RogerPollock

Folks, Walter, Marc Sears and myself will be heading out early on Friday (8 am). Probably lanes cove to duck out of the wind. I think Walter said Mike Crouse may be coming, too. We're open to anybody who might want to come along. Roger

GREAT PICS, BRAD. THE VISIBILITY SURE LOOKS FINE IN THEM. KICKED MYSELF ALL DAY FOR NOT GOING. THANKS AND KUDOS FOR WALLY FOR THE CHOW. ROGER

OBVIOUSLY, A LATE POST, BUT ALL ABOARD WHO'S COMING ABOARD . . . S&G 11 (PROMPT)AM TOMORROW (SATURDAY) @ BACK BEACH ROCKPORT. WE'LL MEET THERE AND LAUNCH @ GRANITE PIER. IT LOOKS LIKE A CALM DAY - 5KT OUT OF THE EAST, TURNING SOUTH IN AFTERNOON, 1-2 FOOT SEAS. OPEN TO SUGGESTIONS, TOO. IT'S A SHOW AND GO; DRYSUITS, ETC. ROGER

Suz, As far as navagation goes, I need instruction from the basics forward. I'd be interested in anything you might get going on. Roger

Back Beach at 10:00 am is fine. Let's do it. All aboard that's coming aboard! For those who don't know where it is, rough directions: Take Rt. 128 through the second rotary to Eastern Ave. (Rt. 127) where you turn left. Follow 127 until the 4 way fork then continue straight. When you reach the ocean, you're there. My cell phone is 617-283-7665 if anybody gets lost. There should be plenty of non-metered spots, but better be safe and bring some quarters just in case. I think three bucks usually does it.

David, "Is this going to be one of your famous pre-dawn launches? ;-))" You have to plan accordingly when you're going with Walter. You have to tell him 7:30/8:00, and even then you're lucky to launch at 10:30 . . . Seriously, 10:00/10:30 is fine.

Walter Mears and I will be getting out somewhere on Cape Ann on Sunday. Anyone who'd like to join us is welcome. Sunday appears to be the better of the two days: Sun: W Winds 15 to 20 kt. Seas 3 to 5 Ft. Pebble or Back Beach . . . Straitsmouth and Thatcher's . . . If the buoy readings are out of control Sunday morning, and depending on how those interested feel ahead of time, we could always default to the Annisquam River and make a lazy day of it. I mean, there's no rule we have to risk life and limb every time out. We'll accommodate. This is obviously and unofficial trip. Also, the water's getting frickin' freezing, so drysuits are a must, along with neoprene on head, hands and feet. Let us know . . . Roger

Geez, sorry, Sea-Dog, I would have loved to, but some of us aren't independently wealthy and have to work most Thursday afternoons. Lucky you. I'd be happy to entertain a show and go for something more practical, like, say, Sunday.

Guys, Beautiful dead calm, like the end of July or something. Thanks for the pics!!

You guys are dogs for paddling on a Wednesday. Reading your post is hell for the rest of us who have to work for a living . Nice pics. Hope to see you guys this weekend . . .

Rick, Knowing my situation, you're assured I say this with utterly no malicious glee, but, welcome to the club. I'm sure many will have something to add to the post, but, in my experience thus far, the plastic zipper - on my leaky Palm - has been just fine. My problem has been the seams. The zipper, though, on the suit when it was new, was stiff as hell until you lubed it, but, once lubed, it zipped fine. You mention the gaskets, too, however, so, you've got the works to contend with. My soggy condolances . . . Roger

Folks, I'm being evaluated this coming Monday for carpal tunnel surgery. I've suffered with this for ten years, brought on by heavy work, like weight lifting, yard work, construction work, and, now, paddling. I've had about enough. Knife or no knife. Those who've never experienced this, can barely begin to imagine the sleepless nights and general misery and michief it causes in one's life. Anybody have any experience with this surgery - either positive or negative? Roger . . .

So, on Friday I go and pick up my new (left-over-demo) Palm Sidewinder drysuit, found, luckily, in the warehouse by the Palm rep up in Maine, which they shipped to the retailer down here. I go immediately to Chebaco lake, don the thing, and hurl myself in the water, giving the sole bystander at the boat landing, an environmental police officer, cause to raise his eyebrows and think me totally off my gourd. No leaks. I’m bone dry. Phew. I go on Saturday back to Chebaco to practice rolling (so, I don’t blow rolls at the Greenland session the following day and look like a boob– which happens nonetheless, thank you very much). I’m wet when I’m done, but I figure (optimistically) it’s perspiration. Following the Greenland session, I’m sopping wet in the crotch, and my entire right arm. Like, I can wring water out of my undergarment. Oh, sure, I bet that’s sweat, too. Right? Sure. Definitely. Back to the bathtub I go. Twice. To be sure. Leaks. Essentially right in the same spots. I guess I’m blowing the seams in the things - in two rolling sessions. I talked to the rep again, and though she can’t believe it - I guess there’s potentially a whole manufactured lot of these things with weak seams out there, ticking time bombs that Palm ought to hope they sold to paddlers unlikely to perform maneuvers more lively than the very occasional bow rudder. Jeesh. So, now I’m back to waiting – with a leaky suit - for the cargo container with the ’05 suites to come in sometime who knows when – December/January. I mean, is it me? I’ve looked closely, and there’s nothing particularly abrasive lurking in my armpit. I don’t have Brillo pads glued to my hips. Shouldn’t a suit marketed to kayakers – including whitewater kayakers – be able to withstand a couple rolling sessions? Oh, woe is me . . . One more shot for Palm and I’m buying a fricking Kokatak.

Providing I have a drusuit that doesn't leak - and maybe even if it does - I'm in. Let's play human popsicle!! Roger

Good to know, Brian, but I guess it's just the principal of the thing, you know. In either case, the rep for Palm was apologetic and agreeable to replacing it with a new demo suit with tags still on it from their warehouse, otherwise I'd be waiting for a new one to come into the country while stuck with this leaky one, or I'd be waiting with nothing while the leak was fixed, so, providing the replacement doesn't leak, all's well that ends well. Whew . . .

So on Wednesday I go out and buy a brand new Palm drysuit (and get a great deal on it to boot). I use it Thursday night at Chebacco, and it leaks. No, it’s not the gaskets or the zippers; those are just fine. It’s leaking at the hip and in the armpit on the right side. Thinking it might have been sweat, I test it tonight in the bathtub (much to the delight of my 4 and 7 year old kids, to see their father floating in the tub in his “moon suit”). It leaks again, right in the same spots. I believe it’s the seams. The retailer says to bring it back and they’ll either give me my money back (which I don’t really want, because I like the suit, and I got a good deal), or they’ll send it back to Palm (they don’t have another one in my size) – but the warranty indicates they’ll either replace or “repair” at their discretion. I mean, I’d rather have the thing replaced outright. I don’t want a “repaired” suit, which I JUST BOUGHT BRAND NEW AND ONLY USED ONCE. I want a NEW suit with no issues. Is this reasonable? Do I have any leverage here? Anybody in the club ever been through this? I’m wicked disappointed. Help Thanks Roger

Deliberatly dumping in a 4 to 6 foot sea sounds like a heck of a lot of fun to me. I'm in! Roger . . .

Suz, I'd love to come. Please count me in. Let me know if ???'s . . . Thanks!! Roger

Looks good!! I knew I should have called you guys to see what was up. Monday was my only available day . . . Roger

Bill, Thank you so much for the pictures. My family and I really enjoyed them. And thanks to both you and Ol' Walter Sea Dog for the fine company on a great day, surf or no surf. And just where was Loblolly cove, anyway? I feel like we got lost in the Bermuda Triangle for a while . . . p.s. Just got back from the mall with a new (same) hat. Let it and my lost water bottle rest in peace in the deep. Roger

I'm in if you'll have me. I don't have a helmet, but I've got a hard head. I'm up for some rock play and some navigation lessons. See you at nine. Roger