5th Annual NSPN Downeast Retreat, Bar Harbor Sept. 7 to Sept 10

[PeterB]

Please come paddle in Bar Harbor for what will be Fifth Downeast Paddle Retreat for NSPN!

This 4 day event will be from Friday Sept.7 to Monday Sept.10, spanning the weekend after Labor Day, with group paddles each day on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and shorter trips winding down on early Monday afternoon.  Since this retreat has been a success for three years - it's a perfect location to paddle at a perfect time of year (and with a perfect group of paddlers!) - it will be run on a roughly similar schedule as in past years.  
 

Most people travel & arrive on Thursday and depart on Monday afternoon though you are of course free to arrive and leave earlier or later. 

Our base of operations will be at Llangolan Inn on Rte 3 near Hadley Point , on the north side of the island between the Narrows and Bar Harbor. Each day we will have organized paddles (likely two or three) around Mount Desert Island, based on weather and conditions that day.We will have a menu of trips planned in advance, and can meet at Llangolan every morning and around dinner time to create and confirm paddling plans for each each day.  Favorite destinations are: the Porcupine Islands off of Bar Harbor in Frenchmans Bay, the Cranberry Islands on the south side of MDI, Bartlett Island and Sound on the West Side, and the dramatic eastern shore of the island.  Last year our variety of trips extended further into Frenchmans Bay and to Somes Sound, and this year we’re looking at an excursion past the Cranberry Islands out to the Duck Islands.  

This is a rain or shine event! This event has been a success because there is fine paddling to be had somewhere around the island in all but very harsh conditions, and if the weather is too crummy to paddle anywhere on the ocean we can paddle the inland ponds and lakes like Long Pond or Eagle Lake, or explore & hike  Acadia National Park,  or play tourist around Bar Harbor. Some people have taken a day off from paddling to  hike or explore Mount Desert Island, and there will probably be an organized hike or two  mixed into the festivities.

Accommodations and food are on your own.  
There will be a potluck at Llangolan Inn on Saturday night, and a  meet & greet gathering with food on Thursday evening , also at LLangolan. 
Most people do some mix of dining out around the Island or dining in at Llangolan ( the cottages have kitchenettes) 

Recommended lodging:
Note: it is past Labor Day but still tourist season in the area, so it would be advised to make plans for accommodations well in advance.

Llangolan Inn & Cottages :  Our base of operations and gathering spot. The bungalows are likely  already reserved by NSPNers, but there may be rooms in the main Inn.

Hadley Point Campground: for those who prefer to camp, this campground is adjacent to Llangolan on Hadley Point Road

Robbins Motel: not far from Llangolan on Rte 3 for those looking for the most economical no-frills  lodging on the island.

Eden Village: A cottage resort similar to Llangolan, a short ways away on Rte 3.

Trenton & (off the Island): Just across the bridge to Mount Desret Island, towards Trenton & Ellsworth, there are cottages and motels that are less pricey than on Mt. Desert Island. 


There are many other options for lodging in the area, including fine ( but less  conveniently located) campgrounds and cheaper motels off of MDI between

 

if you are interested in attending, please RSVP (" Im going") in the calendar posting on Sept.7^th  , I’ll get a group PM going  in the months preceding the event for information sharing,  planning and communication in advance of the event.
If you have any questions: contact  Peter Brady   (PeterB on the nessage board )  by PM 

 

Edited April 13, 2018 by PeterB

[terese pawletko]

i have signed up for this trip...do we make room reservations now?

thanks terese

[PeterB]

Terese,   Accommodations are on your own, so yes, you can make room reservations any time. The LLangolan Inn is the base of operations, and there may or may not be rooms  still available - there are 8  kitchenette bungalows and some rooms in the main Inn building. The bungalows have usually been reserved well in advance  : many of us just reserved our cabin for this year at the end of last years event, but  but if there are rooms available  you can make reservations at any time, at Llangolan  or at any other  hotel or campground  nearby.  

[Dan Foster]

Planning for this year's trip is now going on by private message. If you are planning to join us this year but haven't received a group message, let Peter or me know so we can add you to the group discussion.