NPSheehan

There is no better place in Maine to enjoy outdoor activities in summertime than in Bar Harbor & Acadia National Park. Whether you are a hiker, biker, kayaker or casual tourist the island of Mt. Desert has more in one location than anyplace else in Maine or for that mater New England. Mt. Desert Island offers unsurpassed opportunities for kayakers to explore the rocky shoreline and coves as well as nearby islands. You can launch your kayak right from our location at Atlantic Oceanside resort on Frenchman's Bay and explore the Porcupine Islands or The Ovens sea caves. The hotel has waterfront access and a pebble beach for easy launching. Or drive around the island to Seal Cove, Northeast Harbor & inside of Somes Sound a natural Fjord an the only one of it's kind on the East Coast. Or head over to Pretty Marsh and enjoy the islands of Western Bay. If you prefer to Hike there are countless hiking opportunities in Acadia National Park from easy hikes along the trails of Sand Beach & Otter Cliffs to more challenging trails of Pemetic, Bubbles or Cadillac mountains. For bikers the Park Loop offers splendid road based opportunities or for the off roaders the Acadia Carriage trails are splendid packed gravel trails that wind in and around Acadia. It's no wonder Acadia is the most visited National Park in the USA. See the link below for a map of the island and click an name to view more information on what was mentioned above or the many other places of interest on Mt. Desert.

http://www.acadiamagic.com/Park.html 

This trip includes 2 nights accommodations in the NEW Atlantic View Lodge where every room has an ocean view and is the closest building on the property to the private beach.  Click link below for more information

http://www.barharbormainehotel.com/html/oceanfront-lodging.html 

Go to the link below for more information and pricing and to join this awesome summertime trip.

http://www.meetup.com/NESeacoastPaddlers/events/228645298/

Hi Folks,

If you've been longing to kayak along the shores of Mt. Desert Island and Bar Harbor in summer this is a great opportunity. This trip is also being offered to the NE Seacoast Paddlers and other groups so you can RSVP there if you'd like or email or PM me for more information. We'll be staying at the Oceanside Hotel & Resort in waterfront rooms. The resort has a private beach that overlooks Frenchman's bay and we can launch our kayaks right from this beach.

Check out the event posting on NE Seacoast Paddlers and hope you'll consider joining us.

http://www.meetup.com/NESeacoastPaddlers/events/221615216/

Happy Paddling!

Neil

I think the sleeping bag liner is the way to go and provides extra warmth for your summer or multi season bag when you need it.

I'm planning to pick up this one for myself for kayak camping next week as temps are forecasted to be very warm.

http://www.ems.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3662376

Neil

So the long and short of this question is use the MITA Trail Guide as a reference as this would be your best resource for planning a Maine Island day or overnight adventure.

Have Fun!

Neil

Hi Katherine, If it's Maine Islands you are curious about then the simple answer is go to the Maine Island Trail Web Site or if you are a member use their Trail Guide book. If not a member you can borrow a book. However you are requested to be a MITA member to use or camp on a MITA designated non public Island. The MITA Trail Guide indicates both

http://guide.mita.org

Hope that helps for Maine anyway.

I'm planning to attend

After soaking as Suz and others suggested if you still have problems get another person hold one blade while you hold the other. Tape the button down or have a third person hold it depressed. Thed twist the blade back and forth in minute increments till it gives a little then soak again & repeat. Once there is a little give in twisting it should pull apart. After you get it apart soak the ferule and inside the other shaft end and clean it real good. Apply 303 then wipe dry and be sure to rinse your paddle where they join after every use. I sometimes rinse mine with leftover water from my hydration pack. Salt water when it dries will leave a residue which will quickly build up and cause the paddle to get stuck. My spare paddles get special attention as they are always exposed to salt water which dries over the course of the day.

Neil

I may be there too

Neil

Although we've done many Tuesday Surf & Skill sessions here I noticed we haven't done a weekend paddle here this summer. So here it is an opportunity to do it all. Paddle, Surf, play in some current or just take a leisurely paddle up the river & estuaries. This event is open to kayakers of all levels. So those of you NSPNers who want to do an easy day you can and those who want to play in the rougher stuff you can do that too. However it's your responsibility to choose the option that is right for you and have the appropriate gear for the level of kayaking you choose.

See the event posting below for more information and to RSVP

Seabrook / Hampton Harbor & Estuaries Paddle

Neil

You may want to try this stuff. It's available at Home Depot and I'm sure marine stores as well

http://jbweld.net/products/water.php

WATERWELD will plug or seal practically anything that leaks. It will patch holes and cracks, and mend almost anything that is broken. It is excellent for rebuilding or fabricating parts, and as an all-purpose adhesive for metals, wood, fiberglass, masonry, ceramics, PVC and ABS. Permanently repair holes, gouges, cuts ... even seals rot in fiberglass and wood. Cures under water.

There are many kayak companies in Maine who offer guided trips. Here are just a few...

http://www.carpediemkayaking.com/tours.htm

http://www.maineislandkayak.com/trips.html

http://www.lincolncanoe.com/outdoor_center.html

http://www.h2outfitters.com/trips/campingt.../casco-bay.html

Or maybe someone in this or other kayak groups would love to go on a multi day trip.

Neil

WOW Now I'm totally confused. Best advice I've read is try different paddles. Most serious sea kayakers I've met have 205 or 210cm length paddles. The other variables are bent or straight shafts, blade sizes and shaft size. I love my Werner Cyprus Carbon 210cm straight small shaft. I'm sure others will tell you what they love about their favorite paddle as well

Neil

I plan to be there too

Neil

A Mapping GPS with Tracks / breadcrumb trail enabled is great for getting you back out of the marshes. I've used mine a Garmin 60CSX and new Colorado 400C a number of times for this. One time I didn't bring the GPS in the marshes and we got a little lost. The problem was the tide came in and the path through the marsh was obscured. It was hard to find the right path as the marsh was flooded and hard to tell. It appeared you could paddle through the marsh grass but it was too shallow to do so. The GPS would've put us back on track easily.

Neil

Awesome shots!!

Here is a link to some more...

http://www.meetup.com/NESeacoastPaddlers/photos/994818/

Neil

I always keep in mind what a good kayak surfing friend told me when starting to kayak surf.

MOON THE BEACH!!

Keeping your BUM pointed at the beach keeps your edge towards the wave. I find it also very helpful to keep my eyes on the wave and not the beach when doing a low brace while side surfing towards shore. Once you drop your but or look towards the beach over you may go.

Have Fun!

Neil

I think I may have already replied on the NESP Message board on your question but for those here on NSPN my favorite VHF is the iCom M72. It's the most waterproof and has the highest power 6Wats and longest Battery Life of any of the other iCom models and for that matter probably others on the market.

iCom M72 sold at West Marine

Play the video from the link above for more info.

Marine Electronics

Review of iCom M72

Neil

Great videos although I was getting a little seasick watching the long one

Neil

Very Cool!!! Great shots Doug

Neil

Was that a big hump of sand in the bowl I saw in your photo? Hope that doesn't impact the surf in the bowl during high tide.

Neil - who is not too happy about being back to work and unable to get on the water as much.

What no compass bearings for dead reckoning in-case of fog?

Just kidding Ed this is a great trip plan and lots of great questions. I'll ponder it and send you my answers.

Neil

I'm planning to be there and happy to get wet

Neil

A peek at the metadata embedded in the foregoing image reveals not only that it has been Photoshopped, but also by whom: Tim Shobe, a photographer in Sitka, Alaska.

A search of Shobe's online gallery produced an exact match of the image minus the errant kayaker. See complete article below.

http://urbanlegends.about.com/od/fish/ss/h...d_kayaker_2.htm

It is a cool picture but I'd bet a humpback would realize if a kayaker was above it while feeeding and this type of thing could never happen.

Neil

[quote name=Has there even been a case of a person drowning by panicking and failing to pull off their sprayskirt? (not counting cases where sprayskirt was not possible to pull off)

Yes! Many kayakers have drowned due to their grab loop being tucked in their skirt and panicing when they can't find it. Unfortunately for these folks there was nobody around to rescue them. Panic is a scary thing and panic can happen to anyone. See article below...

http://caskaorg.typepad.com/caska/2008/07/...y-reminder.html

Neil

I think that it's best to have good working tools instead of a bunch of bent screwdrivers. In the situation that you describe is what the Hand of God rescue is for, is fast and effective. If your wored that the other kayaker is combative and will hurt you wait 15 seconds + or - to where they are not combative then rescue them.

-Jason

I don't keep bent screwdrivers in my toolbox but I also think outside the box when it comes to a situation and would use whatever tool that would work in a pinch instead of fumbling around in the meantime.

Hand of God is an appropriate technique if you are in the right position. Problem is you need to get into position. If I could get to a person's bow or stern quicker then I'd grab it and work from there. You can always work your way around after grabbing the boat.

Neil