EEL

>Ed, you keep mentioning Kevin and Posters . . . . do you >have a poster of Kevin you're not telling me about and if so >can I get a copy! Sorry, I was paid a great deal of money to not release a copy. I must say that at least the animals other than the lobsters, to their credit, appear to have been chagrined at their participation, unlike the humans involved. Who would have thought lobsters have such lives. http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/20...24_lobster.html Ed Lawson

>Hmm, plastic Avocet, hard head, SNG...really can't imagine >where else one would be but in the rocks Cannot speak for Deb and Bob and know not the circumstances, but perhaps they were suggeting that as the poster of a SNG, you cannot be totally free to do as you wish. I agree that seems a contradiction, unfair, and not your intent perhaps, but reality bites on occasion. OTOH, who am I to talk? Ed Lawson

>The level 2 paddle that Kevin put together for Saturday >turned out to be fantastic. > >We had a group of 13, or was it 12? Obviously a good deal on interest for these paddles, leading me to wonder at what point, as a practical matter, does the originating person become more than a poster of a informal paddle and the trip more than a SNG for like kind paddlers? >We got a chance to play in the rocks a bit >and at some point I heard an exasperated Bob or Deb telling >Kevin to "get out of there" since he's supposed to be paying >attention to paddlers Kudos not only to Kevin and Gillian for providing so many paddling opportunities, but also to Bob and Deb for using some of their scarce paddling time to help and mentor. > I remember the first time Deb told me to just >relax my hips and go with it as I was passing along that >piece of advice to a couple paddlers next to me. > So there is indeed a continuinng "Pass it along" effort. As the season progresses, I wonder if the SNGs and the new paddlers will progress also in level and variety. I guess that is up to "us" isn't it? Good things happening all around. Ed Lawson

Gail and I discussed doing an easy paddle on a nearby lake for today and I asked if she wanted to navigate/trip plan. She agreed. This morning after a relaxed breakfast she asked about the marine forecast, and when I said it was good, she announced it was time to go to Kittery. So packed for a real trip and launched at 11. Exiting Brave Boat Harbor, she turned north. I asked about destination and she happily said, "Its a nice day to go to the Nubble Light." "Oh", I replied which elicited the ever deadly "Is there a problem with that?" So after two rest stops and 17.5NM, we lifted onto the car the heaviest kayaks known to man at 6PM and went searching for beer and lobsta rolls. It was a beautiful day with great visiblity and ever so gentle swells, but I have recovered the chart case and will keep it safe. The ocean was incredibly warm today. Its in the high sixties on the southern coast of Maine. Ed Lawson

Neat/interesting stuff. > >Hitting Jonesport was like entering one of those wild-west >towns with the saloons and cowboys staring at the strangers >all down one main street. Sounds like my kinda place. Have to get up there. What was the paddling like generally while you were there? > I swear >that the lobster boats kept trying to run us down and then >veered off at the last moment. Maybe you took "their" table at the diner the night before? Seriously, how far off were they before they veered off? I have noticed this on occasion, but usually they are a couple hundred meters off. I never got the impression there was an intent to cause grief. Still, there are a few "cowboys" out there and they have been known to "buzz" pleasure sailboats too. Ed Lawson

> I suppose I can use my bliking >red bike like for my back. I would not use one of those. I am of the opinion that we should always keep in mind that we are not simply paddlers of little boats out and about, but are masters of a vessel and need to follow the rules and are bound by the rules the same as if we were captains of a large tanker. A flashing red light is not recognized as a proper light for a vessel which can breed confusion and trouble. I suppose when you are in a congested area filled with clueless pleasure boat operators all bets are off so jut my $.02. >Where do I get reusable >glow-stickie things? Suggestions? Look for them in the flashlight section of a Walmart type store for the battery operated ones. Ed Lawson

> It would be better to say that there >is no "global" best boat, but there are "local" best boats >to borrow from mathematics. Yes. I think in more modest modes such as: "This porridge is too hot, this porridge is too cold, but this porridge is just right." Ed Lawson

>I notice that alot of people are paddling an NDK Explorer >and I am addled trying to find what I want in a kayak. Without getting into the whole boat debate thing, you have in that sentence hit two important points with the latter being critically important. For a variety of reasons none or only some of which may have any validity for you, Explorers are popular boats, especially among NSPN members. It is possible to have endless debates about boats and their respective merits. These are fun in an idle gearhead sort of way and it is interesting to hear why different people like various boats. But don't put much stock in it. That said, there is no "best" boat. There is even no "best" boat within a specific category. There may be some boats that are generally regarded as poor and to be avoided, but I suspect you would get agruments over even that. There are many very competent boats in several categories and many of them have distinct traits. A boat may or may not be comfortable in terms of physical fit and handling to one person, but be just right for another. So to discover what you want in a boat and to find a boat that does a better job at filling those wants, you need to paddle lots of boats, develop paddling skills so you can really understand what it is you like in a boat, and be rather ruthlessly honest about what type of paddling you will be doing. This takes time and you may end up going through a few different boats. Just buying what is popular is easy and given that boats from the major "names" are really quite good, you are unlikely to make a bad mistake. On the other hand, getting a boat that matches what you like in a boat will mean a great deal more pleasure on the water. So my view is find a boat that is sweet to you and enjoy it. The love affair may last, or you may move on to a new love, but at least you will paddling a boat you find sweet. Don't just buy a boat because some great paddler took it to hell and back, or its popular, or someones says it is the "best" boat. That is a great prescription for engaging in cognitive dissonance. Just as an aside, I have two friends who are currently doing a long trip on the coast of Newfoundland. One is using a NF Silhouette and the other an Impex Outer Island. These are not boats usually thought to be camping/expedition boats to say the least, but they use them for that all the time and they like them very much. Different strokes for different folks. Ed Lawson

>Waterproof? Says weatherproof, but I'm going to run a little test on that point. Does have a rubber O ring on the rotary switch and otherwise a sealed unit. Ed Lawson

> >I hope I don't ask too many questions.. No can do. Ask too many that is. Besides, if you didn't know it before, here is a little secret. All truly good paddlers cannot help themselves. They just love to demo and teach stuff and will find every opportunity to do so. Take advantage of this personality quirk as there will be some truly good paddlers about. Ed Lawson

What with all the interest in night/moonlight/meteor shower paddling this summer, does anyone have experience and/or opinion about using these in lieu of the usual chemical glow sticks? I have seen mention in other places of their use for night kayaking. http://www.garritylites.com/site/retail_details.php?recid=87 Ed Lawson

> I >also want to learn that groovy thing where you move your >Kayak sideways without dumping myself over. > Hmmm. That is likely the only thing I could show someone how to do...if you mean a sculling draw. Well, a hanging draw too I guess. Anyway, next time we meet on the water, just ask and we will spend some time playing with it. It is amazing how useful and just fun it can be. My basically ignorant opinion is that early on it is better to play/learn strokes, especially braces and steering strokes of all kinds in varied circumstances than focus with obsession on rolling. Rather think of rolling as just another stroke in the quiver. Better to be comfy and loose in your boat than tense and needing to rely on roll. Ed Lawson

>I vote for a contest on chocolate covered treats between you >and Kevin. I see no reason to limit the contestants to two nor to have only one taster for that matter. Ed Lawson

>Oh, and there were also chocolate-dipped CHERRIES ;-))) >Thanks, Gay!! Well, now that the secret is out, I guess its time to ask for the recipe in order to be self sufficent. Ed Lawson

> then us late ones (another 6) Who were penalized by having the first six eat all the chocolate covered strawberries. BTW, a great trick to get all the fat old guys to volunteer to help get the kayak on and off the car. Ed Lawson

> if you >new guys are out there, anything you need to get on the >water we'll help!!!!!! Like lead them through rocks before, during and after surges? Seriously, there have been two SNG trips out of Odiorne in Portsmouth and down the coast to Rye harbor. I assume that is a L3 trip, but it is only 10NM or so and the condx on each have been benign. Assuming folks have a decent boat for the ocean, would these have been fine for beginners with some skills developed at the lakes session? I suspect so in retrospect and certainly the usual suspects at these SNGs includes experienced folks who could help them out of problems. I wonder if new paddlers are avoiding trips because SNGs are often unrated and/or they think an L3 trip is going to be too difficult and/or have an exagerated concept of what an L3 trip is like. I understand an L3 trip could be difficult, but that is not a given simply because a trip is listed as L3. For example, this Sunday condx while going around Gerrish were basically akin to being on a lake, but it is a L3 trip for reasons other than anticipated condx. A review of buoy info would enable people to see whether it was reasonable for them. Then again, I'm irresponsible. Ed Lawson

>We're noticing fewer beginners and >not-particularly-experienced paddlers coming to the Mystic >Lake Sessions. I might just be that there are fewer. I've heard the boat market has fallen off quite a bit over the past couple of years. Seems to me that a mix of events are needed for beginners to maintain interest. Lake practice/skill sessions are obviously invaluable and members of the club do yoeman duty helping there. However, it seems to me there also needs to be trips at which beginners would feel reasonably at ease so that they can put what they have learned to practice so to speak. This assumes people buy boats to go out and do things as opposed to practice skills on a pond. While the number of SNG trips this year has been high and varied, I suspect new members might be reluctant to go on them as they may be unsure of their ability to do the trip, etc. Perhaps they need to be encourgaed they can indeed go on some of the SNGs. As a beginner, that is how see/saw it. Since I live far away and have a lake in my backyard so to speak, I'll never go to a weeknight sessions, but sounds to me you are doing what I would like to do if I did. I trust some time is spend just playing in the boats and taking time to experiment with strokes as opposed to working on rolling and rescues. Ed Lawson

Are there any meaningful functional or qualitatiive differences between these two compasses? TIA Ed Lawson

> okay, so the problem with my roll is a diving >paddle . . I can only speculate as a bumbling aspirant roller..well...I guess I have done a combat roll, but that doesn't really count here. IMHO The problem with your roll is not a diving paddle. The problem lies elsewhere and the obvious manifestation of the problem is that the paddle dives. Assuming you are trying to do a sweep role, I have been told the usual suspects are: Not getting yourself wrapped up around the boat so your head is close to the surface when you start. Holding the paddle shaft tightly instead of gently and not making sure you have a neutral blade. Not keeping you head down which really means keeping your chin on your shoulder. Not allowing your torso to sweep out with the paddle. Trying to muscle the paddle as if applying force to it would get you up. Not engaging in a good hip snap and/or applying force with the wrong foot/knee. Personally I found learning to do a sculling brace so you are resting in the water and then bringing yourself up was very helpful to get the "feel" of the final phase of a roll. Also, I don't think much of looking at what is going on since I close my eyes anyway and it just gives you sensory input when you can least use it. To me the trick was simply letting go of all the ideas and concepts and just going with the feel of the roll. You focus on one concept and you blow it because you don't put it all together. Its just a physical move. Do you need to think about all the steps to every move you make? Of course not, you just do it. I think the best aids are really ways of allowing you to get the feel of the roll without interferring with developing that feel. Finally, don't make a big deal of rolling and don't practice it when it does not go well. No need to make bad stuff more fixed in the head. Ed Lawson

>want to join us on that one??? > I think there's plenty of room left . . . . I'll be further up the coast on Sat. Going out to Sequin Island. http://www.seguinisland.org/seguin_pictures_page1.htm At least that is the plan. Ed Lawson

It appears some NSPN members may be staying overnight/camping as part of the Aug 19th official trip to lower Casco Bay. Posting to see if interest exists to do a SNG on the 20th for upper Casco Bay as in leaving Cousins/Harpswell/Land's End for a day trip on Sunday or maybe even leaving Sat evening to camp on Bangs or Jewell and then tour around Sunday. Thinking of something in the 12-14NM range, Eagle Island, Bangs, Jewell, Whaleboat, little Mark, etc. Ed Lawson

>another alternative if you are a MITA member is to >park your car at east end beach in Portland and camp on one >of the MITA islands I don't think parking overnight at East Prom is reccomended or may not even be allowed. I asked this spring about that and all I got were negatives from Portland parks and police folks. They suggested parking on the main street above, but I'm not sure that is a great idea either. There is a Maine state park on Wolf's Neck with camping and the Town of Freeport has a park with camping and over night parking if camping on a MITA island. It is called Winslow Park. You can launch from Winslow so they say (no personal knowledge), but not from Wolf's Neck. Hmmm. Here is a thought. Why not a SNG on Sunday for the northern part of Casco Bay to make a weekend of it? Maybe leaving from Winslow Sat evening after the official paddle, camp on Bangs or Jewell, then cruise around, visit Eagle, etc. on Sunday? Or to be more sensible, paddle from Cousins or maybe Harpswell on Sunday. Well...forget sensible...if conditions are OK...cruising upper Casco at night can be fun.

> One of my pet peeves has been my inability to print >out these charts (BSB format) with my choice of center and >scale with adequate quality using Maptech's Chart Navigator >and Offshore Navigator programs. I have found a solution >that I really like: a Photoshop plugin to read BSB format >charts called BSB Import available at www.apocgraphy.com. Another alternative, at least for those who use Unix, Linux, or perhaps OSX, is to use GRASS with GDAL. Not a consumer product as such, but it will do some heavy lifting when it comes to maps. Ed Lawson

BTW, are you going out of Little Harbor, or staying inside and using the beach next to the jetty? Ed Lawson

Gary: Are you going to be staying up for all these days or will these be day trips? Maybe meet on Harpswell or Land's End for tour around northern part of Casco on Monday or Tuesday? Ed Lawson