Gcosloy

Sad to see-the Cat Force series was a unique design in expedition sea kayaks that will be missed. I'm glad to have mine.

A drysuit is almost always more comfortable even in warmer air. As was already said you can always cool off by rotating. If you don't roll, grab onto the bow of a paddle mate and dunk yourself. The wetsuit is more difficult to moderate. You may be perfectly comfortable in the air and even during immersion. It is after immersion that with light to moderate wind, evaporative cooling can take its toll on body temperature. My rule of thumb is you can never dress too warmly - if you get too warm you can compensate-if you get too cold there may be little you can do about it.

Gene,

The matrix is still available on the NSPN website as it has always been. It is a submenu under Paddling with NSPN.

Cathy

Thank you Cathy, as my wife tells me, "You can never find anything".

Looks like a lovely lineup of opportunities to paddle. I hope to add to this list later in the season. One question however-what ever happened to the NSPN matrix of Levels? How's a participant to know whether they are proficient for a Level 2 or 3 paddle without this guide?

Phil-I think the benefit of this product is that it doesn't require a splint for strength.

John-thanks again for a very informative session. I think I have learned enough to be able to calculate ferry angles at home.

Les-In the first session which you may have missed, John had us use the parallel rule to locate magnet north from a compass rose on the chart and then using dividers space multiple lines parallel one knot apart. You now don't need to add the declination value for magnet but also have a useful measure of distance at least approximately from east to west and west to east.

I like Peter's suggestion of two pods and two launch sites. Since I've never paddled in this area I would be just as happy to leave from Cousin's unless there is a problem leaving cars there overnight.

Hi Bob,

Happy to volunteer for the workshop: I have over the years owned many boats and demoed many more-I wish I knew as a newcomer what I know now about appropriate boats for individuals-happy to share this experience if you think it useful and will also schlep one of my prized boats to the venue.

Gene

Gary,

Assuming we launch from an area still on my chart, I would be happy to volunteer for the navigation role.

So... it sounds as though you are going to go to the bear's home, go into his/her living room, set up camp and then shoot the bear if it is uncomfortable with you being in his/her home, is that accurate?

I'm not going to make a judgment either way. Just to say the obvious: If you're going to go to bear country be prepared to defend your life against their natural aggression, or support your guide's decision to do the same. If either of those options are unacceptable to you, do not go to bear country! I will not be going to bear country anytime soon.

I seem to remember a slight dust-up not too long ago regarding the NSPN Forum Etiquette regarding posts that are intended to be inflammatory. I fear that this post could head us in that direction again.

If you're referring to Katherine's tongue in cheek post about Alaska bears, then I would say you need a sense of humor. Her post breaths a breath of fresh air into a forum that is frankly sometimes too officious and stuffy. We need to lighten up more, isn't this sport supposed to be fun? And if her post was deadly serious, which it very well might be; what's wrong with her expressing a dissenting opinion about a subject that is bound to cause controversy?

I have the Olympus 8010 which I've used for a couple of seasons. I rinse with fresh water after each use and no problems yet-I like the auto lens cover that keeps blurring water spots off the lens. Sharpness is a bit soft and some pictures need to be sharpened with software like iphoto or something similar. My experience is that the Lumix has sharper lenses but the Olympus is more robust.

I'm enjoying the National Geographic reality show called "Survival Alaska". In last Sunday's episode the competing groups had to traverse bear country. while they were fishing a shallow stream for salmon, they were unknowingly competing with local bears for the same food. One participant was on the opposite shore from his companions when a large bear saw him couching to adjust his foot-ware. The bear sensing a meal started across the stream toward him and then broke into a run. The potential meal stood up and raised his arms to the sky and that gave the bear pause and it slowly retreated. I don't know if this would work each and every time but in the absence of a large caliber weapon, make yourself big!

Feb. 10, 2014 issue of the New Yorker magazine has two great articles: One is a profile of Diana Nyad, ocean swimmer who recently swam unaided by shark cage from Cuba to Fla. Two, is "Thicker than water" a nautical nightmare in Nantucket. As a subscriber I'd love to give you a link but the online magazine only provides part of the articles for non-subscribers. Try the local library or better yet buy a copy. The Nantucket story of capsize and rescue of a commercial fisherman and his clients by his father is a cautionary tale of how hubris, unpreparedness and stubbornness conspired to put several lives at risk in an unpredictable sea.

Thank you John for a wonderful session. I particularly liked the information about being aware of the surroundings and being able to perceive navigation clues from your environment without relying on a compass. I'll need to remember to pay more attention to these clues when I paddle.

John,

I have the Maptech waterproof chart 21 which is Boston Harbor. It appears to be similar to the NOAA chart except the scale is 1:33000 will I be able to use this for the exercise?

I always use a cockpit cover to increase streamlining on the car and potentially save gas and clip on to a bungy in front of the cockpit.

Topics: attendance and choice of chart

Excellent - we have three sets now. Can I get a rough census of people who are coming, so we can figure out the size of groups working together? I realize plans can change at the last minute, but it's good to find out who is intending to go.

Here's another question - we should all have common charts to work from. My inclination is to go with a chart that most people might find handy.

One is a 1:25000 of Boston Harbor - you can preview it here:

http://www.charts.noaa.gov/OnLineViewer/13270.shtml

It's chart 13270

Another is the approach to Southwest Harbor

http://www.charts.noaa.gov/OnLineViewer/13321.shtml

It's chart 13321

Charts are available typically as print-on-demand by places like Charts Online - (nautical charts.com)

Here's a link to the SW Harbor chart from Charts Online:

http://nauticalcharts.com/search_details.php?ID=18603&SearchField=13321

Boston Harbor

http://nauticalcharts.com/search_details.php?ID=19008&SearchField=13270

If we're breaking up into teams, we don't necessarily need one chart per person.

Note that there aren't any large tidal currents for these areas. I may try to choose a smaller area for printout where there are significant tidal currents.

John,

Maptech no longer uses the NOAA numbers but they have a Boston Harbor chart. Will that be equivalent? Also I shall be coming with another parallel rule!

John,

Its not as accurate but in a pinch a folded sheet of paper and a length of string marked out in nautical miles could substitute for parallel ruler and dividers.

Fascinating article about the survival of an overboard fisherman off Long Island ... fortunately it was July and not January!

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/05/magazine/a-speck-in-the-sea.html?pagewanted=1&hp

Barry.

I read the article and thought that fishermen could benefit from wearing one of those PFD's that sailors favor-flat , light and un-inflated unless you pull a cord or hit the water. The other idea was that when working with an open deck to the water as he was he could have been tethered-again another safety practice of many sailors. Great story and one of great courage and mental focus in a confusing and scary situation.

Awesome craft made precise by modern manufacturing techniques. His paddles seem like the perfect gift-something you would feel guilty about giving yourself but would be super grateful to receive from someone else! I think I'll send this video to my kids!

Amazing! Have to love the mammals in the water.

Congrats to all. Pru did you do the knee? If so good luck with that. I'm currently PT ing for my second hip with the same goal as yours. (but I hear that knees may be a tougher road than hips).

Cathy,

Thank you-you were right-that was the problem-all is fine now!

Check your clock/time settings.

Do you mean my computer settings; if so they are correct? Are there settings for the NSPN site as well?