leong

This is a preemptive strike against anything Les Beale, PhD has to say. Les and I started the trip from Lane's Cove. Once we started paddling down the Annisquam I noticed Les wasn't using enough trunk rotation. So I showed her a way to force it. Big mistake! She took off like a speed demon and I could hardly keep up. Eventually I couldn't catch my breath so I yelled out that I need a pee stop. She yelled back "use your bottle" and she kept going, her arms looked like a windmill in a hurricane. Once in Gloucester Harbor I yelled out that I was starving so she reluctantly agreed to take a lunch break on Ten-Pound-Island. We stayed there for almost an hour ... I think she took pity on me. Once back in our boats I somehow I kept up with her until we rounded dogbar and then I needed to slow down a little. Since the pee excuses didn't work I tried another trick. I yelled out "FISH ON" and she came about to see what I caught (actually nothing). So I told her it got away. Tried this several more times to slow her down and eventually she caught on to my subterfuge and began ignoring it. Around Braces Cove I had no energy left, but I lucked out. There, out of the rocks, came Kevin B and another paddler going in the opposite direction. Les slowed down to allow me to converse with Kevin. I couldn't take it any more when we reached Thatcher Island .... Les was moving along like a speeding banshee. But alas, I was running out of excuses to slow her down. For some unknown reason I yelled out Paula Jones and she came about to see what I was talking about. Actually I didn't have the foggiest idea! But it worked for awhile ... she did slow down to see whether I was going nuts and to laugh at me. Eventually she sped up again. When I could no longer keep up I yelled out Obama and Newt Gingridge. Again she came about to see what I was talking about. Then I realized that this was the best way to slow this demon down. So every few minutes or so I yelled out some new random names including (but not limited to) Terry Schiavo, Elian Gonzalez, Monica Lewinsky, Jeremiah Wright and President Bush. Soon Les was laughing hysterically and her paddling cadence slowed considerably. In fact, I could keep up with her. When we reached Lanes Cove (around 6 PM) she let me beat her to the shore. In gratitude I carried her boat to the car for her. And that's the true skinny of our trip around Cape Ann. Don't believe a word of what Les has to say about the trip.

John, nothing wrong with a bent elbow (especially with a wing paddle): "Pushing with a bent elbow is the part of the stroke that helps you take advantage of your rotation during the power phase. You want to push with your top hand as though you are throwing a crossing blow, elbow bent ninety degrees, with the stroke ending up with you looking just over the top of your forearm. When you incorrectly push straight ahead instead of pushing across, then the path of movement for the blade is an arcing movement that pushes up and down on the surface of the water, rather than down the long of axis of the boat. If you push straight ahead with your top hand, all you are doing is lifting water with the blade and pulling the boat down deeper--a huge impediment to efficiency."

It's a beauty Joe. Don't be modest. I only caught one striper larger than yours (42 inches). This year I haven't caught my first keeper yet (at least 28 inches). http://www.creativefeathers.com/KayakFishBags.cfm is a link to an insulated kayak fishing bag. But it's probably not too good for a very large striper as the boat will be too top heavy. I usually tow my fish on a stringer. Won't do it again in Florida though ... a shark attacked two fish on my stringer ... I lucked out, the stringer broke loose as I capsized and I successfully rolled up without a scratch.

I'll get it right yet. I mean Friday, 5.30.08!

Oops, I meant Friday, 5/29

Tucks Point Manchester at 11 AM. RSVP if interested. leon dot g at verizon dot net

Ok, let's start tomorrow (5/30). Show & Go from Tuck's Point, Manchester at 11 am. I'll be there.

I'm going to Tuck's Point instead.

QUOTE(Kevin B @ May 20 2008, 03:56 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>This depends on what I can get done at the office on Wed., but planning on going around the Cape Thurs. leaving from the Greasy Pole around 8:30 am. If anyone is interested, please post here for planning purposes. Usual SNG rules apply. I'm interested, but 10am put-in would be bettter for me. Leon leon dot g at verizon dot net

Cancelled due to high winds.

Good point ... let's make it 10 AM.

Lanes Cove at 11 AM. RSVP if interested. leon dot g at verizon dot net

Tucks Point Manchester at 11 A.M. RSVP if interested. leon dot g at verizon dot net

Anyone have Al's current e-mail address?

Adam, You could say the same about wind surfing. They go where most sea kayakers wouldn't dare.

If you can really handle a sea kayak and know how to fish you can fish from almost any sea kayak. Just watch someone like Adam or myself haul in blues, stripers, etc. Two years ago I fought an eight foot Tarpon to a draw near Key West, in a 18 foot by 21 inch performance sea kayak.

Last week while trolling for bluefish in Rockport about 1/4 mile out from Halibut Point I noticed some disturbed water ... bubbles and a circle where the surface looked different than the surrounding water. After I paddled closer to the area a large dolphin suddenly jumped about 10 feet high and landed about two boat-lengths from me. I didn't see it jump again. Anyone else see any large dolphins on the MA coast? I don't know if the bubbles were from the dolphin; perhaps a whale was also involved.

QUOTE(B @ Sep 6 2007, 11:43 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Any plans for a party next summer? I'd love to come and abuse my friends. Hey Bob, bring a good rope ... I need another workout! Have boat, will tow. Leon

This is Tom's second time in a transatlantic race. He's a race official for the Blackburn Challenge.

I had planned to do the Blackburn circuit from Lanes to Lanes today (6/13) at high speed but cancelled due to the following weather report: SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM EDT THIS AFTERNOON THIS AFTERNOON NE WINDS 15 TO 20 KT WITH GUSTS UP TO 30 KT. SEAS 4 TO 7 FT. A SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHOWERS. PATCHY FOG. VSBY 1 TO 3 NM. TONIGHT NE WINDS 10 TO 15 KT. GUSTS UP TO 25 KT IN THE EVENING. SEAS 5 TO 7 FT. THU NE WINDS 15 TO 20 KT...DIMINISHING TO 10 TO 15 KT LATE. SEAS 4 TO 7 FT. I think the small craft warnings will probably be up tomorrow as well. At any rate, 4 to 7 foot waves with 20 KT winds is dangerous between Braces Cove and Dogbar and also crossing Sandy Bay. Don't worry about the strong current in the river ... the worst that will happen is you'll have to land to rest up. Worry more about the waves and wind in the open ocean.

P.P.S This will be a fairly slow paddling day. No need to bring your wing paddles, but cold water attire is recommended.

See subject for additional details. Respond here or via e-mail if you're interested. P.S. Sorry for the long-winded message.

The Blackburn Challenge race is July 21. Anyone want to join me in weekday practice. I'd like to do the circuit one day each week and some recovery work (slower touring/fishing) on several other week days. I'd like to do the Blackburn circuit fairly slow now (a 4.5 - 5.0 hour pace)and gradually increase speed to a 3.5 hour pace by early July. E-mail and post your interest.

Have any of you tried this unit? It's expensive (about $700) but has DSC and a full function GPS. If it's worthwhile maybe we could arrange a group buy. http://www.uniden.com/products/productdeta...?product=MYSTIC http://www.sailingworld.com/sailing-gear/e...adio-43720.html http://reviews.cnet.com/gps/uniden-mystic-...7-30897408.html http://www.boatingmag.com/article.asp?arti...5&section_id=10

It's easy to break a paddle during a poorly executed paddle float reentry, especially with a two piece wood paddle.