MDI - Kayaking/Lodging

[alcoons]

Going to Acadia in a couple of weeks.

- Probably camp at Mt Desert Campground or Blackwoods but anyone have suggestions for inexpensive/moderately priced lodging for a night or two. Does not have to be in Bar Harbor.

- Anyone know Coastal Kayaking Tours in Bar Harbor? I will be alone and they have a well-priced 3 day trip from Stonington.

If you would rather not post a comment online, I am at alcoonsmail at verizon.net

Thanks,

Al

Al Coons

Eddyline Nighthawk

Red/White

[EEL]

>Going to Acadia in a couple of weeks.

>

>

>anyone have suggestions for inexpensive/moderately priced

>lodging for a night or two. Does not have to be in Bar

>Harbor.

Contact Mel Rice for suggestions? There are some nice places in Bar Harbor and along road from Ellsworth on down in terms or reasonable motels. Availability is another issue.

>

> I will

>be alone and they have a well-priced 3 day trip from

>Stonington.

>

Its not like you are being guided in a wilderness or on a difficult section of coast like the Great Waas. I suspect you would end up in a group that has seldom if ever kayaked.

No doubt this is a totally irresponsible thing to suggest, but if you have experience camping, can navigate, and feel comfortable doing a little paddling alone; then you might want to just do it by yourself or hook up with some folks going out from Old Quarry. The area inside Merchant Row is pretty well protected and there is alot to explore. Only tricky part would be the weather, specifically fog. After all, people camp on the islands, come into town for dinner and paddle out at dusk. Its a rather benign environment most of the time. Not to say it cannot kick up. If you haven't, join MITA and get the book as that will make things nicer all the way around.

On second thought, contact jonsprag1 who posts on this list as he has offered free guiding out of Stonington and would no doubt get you pointed right for a good camping trip there.

Oh yes. The lobster boats. They like to call kayaks "crayons" or "speed bumps" and kayakers "sea lice", but its only their rough humor mostly. I have found if you stay out of their way, they will stay out of yours and be courteous in a seamanship manner of speaking. Ask at Old Quarry about the routes the boats tend to use coming and going and avoid them.

Ed Lawson

[alcoons]

Ed.

Thanks for the information.

Your suggestions are good, but given it is a new area for me and the potential for fog/weather is high, I think I will go with a program. Done a lot of solo outdoor trips, but water and unknown territory changes the mix for me. By they way, it is not a beginner's trip.

Al Coons

Eddyline Nighthawk

Red/White

[EEL]

>Ed.

>

> By they way,

>it is not a beginner's trip.

>

Where are they going? Since they leave and return to Bar Harbor, the three days sounds like two half days, two nights and one full day out and about.

Might not have sounded like it, but I believe going on a guided trip does have its advantages.

Regardless, hoping it is all good paddling for you.

Ed Lawson

[djlewis]

For the guiding, how about engaging Tom Bergh? He's running private trips these days. I see one "down east" on his schedule already, and I know another group of three that has hired him for a day of training in the Muscongus area. If you could get a couple more folks in with you, it might not even be that expensive per person. You certainly won't find a better guide for the Maine Coast -- and you might learn a thang or two along the way. Also, he includes boats, which, of course, are top-notch, and all gear. Go to...

http://www.maineislandkayak.com/

... and click both the "private trips" and "schedule" links.

I'll also suggest engaging Mark Schoon, though I have no idea if he is in the private trips business at the moment. He's a BCU 5-star, Level 4 coach and lives and paddles in Bar Harbor. Try...

http://www.carpediemkayaking.com/

... or just "mark at carpediemkayaking dot com"

Or, maybe Mel would do it -- Mark's partner and also an accomplished paddler and guide.

--David.

[EEL]

>For the guiding,

Just to add another name to the list. Ray Wirth of Belfast is someone who does trips in that area. He is easygoing and relaxed in approach.

http://www.touringkayaks.com/

Ed Lawson

[djlewis]

I just checked CarpeDiem's page, and Mark & Mel do indeed do private tours and trips. I think they'd be great guides for the MDI area.

http://www.carpediemkayaking.com/tours.htm

--David.

[jeffcasey]

Hi Al -

We always stay at the Harbor View Motel & Cottages, in Southwest Harbor. It is the quiet side of the island, away from the noise of Bar Harbor. The motel is right on the water, but it is atop a bit of a bluff. You can muscle your way down to the shore below the bluff with boat, but it is a pain and then a long walk through flat muck at low tide -- or it is a very short drive (~1 mile?) around to the right to the nearest ramp in Manset. Either way, you are on the water right at the mouth of Somes Sound -- an easy paddle up the sound, or across to the Cranberry Isles. Several great day-trip paddles right from your room if you don't want to drive.

The Harbor View is great - reasonable rates, simple/clean rooms, quiet. We've stayed there several times and loved it. Room to park your boat on the grass.

Nice food walking distance away in the town of Southwest Harbor, and **killer good** nuevo-yuppie mexican food at XYZ restaurant in Manset.

Have fun!