alcoons

Seems as if Kevin forgot to mention how much somebody named Kevin worked behind the scenes and what a great job the same Kevin did filling in at the last minute. The guy is everywhere and wonderful. Al Al Coons Eddyline Nighthawk Red/White

Anyone know of SOUTHEAST EXPOSURE/ALASKA SEA KAYAKING ADVENTURES in Ketchikan? Looking to go to Misty Fiords. They have a nice looking program with reasonable prices but not much detail online. Anyone know of anyone else guiding/going to that area? Thanks, Al Al Coons Eddyline Nighthawk Red/White

We have 19 participants who have RSVP'd. Still can handle more. Even a few excited last-minute new paddlers who show up unannounced would be welcome although RSVPing through Friday evening would be preferred. Al Al Coons Eddyline Nighthawk Red/White

>>My wife and I did a 5 night circumnavigation of Orcas a >>couple of summers ago. > >>Al > > >Al - Did you use BBB or some other outfitter? The "trip" >I'm doing is mostly instructional, so I'll probably stick >around afterwards for at least another day to just do some >paddling around. I was planning to ask the BBB people if >they or another local outfitter have a casual one-day tour. >If there's a particular company you went with, I'd be >interested to hear it. > >Kevin We used Crystal Seas at: http://www.crystalseas.com/ Found them very professional and fun to be with. Not sure what their one-day trips are like..certainly more crowded, but they seem sensitive and knowledgable. Make sure you mention my name and they will charge you twice as much...no seriously...I have sent other paddlers them. Al Al Coons Eddyline Nighthawk Red/White

My wife and I did a 5 night circumnavigation of Orcas a couple of summers ago. While you certainly are not isolated all the time, this island is wonderful from the water. Much of the shore and many of the camp-grounds are are only accessible by boat. The tridal flows are massive and confusing. Hitting them right takes local knowledge (a guide). We loved every moment of it. Have a great trip. Al Al Coons Eddyline Nighthawk Red/White

If you use Therm-a-rest sleeping pads, consider a 10-14oz Trekker Chair which turns the pad into a comfortable seat. It takes very little space. See http://www.thermarest.com/product_detail.aspx?pID=102&cID=4 Al Al Coons Eddyline Nighthawk Red/White

>The clubs membership has dropped dramatically since 2003. I >recently shared some of these statistics with the board and >I know they are working very hard to correct the issues that >have caused the decline. Absolutely the #1 reason is lack of >"official" trips by the club. Much of the membership has the >expectation that in participating in such trips, they are >being led by a competent leader who has had some training. > I would suggest that an equal reason for dissatisfaction is the lack of Show & Goes/Private Trips. When I first joined the club a few years ago, I could go on either an "Official Trip" or a "Show and Go" every weekend during July-September. Now there are few "Show and Goes". I have found that the only way I can plan to paddle during many of the times when I am free is to try to post one myself. I sure would like to go to more new places with new people (Al Coons is boring and tends to go to places he knows) and push my limits more often (which I cannot do safely as the "unofficial leader" of a "Show and Go". Yes there is some responsibility when you post a "Show and GO"). I agree with others that the title "Private Trips" is misleading. Since these trips are not part of the mainstream messages or the calendar, many paddlers who would like to join one simple do not see them posted. I love this club. I appreciate what all those who take leadership positions try to do and how so many of you have helped me. However, my sense is we need to strip off the extra layers and get back to paddling first of all. We will loose some wonderful things, but we are trying to be too much and the result is a loss of what brings us together the most: paddling. Note: I believe many of those who are the most active posters here are experienced kayakers who have a group they can often paddle with...often from the club...and often without having an official or private trip. Many of them give a great deal of time to the club and o others. However, the group that most needs more trips of each kind are those we are unlikely to hear from here. Al Coons Eddyline Nighthawk Red/White

Good point Jason. The flier is the attachment at the end of the initial posting. Al >If everybody could print a copy and post the flier at work, >the Gym etc that would be great. As this workshop is of >the most value to people that are new to kayaking that won't >know to check the website. > > Al Coons Eddyline Nighthawk Red/White

>Al, > >The rental program is offered by North Shore Kayak in >Rockport. > >http://www.northshorekayak.com/ Thanks Kevin. What am I missing here. How they possible rent a kayak for the season for those low prices? Al Al Coons Eddyline Nighthawk Red/White

My wife is planning on doing some kayaking this summer. We could buy a second boat, used or new, and the gear to go with it. I also remember there is a local program that allows you to "rent" a used boat and gear at a reasonable price with option to buy at the end of the summer. Can anyone remind me which shop does that and perhaps some feedback on its pros and cons. Part of our consideration of this approach has to do with finding the time to do the long search of finding the right used/new boat for her...spending parts of 5-10 days driving around and trying boats, often not in the water. She is athletic and has paddled a good deal in doubles and some singles, but she really could not select a boat easily by sitting in it or even paddling it on the water for a while. So this approach is not as attractive as "show and going" with a boat from a program such as the one I mentioned earlier. Al Coons Eddyline Nighthawk Red/White

I met Adrianne Rogers at the Y two days ago. She is about to take up kayaking and plans to attend the NPSN "New to Kayaking Workshop" in April. She mentioned that she is involved with the Friends of Upper Mystic Lake (FUML) and that kayakers and land helpers would be valuable on their March 31 cleanup at the end of the upper lake. Since I will unfortuately be in Harrisburg, PA taking care of aging parents, please email her at aerogers at bu dot edu if you are interested. Below is the description of what is going on: "The cleanup is 3/31. There are parts of the shore below the Aberjona bridge and around the point of the Sandy Beach park that can’t be cleaned from the shore, so boats or kayaks are useful in picking up trash and taking it or throwing it up where we can get it from the shore. Also there is trash floating in the water to be picked up. Kayakers would be welcomed on foot also." Al Al Coons Eddyline Nighthawk Red/White

I received the email below asking for information. I suggested she post here but she is not a member. You can respond to her directly at ktmdy@aol.com or post a response here. Al --Looking to take a basic ocean kayaking class or a few good lessons. I have kayaked 20-30 times, but I need practice and formal training in wet exits, etc. I just volunteered to do a fundraiser (a 13 mile crossing from Norwalk Connecticut to Long Island) in July. Know anyone teaching in the winter? The pool sessions are for people with skills already, I need more direct teaching--a group class is fine. Thanks! ------ Mindi

See what you mean. Good point about luck being the deciding factor. Probably a good definition of a "foolhardy" attempt. Al Al Coons Eddyline Nighthawk Red/White

Sunday, Feb 11, 4:35 PM AEDT ABC NEWS AU http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200702/s1845116.htm Rescue efforts continue for missing kayaker By Peter Lewis New Zealand search and rescue teams say they are hopeful the missing Australian adventurer Andrew McAuley is still alive. Conditions in the search area in the Tasman Sea off New Zealand's South Island have been ideal for most of the day, but there still has been no sign of the missing paddler. His empty seven-metre sea kayak was found last night in the Tasman Sea off the South Island. The rescue coordination centre estimates around 6,000 square nautical miles of the Tasman Sea off Fiordland has now been checked by fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters in the 48 hours since they received a distress call. Constable Fin Murphy, who has been aboard one of the helicopters, says there is still a chance Mr McAuley is alive. "I am optimistic, but I'm also realistic," he said. "There's a few more things we need to confirm. His clothing, whether he's wearing an immersion suit. All those things are going to affect his ability to stay alive in the water." Constable Murphy says the aerial search will continue as long as visibility remains good. Mr McAuley's wife Vicki, their three-year-old son and his father Peter are all in Milford Sound, where they had planned to welcome him back from his month-long 1,600-kilometre trans-Tasman crossing. Al Coons Eddyline Nighthawk Red/White

>Has anybody been following the story about this guy---solo >paddler going from Tasmania to the South Island of New >Zealand in an off the shelf commercially available >kayak---not some specically made custom job like a team of >two Australians are doing--He is more than half way across >as of today---has capsized a number of times already but >either manages to roll up or do a reentry of some type---guy >obviously has more balls than brains but you still have to >admire, if not emulate, him. For the whole story go to >www.andrewmcauley.com Thanks for the interesting information. Wow. As stated in a web page I just read, this crossing is considered by some the "Everest of Kayaking". I am not sure if you intended to leave the impression that "Andrew" is inexperienced and not thoughtful? While the boat seems off the shelf, he has modified it (see quote below). He has tried the crossing before. No question he has a lot of guts to try this this way, but he seems to know what he is getting into. "The shed at my place is where I've been spending a lot of time lately. Tinkering away, refining all sorts of things for the Trans-Tasman kayak adventure. I've often thought the shed is the best room in the house!! It's not actually in the house, but I spend more waking hours there than I do inside, that's for sure. I've logged some time trying not to breathe in the toxic aroma of resin going off. I don't mind a spot of fibreglassing actually. The latest version of the "Bubble of Life", as it's been generously christened by my good friend and expedition medic (and new dad) Dr Richard Stiles, is a winner. This is the sleeping capsule that fits over my cockpit, and it's the key that allows my Tasman crossing to be done in a conventional kayak. It provides self-righting properties to my kayak while I sleep at night, and it sits on the rear deck as I paddle during the day. The sealing method took a few goes to get right, but the final result is outstanding. The picture for today is of the layup of an early prototype." [http://www.andrewmcauley.com/]

After reading the initial posts I was excited for him. He was getting so close to finishing. Somehow however, it reminded me of the overconfidence all experienced climbers try to avoid after making the summit. Getting down is the most dangerous part. Same as never taking a "last run" in skiing. Always end the day after the "next-to-last" run. The next post in this thread reported on his overturned boat and the search for Andrew. Ugh. Just found the following link dated Sunday at about 1 AM their time. I think that is pretty recent our time (Saturday, 3:30 PM). Unfortunately, he still has not been located. http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200702/s1844893.htm Al Coons Eddyline Nighthawk Red/White

Another couple and my wife and I are looking for a 4-7 night canoe camping trip during the end of March. The other couple cannot kayak. We are experienced campers and canoers. Not looking for continuous white water, a great challenge, or endless bugs. Just an interesting river and area to explore and reasonably warm weather. Any ideas? Thanks, Al Al Coons Eddyline Nighthawk Red/White

I was not aware of the Annual Meeting until I looked under the NSPN Business thread after reading this email. Did I miss something here or is there some reason why it would not also be posted on the General Message Board? Thanks, Al Al Coons Eddyline Nighthawk Red/White

Bob Assuming conditions are as expected, how might you rate this trip? Easy end of level 4? Thanks, Al Al Coons Eddyline Nighthawk Red/White

It is about that time when trips start requiring wet suites. Tell me if I am wrong, but many paddlers will have wet suits without sleeves and most likely wear a good paddle jacket on top. Would a reasonable substitute for this combo be full length hydroskin pants and top (to the ankles and wrists) and a paddle jacket? Thinking of the Gerrish Island trip this weekend. Thanks, Al Al Coons Eddyline Nighthawk Red/White

Very interested. More details would be appreciated. Al Al Coons Eddyline Nighthawk Red/White

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=425937 Tom, Barry, Jacki, and Al launched from Hingham Harbor Park at 9:45 on this wonderful, warm, calm September Saturday. I was surprised how high the water was just two hours after the low. We went direct to Hull Gut, with a slight but increasing wind and adverse current. On the way out, Chris tracked us down. He had camped the night before on Rainsford Island. We took a short break on the beach on the inside of Hull Gut. FYI, the facilities are closed for the season. There was some current on the far side of the Gut, but it was easy to paddle through on the windmill side 2 hours before high tide. We had been discussing going to Boston Light via Georges Island and along the shoals, but Jackie suggested dealing with the boat traffic to Georges might not be a good idea. In fact, we left Chris heading back to his campsite watching the traffic streaming out of the Gut waiting for an opportunity to cross. I hope he made it across by dinner. Jackie suggested we head to Alerton Point for lunch. She had heard there was a good beach around the corner. A uneventful paddle took along the rocky shore to the first beach (not as nice as further down, but we needed to head back sooner than later). We came back the way we went out, entertained first by 40 high powered racing boats headed out to sea at 40? 50? mph. I wish they had practiced their loud symphony before forcing us all to listen to it. While we all worry about getting hit by a power boat, I was glad I was not in smaller power boats as the fast movers serpentined around them in the main channel. Even though it was only an hour after high tide, the gut was very choppy due to the boat traffic and had a much higher current than expected. It was all very doable. Barry impressed us all with how he handle his new Capella in his first truly confused water and significant current. We headed for a stop by at Bakers, marveling at the 100? sailboats blanketing the horizon in what must have been a race. A quick stop at Bakers started with an impressive dry to wet exit on the beach by yours truly. One of those classic put one leg out of the boat, stand up on it, realize your not quite stable but you will be OK by shifting weight from the one foot sinking in the sand to the other foot on the floor of the cockpit...then slowly teetering and then falling on your back in the marsh. We returned to the cars as expected at 4 PM after a route of almost 15 miles. Great trip! Al Al Coons Eddyline Nighthawk Red/White

Hi Jackie. Looking forward to your company. I see you are also going on the other Saturday S&G? Al Al Coons Eddyline Nighthawk Red/White

Three of us are already doing a show-and-go on Saturday, September 9 from Hingham Harbor Park. Launch at 9:30. High tide is at about 1 PM so we will be dealing with adverse current for part of the trip. Level 3 skills required. Out Higham Bay, pass World's End, enjoy some Harbor Islands, Windmill Point, and if conditions and the group is right, Boston Light (10-14 miles) Bring lunch and appropriate extra clothing. This a show and go. It is not sponsored by the NSPN and may not have anyone certified as a leader. You are responsible for yourself, but of course we will stick together and take care of each other. Check here for changes or clarifications. Al Coons Eddyline Nighthawk Red/WhiteAl Coons

Janis. Thanks for organizing a great show-and-go. Kayaking, great route, golf tournament, sand-castle competition and perfect timing! Al Al Coons Eddyline Nighthawk Red/White