NH Skill Sessions???

[cathyfoley]

I'm going to start practicing on Great Pond in Kingston, NH on Wednesday nights starting next week,around 5:00 - 5:30 p.m. with the intent of building this into a new NSPN skills session for NH people a bit too far away from Chebacco or Mystic.

The session will be "free play" or whatever the group wants to work on.

Great Pond is about 20 minutes east of Salem; 20 minutes north of Haverhill, MA; 30 minutes SW of Portsmouth; 25 minutes from Seabrook; 15-20 minutes from Exeter/Stratham; 15 minutes from Epping.

The put-in will be at the boat ramp on Main St., right off Rte 111 and the Rte 125 intersection. There is a sign for the Lakeside Restaurant at the corner of Rte 111 and Main St. The Put in is just past the restaurant on the left. There is ample parking for about 10 cars in the lot and lots more on the roadside.

Please post here if you have any interest. Also open to other locations anywhere between the coast and Manchester.

[EEL]

>I'm going to start practicing on Great Pond in Kingston, NH

>on Wednesday nights starting next week,around 5:00 - 5:30

>p.m. with the intent of building this into a new NSPN skills

>session for NH people a bit too far away from Chebacco or

>Mystic.

>

I believe this is a great idea even though due to work schedules and a lake withing 5 minutes of our house it is unlikely I and Gail will show up often. I would also suggest it would be a great idea to have a bi-monthly or so day paddle out of Portsmouth with the goal of practicing stuff on the ocean and just having a few nice hours paddling.

While pool and lake practice has much value, I believe it is also true that you can practice things like bracing and rescues until the cows come in on flat water, but until you do them in at least somewhat textured water; you really don't understand them let alone are proficient with them where they are likely to be used. Nothing like a rock or surge or little boomer to bring home the fact those practiced strokes may not come readily to mind/body when needed until you have spend time applying them for "real".

Ed Lawson

[kevinfre]

>I'm going to start practicing on Great Pond in Kingston, NH

>on Wednesday nights starting next week,around 5:00 - 5:30

>p.m. with the intent of building this into a new NSPN skills

>session for NH people a bit too far away from Chebacco or

>Mystic.

>Please post here if you have any interest. Also open to

>other locations anywhere between the coast and Manchester.

I live in Andover MA and work just west of Nashua NH. I've been to a couple sessions at Mystic. They've been great, but I'd love to find a session that's closer. Unfortunately both Chebacco and Kingston are about the same distance. I'm still getting familiar with put-ins so I don't know enough to suggest somewhere else, but if people could agree on a spot further south (near Salem NH or Methuen MA for example), you could count me in as a regular.

Anyone have any ideas?

Kevin Fredette

[cathyfoley]

I like that idea Ed. Another idea I had was possibly talk to Seacoast Kayak in Seabrook and have a skill session there. Plenty of parking and easy access to the open ocean, although the channel there is always quite rough water.

[cathyfoley]

Kevin:

I have been scouting lakes and ponds all over. There are a few good ones in Salem area, but the problem is no parking and no direct access to the lakes. They are virtually surrounded by privatge property landowners who won't allow access. If you know of any, please let me know.

[PaulD]

Hi Cathy

I would be very interested in a NH location!! I have a commitment for the next 4 weeks on Wed but am free after that! Please count me in! One question, how long would they go to? My girlfriend works west of Nashua and gets out a 5pm so it would take her some time to get there.

Thanks

PaulD

Wilderness Systems Tempest 165 All blue

[cathyfoley]

Paul:

Plan to be there until sunset. Also, Wednesdays are not carved in stone. If people are interested and prefer another night of the week, we can choose a different night, except Tuesdays....because Seacoast Kayak spnsors a Tuesday evening paddle every week and many people go to that.

[spider]

Hi There

Great Pond would be ideal for me. I was practicing there before the start of the season for the State Park and some of the other camps. These past few days I have been practicing by myself over on Pow-Wow Pond not to far from there.

Working on some skills with others would be far more enjoyable than figuring things out by oneself.

Sometimes when I want more textured water I head over to Great Bay...but you need to watch the tide so you don't run out of water.

Thing is I'll be in Quebec for the summer...but I am definitely interested if Great Pond works out and people are still practicing in Sept.

I didn't realise that people paddled weekly over at Seacoast Kayak (which I believe is for sale)

The best way to reach me is 603-770-0496 esp in the fall...

I would also be interested in others kayaking this general area Seacoast/ Exeter NH etc...

thanks

spider

[ccarlson]

Hey Cathy, Great Pond is less than a half hour from me so I'll try to make it down there as many Wed evenings as possible. Brushing up on skills is always a good thing!

[cathyfoley]

I live in Exeter so I kayak Great Bay often, usually from Chapman's Landing in Stratham, but I sometimes drive over to Dover and launch at the UNH boat ramp on the Oyster River.

[Guest Jon Rose]

Anne and I would also be interested in practice and just getting together for paddling most anywhere down your way...we're in Lebanon.

Jon

[Guest Jon Rose]

Hi Cathy,

We live in Lebanon and would like very much to come down for practice or just for paddling. Anywhere along the NH coast would be great too.

Jon and Anne Rose