PeterB

I'll give it a try today: Hope I can get in .  Spending time  upside down in water would be a good thing. 

I agree that the height and spacing between tiers can be easy to get wrong:  mainly, too low and/or too tight between tiers. .   I would try to set  the lowest  rack  level fairly high: . maybe 2 1/2 to 3 feet, and the next one  2 1/2 to 3 feet above  that  ( 5 to six feet).  I have 3 tiers, and  I have  the easiest time plucking the boat off my  highest rack and the hardest time with the boat on the lowest rack.  I plan to adjust mine so that they are all higher (as soon as I've got my list of other household/ grounds and landscaping chores under control), and maybe ditch one rack and go  from 3 to 2 tiers. _.  My rack (sounds like similar construction to yours) is  three tiers, the lowest is about 16"  (too low!) , the next  is  22-24"  feet above that  (@ 38" to 40") and the  the next 22-24"  feet above that ( @ 60- 64") .. I find the lowest is too low, and  I have to bend and contort to get the boat, and the highest is not too high, could even  be higher : a boat at that forehead  or higher  level  can be transferred off the rack  right into a  comfortable shoulder carry position,or over onto the car top with relative ease,  
Its also nice to have the space between boats to be more than the beam of the boat;  my 22" spacing is too tight.  with 30-36" the boats  can be placed on their sides as well, if you either want it that way or want to access the hatches  (cleaning, inspecting, repairing etc) while it is right on the rack.  

I'll be there.I'd bring some single malt to christen the boat by sprinkling a bit on its bow but I'm driving straight from work and came ill-prepared. 

This was our  4^th NSPN trip to Saddleback Island, hopefully now an NSPN tradition which provides the opportunity for great paddling and lodging  in what has long been one of the best paddling areas anywhere . This  trip was anchored at the  rustic cabin owned by The Maine Coast Heritage Trust on lovely Saddleback Island at the edge of the Stonington  archipelago.
We lucked out with mostly fabulous summer weather, lots of sun and comfortable summer heat , with  a few bits of fog to make paddling a bit interesting at times. Seas were generally very tame, winds generally mild- in the 5 kt. Range,  so  the weekend lent itself to  relaxed paddling & exploring.  Trip mileage each day was in the 15-17 NM range. 

This year our group  was a bit smaller  than in past years , since communication with  MCHT beforehand  had better clarified their intended use of the cabin and grounds, which prefers a limit of eight persons.   So after a couple of cancellations and additions, we ended up a group of six and then, seven, with the arrival of George, a brand new NSPN member who had just finished signing up, Paypal-ing etc.  in time to join us  on Saddleback right  around dusk on the first day. 

So,  on Friday six of us converged on Old Quarry Adventures Campground near Stonington,  loaded up and set off in two groups for Saddleback around midday: three of us- Pablo, Yong, and myself -  launched around 12:30, with Gary, Dave  and Paul following about an hour later. We all made the short easy trip to Saddleback ,  unloaded and settled into the cabin, after which some of us took a late  afternoon spin around the island before settling into what is a Saddleback birthright:  hanging out on the porch or inside, or on the rocks,  and enjoying dinner and conversation. 

On Saturday, two ideas for paddling trips  emerged, so we formed into two groups. Both departing around 9 AM.  Gary and Paul set off for a 2+ mile crossing of Jericho Bay  to Marshall Island, and spent some time exploring the island’s trails and its  abandoned overgrown airstrip before returning to Saddleback . Marshall has the distinction of being the largest uninhabited island in the east coast, and its beauty, remoteness, beaches  and network of trails make it a place that every paddler I know wants to return to. Gary and Paul returned from Saddleback  with reports of a “ fantabulous”  day.   

The rest of us- Pablo, George, Yong, Dave  and I- paddled across and  down to explore the east side of  Isle au Haut. My other forays to Isle au Haut have been circumnavigations , which leave little time for exploration, so our goal was to more leisurely explore the east side of IAH, especially York Island,  a goal which was handsomely realized.  We had lunch on Doliver , a tiny MITA island (“ it’s tennis court size and rock, with one tree and a sign”)  in the shadow of York Island .  After lunch we rounded York Island  and, after a stop at the northeast corner of IAH, Yong and Dave elected to return straight to Saddleback, and George, Pablo and I continued on along the north coast of IAH,  slithered into the Isle au Haut Thoroughfare to the  little village of Isle au Haut ,where he had a stroll and visited the General Store for ice cream bars and ginger ale before returning to Saddleback. 

On Sunday we all paddled together for the traditional “nickel tour” of  the Stonington islands: a few of our number had not had the pleasure of exploring this area  before. We wound our way slowly through the islands and at a juncture  on the edge of Wreck island we decided to cross Merchants Row to visit Harbor Island , one of the area’s  favorite camping islands. We then crossed  Merchants Row back to Steves Island, and had lunch there.

As we were departing Steve’s, a  conversation with some other paddlers revealed that the Fisherman’s Festival in downtown Stonington (only 1.5 nm away) was winding down in a few hours,  so we  promptly changed our route and filtered into Stonington to enjoy the last of the festivites there, which included a cod fish relay race, (children stumbling about  in yellow fishermans overalls lugging a giant slippery cod)  and  yummy grilled shark steaks.  After the festivities, Dave and Paul returned to Saddleback and the rest of us detoured around Crotch Island with its formidable granite quarry equipment  and  cascading piles of granite blocks: Crotch  Island appears to have been the epicenter  of Stoningtons famous granite industry of the previous century. 
Granite, and  geology in general,  becomes  an inevitable theme of any trip to  this rocky area, and George , it turned out , was a geologist with formidable knowledge of   the area's geology which he could ably translate into laymans terms , so the trip turned partly into a highly appreciated  geological tutorial of  the area.

Monday morning   it was pack up , tidy up and close  the cabin,  and paddle back to Old Quarry, with the added luxury of showers ($5) at the campgrounds  before hitting the road for the long drive back home.  I suppose it’s the sign of a great trip when you’re already thinking about next year’s , so  by that or most any other yardstick, this weekend was a success.

A lot of variables. On average, there is a good tide race on the ebb at the northeast end of Pond Island and at Jack Rock,  which  can of course be either  bigger or tamer depending on wind direction,  incoming swell, and tides . When all of these come together - south wind ,swell from the south, and a bigger ebb tide-   the tide races  there can be big and challenging. When they don't - a smaller tide,  little or  no wind or a north wind, and little or no swell, there is plenty of current but probably mild standing waves, so the area is still worth a visit, just not as exciting or challenging, depending on how much you are looking for. 

Me too .

I will be there. Aiming to arrive @ 4, which  will probably mean a  bit after given the afternoon traffic. 

My meeting ran past 4:30 so I couldn't get to Walden yesterday. I'l have Wednesday   meetings  at the same time for the next 2 weeks  , so I may not be able make it to Walden for the next two Wednesdays though I will try.
Peter  

I'll be there: I have a meeting at work  till 4:00 , so I won't be there until @ 5:30. 
Peter

I  will plan to be there, barring poorer  weather than forecast . I'll be there 4PM-ish, maybe a a bit later (4:15-4:20) 

Dan, 

Thanks for sharing this! Who were the twelve founding citizens? 

I'll be there :  I will try to arrive at  4PM. I'm also  game for a bite to eat  afterwards.   

'll be there this Wednesday: I will try to arrive @ 4PM .  

On Saturday  five of us paddled from Riverhead Beach out to Tinkers Island and back in search of right whales, but we didnt see any that day . Nevertheless we had a nice sunny-weather outing , and had some fun amidst the rocks and ledges along Marblehead neck.  

Right whales can be distinguished from other whales we might see  around here (humpback, fin, minke, pilot  whales)  because they have no dorsal fin:  So, if you see a whale above the surface  with no dorsal fin -   it appears as  one big black mound or blob, its likely to be a right whale. It would be a special treat to see them in this area!
 Right whales are also slower swimmers: fin  whales, minke whales, and pilot whales are generally feeding on the move , and right whales move  more slowly or loll about . So if you see a slow moving black  blob or mound on the ocean , its more likely to be a right whale.   Humpback whales loll about too but their appearance is noticeably different, very long pectoral fins and sharper snout, and more dramatic when surfacing and breaching.  

Lake George Autumn foliage, paddling camping and hiking
October 12-14 

This will be a repeat of two successful trips to Lake George at this time of year.  The goal will be to explore the islands  in the middle third of the Lake George amidst peak autumn foliage,  hike to some peaks and ledges overlooking the lake, and camp at one or more of the island campsites in the  middle part of the lake , which are uninhabited at this time of year (with fire pits and composting outhouses.) We will likely camp in the Mother Bunch Islands, which are perfectly located for exploration of the lake. Campsite options are innumerable, as the islands have many campsites now uninhabited: we'll have the choice of dozens of islands to ourselves. 
The put in will be at Huletts Landing on the remote eastern side of the lake.  From here there is perfect access to explore the Mother Bunch and Narrows Island groups, and  hiking trail heads to Black Mountain Point, Tongue Mountain, Paradise and Red Rock Bay.  Huletts Landing is a  three hour drive from Concord NH area.

This will be about an L3 paddling trip: Mileage per day is flexible, as it includes some hiking,  and probably will not exceed 10 miles.   

Paddling will be moderate, ambling and relaxed, focused on exploration and stops to explore and walk on foot. (This is a beautiful wilderness area in Adirondack Park)  

The main requirement for this trip to be equipped for autumn camping, and  being able to stay warm and dry especially of the water  in cold wet weather;  (suitable tent, sleeping bag, shelter, and cold /wet weather clothing and outerwear.)  Weather might just be Indian summer warm to hot, but also may also  be wet and cold. Drysuits are highly recommended, as staying warm and dry while off the water will be required. We can get off the water at any time quickly, no tides or currents, and never more than a mile from shoreline but wind waves can be significant, especially at the middle of the day. Water temperatures will probably be in the low 50"s, air temps anywhere from the mid-40's to 60's or higher.  

If you are interested, please RSVP (I’m going”) in the October 12 Calendar posting on the message board. If you have any questions , post here or  contact me (PeterB) by PM on the message board.   

Terese,   Accommodations are on your own, so yes, you can make room reservations any time. The LLangolan Inn is the base of operations, and there may or may not be rooms  still available - there are 8  kitchenette bungalows and some rooms in the main Inn building. The bungalows have usually been reserved well in advance  : many of us just reserved our cabin for this year at the end of last years event, but  but if there are rooms available  you can make reservations at any time, at Llangolan  or at any other  hotel or campground  nearby.  

Please come paddle in Bar Harbor for what will be Fifth Downeast Paddle Retreat for NSPN!

This 4 day event will be from Friday Sept.7 to Monday Sept.10, spanning the weekend after Labor Day, with group paddles each day on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and shorter trips winding down on early Monday afternoon.  Since this retreat has been a success for three years - it's a perfect location to paddle at a perfect time of year (and with a perfect group of paddlers!) - it will be run on a roughly similar schedule as in past years.  
 

Most people travel & arrive on Thursday and depart on Monday afternoon though you are of course free to arrive and leave earlier or later. 

Our base of operations will be at Llangolan Inn on Rte 3 near Hadley Point , on the north side of the island between the Narrows and Bar Harbor. Each day we will have organized paddles (likely two or three) around Mount Desert Island, based on weather and conditions that day.We will have a menu of trips planned in advance, and can meet at Llangolan every morning and around dinner time to create and confirm paddling plans for each each day.  Favorite destinations are: the Porcupine Islands off of Bar Harbor in Frenchmans Bay, the Cranberry Islands on the south side of MDI, Bartlett Island and Sound on the West Side, and the dramatic eastern shore of the island.  Last year our variety of trips extended further into Frenchmans Bay and to Somes Sound, and this year we’re looking at an excursion past the Cranberry Islands out to the Duck Islands.  

This is a rain or shine event! This event has been a success because there is fine paddling to be had somewhere around the island in all but very harsh conditions, and if the weather is too crummy to paddle anywhere on the ocean we can paddle the inland ponds and lakes like Long Pond or Eagle Lake, or explore & hike  Acadia National Park,  or play tourist around Bar Harbor. Some people have taken a day off from paddling to  hike or explore Mount Desert Island, and there will probably be an organized hike or two  mixed into the festivities.

Accommodations and food are on your own.  
There will be a potluck at Llangolan Inn on Saturday night, and a  meet & greet gathering with food on Thursday evening , also at LLangolan. 
Most people do some mix of dining out around the Island or dining in at Llangolan ( the cottages have kitchenettes) 

Recommended lodging:
Note: it is past Labor Day but still tourist season in the area, so it would be advised to make plans for accommodations well in advance.

Llangolan Inn & Cottages :  Our base of operations and gathering spot. The bungalows are likely  already reserved by NSPNers, but there may be rooms in the main Inn.

Hadley Point Campground: for those who prefer to camp, this campground is adjacent to Llangolan on Hadley Point Road

Robbins Motel: not far from Llangolan on Rte 3 for those looking for the most economical no-frills  lodging on the island.

Eden Village: A cottage resort similar to Llangolan, a short ways away on Rte 3.

Trenton & (off the Island): Just across the bridge to Mount Desret Island, towards Trenton & Ellsworth, there are cottages and motels that are less pricey than on Mt. Desert Island. 


There are many other options for lodging in the area, including fine ( but less  conveniently located) campgrounds and cheaper motels off of MDI between

if you are interested in attending, please RSVP (" Im going") in the calendar posting on Sept.7^th  , I’ll get a group PM going  in the months preceding the event for information sharing,  planning and communication in advance of the event.
If you have any questions: contact  Peter Brady   (PeterB on the nessage board )  by PM 

I do see a difference  here in that the rescu-ee is quite proactive and more actively participating in the rescue: He rights his boat and proactively presents the bow to the rescuer. This is a bit of a variant on  the standard  teaching dogma that the rescuer is in charge ,  rescu-ee simply does whatever rescuer tells him to do. The rescue in this video unfolds with the premise that both participants are practiced in this exact drill , probably with each other.  But I suppose it could also unfold the same way  using standard dogma as long as  the rescuer gives loud and firm commands from the get go and  throughout,  and rescue-ee follows those commands. 

The swimmer  holding on to their paddle during rescues  is an interesting variation. There  is a school of thought  (Leon Somme advocates this)  that goes:  why ever give up control of  your paddle? Like other variations, I suppose it  requires practice, to forestall the hazard of swimmer's paddle  flailing around or otherwise  causing trouble  during the rescue.  

I'll bring the usual. This year I think I'll make lobster/avocado maki and unagi /avocado (uno avo) maki.  
 If crabmeat/ avocado sushi is  traditionally called  "California maki" ,  then lobster /avocado maybe  ought to be called  "Maine maki" . But "Maine maki" just doesn't roll off the tongue right, so I'll call it "Muscongus maki".  

Andy , do you know McMaster Carr? They have just about every imaginable piece of hardware.
https://www.mcmaster.com

Congratulations!

I'm very upset to hear this news , and especially  concerned for his family and loved ones. I guess i assumed he was invincible : My impressions of Jed are exactly what others have already expressed. Jed was before my time in NSPN , but he was an eye opener for me , introduced me to BCU,  and I was blessed to have his mentorship at many pool sessions and  a number of intructional situations, my most memorable of which was when i had an all day skills class , just Jed and I, on Long Pond on Mt. Desert Island. He was very thoughtful and analytical, and had a great facility for teaching. He was interesting as hell.