EEL

> Won't launch if raining or >conditions more than modest (@10Kts and @2ft) based on the >York buoy info. OK, I'm stupid, but I am not pigheaded or dangerously cavalier. I'm changing the launch site back to Kittery for the following reasons: 1. While there would be time to make it from Pierce, the margin would be low. 2. Current forecast is for 3-5 foot seas with light East wind which is over self imposed limit, but more importantly has the potential to create lots of foam on the coast of Gerrish as no wind to knock it down. The foam is no big deal, but the marching elephants creating it might be. 3. This combination means if we get out of Brave Boat Harbor and start down the coast, the ledge breaks may give rise to second thoughts and decision to return via Chauncey. At that point, it could get dicey going back and it would be a slog against the ebb back to Pierce. 4. By starting at Kittery we have more options to at least get on the water and peak out even if seas are as forecast. Friday AM the York buoy is showing 2+ seas at 8 sec. before the weather hits so forecast seas may appear on Sunday. Apologize for apparent indecisive and chaotic situation, but trying to work with what the sea is giving us as opposed to holding course and then cancelling or stumbling into an epic. Ed Lawson

Paul: Gail wants to give it a go. We will hang on till our tongues hit the deck. Likely will watch most fun parts at a distance with binoculars. If we are not there to launch at 9:30, something happened and we will not be there. Ed Lawson

>I'm guessing you'll be somewhere around the south/southeast >side of Gerrish by the time max ebb hits so as you mentioned >the currents won't be a huge issue. > Sounds like a hypothesis that needs confirmation by going paddling. >Another curiosity question... After going up Chauncey... >where's the outlet back to open water The route goes around Cutts Island as well so after meandering through a salt marsh you end up in Brave Boat Harbor. Its not obvious on any chart I have seen. If you note where Chuancey narrows, you turn hard to port and go under the road to get to the salt marsh. Unless you miss the tide you paddle all the way. > >I'm thinking of joining ya but I have a photo shoot on the >north side of Plum Island at 5:45 so it might be cutting it >a bit close. Your call. If everything goes according to plan we should be back no later than 4PM. @10--11NM averaging 2.5Kts with 2 stops for estimating purposes. Could be back by around 2:30PM Ed Lawson

Since the Jewell trip will involve the crossing of channels used by large commercial vessels and Chandler Cove can be crowded with traffic of all kinds, it will be good practice to go down and across Portsmouth Harbor to Chauncey Creek and then across the mouth of the harbor and through Little harbor on way back so I have changed the launch site from the Kittery Town dock to Pierce Island. Launch time will remain the same and will need to be 10AM. Currents should not be bad all things considered and avoids shallow water on return to Kittery Dock and closer as well. Directions to Pierce Island from NSPN website are: Portsmouth Harbor Pierce Island in Portsmouth is a popular public boat ramp. During summer months, non-residents are charged a small fee. Get off Rt. 95 at exit 7 and follow the signs to Strawberry Bank. The turn for Pierce Island is just past the gardens on the left side of Marcy St. There's a small sign marking it. You can typically park free here off-season, but there’s a small fee in-season. Ed Lawson

> >Very true... just out of curiosity, how does the Impex feel >to you? > I don't think I have paddled it since last Oct. so memory fuzzy. I was always pleased at how well it turned on edge given how well it tracked on level. I don't recall any particular effort to put it on edge or any resistance when taking it over for a sculling brace, but I essentially don't use knee effort to edge a boat. It seemed to rotate on its logidutinal axis easily. Not as easy as a hull with a more V or rounded shape perhaps, but I don't recall a big shoulder either. Guess I need to get it out and see if my memory has slipped even more in my dotage. Ed Lawson

I have a conflict for the July 22 date so if there is any interest, it will need to be on May 27. Which begs the question, is there any interest? If none before May 1, then its cancelled. Ed Lawson

>and Kittery Trading Post's demo day is in June. If you are serious about a boat, KTP will let you paddle a boat anytime in the little tidal pond next to the store, but that will tell you only a little about a boat...then again that is true with most demo sites. Have never done it but the Charles River deal of renting the boat and taking it out where and within reason doing what you want seems a nice option to really demo a boat. Ed Lawson

..... (although I want a NIMBLE boat in my fleet and am >currently salivating over the Anas.... with a keyhole... >KEYHOLE KEYHOLE KEYHOLE No, No, No. Heretic, recant now or you will be visited by the Inquisition. Seriously, spend time in an Anas. The OC is sooo nice and it is soo right for the what and how of that boat. Actually, I do not think of it as nimble. To me the Pintail, Avocet, and even Nighthawk are nimble compared to the Anas. I think of the Anas as responsive. It is tightly coupled to the sea and paddler. I read once that despite its beauty on the water, paddling the Anas is not like a date with the Prom Queen. It is like a date with the Prom Queen's wild sister. Modesty prevents my recounting the remainder. > Anyhow >back to the Impex... what I didn't like about them was that >it feels like it gets exponentially more difficult to edge >with the more edge that you apply. To me this translates to >fatigue. I don't want to have to work hard to put my boat on >edge. Check it out though.... it might agree with you. Interesting, I would never describe a Force 4 that way. Just goes to show how different boats feel different to different people. Which in turns shows how important it is to try out lots of boats as they all have personalities and the trick is to find one in harmony with yours. Ed Lawson

This was first posted to be a trip for people doing Gary York's Jewell Trip, but others more than welcome. Expectation is to have some time to brew up to test stoves, etc. and to provide some group paddling time before going camping on Jewell. Launch at 10 AM from Kittery Town Dock located behind Frisbee's Store on 103. Parking is limited on dock, but thre is adequate parking a couple of blocks away or you can pay a fee to Frisbee to use their lot. Back by 4PM. Route will be clockwise around Gerrish including a potential meander up to York Harbor with a stop or two to eat, brew up or whatever to try out cooking kit. Assuming an on water pace of 2.5+ Kt min. Won't launch if steady rain will be order of the day or conditions more than modest (@10Kts and @2ft) based on the York buoy info. Will make final decision Sat. night and will post any changes by 8PM. Right now the weather looks OK. While not a stop and play trip, hard to get around Gerrish without wandering about a bit of ledge and Brave Boat Harbor is seldom flat. Ed Lawson

> We watched the weather carefully and picked a >great weather window. Ah, the benefits of being a local. >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 Interesting...very interesting. >you can also camp on Pond Island(Me Coast Heritage >owned) Shhhh. Ed Lawson

>I have always been very aware of what you mentioned: "The >only issue I experienced is that due to its full bow it >rides up and pounds down on short chop or going over steep >swells" since this inefficiency has the largest effect on >the most physically demanding long trips. Maybe though I am >overreacting. I suggest checking with a GPS and heart rate monitor before thinking this results in an inefficient ride. It is very easy to accelerate and easy to do the opposite. Makes it easy to assume it is not fast and efficient, but also easy to be fooled. With any boat if its not one thing, it is another. I doubt you will find a big difference at the end of a long day even under those specific conditions. Ed Lawson

>My wife is planning to paddle this summer and fits well into >my Eddyline Nighthawk. I have been considering a boat that >might be a bit better in larger waves and have more >straight-ahead efficiency. We also need more room in one of >our boats for camping. > >I love the fit of the Eddyline and enjoy paddling it. I am >not looking for an all out expedition boat but a nice >compromise. I think you should buy my Nighthawk which is for sale. I'll give you a great deal Seriously, it has a adequate space to camp from for more than a few days as its volume is within a cubic foot of the NDK Explorer and greater than many touring boats. It is also about as efficient a hull as one is likely to find among ordinary sea kayaks so it moves fast with little effort. I don't know what issue you have with large waves in one. The only issue I experienced is that due to its full bow it rides up and pounds down on short chop or going over steep swells. That is a function of the design and a tradeoff for other things. In terms of dealing with beam seas and rear seas it is quite good. Always seemed to surf down waves well. It does not paddle backwards as easily as many, but that was a design tradeoff too. Overall, it never did me wrong and kept me up when I did not deserve to be. Besides you like it and if fits well. Okay, if you won't get another Nighthawk, go try a Force 4. Not as playful, not as light, more boat than you need for weekend camping, and may seem a little tender with a 20.75 beam; but one of the best fast touring hulls around. If not a Force 4, try a Nordcapp LV. Ed Lawson

I think it is important to keep in mind that all the current predictions, regardless of where you find them are extrapolations of relatively well known currents at certain primary station locations to the locations of the secondary reference stations based on historical information obtained at those secondary station locations. That historical information may well be quite old and dubious. This in turn means all that seemingly detailed and accurate objective data concerning currents listed out so convincingly may well be nothing more than SWAGS and could well be perfect examples of GIGO at worst. For these reasons I believe NOAA is in the process of culling old secondary station info which it believes is not representative. But other than local knowledge, its the best we've got. Ed Lawson

>Just daydreaming, poring over my chart, noticing how close >Stonington Archipelago is to Vinalhaven (Coombs Neck to >Sparrow I~4nm). On a decent day, there are folks who paddle from Stonington to Vinalhaven just to have lunch. I assume there is a fair fetch for a typical summer breeze on the crossing back for a interesting rear quatering sea. Consider the possibility of kayaking to Vinalhaven. It is done often, but conditions could be an issue and you would be crossing a major shipping channel. There are good MITA islands there, a day of exploring, and maybe going up to Butter. As for timing the crossing, need to check what info is available concerning current timing, velocity, and direction which can be quite different from what the tide is doing in terms of water depth. Gary, you have to be careful about those daydreams. Next you will start thinking Swain's is close to Stonington area, then Swain's is close to MDI. Before you know it you will be in Machias. Ed Lawson

Time for a change of scenery and weather looks great for weekend on the water. So the usual Portsmouth suspects are heading up to Cape Porpoise for a day of wandering about the islands and visiting Goat Island Light before returning for chowder around 4-5PM. Technically this is a SMSKN trip as it is posted at http://www.smskn.org/ where you can get more details. That just means you sign their release form. No fee. No hassle. Launch at 11:30 The launch site is the ramp at the end of Pier Road. After going through Kennebunkport on route 9, it will turn left and if you go straight you should be on Pier Road. Just go to the end. If you hear a splash and your feet are wet, you have gone too far. Ed Lawson

>-on your trip, did you camp on an island in the >stonington area? No. We were there for three days and stayed at a house on Fifield Point. Since we were paying for a roof, camping was not in the game plan. Also it was mid June and Stonington is so nice then as in quiet and having places to yourself or maybe a few locals. Oops, should not have said that here. There was a couple from Canada who camped on a island and paddled in for diner at one of nice places on the main street along the harbor which seemed like a nice idea. Paddling back in twilight if not darker could have been neat. Ed Lawson

>Stone1 looks like you folks are headed >for Merchant's Island---Am I correct? Maybe. We had gone out to Mark Island light from Fifield Point, out to Farrel,turned to port and went along the north side of Merchant Row to McGlathery. So we would have been on a heading to Merchant at some point. However, I think those are the islands on the north side of Merchant Row. The red nun in stone9 is the one on the run from Camp back to Webb Cove. Imagine you have been there a few times. The fog was starting to lift by then, but thick enough. Ed Lawson

> BUT the bottom line is >that i strongly feel it's personal responsibility and >judgement and not a manifestly unsafe dictate that keeps a >person safely ashore on those days that are too ugly to >launch. I find the differences with the climbing world interesting. If you haven't a clue how to climb, I assume you can still walk into the Jenny Lake ranger station in the Tetons and get a climbing permit for any available route. The ranger may ask a question or two, but then they give you a permit which is really just to keep track of who is on what route and what color stuff to look for if recovery is needed. No such thing as certified and no climbing * awards. Basically, it just a given that climbing is "manifestly unsafe" and its totally up to the climber. Ed Lawson

Amongst all the TLT issues and the editing issues, I thought it might be of some benefit to remember why we do this stuff anyway and to help us look forward to this summer's paddling season. I apologize since many are of Gail, but I have the camera and we paddle by ourselves a great deal. Hope they encourage new and old to get out there, paddle, and have great journeys and adventures this season. http://elawson.com/gallery2/ Ed Lawson

> >The edit function is a global conf, The bane of every sys admin. Ed Lawson

>Actually Ed, your cancellation of a large (more than 2-3 >paddlers) trip is probably a good idea Well, it was clear the trip would be scaled to 6/8 paddlers given the MITA suggestions and the carrying sizes of some of the sites available and to a four day, three night trip plan. Obviously bailout and alternative routes have been part of the planning and the potential for waiting out weather dialed into participants time away from work plans. There is so much to all of it. I mean is it good or bad if 6/8 people from away descend upon Tall Barneys or Halifax Island. And it would have been necessary for everyone to have an understanding on paddling abilities and what will or will not be pushed. So, yes there are those issues; but the main reasons are the reasons I gave. It was neither a private trip by mates nor a true club trip and that raised the issues I discussed. I hope NSPN can find a way to have true club trips of a similar nature since there are obviously members interested in such trips. Those who have similar minded mates will go do the trips that interest them as always. Others can participate in trips provided by people who do so professionally. Ed Lawson

Something has been on my mind since the UNH Paddlesports Show and it finally has led me to cancel the "private" trip for the reasons that follow. They may be based on ignorance and foolish sentiment, but here they are. The number of seakayakers which is to say the market for high end kayaks, instruction, guided trips, and multi-day courses is really quite small and most are rather middle aged and affluent. There are a few people who love the sport and are trying to fund a lifestyle focused on that love by operating a paddling related business directed toward these people. At UNH I was talking to one such person and he described with evident happiness and pride an offering he was able to put together for this summer. While he is in the personal service business and perhaps he was just selling, I think not. It struck me that the Downeast trip might easily divert some from his or others offerings since it was not really a private trip among friends who might go off on an adventure together nor was it a club trip for club members. Instead it was a rather public offer via NSPN's website to see who might like to go on an extended trip in a desirable location to people who might not otherwise plan and go on their own adventure. Instead they were more likely to avail themselves of the services of people like the person I talked to at UNH. This caused me to speculate on the impact this and similar trips might have on those who are trying to make a living in their boats. I have no problem with actual private trips where a collection of paddling "mates" go off on an adventure nor do I have a problem with club trips; even if they were the same trip as I proposed. Its just that the "private" trips as structured on the NSPN site are rather contorted if not distorted versions of each, and I concluded it was inappropriate and a disservice to others to propose trips there that really fall within the realm of larger adventures. I may well do the trip and I may ask others if they are interested if I try to carry it off. I will participate in and post "private" trips of a more limited and local nature since they have been great experiences for me as a new paddler and I have enjoyed them and the paddlers I met on them. No offense meant to those who said they would like to go and my thoughts on this have nothing to do with you. I just think it is the right thing to do. Ed Lawson

> > >The one thing I want to change is my tent. I have one that >requires stakes to be driven in to stand up. Consider a tarp. Wonderful shelter in terms of adapting to many situations and brings you close to nature is so many ways. Sometimes that is good, sometimes not so good; but better than a tent most of the time. I mean unless its raining or black fies are swarming, why do you need anything but a ground cloth anyways? Ed Lawson

> Anyone ever tried raising a repeater >from off shore? Could be a nice back up radio. I have from islands and you would be surprised how many repeaters there are all the way up the coast of Maine that you can work. None of my HTs are waterproof however. I once worked Europe, Alsaka, and a few states from Isle Au Haut using a QPR rig and 30 ft. of wire so its possible to combine play with radios and kayaking. I may do it on the Jewell trip in May. Ed Lawson

>Is this "ham" as in: barbeque, gabbing, or amateur radio? I >suspect the latter since it seems there's so many of us in >the club. Hmmm. Field Day from an island or maybe activating islands for IOTA or lighthouses for ARLHS. Quite a few trip possiblities there. Anyone take portable rigs on trips? Ed Lawson K1VP