alcoons

>I have paddled Hingham Harbor and have thought about doing a >S&G but I would have called it a level 2, perhaps in error. >What would make this particular paddle, in benign >conditions, a level 3? It certainly is a level 2 in "benign" conditions. However, there have been times when the wind has created some level 3 conditions (waves+wind) even to the close in Harbor Islands. However, I post it as a level 3 since when the conditions are reasonable, this type of group often agrees to go further out. For example we went to Boston Light and other "outer" islands from Dorchester about a month ago. So the distance this group usually goes is further than a level 2. In fact, we have had level 2 paddlers moving up to level 3 who have gone on relatively short level 3 trips and found the distance quit a challenge. So, there is no question that a Hingham Harbor paddle can make a wonderful level 2 paddle. It is also a perfect place to take a group of level 2 paddlers and introduce them to level 3. In my case, I am just posting a trip that often goes further and for those that can handle serious level 3 waves and current (Hull Gut at times). Does this make sense? Al

****CANCELLED*** Show and Go on Sunday, September 11 from Hingham Harbor Park. Launch at 9 AM SHARP. Low tide is at 11:10 AM. Level 3 skills required. No pressure paddle with plans of visiting Higham Bay, some Harbor Islands, Windmill Point. 9-13 miles? Bring lunch and appropriate extra clothing. Return between 2:30-3? High tide is at 5:30 PM. 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. This trip will only take place if there is at least one other confirmed paddler. Post your intentions here or email me at alcoonsmail @ verizon.net. I will confirm the trip as soon as there is another confirmed paddler. Al Coons Eddyline Nighthawk Red/White

>Sounds great. I take it all back. > >For night paddles: parking used to be banned after dark. I >don't know if that is still true, but I got permits to park >from the old MDC when I lead night trips from there years >ago. > >Liz N. Led a trip from the Magazine Beach parking lot last year and had noticed it was posted for 2 hour parking when I check the lot out before hand. I called the MDC who referred me to the State Police. They said just put a note on your dashboards saying we had permission from them to park longer. We did that and we did not get towed...but who knows what was really going on. Al

Just had a chance to read your post and look at your pictures. Too bad about the weather, but looks wonderful. Thanks for sharing, Al

Thanks Liz for the info on Magazine Beach. I will try to stop by and take a look myself. Anyone aware of alternative anywhere near the same part of the river? I know we can launch about 1/2 mile NW of Harvard Stadium, but that adds a good deal of extra paddling. Al

For those who have not participated, a Barking Crab trip usually launches at Magazine Beach on the Charles River in Cambridge, paddles through the locks into the Boston Harbor, and lands on the dock of the Barking Crab near the Federal Court house. We are warmly welcomed as we have lunch. Then we paddle back. Questions? 1) Is anyone planning the traditional club paddle to the Barking Crab trip for the fall? 2) I thought it would be great to combine this event with a complete Mystic River trip from Mystic Lakes to the Crab (one way). This would involve a car shuttle and it would be worth considering the tides. Given our relationship with the Mystic Lakes and the ongoing improvement of the Mystic River it would be fun and appropriate. What do you think? 3) I have heard there is construction at Magazine Beach. Does anyone know if it limits launching in any way? Al Eddyline Nighthawk red/white

Bob Clough, Jamie Doucett. Al Moore, Pierre ?, and I launch at 9:30 from Pavilion Beach, about 2 1/2 hours before high tide. A large group of the self-named “Kayak Chicks” (informal group) was debating whether to do the route in the same direction we were (outside Castle Neck first) or start with Fox Creek. As we launched they asked about the NSPN and there were any women in it. We assured them that we had many women and would have not attempted this trip without their permission (smile). We rounded the southeast end of Crane's and entered Essex Bay in about 90 minutes after paddling against the tide but with the help of cooling, brisk wind. Water conditions varied from light chop, to confused water, to steep waves (2 feet?), to circular sections of flat water surrounded by confused water (anyone know what causes this. Overall conditions on this leg where middle level three. Just before the rounding, a kayaker caught up to us. It was Dave Cross, a new member of NSPN, who said he had been late at the put in. In fact, he saw the KayakChicks offshore and thought it was us. When he caught them they told him our group was ahead. Either we are really slow or Dave did a very impressive job of catching us. Must have been the latter. We stopped on the inside of Cranes just beyond the crowd of beached powerboats for a break. Then Pierre earned 3 gold stars for suggesting we head across Castle Neck River to Hog Island so we could paddle the west side to avoid the strong head winds going up the river would entail. Great choice. Beautiful paddle. Highly suggested. It was a fun paddle up narrow, winding Fox Creek. It was hard to believe how fast some of the powerboats moved through the widening, but still narrow channel. We stopped for lunch about 1 / 4 mile before the Hay Canal near the remains of a dock. Old pilings and concrete blocks suggested it had been more than a casual morning. As we paddled out, we asked a couple in a motorboat anchored nearby if they knew the history of the dock. They said it be a shipyard in WWII where PT boats and landing craft had been built! We all too quickly landed back at Pavilion Beach after a wonderful, varied day of paddling. The circumnavigation of 11 miles took about 4 hours including one stop and lunch. Besides tidal decisions, it is clear that paddlers need to make sure that the conditions on Ipswich Bay along Crane’s Beach align with their experience.

>Sounds good I will be there. > >I would recommend doing fox creek first. The timing is >more forgiving. > >There is often breaking water off of Crane's beach as waves >trip in the shallow beach. Just need to pay attention. > >It is a good trip > >Al IGNORE MY COMMENT BELOW -- We will launch at 9 AM and after deciding what we can do. I do not have any local knowledge on this. Two people have suggested doing Fox Creek first...I guess that means a 10:30? 11:00 AM? put in. Am I right? Pierre, I assume you were thinking of doing on the way back? We need to make a decision quickly. Al

Pierre (Spiritfriend) suggested the following on this trip's previous tread. <<"Pavilion Beach along the outside of Cranes, accross the Essex, to the Anisquam. There is a beach where there is a good lunch spot. Then back to the inside of Cranes to Fox Creek (I've done the creek one hour either side of low tide), and back to Pavillion. (approx 14 mi). Esturary is nice this time of year. I'm game for anything else as well. Pierre">> Jamie Doucett also suggested launching at Pavillion. I have launched there but never gone this direction. Let's do it! The Castle Neck portion sounds great (SEE Sea Kayaking Coastal Massachusetts Trip 3). The only question is when we should launch to return through Fox Creek if high tide is noon. I am going to list 9:00, but we can change it if we need to. What do you suggest? ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Saturday 9/3 - Level 3 - Some open ocean, current and potential wind and waves Launch at 9 AM-Pavilion Beach Bring Lunch/extra clothing/water Distance: approx 14 miles Caveat: As with all S&Gs, you are responsible for your own safety. There is no leader and there may be no paddler with leader training or certification. However, the expectation is that will stay together and take care of each other. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Please reconfirm formally here or at alcoonsmail at verizon.net that you will be there so we know we have enough for the trip. Looking forward to the trip. Weather report is good.

There is plenty of interest and a good weather report for a level 3 S&G this Saturday on the North Shore. Low Tide = 5:45 AM, High Tide = noon. Marblehead, Salem Sound, with lunch at Misery will work with a launch at 10 AM. I did that route again last weekend and continue to enjoy it, but would also enjoy something different. Have done Lane's Cove to Rockport and associated islands (not that exciting to me) and Lane's Cove up the Annisquam...fun, lots of boat traffic. Have not done Lane's Cover and go past the Annisquam to explore further towards the NW - anyone know that area? Portsmouth? Anywhere! So. What is your pleasure? Let's assume we have a trip for sure. Where have you been and where would you like to go? Please post here or email at alcoonsmail at verizon.net Al

Hi Jason. Glad you are interested. Quabin sounds interesting but this particular trip will be a level 3 ocean paddle. Let me know if that works for you. Al PS. Just tried to find the level description on the web site. For those who want to review that information it is at: http://www.nspn.org/play-trip-levels.html

Hi Deb. One other paddler is also interested in the North Shore. Are you interested in Saturday? Note: I am out of town and email is not available until I return Monday night, so if people will post here we can keep working on the trip. Al

SEE UPDATE ABOVE ---------------- Trying to judge interest in moderate level 3 S&G on either Thursday 9/1 or Saturday 9/3. Let's get a group together somewhere and not miss the end of the summer paddling. Please post which dates will work for you and any location that you would enjoy (I keep doing the same trips). Come on everyone, let get on the water together! Al Eddyline Nighthawk Red/White most of the time.

Something I was thinking about for next summer ever since I head about that area. Very interested. Al

Just spoke to the Police and City Hall in Manchester, MA. New parking limits went into effect today. The policeman who I spoke to was very nice -- they have always been very helpful. He was not quite sure of the new rules, but thought the only parking longer than 2 hours was in Masconomet Park (the center slots). Those have always been that way. Certainly is a limited number but we might always get lucky. I called City Hall. They confirmed that those are the only spots in town with parking for longer than 2 hours. The businesses and restaurants of Manchester requested this change since so many out-of-towners were filling the parking spaces, going to their beach, and not spending much money. Understandable change I guess, but it sure makes it almost impossible to plan trips out of Manchester.

Low - 9:15 AM High - 3:30 PM A couple of friends and I want to paddle Wednesday in Salem Sound/Baker's Island/Mysery Island etc. I have been there a good bit, but have some questions: 1) How is the put in at Grace Oliver Beach/Dolliber Cover near the end of Marblehead?Parking? Tide situation? I do not see this put in on our web site? 2) Any more definitive news on Manchester parking for a Wednesday? 3) Low Tide - 9:15 AM, High Tide- 3:30 PM. I have never been fully aware of the tidal actions in the sound. Do the tides have much action except as you near the Harbors? Thanks in advance, Al

Glad it went well. How hot was it on the water? Last time I paddled that area in the same conditions it was unbearable without a wind? Al

See you there. Al Coons Eddyline Nighthawk Red/white

Liz...see my message to you in the trip reports for another option. Al

Liz... My wife is a radiologist at Lahey and specializes in Ultrasound. She is one of the few around who removes foreign objects using ultrasound to guide her directly to the embedded foreign object - splinter, fishhooks, etc. A lot less traumatic. If you would like to consider this option, email me at alcoons @ verizon.net and I will email you our phone number. Al Coons

Actually, the given screws will penetrate just a bit below the deck just ahead (towards the bow) of my foot pegs. I guess I am wondering if it would be better to use brass nuts, lock washers and bolts or will that put too much pressure on the deck? Like your point about caulking the holes. Anyone have comments/methods about that? Thanks, Al

Have a Suunto Pioneer Surface Mount Compass to mount. There is a flat area designed for a compass on my Eddyline Nighthawk. The compass has a Plastic Adapter Mount that is to be screwed onto the deck with two screws. The screws extend 1.5 cm below the adapter. The screws appear to have a constant radius. Drill two holes and screw it in or is there more to be done? Thanks, Al

I could not agree with Dee more. We need to take the high ground. Not respond in kind. Al

Last minute Show and Go on Sunday, July 10th from Hingham Harbor Park. Launch at 11 AM. High Tide at 2:50 PM. Level 3 skills required. No pressure paddle with hopes of visiting Higham Bay, close in Harbor Islands, Windmill Point. Water level will be low at launch so we may have to launch from the boat ramp and go out the channel with associated boat travel. Bring lunch and appropriate extra clothing. Return between 2:30-3:30? This a show and go. It is not sponsored by the NSPN and will have no official leaders. You are responsible for yourself, but of course we will stick together and take care of each other. This trip will only take place if there is at least one other confirmed paddler. Post your intentions here or email me at alcoonslists @ verizon.net. I will confirm the trip as soon as there is another confirmed paddler. Please check this site first thing tomorrow morning in case of required weather cancellation. Al

Can anyone remind how many hours before high tide we can launch form Hingham Harbor Park? With a late high tide on Sunday (2:50 PM), I would like to launch as early as possible before that: 11 AM? Noon? 1 PM? Thanks, Al