beckt

congrats on your purchase. I have a VW Golf. Love my car! I have actually carried 4 sea kayaks on top - all on edge using the kayak stacker.... and that was one set of kayak stackers with 2 sea kayaks on each side. I wouldn't want to do it every day (that one time was just about enough!). We all got to where we wanted to go (kayaks and all) the limiting factor for me was the gear that needed to go in the car..... since I don't have a golf wagon.

replace the velcro yourself and patch the nylon areas. delegate the skirt to be your pool practice skirt.

Congrats Joe! You definitely are hanging with the right crowd!

I think the loss of the forum history would be ... well... a loss. There is a lot of valuable information tucked away in there. (spoken as a lurker). I think the forum offers a sense of community....

It is odd though - some of the surprising things that have failed pretty accomplished paddlers. The state is trying to make it a better process..... but they still have a ways to go. I passed!

Kevin Beckwith introduced me to AyeTides.

I've seen sleeping seals before. I just quietly sneak on by. Pretty cool!

I went last year. Very organized symposium. Fun venues. Great food. Fun people. Fantastic coaches. Beautiful area.

Ah ha - thanks Julie! For both tips.

This sounds like a good time! I would like to come play.

Those are my day trips all rolled into one long trip. I shall have to put this on my "to do" list. Nice write up.

genius!

…. is it just me? but I can't find the blog?

Turner and Cheri have designed the Razor…. yes - a very beautiful paddle. And yes - I do love my cyprus too

I am also interested in this conversation. I, like you, almost pulled the trigger on a Norvaca and regret not doing so. …..And if anyone has a carbon fiber paddle in their closet that is pining for the water --- i would be interested too! (Have you seen the boat I paddle!!!)

perfect. Thanks Phil.

Phil - do you have a photo of your modification?

I have the one similar to the one Doug posted from Amazon. I got it at Hamilton Marine. And it didn't cost $30.!

I would like to participate in the Jewell trip and the northern launch would be my choice.

Pretty area. What is neat is that the lakes are so interconnected. Some can be pretty boney. Forth Machias is pretty nice. And, yeah, I know how to say their names. Nicatous is also very very nice. Long, sandy beaches, islands, big rocks.

I have gone all the way around MDI, but not on consecutive days. And I, too, would like to join you for a day paddle or two. As always - follow the tides. The most interesting area is from seal harbor to bar harbor. I have done that stretch countless times in various conditions - from an absolutely no conditions day where I was even able to paddle up into Thunder Hole to a day where it was "WTF are we doing here!". This stretch has some beautiful cliffs, caves and ledges to explore, as well as some impressive cottages. Getting around Great Head can be interesting. This is an area where you need to consider the sea conditions, wind and tide. There can be a lot of moving water here. I have left a paddler at Sand Beach because he felt uncomfortable with getting around Great Head and with the conditions of the day. The life guard was not happy - but we told him it was this or the coast guard. There are not too many places to pull out on this stretch. the Cranberries are great, and you should include them in your circumnavigation. The outside of Great Cranberry can be interesting, but beautiful. The waters off Bass Harbor light can be fun if caught on the right tide. There was some guy who circumnavigated MDI last year on a SUP.... non stop. I forget how many hours he was out there. Always boat traffic - but nothing like where you usually paddle. I could go on and on!

I can't get down there on wednesday either. Very disappointing. Not too happy with the timing of this snowstorm.

fun read on the application process (or not) http://scooter-bangortoportland.blogspot.com/2011/11/keeleazy-application.html

If I could paddle like this I would be a happy paddler -

December? I wouldn't worry too much about trips in December. The freezing temperature of salt water is lower than fresh water; ocean temperatures must reach 28.8 degrees F to freeze. Because oceans are so deep, it takes longer to reach the freezing point. The way the winters are going recently even the lakes are still open in December. But you never know but about the weather, but God help us Mainers if it gets THAT cold this early in the winter.