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Looking for a unique paddling adventure? Join Team Osprey for our 2nd annual trip to Croatia, running September 22nd through October 1st! Enjoy some beautiful coastline of the archipelago, warm water, and historic landmarks. Travel through the long history and dynamic culture of this beautiful country, and experience this pristine up and coming paddling destination. Partnering with a good friend of the shop, Mladen Hanzir, and his company, Peak and Paddle Croatia, Osprey is pleased to offer this one of a kind trip. For more information, see our website post about the trip, or give us a call to get your trip packet, including full itinerary and details. We'd love to get you signed up for this grand kayaking adventure! Call us at 508-636-0300, or send us an email at steve@ospreyseaandsurf.com. For photos, and more information about the shop, check us out on Facebook!

Hello everyone, my name is Christopher Lockyer, I just joined the group to see what you folks are all about. I will be leading an expedition in Newfoundland this summer. The program limited to 6 people. We have 2 confirmed participants. Newfoundland is very easy to get to from Boston via Halifax. Fly into Deer lake with your gear and we go from there. the price is 1800 Candian and includes the kayak, all food for the trip portion and the professional guides. If you have any questions please call 9023050051 or email me info@committed2thecore.com

Skip report; go straight to slideshow: https://goo.gl/photos/hHjPR3ULzB4HbSBQ9 In deepest darkest winter, I E'd Rob to gauge his interest for our now-annual sea safari, August next. Rob: “What do you have in mind?” Me: “It involves a haunted house, spooky towers, and West Bus Service.” Rob: “I’m in!” We decided to delay the carefully-planned trip by a day, as Sat. called for 10-15 SW, and possible severe T-storms. After a long Sunday carpool from Hampton, we left near HT from the public ramp in Machias, and landed on a familiar shore close to dusk. The Cross I. setting is familiar to many, and would serve as Day2 launch pad to tackle the Bold Coast, weather permitting. It was, and we launched @ 7:45am to cheat a little on the tail ebb (Cutler LT=0828). We were facing a tight window, knowing we had to be through the Narrows bridge no later than 2pm, before the current would turn against us (ROT: current starts flowing southerly, 1.5h before high water @ St. John [in our case: 1536]). A 5-10NW was predicted, but is was calm for the first leg of the trip, as we paddled ~1/4 mile offshore. Rob kept trying to find the magic “escalator” outside, even though we were good for 3.5-4k for much of the first half. During the last half of the trip a SW ~10k picked up, allowing some occasional short surfs. We were closer to 5.5-6k (GPS), with an occasional 7.3 on a “downhill” ride. Working against the clock, we decided against the Sandy Cove landing, and opted for Carrying Place Cove instead, enjoying a <10min bio/lunch break before re-launching. The water was a little messy around the Quoddy Light, and of course we now faced the NW wind and associated chop up the Lubec Channel, only making 2k. Quite knackered, we slogged under the bridge @ 1400, the slow current now heading south. Another mile to our home for the night @ Sunset RV Park, where we enjoyed a “double-wide” pavilion, surrounded by multiple options for pitching our tents on the lush, expansive grassy ground. The owners and staff were very welcoming and gracious, to the tune of the loan of Joanne’s car to enjoy a nice meal at Cohill’s downtown! A stop at Monica’s Chocolates across the road topped off another long day. The original plan for Day 3 was head up to the Letang Peninsula in New Brunswick, but because of our late start, a closer MITA island became our revised destination. This ferret-like critter was determined to stow away in my front hatch, but I decided otherwise. We got a late-ish start, and made our way to Eastport, via Dudley and Treat, hugging the shore up to Dog I. Light, before peeling across to Deer Pt., where the neighborhood of “Old Sow” was becoming restless. We had some current against us as we headed to Leonardville for Customs check-in (phone call only) and lunch in the shade We would then head into the Fundy Isles (West Isles), a beautiful archipelago featured in the current edition of Adventure Kayak magazine, and spend a quiet night next to a pleasingly idle marine farm. Route for Day 3: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6933039 Day 4 woke up bright and sunny, and a mid-morning launch had us pointing for Bliss Harbor, riding the end of the ebb, before getting a push up to Letang. The fog seemed to march in with the colder waters of the early flood, so we handrailed along the southern shores of Bliss and Letang Harbors, finding these atypical formations along the latter. We suspected we might get through the arch and around the islets (dubbed “the 3 sisters’) at HT. After setting up camp, we paddled CW amongst the other islands of the preserve, briefly stopping to chat up a local, raking seaweed, to be sold to commercial outfitters by the ton; his boat could hold 5, but he would soon quit at 3. Made a 20-minute run back to the sisters at HT, but they thwarted our efforts to weave around and through these beautiful landmarks. More post-supper careful planning for next day’s trip to Eastport, before heading to bed, alarms set for 4am. Route for day 4: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6933687 Forty-eight minutes after phones chirped, at exactly HT, we pushed off in the dark, dubbing with lit compasses. Rob had better luck than me, clipping a small PFD light to his paddle pants, duct tape shielding direct light to his eyes. Fog again, but no issue finding the mini peninsula pointing E from Letang, then handrailing to the SW tip, and diagonally over to Frye I. We had confirmed the day before with locals that the very green potential bar to Letang was indeed passable, especially at this point in the cycle. We soon found ourselves “at sea” in the fog, unable to recognize what the topo was telling us. We straightened ourselves out, and paddled on to Green Pt., where we issued a Securite call for the busy Letete Passage crossing. At 1.5h after HT, we met some confused water, and current pushing us N due to a strong back eddy created by Macs and Mohawk islands. We gathered at G”S5”, safely out of the path of some close, slowed-down big boats, and crossed to the SE peninsula on Macs I. We met some good ebbing current against us, proceeding along southern Macs; a local suggested we’d have no problem getting through Little Letite, and we didn’t. Around Pendleton, then a peek to see what water was moving through the little passage behind Pendleton-little to none. The N coast of Deer I. is a bit bold in its own right, and we were treated to kinda closeups of the local wildlife before taking a lunch break at the rocky beach before Oak Head. The pushing current around Clam Cove Head sped us along to Kendall Head, then to our planned campground for Day 5. After unloading our gear and checking in at the office, a gruff, self-appointed security “captain” from the top of the beach warned us about landing, before checking in at Customs in Eastport. His call to an even gruffer park manager resulted in the appearance of the Customs Officer at our boats, soon after we decided we would NOT be staying there under any circumstances! We made our way to the designated, overcrowded Customs check-in float, finished Customs, photo-opped, then made our way back to the warm-and-friendly Sunset RV campground. (Don’t even THINK of staying elsewhere when up here-great home base for multiple day trips). A long day on the water-25+ miles/11 hours. During our nightly, next-day planning, I suggested to Rob that we might cut our trip short, given a forecast of showers, possibly heavy, and T-storms for the next few days. OK-we left our 4am alarms in the “on” position, and carefully planned the last leg of our journey to Cobscook Bay. Route for day 5: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6933249 A clear, warm, and calm day 6 made for an easy paddle along Seward Neck and across the still bay, peculiar not to be dodging any lobster pots here or anywhere, during the past several days. Though not needed now, the calculated waypoint for Denbow point was spot-on, and we mostly drifted over the quiet ripple of Reversing Falls, 1/2h before slack flood. We broke fast in a little cove nearby, then finished the paddling at Edmunds Public Launch, Rob tending boats and gear, while I hoofed it 1.5 miles to Rte 1, where the 1020 West Bus would bring me back to the car in Machias. Route for day 6: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6933040 Take home points: Bold Coast: -If the weather window is favorable (you decide), we’d suggest leaving Cross I. or Cutler no later than 1.5 and 1h, respectively, before LT at Cutler, adding some extra time to the arduous trip UP the coast. -We can’t be sure if we were close to, or “on” the escalator to Lubec; a following SW 7-10 made it difficult to read any current nuances. Some have suggested being 1/2-1M from the coast-we were < that for most of the trip. At some point you should be averaging 6K. -Have a number of bailouts programmed into your GPS. -Remember you’ve got to be under the Narrows Bridge >1.5h before HT @ St. Johns. Beyond: -Pay VERY close attention to timing of currents in this region, and be conservative re: arrival times at these potential trouble spots. We found ourselves behind schedule more than once. -Thanks to John Carmody and strangers for “local” knowledge. The best reference we could find for this area, which I obtained via local interlibrary loan: A Cruising Guide to the Bay of Fundy and the St. John River: Including Passamoquoddy Bay and the Southwestern Shore of Nova Scotia Paperback– December, 1999by Nicholas Tracy (Author), Sarah Petite (Illustrator) -Max flood at the Falls is at 2h pre-HT @ St Johns; slack is 1h after HT @ SJ, or 1/2h after HT @ Lubec (Coffin’s Neck, nearby). -As with any multi-day safari, be prepared to alter your plans on the fly. -Choose your paddling partner(s) carefully-Thanks for joining me Rob! Trip planning dialogue.docx

Though I don’t consider myself a trip-planning expert, I have taken several multi-day kayak-camping trips, many of them solo. The following planning items are by no means recommended as guidelines, but merely a log of my activity so far, in no particular order, leading up to a six-day trek to the Maine Coast. Much of that safari is taking place between my ears, in the months leading up to the voyage. Starting in JANUARY: -Spend too many hours poring over my E-library of nautical charts, my favorite sources being: NOAA booklet charts [http://ocsdata.ncd.noaa.gov/BookletChart/AtlanticCoastBookletCharts.htm] MITA (from which I can collect GPS waypoints that this program conveniently provides, and as a (almost) seamless compilation of multiple NOAA charts, from which I can save and print customized booklet charts on my IMac [command/shift/4]. -Print color charts, annotate and magneticNorthetize with spaces between lines of either 1 or 2M, depending on scale, then laminate eight 8X10” chartlets (4 laminates) at KinkoFedEx for 1.99 each. -Assemble list of geocaches in area to paddle. -Determine a reasonable launch site(s) where extended overnight parking might be accommodated and contact those parties (MITA, marinas, seaside lodges, harbor masters, local police dept or Town office) directly, opting for beach or ramp (vs. mudflats, wharf) launch if possible. Negotiate a mutually agreeable fee (our host has offered parking and launching privileges in exchange for help with chores-what a deal). IF OTHER THAN A SOLO TRIP: -Start inviting potential adventurers for the blocked-out (vacation days) multi-day trip, with a consideration of the optimal and maximum number and skill level of participants. -Seek volunteers for roles of Meteorologist, Navigator, Safety Officer, Activities Director, etc., as this is a CAM trip. -Suggest to participants to prepare as if this were a solo trip, and at launch site, whittle down (but not too much) redundant gear that might be considered communal: cookware, repair, first aid, flare gun, tents/tarps, saw, etc. -Share preliminary agenda and links to local knowledge with participants. -Obtain contact info (cell, E, emergency contact) from participants, compile spreadsheet with same, and leave as part of float plan with sig. others, launch host, marine patrol, local police, other. -Encourage participants to “reply all” to E threads, as indicated, to facilitate good group communication. -Continue reviewing charts and plan possible routes for each day, considering tides, geocaches, breaks with short hikes, MITA islands, town/state land with trails (and facilities [www.town.org]), potable water supplies, groceries, restaurants (this is NOT a wilderness trip), alternative camping (sanctioned and stealth), and bail-out locations. -Contact Maine Forest Service for _____ permits on eligible islands, a few days before launch. Record permit # on kayak deck with permanent marker. -Obtain tidal data for days/location of trip; record daylight tides on kayak deck with permanent marker. -Because distance from home to launch site is not short, secure overnite lodging in the vicinity, for an early launch on the anticipated long Day 1. -Consider possibility of ferry service, or other boating/shipping activity in area of paddling, and if YES, obtain a copy of schedule(s). -Contact Harbor Master, if applicable, for “local knowledge” about currents, areas of questionable passage from charts (?mudflats under bridge?), and general “rules of the road” for area visited. Another good source for this data is “A cruising Guide to the Maine Coast (Tafts and Rindlaub)” or “The Maine Coast Guide for small boats-Casco Bay (Rindlaub)”; may be possible to obtain via inter-library loan at local library. -Build http://www.soazpaddlers.org/phpBB-3.0.5/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=42 or buy http://www.lowes.com/pd_367048-1703-KH550_0__?productId=3474867 a LNT torpedo tube. Chose the latter-thanks Les. -Pre-program and label important waypoints (islands, aids to navigation, launch/landing sites, etc) into your GPS (fresh and extra batteries) and on charts, as applicable. Focus points on middle of islands; helpful coming or going, and you’ll be sure to “hit” your target. -What else? gary