eneumeier

I am about to purchase a new Prius and although the website says cross bars are an option, http://www.toyota.com/configurator/#!/build/step/accessory/year/2016/series/prius/model/1227/exteriorcolor/03T7/interiorcolor/EA20/packages/option7/accessories/ the dealer is telling me they are not. Has anyone gotten a Prius with factory- or dealer-installed crossbars? What rack works best on a Prius? Liz

More than EVER: http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2016/04/12/video-shows-horde-seals-off-chatham/7sfMidCYOs2ljwkKJXfmqO/story.html?s_campaign=bostonglobe%3Asocialflow%3Atwitter Liz

Has a location been set for March 20? :oz

Years ago I did a trip in Norway, crossed the Arctic Circle, with this outfitter: http://crossinglatitudes.com/adventure-travel It was fabulous but they no longer run their own trips. I would trust their recommendations. Liz

any weekend except the first and last in October work for me. Liz

I am quite sure it is off season. Liz

my cat: http://33.media.tumblr.com/b3c75a712cc1e8a656acd4a3aa2ed3fc/tumblr_n8m4tgRaj21s8c9jeo1_500.gif Liz

from the seARTS description: Best of Show was presented to Rick Crangle Gloucester based wood sculptor and architectural specialist, who presented a magical woodland look that reflects his inspiration from the delicate layering and movement of a raven’s feathers. The look was modeled by Allison Campbell, an Endicott student who is also an intern at the Marblehead Art Association. This garment has over 500 individually hand cut, shaped, sanded, ebonized, and oiled wood elements. The full length skirt’s cherry “feathers” are upcycled from a wood staircase in Cambridge. I gotta get to the Cape Ann Museum to see it! Liz

To say nothing of our own Rick Crangle, who yesterday took BEST IN SHOW at the seARTS Wearable Arts show for his wooden dress. the attached picture is little bitty and sideways. Maybe someone can fix it. Liz

This trip is canceled. Liz

Will watch the forecast. (I cannot paddle any earlier.) SUN W WINDS 5 TO 10 KT...BECOMING N 10 TO 15 KT WITH GUSTS UP TO 20 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS 2 TO 4 FT. SUN NIGHT N WINDS 10 TO 15 KT...BECOMING NE 15 TO 20 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. GUSTS UP TO 25 KT. SEAS 4 TO 6 FT.

NSPN likes to be prepared for any contingency. I guess there is no interest in actually doing this trip, however. Will cancel if that does not change by Friday night. Liz

I cheated. I looked up a float plan from David Lewis' trip in 2005. The tides work to do this lovely trip in the afternoon: Rowley River Marsh Sunday, September 20 Launch at 2:30 PM <description> In her guidebook, Lisa Evans describes the Rowley section of the Great Marsh as a paradisiacal expanse of sky and salt marsh. And its true! Well paddle into the Marsh from Plum Island Sound around high tide, the best time to experience both the sky and marsh, and catch moderate currents both ways to make the 10-11 mile trip seem shorter. -Skill Level for Trip: Level 2 -Put-in location: Pavillion Beach, Ipswich, MA -Distance: 10-11 nautical miles High tide at the Plum Island south entrance is at 4:37 PM, so we would ride the flood current up, and return on the ebb at sunset. To give full credit, I am pasting David's full float plan below: FLOAT PLAN for the North Shore Paddlers Network (Description of participants and kayaks on the last page) 1. TRIP MONITOR (Name and Phone Number): [xxxx] 2. WHEN: Date/Launch Time: Sunday, September 12, 10:00 AM Intended Return Date/Time: Sunday, September 12, 3:30 pm 3. WHERE: Put-in Location (Include full description for emergency vehicles, parking and boat ramp restrictions, restrooms, etc.): Pavilion Beach, Ipswich, MA; no parking restrictions, and plenty of room. Nearest rest rooms are in Ipswich, for example the Dunkin Donuts. Take-out Location: Pavilion Beach, Ipswich, MA Planned route and landings: Well paddle up Plum Island Sound, hugging the Western shore, past the Yacht Club, and turn into the Eagle Hill River. High tide in the Sound near the Yacht Club is at 10:44 AM, and the current will be flooding at 1.0 kts and decreasing as we head up the Sound. Opposite Eagle Hill, near Bagwell Island, we will turn northwest into the marsh and wend our way up Stacey Creek, Roger Island River and other streams to the Rowley River. The NOAA chart (13282) is pretty accurate in this part of the marsh, so we should have no difficulty keeping on course, and since we will be near high tide (11:00-12:00 throughout the marsh) should be able to see where we are going at all times. Once on the Rowley, we will paddle to the town landing on Warehouse Lane, a total of about 5 nm from the launch, with the current, arriving around 11:45. There we will take a bio break with the flush toilets and have lunch on the dock. To return, we will leave Rowley around 1:00 and paddle out the Rowley River to the Sound, with some short side trips up marsh channels, and arrive in the Sound about 2:30, when the ebb current will be 1 kt or less at that place in the Sound, and decreasing as we go (max ebb current in the lower, narrower part of the Sound is 1.4 kts at 2:19 PM). We will then return to Pavilion Beach, again hugging the western shore of the sound. With side trips, this is 6 nm, but will seem shorter with the moderate ebb current in both the Rowley and Sound, and we should arrive back by about 3:15. Except for the Sound, this is highly protected paddling, so only thunderstorms or winds in excess of 10-12 kts will cancel. 10 kt winds opposing the current in PI Sound creating chop -- will make it level 3, and we will recommend that inexperienced paddlers pass it up. Alternate launch or landing: Rowley Town Landing, to make the trip in the opposite direction. But we are unlikely to use that since it means paddling against the current both ways. If anyone cannot continue, however, this is a good midway bailout point. Alternate launch or landing: the beach between Eagle Hill and Great Neck, to avoid paddling in the Sound. But there is not much parking there, and a lot of poison ivy. We will use this only for emergencies or late or early bailout. Nearest Roads: There are numerous roads on the Sound and Eagle Hill River until Eagle Hill. Between Eagle Hill and Rowley there are no roads, but we will never be more than 2 nm of protected paddling from the nearest road. Special hazards, e.g. current, surf, rocks, boat channels or restrictions, e.g. wildlife refuges: · Power boat traffic in Plum Island Sound. We will stick to the shallow western shore, not navigable by most power boats, both coming and going, and will not cross or even enter the Plum Island channel at any point. · Power boat traffic in the Rowley River. Its generally fairly mild, especially compared to the Sound and Parker River. Also, around high tide, which we will have, there will be plenty of room to keep out of channels and in shallower areas where most power boats will not venture. · Current in Plum Island Sound. If we stick reasonably close to the schedule, it will be moderate and in our direction on both legs, 1.0 kts or less. If we deviate from the schedule and are too early, at worst, the current will be 1.4 kts in our direction. · Chop in Plum Island Sound. If the prediction is for winds as high as 10 kts opposing the current in either the morning or afternoon, we will contact everybody to reclassify the trip as level 3, and recommend that inexperience paddlers, or experienced ones who know they wont like it, reconsider. · Hunting. This is early goose hunting season, but apparently there is none in this area (Walter Mears checked with local hunters and outfitters.) Duck hunting, which would be a hazard, runs in October. · Greenheads. They should be completely gone by September 12, especially with a 10 foot tide at the end of August to finish them off. 4. CONDITIONS: Tidal Times & Heights: high 10:44 AM, 8.0 feet, in the sound; half an hour later in Rowley Currents Time, Direction, Flow: In the narrow, lower Sound, the currents will be Max flood 8:28 AM 1.8 kts High slack 11:02 AM Max ebb 2:19 PM 1.4 kts Low slack 5:13 PM Launching at 10:00 AM will expose us to flood of 1.0 kts or less. Returning after 2:30 higher from up in the Sound will involve ebb or 1.0 kts of less. In both cases the current is with our direction of travel. Weather Forecast (Add on day of trip): 5. EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION: We are carrying (VHF Radios, cell phones #): VHF, Cell [xxx] We Monitor VHF Channels: 72 and 16 6. EMERGENCY RESOURCES: Coast Guard: Channel 16 *CG on cell phone reaches Coast Guard in VIRGINIA Local Coast Guard Search and Rescue: US Coast Guard Search & Rescue, Newburyport: 978-465-0731 US Coast Guard, Gloucester: 978-281-8453 US Coast Guard, Boston: 617-565-9200 Rowley Harbormaster: 978-750-5132, 508-397-2450 (cell) Rowley Police: 978-948-7644, 911 Rowley Fire Dept: 978-948-3812 Ipswich Harbormaster: 978-356-4343 Ipswich Police: 978-356-4343, 911 Ipswich Fire Dept: 978-356-4321 Beverly Hospital: 978-922-3000 Baldpate Hospital, Georgetown: 978-352-2131 Anna Jaques Hospital, Newburyport: 978-463-1000 7. POSTING TEMPLATE FOR www.nspn.org WEBSITE CALENDAR: <subject> Rowley River Marsh, Level 2 <date> Sunday, September 12 <time> Launch at 10:00 AM sharp (arrive at launch site by 9:15 AM) <description> In her guidebook, Lisa Evans describes the Rowley section of the Great Marsh as a paradisiacal expanse of sky and salt marsh. And its true! Well paddle into the Marsh from Plum Island Sound around high tide, the best time to experience both the sky and marsh, and catch moderate currents both ways to make the 10-11 mile trip seem shorter. -Skill Level for Trip: Level 2 -Put-in location: Ipswich, MA -Distance: 10-11 nautical miles -Duration: 5-6 hours -Group Size: 8 plus 2-3 leaders -Leader: David Lewis -Assistants: [xx]s and TBD -RSVP: yes,[xxx]

Thanks for all the pictures and wonderful report. I could only paddle Sat. and Sun. but it was great! Liz

I could do Sunday evening ... Liz

An electric carving knife works well, also. I found one at a yard sale for $1. You can borrow it if you like. Liz

I will be there. Liz

I am interested. Will PM the rsvp info. Liz

glad you got off the water good friend. That one was ugly. Took down lots of trees in Lanesville, and blew out my bedroom screen. Liz P.S. I was in Dallas at the time.

check the tides carefully for any marsh down there. they drain out a LOT at low tide and it can be difficult to stay in the main channel. You will not want to get stranded. Liz

Alas, I will be heading to the Vineyard. If weather should cause this to be cancelled, perhaps it could be rescheduled for after the moon, on Monday and I could join you then. Liz

Sorry, but I am cancelling this trip. My aunt died and I have to be at the funeral in S. Weymouth Friday afternoon. Liz

Liz

The only caution is that at VERY high tides some of the wharf is under water so cars/trucks have had water up to the hubcaps if parked on the low section. Liz

More enjoyment of long June evenings: Launch 4:30 PM Return: Dusk Level 2 - all inside Gloucester Harbor route: flexible but the St. Peter's Fiesta Seine Boat races and Greasy Pole contest will start around 4:45 PM. http://www.stpetersfiesta.org/2004program.html Proposed launch site: Rocky Neck - parking should be OK at 4 PM. Carry boats over the riprap or on the tidal flats side. High tide is at 7:41 PM so we will not have to deal with mud on the return. Let me know of your interest. Usual rules apply. Liz