kate

I'm interested.

At risk of really making everyone wince, here is why you do NOT want to use a knife with a sharp point to cut yourself (or someone else) out of a sprayskirt. This incident was a major safety discussion topic in the whitewater world at the time. A tragedy where the rescue became the cause of death. Seriously, check that spray skirt loop every time. https://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/Accident/detail/accidentid/465

You can buy it used for a few bucks. I am happy to lend out my copy, too (bought used). Totally worth $39 though!

In the Greenland vein, I found this to be a compelling read about the life of the Danish-Inuit anthropologist and explorer Knud Rasmussen, "White Eskimo". Truly a remarkable, unique person. https://www.amazon.com/White-Eskimo-Rasmussens-Fearless-Lawrence/dp/0306822822/ref=asc_df_0306822822/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312695266310&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=16375206925777450572&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9002023&hvtargid=pla-564037224883&psc=1 Although I've mentioned this in past years, I have to include it again as one of the very best Arctic adventure books I've read: "Northern Lights" by Desmond Holdridge. These guys by rights should not have survived their own mistakes and ineptitude, but the story of how they do survive is astonishing. Well-written and highly recommended. https://www.amazon.com/Northern-Lights-Desmond-Holdridge/dp/1258787903/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=northern+lights+holdridge&qid=1576185107&s=books&sr=1-1

You can't ask for much more from a spur-of-the-moment trip. It sounds sublime (even with that 28-degree morning temp). Your son made rather different paddling-apparel choices than you did, from the looks of it.... kids, they always have to rebel.

Season is not over (I was out yesterday in the Outer Harbor, it was quite "spicy" and fun) and I can do weekends too, although this weekend may be the last one that is currently unscheduled, for awhile.

Love the blow-up roller idea, they look like they can handle sharp rocks and heavy loads, and they would take little space in a loaded boat. OTOH, it's hard to beat the cost of a pool noodle! And, I hope others post their brilliant-moment ideas here. It's really a conundrum when you are out by yourself. My poor boat has had to face all too much rock-grinding....

I used the hollow, probably the smaller size. Doesn't matter that they crush a bit, in fact that holds the boat in place on a sloped beach. When I'm at my car, I have a wheeled trolley to haul the boat to and fro, but when out for the day/week, something very portable and light is needed. I will watch for the 4" noodles, that would be worth a try.

I have come up with the Answer to a question that plagues solo kayakers, especially kayak-campers: How do you move your heavy boat up and down the beach alone? I have used several approaches in the past: 1) using found smooth logs to act as rollers under the boat (problems - most logs have branch stubs sticking out, takes a long time to move the boat any distance, still hard on hull), 2) pivot boat on stern and then bow to move up beach in 15' increments (problems - pivot points are going to grind heavily into underlying cobble/sand/barnacle-rock causing hull erosion, especially at vulnerable skeg box), 3) a variant on the pivot move, using a smooth plastic sheet which doubled as a camp kitchen cutting board under pivot points (problem - beach is always on a slope and boat slides right off the plastic). Recently I happened to be at a beach location where there were various floaty accoutrements and it occurred to me that there was a simple and excellent answer: pool noodles. I tried it out using the pivot method (I suppose the roller method would work too, but why bother). The noodle cushioned the boat and had enough friction that the kayak didn't slide off. It's easy to store a couple-foot segment of nearly-weightless noodle in a hatch for a day trip, or tucked under the rear bungee lines when the hatches are packed with gear. They are cheap and come in many fashion-coordinated colors. Plus think of the fun water-battle possibilities... maybe even a new pool-noodle roll. I suppose a pool lasagna noodle would be even better (that is, a square of foam rather than the spaghetti noodle) but I haven't come across that. Perhaps you will experiment and report. Kate

There is an alternate launch just inside the point, James Ave, which is free and has always had plenty of parking when I've been there. Advantage is that you can warm up on easy water on the way to Hull Gut. I like this better than launching directly from the point. If you are free during the week, so much the better, I'd join you. Cohasset area on south shore also has lots of rocks to poke around, plus the Little Harbor tide race. I'm no rock hound but I'd welcome company in these places that are my usual haunts. Shoot me a pm if you want to put something together. Kate

I would like to join you too. Kate

Okay, those are huge flows. My prior experience on the Cheat, Gauley, New, and Tygart Rivers come nowhere close to that. Potomac River extreme flooding has hit 175K but when I've been on it it's more like 6-10K. Never been on the Kennebec or the GC. If I ever am, I will keep paddling!

I know of people who died on class 2 rivers (foot entrapment), and one who died on flat water (inadvertently tucked in the sprayskirt handle while practicing rolls alone and couldn't get out of the capsized boat - you can bet I double check every single time I snap on the skirt). But yeah, why tempt the gods? And yet, we all do - women and men. The Excitement:Fear ratio is an indistinct and wavering line.

"...NEVER exit your kayak in a whirlpool. Things will get much much worse...." This video in no way allays my concerns about those whirlpools! I'm curious, though, about the specific currents/riverbed topography that create this Ottawa whirlpool, as they are so unusual in rivers. I've been on some big rivers but can't recall seeing one. Ottawa River is a beast.

I picked up a used Stohlquist pfd for $20 at an REI garage sale, older version of the women's Cruiser. Pocket on each side, clean and simple. Fits great, holds a granola bar and camera, more if you want to carry more. I've used it for about 5 years now, completely satisfied. I suggest sending her out to try on a bunch, pick the one that fits best.

Best trip report yet. What a magnificent place (is that one of the words used by the group at the end of the trip?). Stunningly beautiful. Thank you so much for taking all those photos and taking the time to write up the detailed report. Blessed indeed. Kate

Okay, great, I'll see you there at 5.

I will only drive all that way if someone else is sure they are going. I can practice rolls alone a lot closer to home. Anyone going to commit?

I expect to be there. I generally arrive a bit early, trying to beat traffic.

CG, Perhaps I've used terminology incorrectly, but I did not make a mistake about how air moves over the kayak when upside down and backwards. Putting it forward-facing would force air to lift up the bow which would be upward pointing because of the slant of the cockpit. Backwards-facing leaves the stern sloping downward toward the front of the car, which lets air travel easily over it as the car moves forward. Try it with an Avocet sometime and you will see that I am correct. All bets off for how to carry a yak on the rak. K

I'm out of town next week but will be back for the 16th. Get those coaching skills brushed up for my return....

I was the only person there at 5 last night - eventually I bumped into Romaine who came late and went swimming when she didn't see anyone around. There was no trip on the calendar to respond to. I had a nice hour or so of roll practice on my own, but it would be great to know if anyone else was going to show up so I would know whether to wait. Could we set up the July calendar? Or do like the Wednesday lunch group and have a thread for each week? I'd love some company.... also some coaching on the norsaq roll... Kate

When I had a plastic Avocet, I always car-topped it upside down and backwards. Strongest point was the coaming so it made sense to let that sit on the crossbars, and as Rob said, the aerodynamics were more favorable if it was backwards (opposite of how it would be if right side up). I got scolded now and again about superstition - bad luck - but I had a lot of really good luck with that boat. Did the same thing with my whitewater boats. Rain didn't get into the cockpit that way either. Kate

Peter, I'm at Walden and it's exceedingly windy. I think it is not worth it tonight. I'm going to try to get the boat back on the car and head home. Kate

Weather was the factor for me. Long way to go for a rainy evening. Next week though... Kate