Lbeale

Wind, Wind, Wind--Ice, Ice, Ice--paddling with current (smart move), nine paddlers seasoned (in more ways than one) dressed for immersion (another smart move)--Good company, funny stories, Freshettes Rock (ask Bettie)--

Thank you Sal for organizing this trip--and my thanks to everyone else on the water with me yesterday--I had a blast--next time, let's find some eagles-- les

A few of us are planning on paddling on the Merrimack River on Sun 12/28. Leaving from the boat ramp at the Salisbury beach state campground at 10 am then paddling upriver. Hopefully to Deer Island at the chain bridge. As of Friday afternoon there was quite a bit of ice collected around the rte 1 bridge so we'll have to remain flexible but from rte one to the mouth of the river things looked pretty much wide open. There's always a good chance of seeing seals, this time of year, in the area of the put-in and also a good chance of spotting osprey and bald eagles. Air temps should be mild but water temps will be in the 40deg F range. Predicted high tide at the put-in is 11:30am. If we make it as far as Deer island it will be a 10-12 NM round trip (if we get turned back at rte 1 the distance will be cut in half) with a favorable tide in both directions. Anyone with proper equipment is welcome to join us ( 5-7 mm full wetsuit or drysuit and of course, a pfd). Also bring extra dry clothes and something to munch on when we take a break. You can post interest or questions here, send me an e-mail at spuglisi155 at yahoo dot com or call my cell 978-973-6806

Sal

Sal-- I am in and thx for the directions--see you tomorrow--les

Not kayaking related, but good info with video on cold water survival.

http://www.yukonman.com/cold_water.asp

I have never heard of any gender differences. Certainly body size/weight is a factor, but overall physiology/health would be a bigger factor.

I remember several years ago, reading a story in the New Yorker about the woman who swam in the Southern Ocean near the Anartica. The question, how could she swim in frigid waters without getting hypothermic? My limited understanding of the article and physiology in general, is that her fat cells uniquely metabolized allowing her to swim in frigid waters for extended periods of time.

I don't remember her ability being gender-related, but I can be mistaken. Does anyone know this story or read the book about this swimmer? Do you know of a better explanation than the poorly constructed one I gave? les

I agree that this short video is not a great "Training Tool" for kayakers. It's not meant to be. I did however find it to be accurate information and in no way misleading.

Anyone interested in additional information on cold water immersion and hypothermia, see the Hypothermia Page here at NSPN.

I don't think the video is a training tool, either. It is more of an informational video on why it is important to wear a pfd.

I also have never seen a video that shows a person in cold water immersion until they are "almost" hyperthermic--maybe there are other videos out there--I have just not seen one--

How many of us have been paddling in the colder months and seen people in kayaks without pfd's? I know that I have on more than one occasion--particularly around Cape Ann.

The mythology of "I don't have to wear a pfd b/c I am close to shore" is debunked given the statistics quoted in the video.

Maybe Bill, you can answer these questions for me--

Do you know of any gender differences in hypothermia? Is gender a factor? Or, is the gender factor negated by body weight? Given that all things are equal in equipment, if one person weighs more than another person, the heavier weight person, stays warmer longer - regardless of gender?

Les

http://www.nasbla.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=1

Saw this video being passed around on the different surfski message boards--description of what happens (stages) to the body's responses during immersion in cold water--

If you have some time, watch it (10 minutes)--you may want to pass it on to paddlers who think wearing a life jacket is a bother--les

And Heidi--thank you for all your hard work in making the event so much fun--I guess it is good news that you even recognized me as the "swearing ferret" --

It was so nice to see so many wonderful people last nite and to be able to catch up with such nice friends-such events reminds me that pleasure of paddling is not only being on the water--but the people I have met-Happy Holidays to all--les

Due to weather forecast for tomorrrow--trip cancelled--les

Update on Prudence Island trip--moved to Sunday--September 28, 2008

Paddlers paddlin' that trip: maybe you?

Launch from Colt State Park in Bristol, RI -- time for launch is 9:30 am/back at put is 4:30 pm.

Distance of paddling: approximately 15 miles round trip with beach breaks.

Directions:

(Bristol is about 7 or 8 miles south west of Fall River,Ma)

http://www.newenglandsite.com/ri-coltstatepark.shtml

Location of put in @ Colt State Park:

http://www.riparks.com/pdfs/coltmap.pdf

Colt State Park directions:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&...mp;t=h&z=16

The route is approximately 14 - 15 miles with launch from Colt St Park and crossing over to Prudence Island.

Ideally, we paddle the eastern shore to the southern tip of Prudence have a break either at the southern tip of Prudence or at the Light at Sandy Point about 1/2 down the island.

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=1955547

This route does cross the East Passage Shipping channel in Narragansett Bay so there could be some boat traffic when we cross the channel.

This route plan is temporary--depends on winds shifts, etc. Some of us may want to paddle longer distances but the minimum for this trip is 14 - 15 miles.

Any questions? Interest? Please post here--

Leaderless Les, AKA, Swearing Ferret--

Thanks to our paddling friends at Wild Turkeys and RICKA for their detailed trip reports and trip announcements:

Launch from Colt State Park in Bristol, RI (exact time for BIB to be determined -- but early around 9:00-9:30);

(Bristol is about 7 or 8 miles south west of Fall River,Ma)

http://www.newenglandsite.com/ri-coltstatepark.shtml

Location of put in @ Colt State Park:

http://www.riparks.com/pdfs/coltmap.pdf

Colt State Park directions:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Asylum+Rd,+Bristol,+RI+02809,+USA&sll=41.687159,-71.284554&sspn=0.011586,0.020084&ie=UTF8&ll=41.685092,-71.290605&spn=0.011586,0.020084&t=h&z=16

The route is approximately 14 - 15 miles with launch from Colt St Park and crossing over to Prudence Island.

Ideally, we paddle the eastern shore to the southern tip of Prudence have a break either at the southern tip of Prudence or at the Light at Sandy Point about 1/2 down the island.

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=1955547

This route does cross the East Passage Shipping channel in Narragansett Bay and there are ferries from Bristol - Prudence; so there could be some traffic at times on the water.

This route plan is temporary--depends on winds and tides, currents, etc. Some of us may want to paddle longer distances but the minimum for this trip is 14 - 15 miles. Once we get closer to the date, there will be more specifics on this trip.

Those of you who have done this trip, any suggestions or considerations that might be helpful in planning would be most helpful--

Any questions? Interest? Please post here--

Leaderless Les, AKA, Swearing Ferret--

John Leonard and I are planning on paddlin' around Prudence and Patience Island in RI.

Date: Sept. 27, 2008 (Saturday)

Distance: 18 miles for sure--probably more--

Launch from: Colts Street Park in Bristol, RI

CAM rules rule for the day--

Early launch -- get off the water when we feel like it--details on where, when, etc. and who signs up to join this motley crew--later

All are welcome--but this is a distance trip as opposed to a sightseeing trip--so more paddling and playing on the water than taking breaks on the shore--

Please post here if interested--

leaderless les

I am in--les

After two and a half hours at Walden Pond yesterday, I still could not get that wing paddle to stop diving during a roll--obviously, doing something wrong--any words of wisdom?--When I practice, should I first practice with greenland paddle then work my way up to the wing? Or, stick with the wing because the feel of the paddle is so different?

Les

Just checking if any interest in one of these:

1. Going around Gerrish from Kittery mainly as excuse for beer and burgers at Red Hook.

2. Lower Casco Bay as in maybe around Peaks and out to Ram I. light mainly as an excuse for popcorn and beer at $3 Deweys.

3. Somewhere in Upper Casco Bay as an excuse for lobster rolls at some funky shack.

Ed Lawson

I am interested in all of the above trips--mostly for the lobsta' roll--but of course, not all in one day--les

I am not aware of a Pavillion beach in Rockport. There is one in Gloucester, and one in Ipswich.

Thanks Bill -- I meant to put either pebble beach with Rockport or Greasy Pole/Pavillion beach with Gloucester--got 'em mixed up in my haste--

So here is the story--leave Greasy Pole/Pavillion, Gloucester say BIB around 10:30 am (after rush hour traffic for me) head towards misery or as far as we want -- try to be back in reasonable hour say around 3:00--to beat the traffic back--

Looks like a perfect day to launch from pavillion beach in rockport--winds 5-10 south

low tide 10:14 am high tide 3:54 pm

go north or south --wherever we decide--and however long it takes-

CAM rules rule--

who is game? work can't be that important--

les

Many thanks to David Lewis for posting a very enjoyable paddle from Cohasset Harbor. We first went to Minot Light, then headed NW towards Nantasket Beach. After stopping for lunch, we paddled N for another mile or so, then S to Little Harbor where the rest of the group (Les, Judy, David, and John) played in the current while I took photos. A beautiful day and great company. I posted some photos at http://danielfabricant.com/

Dan

Dan,

Thanks for the pics you took--is there anyway I can get a copy of one or two of the pics? Les

Anyone interested in paddlin' on Friday? If so, let me know and I'll put together some options depending on wind, weather, and tide--les

Cohasset -- Sunday 8/17. 11:00 AM butts-in-boat -- and allow time to move the cars to a parking place.

Many options -- Minot's Light, Les's Picnic Rock, Little Harbor and the rip, up toward Nantasket. Also, if anybody is interested, we can catch the end of the main harbor rip before heading out.

Launch from the Parker Avenue ramp...

Directions in NSPN Put-ins -- http://www.nspn.org/put_ins.htm

http://tinyurl.com/65y9yx

http://tinyurl.com/5wxgdk

--David.

I'll be there--les

Les's description sounds like the put-in described as "Winthrop". The boat ramp is at the "southwest" corner of the parking lot. I had hoped to launch from Deer Island which is at the bitter end of Shirley St. I will check both places, i.e. there is one road going south that passes "Winthrop" on the way to Deer Island. If we launch at Deer Island there is no boat ramp but rather a short walk over sand/beach to the water's edge starting at the back of the parking lot. If you don't see anyone at the Winthrop parking lot you may want to check Deer Island, with a parking lot a the gates of the water treatment plant. If you drop leave an e-mail address I will provide you my cell number.

please follow these directions-- much easier to get to graves from this launch--les

Me too, please!

I assume that "Winthrop" is the Winthrop Harbor Boat Ramp described in the put-in list, yes? no--close but no cigar--it is on the other side--the ocean side--not the airport side--at the end--even further down the road--follow these directions but still keep driving until you get to the other side--there is a parking lot--follow bob b's description--les

Judy

Winthrop

Explore Belle Island Marsh - the OLDEST existing marshland in the United States. It is fun to paddle around the airport - water quality not great - don't want to spill - around Deer Island treatment plant and then up along the coast past north end of Winthrop, Revere beach (the oldest public beach in US) to Nahant and around then around Nahant. Take Route 1A north from Logan Airport about 1.5 miles to Route 145 (just south of Suffolk Downs). Turn right on Route 145 to Pleasant Street. Right on Pleasant (still following signs for 145). At intersection of Shirley Street and Route 145, turn right and follow Shirley Street 0.4 mile to the Winthrop Harbor Boat Ramp on the right. Free parking.

I just may join you all. Is the boat ramp fairly obvious once headed to Deer Island? Haven't been there before so will be strictly on instruments ;-)

Carl C.

great carl--it will be fun to paddle with you again--the boat ramp is on the right--part of the parking lot--you kinda follow your nose until you can't go anymore--you will see the parking lot on the right--les

I'd be interested in joining you. I don't think I've paddled with any of you before, but since I live in South Boston, I paddle in Boston Harbor a lot. Usually I go solo after work and stay in among the closer islands, Thompson and Spectacle. I have gone as far out as Boston Light, so I'm familiar with the perils of the channel crossings. I like the idea of paddling with a group out there because having only one pair of eyes looking for the high speed ferries is stressful to say the least. I've also never been out to the Graves, so that interests me as well.

welcome--see you tomorrow--les

Hi Les,

Just a quick post to clarify that Common Adventure does not mean Leaderless. There seems to be some confusion regarding this. Here is a paragraph from http://www.nspn.org/trip_participation.htm

Trip Leadership. While on a Common Adventure trip, leadership is a fluid process. If someone knows the area, he assumes a leadership role, helping the group find their way. If there's an accident on the trip and someone has good first aid skills, they assume leadership. If a kayaker capsizes, another person may take over. Major decisions are made democratically as a group, with weight given to those with specialized knowledge. Often it is the trip initiator that guides the democratic process. In this process, everyone is able to express their opinions and shed light on the decision. By involving everyone, the group is able to tap all of its resources, making it far stronger than if one person tries to make all of the decisions.

So, bottom line, this is your trip, and you may choose to have it be leaderless, but, a true CAM trip does in fact have leaders.

Cheers,

Bill

Thanks Bill for the clarification of the CAM definition of trip leadership. Les

forgot to mention--this trip is leaderless--this is a Common Adventure Trip-see Trip participation section in Events & Planning for clarification. Thx, les

Bob B, John L. and myself will be launching from Winthrop Deer Island on Sat--BIB @11 AM. We will probably be going out to Graves and other whatnots islands--directions are in the pt-in section of NSPN trips

This is a 3+ level trip given the boat traffic, shipping lane, etc. If interested post here.

Les