jonsprag1

Hi Spider---the vhf radio that everyone is referring to is a small handheld unit that broadcasts on the Marine channels reserved for boaters(and Coast Guard, Navy, and merchant shipping) fo use at sea----the range is line of sight but since the Coast Guard has repeating towers that boost your signal all up and down the coasts you can usually contact someone. Years ago before the advent of the handheld units a license was required to operate them(very easy to get--like the old citizens band license)---I don't believe one is required now---at least nobody I know has one---in Canada it may be a different story but I'm sure in an emercancy situation nobody will take you to task on it. They are really handy to monitor other marine traffic and to get weather forecasts with also PS just be aware that in PQ (province of Quebec) there are language laws requiring the use of french, rather than english--particularly on commercial signs--there are also groups of voluntary language police (mostly old retired men) who travel the province handing out summons(with fines) for those who violate the ordinances. It's kind of made Quebec the laughing stock of the rest of the county-- doubt that it has spread so far as to require the use of french in emgergancy radio transmissions---lol

Both of these men were in their early 40s. Both were experienced paddlers---the one who died had been sea kayaking over a dozen years and had not only done a lot of paddling locally here in Maine, but had done expedition type paddling in Alaska and elsewhere. If it happened to them, it could happen to any of us. You can never be too careful.

Right---just ask my wife

The Press Herald report said that the survivor was wearing a dry suit and the victim was wearing a shorty wetsuit---that seems to be the major inconsistancy---given the level of detail in the Press Herald version, I'm reasonably sure its the most accurate one.

Smart move not to go paddling when you don't feel well or if the weather is beyond your comfort zone---its a move lots of guys don't make---we like to feel macho and to brag about our exploits on the ocean---funny most women don't have any trouble at not paddling if they don't feel well physically or if the conditions seem too much for them--could they be smarter then us? or maybe just haven't overdosed on testosterone.

who knows whether a vhf radio or cell phone would have saved him or not---I always carry a vhf(cell phone sometimes but it is no subsitute for a vhf---I carry it in case I have to call my office or wife not for emergancies) and it might have enabled the CG or Marine Patrol to get to him quicker--- or not---but this could have been anyone of us--and saying that it couldn't happen to you because you have vhf, pfd, drysuit, am well trained(5* or ACA level 4) or whatever is whistling in the dark--the fact of the matter is, the more experienced, skilled and better equipped you are, the more chances you are likely to take---these two guys were out in early May around dusk, in conditions where the winds where 22 knots(and gusting higher), 5 foot waves, some distance off shore with small craft warnings posted and in water less than 50 degrees---I'm tempted to chide them for lack of judgement but then I've been there myself and I suspect many of you have as well--either you weren't planning a long paddle in those conditions or the conditions were calmer when you started and later detiorated---the fact of the matter is the only sure way you can prevent dying in a sea kayaking accident is to never paddle a kayak---that doesn't mean you shouldn't take all the precuations that you can, (right equipment, good training and paddling at skill level etc) but in the end we all run the risk of ending up like Prof Guttman. My sympathies to his friends and family. My consolation to them is this thought--that he died doing something he loved.

I'm not exactly sure which one is Martha's---we don't travel in the same social circle--lol---and youre right about the Islesford General Store---

Thanks---and to avoid confusion the trip was approximatly 9 miles--not approx .9.

actually this should be in the trip report section---can't figure out how to put it there now that it is here

I paddled out to Crow Island yesterday with Ron and George from MDI Paddlers and my friend Jim Claus---beautiful morning sunny and calm--Launched from Northeast Harbor(that's on the southside of MDI for you flatlanders) and went past Bear Island (featured in the Mel Gibson movie Man without a Face), Sutton Island, Little Cranberry to Crow which is on the outside of Big Cranberry (actually attached to it at low tide) Quite a bit of boat traffic for the first of May--actually had to pay attention to it for the first time this year. The weather was great on the way out and most of the way back---sunny and calm until about a mile from the put in when it clouded over and slight breeze picked up. Still a great day---Crow Island is one of the newest islands on the Maine Island Trail--just added last year and for those of you planning a through trip along the trail is a great place of stop(in fact the only place to camp)if you are planning on taking the southern route past MDI--be sure to pitch your tent on the south end of the island in the grove of evergreens, out of sight of the owner's house of Big Cranberry. Total length of trip appr.9miles---this can be shorter if you launch from Seal Cove(and maybe Martha Stewart will invite you in to her summer place for coffee)

Congrats on your new boat----when you buy a wetsuit just be sure to get the farmer john style and not the type you use for diving----Many good brands out there--usually cost around 100 dollars but sometimes you can get them cheaper if you shop the sales---NRS makes a good one----if you want to spend 3---7 times the price of a wetsuit you can buy a Dry suit---kokitat is regarded as the top of the line but there are plenty of other brands---I've been paddling sea kayaks for 7 years(and canoes and WW Kayaks years before that) and have just purchased an NRS dry suit this year----world of difference in protection and ease of putting on and off (dry suit much easier than my wetsuit) I got a geat deal---336 dollars for a suit that is price in the NRS catalogue for 600--got a guides discount. good luck

Why bother with the expense of a ferry ride? Do what I did a couple of years ago with a buddy---put in at the Marine Park in Rockland, paddle out to Owl's Head, then across to Hurricane Sound next to Vinalhaven and camp on Ram(a MITA island)--you have the option of returning the next day to Rockland or paddling around Vinalhaven to Stonington area---both options are a two day trip---I would arrange for a shuttle however if you wanted to go to Stonington---Rockland to Stonington and return is about a 4 day trip but could stretch into much longer due to the weather---My friend and I did the out and back----paddled to Vinalhaven on saturday and back to Rockland on Sunday---back before noon. We watched the weather carefully and picked a great weather window. Ed's right about the longer trip to Stonington and back(especially to Rockland), the weather could be a real problem---rarely stays calm and clear 4 days in a row in the Maine coast---I wouldn't care to paddle the open stretches back to Rockland if the wind picked up to 20 knots plus---its a long open haul to Rockland Harbor---likewise in a heavy fog there are large heavy ships transiting this area on a regular basis---you need to see them because they can't pick you up on radar---a fun alternative might be to put in at Batemans Beach on the south side of Cape Rozier and island hop down to Northhaven and then Vinalhaven archipeligo----Butter and East Barred are MITA islands(need reservations for Butter but not EB) and you can also camp on Pond Island(Me Coast Heritage owned)---this trip has the advantage of not crossing any major shipping lanes and having "bail out" islands along the way should there be a drastic shift of weather----I've never been all the way to Northhaven but have gone out to Butter twice---that alone is worth the paddle--good luck.

you know Heidi, you're going to run out of space on your signiture line if you keep just "trying" boats----I understand you have an old town XL adventurer and are unhappy with it---are you shopping for another kayak too?

that I have---on your trip, did you camp on an island in the stonington area?

Excellent photos Ed---Stone1 looks like you folks are headed for Merchant's Island---Am I correct?

you mean they actually took their assessment on friday the 13th?--Brave people

Actually Ed, your cancellation of a large (more than 2-3 paddlers) trip is probably a good idea----Rockland to Machias or even Bar Harbor to Machias is a considerable undertaking and although there have been people who have done it in relatively short times, I suspect they didn't have much fun and also had remarkably good luck with weather and tides. The more paddlers involved the more likely it is that some would have time constraints and absolutly would have to return from the trip on a given date--that leads the group to take chances with the weather etc and go out on a day they shouldn't--I realize that you are all experienced paddlers and can handle high seas and bad weather---but the larger the group the more diverse skill set its members will have and although some are very good, there may be days when the group as a whole could run into some very serious trouble being out on the water, not because they had to be but because someone had to be back by a certain date. Also there may be a paddler or two(or more) who isn't as strong, skilled or confident as some of the other members who would feel pushed to paddle on a day when they know they shouldn't be on the water. Much better to keep it small with all the particpants having the same level of ability and plenty of time to account for weather etc to finish the trip---I would give it at least 2 weeks from Rockland to Machias. If you decide to make the trip on a smaller level, I will be guiding in the Stonington area and perhaps we will cross paths. Good luck---Jon

The computer God took the whining in the business section to heart and removed the edit function or did he?---I noticed it here but went back to make a correction to one of my trip reports and couldn't find it--what gives?

As far as paddling goes my two favorite tunes are by Stan Rogers, a Nova Scotian folksinger. Barret's Privateers and Nortwest Passage---btw I know all the words to Barrets Privateers and often sing it aloud---very aloud---when I'm paddling.

you did all that could be expected---you were more than polite in tolerating her rudness---you could have suggested that she put in for the Darwin Award in the sea kayaking catagory and then just walked away. For what its worth almost the same thing happened to me and a friend last April---came back to Hadely Point Beach on MDI after a windy paddle--(approx 25 knots) found a college age couple putting out in two home made recreational type boats, with just PFDs--no paddle clothing either wetsuits or dry suits, no spare paddles , flotation in the boats and not much experience---we told them it was too windy to be out there but they politly insisted that they would be ok. As soon as they launched it was apparent that was not so---the woman kept paddling in circles and her boyfriend couldn't help her--eventually they managed to round the point and escape the wind---we didn't wait around for them and since I read of no mishaps in the paper I assumed they survived---all you can do is warn--can't stop them--they are adults and have the right to make choices, even really really bad ones--

"standing on someone else's head"? Not unless I get to be the one on top.

I'm sure that you can see further standing then sitting but at my age I would rather sit----rarely need to see more than 5-6 miles in any event--- the idea of impressing the ladies is probably a better reason.

glad to hear the ice is off the rivers down south---still have a lot on the Penobscot---but am hopeful this week will see the big jam below the old Bangor dam break free.

ahh youth----congratulations to your daughter on her balence and flexibilty---just why someone would want to stand in a kayak escapes me(maybe to impress the opposite gender?? In which case I should start practicing, need all the help in that department that I can get) but it is a really neat trick just the same.

Tides hmmm Lemme see---they go in and they go out---twice daily in most areas of the world although a very few have diurnal (once a day tides) They are an hour of so later each day and the amount of flow can vary greatly depending on local topography---yep that's about it--anymore questions? lol