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Rene: "Anti Quixotic decision" nice turn of a phrase. I suspect it would have been quite the day going from IAH to Marshall. RE: Calderwood How did you get there and how were the campsites? This summer I stopped at the beach in the middle on the northerly side on way through Vinalhaven and North Haven Thorofare so did not see them. Ed Lawson

Would be nice to know more facts about who, what, when, where, and why as seems there must be an interesting if not enlightening story lurking about . Ed Lawson

Would it be possible to put powerpoint and otehr digital content up site so others could view them? Ed Lawson

Kate: Thank you for the wonderful way you have shared your journeys. Ed Lawson

FWIW, NDK says they use 4mm rope. Ed Lawson

Josko: Ignore the bubble and paddle. It happens. If you have the right oil and tools you can add oil and get rid of bubble. I had a compass with bubble and it worked fine. That said, does cause doubt. I would only worry if bubble kept getting bigger. Ed Lawson

There are black bears in Labrador, but I've heard they are not the cuddly little black bears we tend to see in New England. That said, I doubt they are in the same league with polar bears or even brown bears. Ed Lawson

Michael: Your comment parallels my reaction. Since I always fill pots (as well as cups and bowls) with stuff its not like there is much wasted space and a folding unit might be less efficient. Ed Lawson

Katherine: Some random thoughts. First, ocean cockpits give great security and control at the cost of being not easy to wet exit from. Second, try practicing to "tumble out" forward as opposed to leaning back as leaning back makes things more difficult. Third, practice holding coaming alongside hips with both hands and pushing yourself out. With practice comes some level of ease if not confidence which helps keep the panic away. Certainly glad it all worked out. Ed Lawson

Some info participants may find helpful. Decent charts of the area are Maptech Chart 42 and Waterproof Chart #105. The area marine forecasts are from NOAA in Caribou. Which forecast to follow is an open question. http://www.erh.noaa.gov/displayprod.php?product=PWMCWFCAR&versions=10 There are two NOAA WX VHF stations which cover the area. The one in Jonesboro (CH 5) is marine info only while the one in Ellsworth (Ch2) is both land and marine. Both are powerful stations with great coverage in the area. Keep in mind is the water temps will be a max of @55 and will likely feel a bit chilly for those who have been paddling on the North Shore. This book has a good deal of info about MDI in additions to paddling suggestions. http://www.amazon.com/Kayakers-Guide-Mount-Desert-Island/dp/0892723807 Ed Lawson

The need to push the grab loop forward and then up is not a natural movement in the heat of the moment which can be a problem. Especially if someone is accustomed to poly boats. It can also be a problem for short persons in a boat with a long keyhole rim. I once saw a WW experienced person at the end of their first sea kayak paddle with a borrowed boat elect to do a few rolls at the end which they managed to do without too much trouble. When they landed, they were unable to get the spraydeck off until someone helped them. Lots of sobering stories around about this seemingly easy task being anything but. Ed Lawson

While not an alternative method for releasing a spraydeck, nobody has mentioned another commonly taught preventative technique which is that everyone should be looking about and checking if others have properly affixed their spraydeck. Ed Lawson

Hmmm...I wonder if those folks who use a akullisaq and/or tuilik neither of which have a grab loop as such are Rambos or Gumps. Maybe both. Ed Lawson

Jason: "Practicing removing the skit from the side is a great thing" My first reaction to all this is "Doesn't everyone do this?" as in practicing without using the stupid loop and how hard can it be to wet exit regardless of the stupid loop, but upon reflection I realized we all get lazy and don't do the simple things as often as we should. The fact some good and experienced paddlers have reflected here upon needing to wet exit when the stupid loop was not readily available suggests it is not good to forget to practice simple stuff. Ed Lawson

And the more stuff you have, the more potential assassins you have. I think it also implies gear that is simple and effective. Ed Lawson

David: Appreciated your comments very much, especially the descriptions of the specific techniques you used. Some things to think about and incorporate. Ed Lawson

Katherine:I was thinking of later in Sept. and just checking if interest. I will be at Bar Harbor event. Ed Lawson

Wondering if there is interest in a weekend in Boothbay area in Sept or perhaps early Oct. after the crowds have left. Goal would be to visit Damariscove which is a nice paddle and an area of significant historical interest and wandering about the Thread of Life out to Little Thrumcap or perhaps going around Southport island.. Also a nice paddles, but different personalities. Not sure how to rate these paddles in terms of NSPN levels, but assuming settled conditions I guess they would qualify as L3 trips at a minimum and each would represent a definite step up from the typical L3 paddle in terms of overall seamanship Here is some info on Damariscove. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damariscove_Island Ed Lawson

Warren: Pictures gave a good "feel" for your trip which must have been very nice journey indeed. I noticed you mentioned that each person was responsible for a couple of dinners. I assume this meant planning, carrying and preparing. Was each person responsible for their own breakfasts and lunches/paddle snacks? Jetboil type stoves appear to have been the stove of choice...is that correct? I would have thought it would not have been good when cooking for five. What was the longest crossing and did you need to predetermine courses for the crossings in terms of ferry angle, etc. or did you rely of GPS with waypoints? Ed Lawson

Suz: You are not being a spoil sport, you are being prudent. Tasty Bites are a bit spicy for me so I use them infrequently, but since I find no need to add additional stuff, a Tasty Bites makes a big (but manageable) one person portion after a long day on the water. With the pre-cooked rice pouches I tend to add stuff and then it is too much for just me. Ed Lawson

Since the Tasty Bites are not vacuum packed I wonder if a gas with something to prevent spoilage has been added. By opening the package that would be lost and even if repackaged using a vacuum bagger the contents might spoil. Just speculation. I believe the contents once opened would easily last 24 to 48 hours if kept at the bottom of the kayak during the day. So my thought is it might be better to leave packaging intact and put unused portion in a container on the trip for use the following day or so. I find one advantage of the foil pouches is they greatly reduce the amount of water needed for meal prep. Ed Lawson

Given its an inexpensive consumer grade device, its surprising it works as well as it does is another way of looking at it. There are so many things that can make any radio transmission iffy let alone correct transmission all the timing and data needed for this application that it should be expected to go a little "haywire" for time to time in periods of unusual weather and electromagnetic episodes. Ed Lawson

It is often surprising just how much the water temperature can vary at different locations during a day's paddling as well as where the changes occur. I suspect depth and amount of tidal flushing are factors. Ironically, sometimes you will see warmer surface temps recorded at buoys well out in the Gulf of Maine than closer in. Of course then there is the issue of what are the water temps say 3' down and how does it compare to surface temps. The sites are certainly informative and interesting.

Jason: It was fairly well secured and the bottom line was that in case of a wet exit there would be far greater problems than its loss to Davey Jone's locker with which to contend. flipe8: I take it you are among followers of William Blake as in "not enough or too much." Michael: So how to you keep the crackers nice and crisp when stored on the PFD? Ed Lawson

Warren: Glad you and David had a good journey...well much better than a good journey from the reports so far. I was wondering if the distances mentioned are statute or nautical miles and whether the guide ever felt the need to exercise his veto power over what was proposed to be done or not done. On most trips I find once I'm on the water I can relax and it is the ashore tasks and risks which causes the most anxiety. I gather it was similar for you and David from the comments so far. Ed Lawson