PeterB Posted September 27, 2021 Share Posted September 27, 2021 (edited) Eighth Annual NSPN Downeast Retreat, Bar Harbor, ME September 9-12, 2022 Initiator: Peter Brady This now-traditional 4 day event will be from Friday Sept. 9th to Monday Sept.12th , 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 seven years years running 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, There will likely be some options for biking the Acadia National Park carriage trails and day hikes in the area. 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 Rose Eden every morning and around dinner time to create and confirm paddling plans for the next 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, and Blue Hill Bay 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 the Gott Islands and Somes Sound, and new trip ideas are always welcome. There is a full moon on Saturday this year, so we will try to organize a full moon paddle if weather and conditions allow. Our base of operations will be at Rose Eden Cottages Rte 3, Bar Harbor, Rose Eden is a cottage resort with some 12 cabins. We can gather there for car caravans to launch sites, and in the evening to plan next days trips. We have moved our base of operations for 2022 to Rose Eden, across the road from LLangolan Inn, to ensure reservations for more people earlier for the coming year. A number of yearly attendees will have already reserved at Rose Eden. Accommodations are on your own. Make your own arrangements (including reservations, cancellation deposits whatever) for your entire stay during this event. You are encouraged to make reservations (at Rose Eden or elsewhere) as far in advance as possible, as Bar Harbor is becoming more popular as a travel destination. If you are interested in attending, please RSVP (" I’m going") in the calendar posting on Sept. 9th. 2022. A Group PM with all of participants will get going in the months before the event , for information sharing, planning and communication .Some recommended lodging: Rose Eden: our vase of operations. 12 modest cabins, a gathering area in the rear , laundry facilities. Llangolan Inn & Cottages : across the street from Rose Eden; similar to Rose Eden with 8 bungalows and a few rooms in the main inn Hadley Point Campground: this campground close by, 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.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 . 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. People have often 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 ) by PM Edited December 15, 2021 by PeterB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Harkey Posted September 27, 2021 Share Posted September 27, 2021 I, John Harkey, am going. Thank you, Peter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jody Harris Posted December 30, 2021 Share Posted December 30, 2021 I’m going! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barbara Ryan Posted June 7, 2022 Share Posted June 7, 2022 I’m going too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterB Posted July 21, 2022 Author Share Posted July 21, 2022 (edited) This is a bump up/ update for the NSPN Downeast Retreat, now less than 2 months away. We now have 18 RSVP’s, and have started a group PM for attendees to communicate in advance of the event. 1) If you RSVP’d and plans have changed and you will not be going, please go to the calendar posting RSVP area, change your status to “ declined "If you will be going but haven’t RSVP’d on the calendar posting, please do so asap. 2) If you are going, make sure you have accommodations reserved somewhere! Bar Harbor has been getting much busier later into the season: the weekend after Labor day is no longer the off season, and accommodations have been getting busier and more expensive. 3) if you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact me by PM (PeterB) or by email or text if you have my contact info.Cheers, Peter Edited July 22, 2022 by PeterB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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