Suz

Sean, I think you may be on to something there. Maybe Sing needs to come back and join us on the water in his SOF or Stitch and Glue... whatever it is - the long one with the cool name - Ronin. Alas though, I believe that the surf bug has bitten him and we won't see him on the water unless he is seeking to feed the bug with the adrenalin rush. We have lost Sing and will forever more have the Evil Twin to deal with. Suzanne

Scott, Sounds like cleaning these may be the key to keeping them in working order. I never rinse them off while cleaning the pfd. I guess I will add that to the "to do's" and clean them with the VHF. Do you ever get the feeling that the clean up and maintenance of the boats/gear is a lot of work? Suz

Bought mine at West Marine. They have been quite good at replacing them as needed - so far twice.I have one in the car right now waiting to be replaced. I take the strobe and solid white light off after each weekend and when putting them back on after the pfd is cleaned/dried, I turn them on to make sure that they are still working. I do not remove the batteries each time as someone suggested to me once. If anyone has found anything better, that would be great. The C-Strobe and the solid light are made by ACR and they are orange.

At the NSPN board meeting last night, I was shocked, astounded to find out from Bethany (who has some sort of "in" with the Trustees:) ) that KAYAKERS have really not been treating Misery right. It seems that some of us have been leaving garbage around, from cigarette butts to biodegradable garbage (yes, it is still GARBAGE) and shouldn't be left on the islands. For those that don't know Jonathan, he is a park ranger trained to teach LNT (Leave no Trace) principles. Let's fill the seats at his workshop and learn how to be better safeguards to the sea that we all love so much. Suzanne

More info to follow but please save the dates! October 23 - Saturday Night Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center - 5 pm slide show followed by 7 pm pool demo with Cheri and some of the Walden Qajaq Society (AKA Walden Pond Scum) Cheri will raffle off one of her framed photographs from Greenland - winner's choice. Location/Directions: [http://www.bcnc.net/] NSPN is sponsoring a lecture and slide show hosted by Cheri Perry who recently competed in the Greenland National Kayak Championships that are held over the course of a week and events include Eskimo rolling, races, harpoon throwing and rope gymnastics. In Greenland, this event is a great source of national pride and the winners are held in the highest esteem. In 2000 the Greenlanders started to invite others to join their games and now foreigners compete also. Cheri competed this year for the first time. Her slide show will be about her visit to Greenland and the competition. After the slide show, we will move over to the pool for an in water demonstration. More information about Cheri can be found on her website: [http://www.whitemountainweb.com/kayakerperry/] Donations to help offset Cheri's expenses will be requested. The garage,will be available but will fill up quick. There is on street parking all around the building though, especially on a saturday night. Most of the parking is on Marginal Road which runs parallel to the building and the Mass Turnpike. Please car pool if you can. October 24 - Sunday 9:30-2:30 (see put in's for directions) Walden Pond - We will meet over at the pond for an opportunity to work in the water with Cheri and others. This free event is open to all to come and watch but if you want to be in the water, you will need to RSVP to Linda Shelburne at capewavedancer at yahoo dot com. INCLUDE YOUR ACA#, EMERGENCY CONTACT INFO AND BOAT DESCRIPTION. This will be limited to 5 participants per instructor/mentor and total numbers depend on how many volunteers there are. Currently 15 people will be accepted. There is no charge for this event and the Walden Qajaq Society - AKA Pond Scum will not accept donations for this. Things to keep in mind: Water is starting to cool off but still plenty warm enough if you dress for it. Dry suits are a great idea if you have them but if not, a wet suit with a dry top works too. Last year I practiced in a wetsuit with layers and a paddling jacket until Thanksgiving as I didn't yet have a dry suit. Never hurts to have gloves and a hood and a hat. Goggles and nose plugs or a divers mask that covers both can be handy. I like ear plugs when the water is cool to keep from getting the cold water in my ear as it makes me dizzy. Bring lots of warm clothes to change into and a big jacket that is windproof. Don't forget your lunch and a thermos of hot drink is especially nice. Note that I will be out of town between October 14-22. E-mail me prior if you have any questions about this. Suzanne dot pritchett at comcast dot net Suzanne

And here is the evidence... [http://www.photoshare.co.nz/PhotoShareGallery1/100085/101799/12sep11net5874.jpg]

Bethany, I will join you - no lobster bribe needed:) Suzanen

Jonathan, Thanks for organizing this. I am looking forward this workshop. Suzanne

And for someone local... Try Ken Fink from Poseidon Kayak Imports - Really great guy, he will let you paddle as long as you want, quiet water or open ocean. After buying, you will always have someone to go to if you ever have any service issues. Tell him I sent you. 60 Poseidon Landing, Walpole, ME 800-206-3780 lkfjr@aol.com Suzanne Pritchett

OMG, I am getting claustrophobic just THINKING about this! All last winter, I didn't get cold paddling once - coldest was about 15 degrees with ice forming on the side of the boat away from the sun. BUT, I do remember a day in June that I was paddling along thinking how tired of winter paddling I was and couldn't wait for summer! Suzanne

I am just starting to look forward to winter paddling now that we are in September. Hoping for a mild winter this year but I really want to paddle when it is snowing. Last year I didn't get the opportunity so will definitely fit it in this year. I think it might be like paddling in the fog where the stillness surrounds you. Suzannd

For only $1300, you can work on your stroke over the winter: http://www.pogies.com/speedstroke/home.html Suzanne

Loved the pictures, tell us the details! Suzanne

Retrieving through the hull! Just what I needed. I will tell the doctor to just put a flap on the boat so that I can open and close the hole! (PS this one was too big and too holey for stickers)

Ha ha! You always make me laugh. Still can't get the picture out of my mind with you suspended above the rocks by the bow and stern and nothing supporting the middle and almost HEARING the cracks form. Don't think this will be any heavier at the end of it as the punched in part will be cut out and replaced - net weight gain zero?? No matter, it is a heavy one anyway - what's a few more pounds:)Better that the boat gains them than me!

Boat will be OK, a friend is starting the work on it. No, not Rick S... all he had to offer was a bunch of stickers. Suz

Group of four headed out of Portsmouth this morning for an early launch at 9:00. Warm rain, gray and drizzly - a perfect day on the water, right? We headed south along the coast hoping to find the predicted swells. Nothing much happening and the air was still. So we just played among the rocks. Couldn't see far in front which means when you are playing in the rocks, you can't really see the waves coming until they are right there. Sometimes they pick you up and put you in MUCH higher places than you were minutes before. Nice thing about a rising tide is that more water keeps coming in and takes you right back down from those higher places. Lots of fun exploring amongst the rocks. Even found a whole family with their buckets picking periwinkles off the rocks. Boy you would have to collect an awful lot to make dinner. After a quick stop for a snack, we continued south right along the coast so that we had a hand hold to follow in the fog. Well, one of those interesting waves picked me up and rolled me over and pulled my brand new $9.00 fog horn from the deck. Well after I rolled up and collected my hat, I decided to collect the fog horn (I did have it tethered but the tether stayed on my deck lines and the horn ended up in the water). So, in two feet of water, a couple of us kept trying to pick up the fog horn which as soon as you got to it, it would get washed under the boat. Finally I decided to roll for it and first attempt had my hat fill with water and nearly choke me... the second attempt between the breaking waves was nearly successful, I grabbed the fog horn but one of the pieces came off in my hand and the other remained on the bottom. SOOOooo I was really annoyed now and decided to just get out of the darn boat and stand up and pick it up. In the meantime, someone else had circled around me and ended up down wave of me. I pulled the skirt and came out of the boat. As I look out to sea, I see a bigger wave coming in, just about to break... I grabbed the boat but the wave pulled it right out of my hand and into the other boat. Did I mention that the fog horn was only $9... I heard the quick pop and the boat continued on towards the beach. I cringed as I headed over to it and rolled it over. Yes, it was holed. Round about two fists worth of surface area punched in. The fiberglass ripped through, right about where my feet are in the cockpit. The repair kit came out, duct tape and socks - the socks to dry the boat to be able to apply the tape. Couple of layers later, we were good to go. We were about 1.5 miles from Rye so we started to continue south. Figured that I could just wait there for one of the others to come back with a car. Winds started to pick up so we decided to re-think the situation. We did the unheard of - we decided to split up - two head back to the launch site in Portsmouth, two head to Rye to wait for the ride. Keys were passed and they headed out. It was 12:15 when we split. After a short paddle to Rye, Paula and I practiced strokes and sculling and then took a break for lunch. The others joined us at 2:15. So we ended up cutting the day short stopping MUCH earlier than normal. Once we got on the road after going back to get the other car and then moving boats back and forth, we were on the road when the skies opened up. I haven't seen that much lightning for a long time. I really think that if I hadn't holed the boat, we would have been on the water when the storm came. So, as I said, things happen for a reason. Did I mention that I never did go pick up the other half of the horn. Next time you are up in Portland, pick one up for me- they are only $9! Suzanne

Oh sheesh... the gear isn't even dry yet from the weekend! I'll try.

Sunday started out warm, wet and gray with barely a trace of breeze. A hardy group of paddlers arrived at Eastern Promenade in Portland and were met by Jed. I was a tad late arriving as we were christening two new Explorer's. Ciro and I met the group coming over and we headed to Peaks for the race. We joined up with the others on the beach and chatted and mingled and we were introduced to Cheri Perry of Greenland rolling fame ([http://www.whitemountainweb.com/kayakerperry/]), who was up visiting with Tom and June. Prior to the race, she demonstrated her rolling and offered her boat and tuliq to anyone who wanted to try it. She even brought a harpoon that was given to her in Greenland. The first of the two races began a bit later than planned as we were all just enjoying chatting and watching Cheri. Eventually we all lined up for the race and waited for the start gun. We all took off with the serious racers up front quickly leaving the rest of us behind. Eventually we all made it around with Andrew Binks claiming first prize. We all took a break before the next race and I took Cheri up on her kind offer to sit in her boat. I found that she has her boat trained very well and as soon as I sat in it, it responded to her words and brought me through a couple of rolls all on it's own. The amazing thing is that I thought I would feel very claustrophobic in the boat but actually ended up wanting to feel MORE wedged in. I wasn't able to touch the bulkhead so I used foam above my knees to lock myself into the boat. I never felt the need to come out of the boat as it balances easily on top of the water, even w/o a paddle. Amazing boat, I wish I could train my Explorer to do what it does. (Truthfully, if I had room, I would make one of these.) Now, the next race, the one to Outer Green, was for the serious racers, people who can handle conditions, navigation and are strong paddlers able to go the distance. Nearly all of us decided to start the race with the racers but let the ones that really wanted to challenge themselves, finish it alone. There were only a handful of finishers and Ciro de la Vega was the winner of this race. Remember, most of the people who finished the Outer Green race had also completed the morning's 5+ mile race and then the 11+ mile race along with their 2 miles back and forth to Eastern Promenade, Ciro added an extra 2 just meeting the morning show n go and then returning in the evening. So, although the Outer Green race itself was only 11 miles, the total miles were like the Blackburn. The funds raised during the race went to either Peaks Island Land Preserve or Marine Mammal Rescue League. Although attendance was low due to the weather, the conditions were great and the little rain that came was actually welcomed as it helped to cool us off as we all seemed to be overdressed. I think a good time was had by all who attended. Mike Sabin and Bill Gwynn took pictures of the day and I am hoping that they will post pictures shortly. The times will be posted on Maine Island Kayak Companies website shortly. Suzanne

Jonathan, I will be there. Suzanne

An alternative to using upper body strength to get into the boat or to using a stirrup (who would want to carry something extra?), is a method I learned at MIKCO. This is my preferred method of getting back into my boat if I come out. It is quick, easy and requires no effort. Rescuer dumps boat if possible, sometimes in conditions it isn't posssible... Line the two boats up as for a regular rescue, bow to stern... The rescuer holds the boat firmly (don't let them present the boat to you on it's side, makes it harder to get in and fills the boat w/ water) and the schwimma grabs hold of EITHER their own boat lines or the rescuer's, doesn't matter which. Floats your bottom up a bit and then they throw their outside leg into the cockpit, hooking their toe under the cockpit edge and using that as a lever, they can slip right into the cockpit on their belly (while slipping the other leg in to), flip over, put the skirt on and they are good to go. If in breaking water, paddle with the boat full til outside the break where you can then empty the boat once rafted in quiet water. Ok, EVERY time I do this, I am singing to myself Queen's Fat Bottomed Girls, but this works equally well for fat bottomed men:) Suzanne

That whole timing to ride the current is a lot more fun than last years slog against the ebbing tide. Lots of fun to be had up there. Although as we were heading back up the river a father and son were heading towards the mouth and I mentioned to them that there were 5' swells coming in at the mouth. They were blissfully unaware. We round the corner to take out at Fort Balwin and overheard a couple in two 8-10'rec boats commenting on our overdressing in neoprene for the day and here they were in their bathing suits. The Lacey's have a scary story to tell of their first trip to Popham in brand new Carolina's. Suzanne

Even I can't paddle EVERY night! Suz

that once you decided to share the wisdom you have accumulated and told me to lean forward, it was a totally different experience. The best part was racing ahead of the wave and then surfing back through it after a long (relatively speaking)ride before it breaks or just as it was breaking. Perhaps all of Cape Ann could hear my hysterical cackling with glee! It was a blast once I got the hang of it and couldn't wipe the grin from my face. Suzanne

Saturday they were fine at the paddle demo - I didn't see one but one person was bitten. I think we were protected by the cool weather and slight breeze in the afternoon. I also think they don't like the rain. Not sure if I would chance it yet in the marshes unless it was cool and windy. Don't they dissipate after the full moon flood? Suz