederick Goodman. You could say this all started in 2019 when I foolishly proposed moving Walden Wednesdays to Tuesdays, and thus @Joseph Berkovitz started the Wednesday Lunch paddles instead of the Tuesday Lunch paddles. Fast forward to Monday June 19th, 2023 when my optometrist unexpectedly changed my appointment date to this Friday, forcing me to withdraw from the only paddle on my schedule for the week. Let me repeat that, I now had NO PADDLES ON MY SCHEDULE THIS WEEK! Desperate times call for desperate measures, I would just have to get up 8 hours early and drive through at least 10 hours of Greater Boston's stop-and-(occasionally)-go traffic to attend Joe's Wednesday Lunch paddle. So I went to NSPN.org for this week's details, where I discovered there was NO Wednesday paddle on the NSPN Calendar for June 21st! I'm not proud of it, but I must admit I panicked. After paddling twice last week, I couldn't contemplate a week without paddling. Especially with such gorgeous weather in the forecast. So I caved, and submitted an AMC sea kayak trip for approval. I did retain some sanity. I didn't want to lead a bunch of recreational kayak paddlers who get their rolls at a bakery or Chinese restaurant. I wanted experienced companions who do their own due diligence, like checking the weather forecast before signing up for a trip. Basically NSPNers used to the CAM trip model. So I carefully crafted my AMC trip listing and submitted it for AMC approval. Then in accordance with my memory of discussions dating back to @PeterB's reign as NSPN president, I started a thread about my AMC trip listing under "Commercial Classifieds and Events Sponsored Externally to NSPN." The official AMC listing read: The plan was to launch around 11:00 AM from Fort Stark. All three of us arrived by 10:15 AM. Nobody had encountered any rush hour traffic. Parking was free. There were two porta-pottys on site. The sandy rocky beach was free of silty muck, and launching just inside the Little Harbor breakwater gave a protected launch site with immediate access to the ocean. With railroad if not military precision, the first of us launched just after 11:00 AM and 3 seconds, and the last of us had launched before 11:00 AM and 25 seconds. All of us were wearing dry suits and helmets. Fred and Joyce were also wearing tow belts in case they had to tow me home. Despite my AMC disclaimer "you MAY paddle in high winds and large waves," if one had checked the NWS forecast Monday or Tuesday, they would have expected that the water and air temperatures would be around 60 degrees, with "Variable winds 5 kt or less. Mostly sunny. Seas 1 to 2 ft" all of which proved true. We would eventually encounter what recreational boaters consider very large waves. NSPNers call them boat wakes. Sadly, conditions were too calm for surfing or rock play. Immediately after leaving Little Harbor, with no discussion needed, we crossed the busy shipping channel between Jaffrey Point and Whaleback Light. However, it was a Wednesday with light winds and very little boat traffic. So we didn't see a single vessel that could plausibly intersect our course to the light house. During the crossing we shared our "how we got into kayaking" stories. (My first time in a sit-inside kayak was September 7th, 2009. My first roll was two days later. See my NSPN profile for more details.) After the light house we turned toward Fort Foster, named after a recent NSPN president, seeking a lunch spot. The first sites were too crowded for our tastes, but just before the private houses start we found a nearly deserted spot which featured our choice of a bench in the shade, or a picnic table in the sun, both with a beautiful view of a gorgeous day. We ate lunch sharing the bench while enjoying the view, and the clear blue skies. We discussed at lunch where else we wanted to paddle. Fred suggested going to Brave Boat Harbor which received unanimous consent. After lunch we headed up the coast. I floated the idea that we could circumnavigate Gerrish if we wanted, since we would probably arrive at Brave Boat Harbor near high tide. Both other participants warmed my heart by indicating they would rather return via the exposed coast. We continued along the coast, when suddenly, with no prompting from me, Fred declared that he wanted to roll to cool off. As LEADER, I immediately declared a brief roll practice, after which we continued on seeking Brave Boat Harbor. Shortly after passing the statue of a whale tail, we came upon and entered Brave Boat Harbor itself. Before landing there was another roll practice, making this the paddle where everyone capsized, albeit intentionally. We landed briefly for stretching, and other necessities. I discovered a toy Yellow Submarine. Then we carried on a conversation with a passing paddle boarder who urged us to circumnavigate Gerrish. We indicated that all of us had previously done the circumnavigation, but preferred heading back via the coast this time. Refreshed and stretched, we launched and retraced our steps, though this time into the wind. Admittedly, it was a less than 5 knot variable wind. Around the time we reached Fort Foster, we were overtaken by a kayaker wearing a cotton shirt paddling a long plastic kayak with a rudder. We exchanged pleasantries and went our separate ways. From Fort Foster we continued to Wood Island were workers were installing or adjusting a door handle when we arrived. After a brief stop we continued to red buoy number 2. We checked traffic in both directions, and headed across. This time a distant sailboat might perhaps theoretically have intersected our path had it maintained its original heading. However, it soon altered course, probably before even seeing us on the water. For variety, we tried landing on the outside of Fort Stark, instead of going into Little Harbor. Doing so saved us a little bit of paddling, and the walk to the cars was a little shorter. However, that boulder strewn walk was definitely more challenging than the beach and lawn walk from Little Harbor to the parking lot. We landed at 3:54 PM, for a total of four hours and fifty four minutes from start to finish. After playing around a little bit with FloatingTrails, I calculate we paddled a bit more than nine nautical miles. It was a long but very enjoyable day with great companions and great weather.
  2. 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.
  3. 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
  4. I'm not going to make it this week, sore lower back. If anyone goes, have fun without me.
  5. Anyone feeling an urge to visit Walden this Wednesday?
  6. This is the last Walden session I put on the calendar. Mainly because I'm scheduled to drive to Maine next Wednesday. Based on the hot weather forecast, this might be the first Wednesday of the year that Walden is "closed for capacity" and Plan-B applies. I'm improved but know I'm still sick because I don't feel like rolling my kayak. I'm also still coughing and blowing my nose. My bottom line is I'm probably not attending this week. Have fun without me.
  7. I'll be closely watching the hourly forecast, but as I post this the chance of thunder ends at 3pm with trace precipitation ending around 6pm. Near perfect conditions for another peaceful evening at Walden.
  8. I hope everyone has fun without me this week. I do not expect to attend. Hopefully, I'll be in Maine that afternoon.
  9. Who's up for braving the weather? Usual plan, show up 4:30pm or later, off the water about 7:00pm.
  10. As I write this, the forecast is 40% chance of rain with a chance of thunderstorms. Looks like a week to decide at the last minute based on the latest forecast. Though I'm up for going if the forecast doesn't get any worse.
  11. This Wednesday as I launch my latest skin-on-frame at Walden I need friends to share the joy, photographers to document the event, spotters to keep me safe while I wet exit, mentors to help me roll it, and dinner companions to join me at Comella’s afterwards. Hopefully the bad weather forecast will keep the crowds at bay. I'm aiming to arrive around 4:30pm. Off the water around 7pm if all goes well. Though I will head to Comella's earlier if the weather or my new kayak do not cooperate.
  12. Looks like the weather is going to clear off in time for a pleasant Wednesday evening on the pond. Start arriving around 4:30pm? Off the water around 7pm, out of the parking lot by 7:30pm. -Bill
  13. No drysuit for me this week at Walden (I think). Based on last Tuesday's temps at a pond up here in NH, I think that heat wave has warmed most fresh water up to down right comfortable. Anyone care to join me this week? I'm thinking off the water around 7pm, drive away by 7:30pm. For me that suggests arriving around 4:30pm, but I could vary that a bit.
  14. Should we cancel the July 4th session because it is July 4th?
  15. I'm thinking arrive around 4:30pm, off the water around 7:00pm, out of the park by 7:30pm. The weather if anything looks too good, so there is a chance Plan-B will be in effect.
  16. Last week's weather was much better than forecast. I hope this week will repeat. Assuming we don't abort because of weather, I plan to get OFF the water a little bit before 7pm. So I would like to get ON the water sometime between 4pm and 5pm. Anyone want to join me this week? Any time preference?
  17. Wednesdays at Walden is on the calendar for 2018 from May 23rd through August 29th, though it may keep going even longer. See the calendar entry for details. Unless the weather looks like Thunder, I currently plan to attend the May 23rd session. Are others interested in going to Comella’s after the first session?
  18. until
    Greenland rolling, euro-paddle rolling, goose-decoy rolling, norsaq rolling, hand rolling, rescue practice, standing up in a kayak and juggling, sitting in kayaks talking without ever getting wet, strokes practice, stupid kayak tricks, Walden Pond on Wednesday evenings has something for nearly every kayaker. Come join us. It is on the calendar for 2018 from May 23rd through August 29th, though it may keep going even longer. Two-person-minimum. Each week’s session is considered automatically canceled unless at least two people post in the “Trips / NSPN Events” forum that they plan to attend. This is mainly to handle thunderstorms in the forecast, but also to coordinate things like the occasional dinner plans (usually at Comella’s). Plan-B is White Pond. Walden is wonderful but sometimes closes. Find that and other information at https://twitter.com/waldenpondstate. Plan-B is if Walden tweets they are closed, even if they plan to reopen that day, or if you find yourself locked out of Walden when you arrive, head to White Pond. White Pond is an 8 minute (10 to 16 minutes at rush hour) drive from Walden. It has very limited parking, so generally we drop kayaks, but park at a nearby school. Google Maps describes the put-in as 5B Plainfield Rd, Concord, MA 01742, the school where we park is Willard Elementary. White Pond is rolling and rescue friendly. Practice takes place right at the put-in so it is very nice for late arrivals. AMC Boston’s White-Water paddlers have their pond social there on Wednesdays, and the leader knows White Pond is our Plan-B; Walden has been their Plan-B in the past. We put-in right next to a PRIVATE members only swim beach. Technically non-members are not supposed to use the beach restrooms. Though I have heard of people getting permission from life-guards in the past. You will need to sign an NSPN waiver ( https://www.nspn.org/waiver/ ). Walden Pond sessions do not include a beach briefing, and often have staggered launches. So to comply with NSPN policy, please print your own waiver copies and bring a signed copy to each pond session. If you forget to bring a waiver, please sign the waiver of someone who remembered. You will need a parking pass at Walden (White Pond is free). If you are 62 or older and a MA resident, get a Senior ParksPass for $10. If you live in MA and just want to try Walden the “borrow a ParksPass program” might work for you. If you plan to be a regular consider a season pass. Otherwise pay the daily Walden parking fee (there is a kiosk by the boat ramp accepting debit/credit cards). For those new to Walden, I played around with Google Maps and created this custom map showing the following places. Main Parking Entrance: We rarely park in the main parking lot unless we arrive late, or need the bathroom facilities in the main parking area. Boat Ramp Entrance: There is a gravel driveway on the other side of the road just a bit south of the main parking lot which leads to the boat ramp. We can now purchase parking passes from a machine at the Boat Ramp near the water. Boat Ramp: Only cars with boats or handicapped tags are supposed to use the limited boat ramp parking. Be nice to the rangers, most of whom will react by being quite nice. Though a few are very "by the book" grumpy types. The rangers announce the boat ramp will be closing usually 20 to 30 minutes before it closes. The rangers close both the boat ramp parking lot and the in-gate for main parking half an hour before the main parking lot's out-gate closes. Beach Bathhouse: There are also larger bathroom/changing facilities at the main beach, a short walk from the boat ramp, though with more limited days and hours. We usually practice here: An initial pod of kayaks usually launches between 5:00pm and 5:30pm. If you get there late, no problem, just paddle to the other end of the pond from the boat ramp where you will usually find us practicing out of sight from the boat ramp but within sight of “We usually practice here.” There is no leader, but I hope to be a Walden Pond regular again this year. I also hope to see lots of new and old faces this year! -Bill Voss Links: My custom Walden map. https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1u17Eky1Igua-v4LJRREH0pxbWM0&ll=42.439244671799266%2C-71.33892774999998&z=16 Latest Walden news including closings and time changes https://twitter.com/waldenpondstate Plan-B put-in 5B Plainfield Rd, Concord, MA 01742, park Willard Elementary School https://www.google.com/maps/dir/42.430538,-71.381973/42.429502,-71.3860339/@42.4296506,-71.3862034,861m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!4m1!3e0?hl=en When we eat out afterwards, it is usually at Comella’s https://www.google.com/maps/place/Comella's/@42.4598123,-71.3519268,17z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x405c6f6c775def23:0x19ed21bd8b0df94e!8m2!3d42.4598123!4d-71.3497381?hl=en AMC Boston Pond Socials and Pool Rolling http://amcbostonpaddlers.org/pondsocials-poolrolling Parking: Senior ParksPass https://www.mass.gov/how-to/get-a-senior-parkspass Borrow a ParksPass https://www.mass.gov/service-details/find-where-you-can-borrow-a-parkspass Annual ParksPasses https://www.reserveamerica.com/showPage.do?name=common&commonPath=/htm/MA_DCRParkPasses.html Walden Pond info, including day pass info. https://www.mass.gov/locations/walden-pond-state-reservation
  19. Walden Wednesdays are coming to an end for 2017. Weather permitting I believe the consensus is that September 27th will be the last Walden Wednesday for the year. I currently hope to arrive around 4pm. Note that as of September 20th the water temperature was 71 degrees, and the park was closing at 6:30pm meaning we get off the water around 6pm.
  20. Anyone want to come out and play this Wednesday? I would like to arrive around 4pm. Note that Walden is closing at 6:30pm these days, which means getting off the water around 6pm. The National Weather Service is also currently predicting "Showers likely, mainly before 2pm," but is NOT predicting thunder. Since I expect to get wet anyway, I consider the chance of showers to be a minor inconvenience.
  21. I plan to arrive around 4pm if someone else posts they will join me. Forecast looks warm.
  22. I expect to arrive around 4pm this Wednesday for the final Walden session on the calendar for 2017. Last week the water temperature was 78 degrees according to The Walrus. However, with the cooler air temperatures predicted this week some form of thermal protection is now recommended for comfort. Concord public schools resume this Wednesday. That combined with the cooler air temperature forecast makes a closing unlikely. However just in case, plan B for this week remains Whites Pond (See the Walden Wednesday Plan-B options Discussion Thread for Whites Pond logistical details). Basically if you don't get a space marked for car-top boats, park at the school. Definitely do NOT park in the private beach club's upper parking. While I am very open to continuing Walden sessions into September on a week-by-week basis, I will be in Maine next week, arriving home late the following Tuesday. So others will need to step up and organize next week, and perhaps announce the following week as well.
  23. As of Sunday there is a chance rain will cancel this week's rolling practice. If weather permits, I'll again plan to arrive around 4pm assuming someone else posts they want to join me. Last week's plan B diversion to Whites Pond was very successful (See the Walden Wednesday Plan-B options Discussion Thread for Whites Pond logistical details). We had a good turnout, and it was easy for some people to arrive later than others. In my case I even paddled White-Water this Saturday and Sunday because of paddlers I met on Whites Pond last Wednesday. So in the rather unlikely event that Walden closes but we are not rained out, I'm definitely heading to Whites Pond again this week. However, I still hope to enjoy Walden's waters. If you haven't attended before, see the NSPN Calendar Entry for other useful details.
  24. I'll plan to arrive around 4pm assuming someone else posts they want to join me. Different plan B than last week. If sometime this Wednesday Walden tweets that they are closed, this week's plan B experiment is Whites Pond (See the Walden Wednesday Plan-B options Discussion Thread for details). 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 Whites Pond. Otherwise I will enjoy Walden's waters. If you haven't attended before, see the NSPN Calendar Entry for other useful details.
  25. 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?
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