PeterB Posted April 15, 2021 Share Posted April 15, 2021 (edited) Seventh Annual NSPN Downeast Retreat, Bar Harbor, ME September 10-13, 2021 Initiator: Peter Brady NSPN’s traditional paddling Retreat in Bar Harbor is happening again this year! This 4 day event will be from Friday Sept. 10th to Monday Sept.13th with group paddles each day on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Monday is a travel day, with options for a shorter trip winding down midday or early afternoon. Since this retreat has been a success for for six years years running - 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 afternoon or evening and depart on Monday afternoon. Some arrive sooner and leave later, so there will be paddlers around and about though you are of course free to arrive and leave earlier or later. There will likely be some options for biking the Acadia National Park carriage trails and day hikes in the area. Our base of operations will be at Llangolan Inn and Cottages Rte 3, Bar Harbor We have established a relationship with LLangolan over the years , The 8 bungalows and rooms are already reserved by NSPNers, who have been yearly attendees. LLangolan will be our meeting area . We can gather there for car caravans to launch sites, and in the evening to plan next days trips, and there will be a traditional potluck here on Saturday evening. Accommodations are on your own. Make your own arrangements (including reservations, cancellation deposits whatever) for your entire stay during this event. If you are interested in attending, please RSVP (" I’m going") in the calendar posting on Sept.10th A Group PM with all of participants will get going in the coming months , for information sharing, planning and communication in advance of the event. Each day there will be organized paddles (likely two or three) around Mount Desert Island, based on weather and conditions that day. We have a menu of trips suited to this area, and experienced participants familiar with the area to lead trips . We can meet at Llangolan every morning and around dinner time to create and confirm paddling plans for each day. Some 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 between Bar Harbor and Seal Harbor In the last couple of years our variety of trips expanded further into Blue Hill Bay and Somes Sound, and new trip ideas are always welcome. Note: There is a possibility that 20121 will see a surge of travel to places like this; it is past Labor Day but still tourist season in the area, so it would be advised to make reservations well in advance! Some recommended lodging: Llangolan Inn & Cottages : Our base of operations and gathering spot. Hadley Point Campground: this campground is adjacent to Llangolan on Hadley Point Road. With a laundry room and hot showers. 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.Rose Eden Cottages: a resort with small cottages right across the street from LLangolan. Trenton & (off the Island): Just across the bridge to Mount Desert Island, between Ellsworth and Bar Harbor there are cottages and motels that are probably 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 General Schedule Thursday evening: many folks arrive in Bar Harbor,and we will have a meet & greet gathering at LLangolan with some potluck food snacks or pizza, discuss and plan the first day's padding options.Friday: Paddles all day , evening on your own: there will likely be a an outing to Thurstons lobster pound in Bernards. And some BYO hanging out at LLangolan, and Saturday: our traditional potluck dinner in the barn (made available by our gracious hosts) behind LLangolan.Sunday: meals on your own: Monday is a travel day with a possible a shorter session at Long Pond, where we can paddle, practice skills or rolling, wash off gear, and people can come and go as they please. There are also options for ocean paddles as well for those staying longer. 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 explore Mount Desert Island and there might well be an organized hike , bike safari or two mixed into the festivities. If you have any questions: contact Peter Brady (PeterB on the message board ) or by PM Edited April 15, 2021 by PeterB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terese pawletko Posted April 15, 2021 Share Posted April 15, 2021 I did not see anything posted on the calendar as yet but will check later today as I'm interested in going. Also if anyone is looking for roommate given rooms likely booked I'm interested in sharing room - this would be my first time going (prior years I've been working so this is first opportunity). Thanks in advance! Terese Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prudenceb Posted April 15, 2021 Share Posted April 15, 2021 Yay! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Harkey Posted April 15, 2021 Share Posted April 15, 2021 (edited) I'm going! I'm one male willing to share accommodations — even transportation — with one other person. I drive a Toyota Sienna with lots of room for gear. Edited April 15, 2021 by John Harkey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terese pawletko Posted April 16, 2021 Share Posted April 16, 2021 I'm also willing to share accommodations, sleep on an air mattress...Llangolan Inn and Rose Eden cottages are fully booked. Guess there is always camping but would be nice to be closer. Terese Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterB Posted April 18, 2021 Author Share Posted April 18, 2021 If Rose Eden is already booked that underscores the point that this may be a busy year in Bar Harbor, people vacationing with a vengeance after being shutdown this past year, so securing accommodations soon would be a good idea! Hadley Point Campground is right next door to LLangolan, so if camping works for you, you'd be about as close as you could get to Llangolan. The Eden Village cottages are nearby , and you could look into cottages just off the island , in Trenton, towards Ellsworth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john power Posted April 19, 2021 Share Posted April 19, 2021 I'm going Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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