bethany Posted September 9, 2004 Share Posted September 9, 2004 Misery Island is owned by the Trustees of Reservations, and it needs some help. The island has a storied past including summer resorts, golf, smallpox victims, regattas, attempts to store oil, sewage, and more. Residents of the North Shore bought the land and donated it to the Trustees to protect it from development and industrial use. Today, many of us find it a perfect paddling destination or stop from Gloucester, Manchester, Beverly and Salem. NSPN has regular planned trips, show and go trips, and retreats there. As leisure users such as ourselves have taken the island for granted, and environmental situations have changed, the island rangers now have to battle trash, invasive plant species that are pushing out the natural ecosystem, and more.Nicky and Jim, this season's excellent island rangers, are willing to teach a group of NSPN paddlers about the island: it's history, flora/fauna, and current issues. The idea is that we'll have a nice paddle there,(could be from multiple launch sites to encourage multiple levels of paddlers), they'll talk to us some about the island, we'll help pull out a bunch of invasive plants for the afternoon (snipping and sawing work, tools provided), and possibly help out clearning out minor rubble from the Bleak House if the masonry work there is finished. In return, Joe Christian, the Superintendent of the Cape Ann Trusteess sites, has agreed to give us some free passes for next season. (There is normally a fee for non-trustees members for landing on the island so the trustees can afford to maintain it.)I think it could be a fun way to get together as a group and give back to our community while learning about a place we love and a nice end-of-summer activity. I have other such days in the works for other sites with other environmental organizations, so I'm hoping this first one will have a decent turn out.Please let me know if you are interested in this day of helping out at Misery. I'm thinking of making this the last weekend in September. Also any official trip leaders who can join and get this on the calendar, that would be great. It may be possible to arrange for one of the rangers to pick up non-paddling spouses/friends who wish to help in Manchester in a launch.EDIT: THIS TRIP WILL TAKE PLACE SEPTEMBER 25 (Saturday), Leaving at 10AM from the public launch behind the police station in Manchester-by-the-Sea. Come early enough to get parking and to prepare.Bring your lunch, lots of water, a change of clothes (long pants to avoid poison ivy and solid shoes), fav. work gloves, etc.! (there is a bathroom there you can easily change in)We'll paddle over to Misery Island, where Jim will meet us, take us on a tour of the island, talk about the impact of kayakers on islands, we'll eat lunch, and then we'll help clear some invasive plants for about two hours before paddling back.--b Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kim Posted September 9, 2004 Share Posted September 9, 2004 Sounds like a great idea, Bethany!Count me in!-Kim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PattyP Posted September 9, 2004 Share Posted September 9, 2004 Hi Bethany,This is something that I'd love to help with. I'll be away the last weekend of September but if its another weekend, I'm there.Patty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjcastle Posted September 9, 2004 Share Posted September 9, 2004 I would like to be included in this and for the time being we will add my wife Deb Sugerman.Thanks for putting this together Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob budd Posted September 10, 2004 Share Posted September 10, 2004 Is there lobster in the deal? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suz Posted September 10, 2004 Share Posted September 10, 2004 Bethany,I will join you - no lobster bribe needed:)Suzanen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bethany Posted September 10, 2004 Author Share Posted September 10, 2004 hmm, would you like to have use of a clean, well-maintained island while paddling, or one lobster? you might not want to sell yourself so short, hee. (Does that mean you might come?)--b Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob budd Posted September 10, 2004 Share Posted September 10, 2004 Yes I'd consider joining. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eneumeier Posted September 15, 2004 Share Posted September 15, 2004 This is a great idea. The Mystic Lake clean up has become an annual event, and lots of fun. Hopefully the Misery one will too.And, I am going to talk to the Gloucester Clean City folks about doing this in Gloucester Harbor - the area near the breakwater "collects" trash. Liz N. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joan_H Posted September 16, 2004 Share Posted September 16, 2004 I'd like to do this also Bethany. Sorry, I'm afriad I won't be able to make it tomorrow. Hopefully next time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CLapite Posted September 21, 2004 Share Posted September 21, 2004 I am interested, but have an evening commitment. Any ideas about what time we might get back?Thanks,Constance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mysticbos Posted September 21, 2004 Share Posted September 21, 2004 BethanyI'm interested and also in a launch for non paddling friends.Any idea on the time frame on the return???TahnksDeb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bethany Posted September 22, 2004 Author Share Posted September 22, 2004 How many non-paddling people? I'll call up the rangers. And when do you need to return by? I'm sure we can work something out. --b Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bethany Posted September 22, 2004 Author Share Posted September 22, 2004 Hi Constance,Thant's great! What time do you need to leave by? I'm sure we can work out a buddy system with someone (Deb also has a commitment later) if you need to leave before other folk are ready. --b Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael_Crouse Posted September 24, 2004 Share Posted September 24, 2004 Kim and I will be there, but we'll be a bit late.Anything we should bring besides the usual work gloves and boots? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CLapite Posted September 24, 2004 Share Posted September 24, 2004 Bethany: Thanks for organizing this. Unfortunately, the realtor set up appointments for us Saturday morning instead of tonight as we requested. I won't me able to make it. This house-hunting business really gets in the way of my paddling!Constance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
almoore Posted September 24, 2004 Share Posted September 24, 2004 Sounds good. I plan to be there.Allan Moore Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bethany Posted September 24, 2004 Author Share Posted September 24, 2004 Nope -- Trustees are supplying the tools. We may land paddle around and land on the beach on the Little Misery side if you're looking for the boats. I'll email you my cell number so you can holler if you're looking for us on the island.--b Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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