Wed. Lunch Paddle #1 5/27/20

[Joseph Berkovitz]

A beautiful late spring day, southwest breeze 10-12 kt, swells around 1-2 feet @ 7 s. The water temp got up to 55 F at Boston Buoy. 

We launched as planned from Parker’s Boatyard in Marblehead, a rather awkward put-in but the only current option with nearby street parking until Riverhead reopens. Bob, myself, Prudence, Jane C, Nancy H, Sue H, Pat Donohue and Beth S paddled up the west side of the harbor to Browns Island for a quick break, then out to the lighthouse across the harbor in fine formation:

Then down the Neck and out to Tinkers for lunch. There was more than enough swell left to activate all my favorite features of this coastline and there was lots of spray, sparkle and sunlight.

Folks agreed that we managed to maintain good social distance throughout the trip and on the beaches. At the boatyard masks were worn by all. It was disappointing not to be able to congregate as usual but even more important to protect ourselves and others and I think we all kept an eye on safety while having a great time.

I hope we will have many more trips like this, in spite of the challenges this season!

[prudenceb]

It was a completely splendid day!  Oh my!  The weather, the water, the friends!  A few more photos...

We were visisted at the launch by this beauty, who stuck around for a while before flying off.

 

Hey, our crossing of Marblehead Harbor was a lot more organized than Joe's pictue shows!  We were positively military once we got our act together!

And no one could criticize our socially distanced lunch stop on Tinkers!

 

All in all, one couldn't have wished for a better start to the Wednesday lunch paddle season!

 

Prudence

[Nancy Hill]

What a great day! I like it when conditions are such that kayaks disappear behind the swells and waves crash on rocks. Thanks for organizing, Joe.