PeterB

thanks Dave. I'm correct date challenged. I corrected in the original post.

Gary York and I are planning a kayak camping trip to Lake George,( upstate NY) on the weekend after Columbus Day. October 14-16, if any of you kayak camping NSPNers are interested. The goal will be to explore the islands in the middle of the lake amidst peak autumn foliage , hike to some peaks and ledges overlooking the lake, and camp at one or more of the many campsites in the area of Lake George Narrows (uninhabited at this time of year) , the Mother Bunch Islands , or on the shores of Tongue Mountain. Put in in will be Huletts Landing on the east side of the lake. (A three hour drive from Concord NH area) This would be about an L3 paddling trip: Mileage per day is flexible, Paddling will be moderate , ambling and relaxed, (map below shows a day trip two years ago) focused on exploration and stops to explore and walk on foot.(This is a beautiful wilderness area in Adirondack Park) Camping options are innumerable, as the islands have many campsites (now un inhabited, we'll have the choice of dozens of islands to ourselves ) and also fine wild camping spots along the shores of Tongue Mountain. The main requirement for this trip to be equipped for autumn camping; (suitable tent, sleeping bag, shelter, and cold /wet weather clothing and outerwear. Weather may just be Indian summer sunny and warm to hot , but also may be wet and cold. Drysuits 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, but wind waves can be significant , especially at the middle of the day. Water temperatures will be in the low 50"s, air temps anywhere from mid-40's to 60's or higher. If you are interested , please let Gary or me know by PM on the message board and we will plan details by group PM . I've been looking forward to this for a while now, and have explored the lake by kayak years ago, and then again two years ago on the same weekend in October ( weather was autumn pleasant!) and always want to go back.

Please note that the Members General Meeting and Paddle scheduled for this coming Sunday has been changed. The meeting date has been changed to Saturday January 28th, 2017, before the Holiday Mid-Winter Party as it was last year. Sorry for the confusion; this event , which is when members of the Board of Directors and our general members may get together to share information about the club, ended up scheduled on a weekend when too many Board members were unavailable due to another paddling event arranged over the summer , so on Tuesday (our first board meeting since May) the Board decided to cancel this weekend's event and reschedule the Meeting along with this years party. We have nor notified those members who already RSVP'sd and removed it from the calendar. The Members General Meeting will be posted here on the Trips forum and in the calendar soon.

Is this (demise of kayaking numbers) anything that we, as paddlers should be concerned about? I can't decide if I'd be having a better time with a, say, threefold increase of paddlers in my home waters. For a while I took it as granted that we'd all be better off if paddler numbers went up, but I don't understand why, now that I think of it. It's certainly nice to not have to worry if a MITA campsite will be occupied before our own party can get to it. Should we be doing anything to increase paddle rnumbers? This is a very interesting point or issue , one I think about about a lot in exactly the same thought process expressed here , with no clear conclusions .

NSPN General Meeting & Post Meeting Paddle Please Note that The Meeting and Meeting Date has been changed The Members General Meeting will be on Saturday January 28 at Gould Barn i Topsfield

I would agree with Josko and Bill . If I felt it safe and sound for myself to complete the crossing but assessed that it was unsafe and unsound for others in the group to so so , I would've made every effort to stay with the group to offer assistance if needed. Regarding leaving the group; I think that general CAM principle is that significant decisions such as a person leaving a group are group decisions ; I would only leave the group if there was buy- in among the group for me to do so. I would feel my responsibility to both CAM and just sound group paddling to stay with the group if at all possible, and would not feel right about making a unilateral decision to leave the group while still assessing that I was not at undue risk myself. As Bill said, I also think the group sort of had it backwards in claiming that Leon violated CAM rules : if one group member voiced concerns about a crossing (in this case, an experienced group member at that) it would be prudent and just sound group practice for the group to keep itself together and abort the closing. If I assessed that the groups actions were putting me at undue risk, (that staying with the group to assist would put me beyond my abilities to assist others and manage myself in the event of some likely incident) I would communicate that to the group and leave the group under duress . Only in that extreme situation would I leave the group, but I would like to think that the group's previous communication and actions (awareness /avoidance/anticipation- beach briefing/ planning etc ) would forestall that happening in the first place.

I wish I could join you , but I'll be out of town on Sunday. Peter

The Downeast Retreat is now 5 weeks away, and we now have a group Personal Message thread going on the message board , which everyone who has rsvp'd- (12 so far) . So if you plan to to attend, please RSVP ( "I'm going") in the September 9-12 calendar posting and you'll be added to the PM thread for group planning and sharing of information. Thanks! Peter

I had similar problem of excess play at the joint here the two paddle halves joined. That part can come a bit loose. I dd the Nostrum epoxy treatment and that worked just fine. In a pinch (while you're padding) : you can wrap the joint tightly with electricians tape and that'll get you through the day using your paddle

Thanks for the great Trip report. Great Photos. As usual, great group, great food, great paddling in a great location. Special thanks to Paul Sylvester for organizing and securing the cabin this year, and Pru for the trip report. ; I can say with confidence that everyone who attended sees this as a yearly event.

Sherry Smith and I have arranged for Nate Hanson and Pinniped Kayaks to be available for professional training at Sullivan Reversing Falls near Ellsworth and Bar Harbor. ME , on Thursday September 8th. This will be the second year we will have this event as it is the day before the NSPN Downeast Retreat in Bar Harbor , and a great opportunity to paddle and train with professional instruction in a moving water environment .Last year the class was such a success that we are arranging it again this year. if 6 NSPN ers sign up (I'm pretty sure we already have that number ) the cost will be $130/ person . Sullivan Falls is a tidal constriction in the Sullivan River north of Frenchmans Bay, an area the size of a few football fields; active on both the incoming and outgoing tides (ie all day). Because of its small area and safety (the water smooths out just beyond the falls, practically no boat traffic, and there is a launch ramp and picnic area right there) it is an awesome place to practice and have fun in moving water. Piinniped Kayak Co. is based in Ellsworth, only fifteen minutes away, and Nate is a master at teaching at this venue for both experienced paddlers and those new to moving water. Sherry and I have both been in classes here where Nate has taken paddlers who had never paddled in moving water before, all of whom came away with added confidence and skill and had a great time. From Nate: This year, we will have an ebb through the morning, with slack water at about noon. There should be good environments for all skill levels during the morning - good surfing waves and holes for more advanced folks, and a variety of eddy-line areas for people who are still developing control and comfort in current. During the afternoon flood, we'll have good surfing for all levels out in the middle during the first hour. Then there will be eddy lines to work on after that if we have at least 5 students I will bring a second instructor, and that will really allow us to offer various levels of instruction. As people register, I ask that they send me a deposit for $70. (Checks payable to Pinniped Kayak, 61 Toashuh Way, Ellsworth, ME 04605) If they like they can also fill out pre trip forms and include those in the envelope. “ If you wish to sign up, communicate directly with Nate Hanson. nathanielrhanson@gmail.com pinnipedkayak@gmail.com

3rd Annual NSPN Downeast Paddle Retreat; Mount Desert Island September 9-12, 2016 Initiator: Peter Brady This will be the third annual Downeast Paddle Retreat for NSPN. As in the last two years, this 4 day event will be over the weekend after Labor Day, with paddles each day on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and a shorter trips winding down on Monday afternoon. This retreat has turned out to be a success as it's a perfect location to paddle at a perfect time of year., so it will be run the same as the past two years. We will will organize group paddles around Mt. Desert Island., Each day there will likely be 2 -3 trips .Most common destinations will be the Porcupine Islands in Frenchmans Bay, The Cranberry Islands the south side of MDI, Bartlett Island and Sound on the west side of the island, and .. anywhere else in the area folks want to explore. Our base of operations will be at LLangolan Inn, on Rt 3 near Hadley Point, between the Barrows and downtown Bar Harbor. We can meet at Llangolan every morning and around dinner time to create or confirm padding plans, which will be based on group desires, weather and conditions each day. The event has been a success because there is paddling to be had somewhere around the island . This is a rain or shine event, as padding each day will be more than likely regardless of weather. If weather is too bad to paddle in the ocean we can paddle on the inland ponds and lakes, if too bad for that we can play tourist around Bar Harbor. Accommodations and food are on your own. There will be a pot luck with music in the barn at LLangolan on Saturday night.
 ( bring your music instruments if you have them!) There are lots for options for lodging in the area. Recommended lodging (used by the most people in past years) :
 LLangolan Inn: our base of operations and gathering spot 
for the past 2 years. Hadley Point Campground: for those who prefer camping, 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 lodging. 
Eden Village: a cottage resort similar to LLangolan, a short ways away on Rte 3. 2014 Downeast TripReport.pdf 2015 Downeast trip report .pdf The Retreat is posted in the Calendar. Please RSVP (I'm going") in the Calendar Posting on Sept. 9th . As the date approaches, we'll develop a group contact list and information sheet with details on the event and the area. Please PM PeterB with questions, interest. Or email at pbrady at neaq.org We'll develop a group contact list and information sheet and share information by email as the date approaches.

I'm wondering if there's a premise that the only kind of group he would be leading would have competent paddlers and "number twos" as a matter of course.

This is just a bump: Solstice paddle is this coming Sunday, and is always a good time. Hope to se you there!

Solstice Paddle Level 3Trip Sunday June 26th - Riverhead Beach Marblehead, MA Beach Briefing at 9:30am Launch at 10:00am This is the L3 part of the NSPN Solstice Paddle. Traditionally this paddle heads out into Salem Sound to the area of Bakers Island and back, but float plan can be determined on group and conditions that day More information to follow as we get closer to the date. There will also be L2 and L2+ pods from the same put-in (please see separate posts for those trips). The trip departs from Riverhead Beach at 10:00 AM and is timed t return to the beach by @ 3 Pm for the potluck under the picnic pavilion across the road at Devereaux beach. Please RSVP ( I'm going) in the June 26th L3 Calendar Posting if you are interested in joining the L3 pod.

Come celebrate the beginning of summer with NSPN! This is our traditional summertime social event, and is held at Riverhead Beach in Marbehead, finishing with a pot luck party under the pavilion across the street at Devereux Beach. Traditionally this event consists of two to three paddling trips of differing levels, all leaving in the morning from Riverhead Beach in Marblehead, breaking en route for packed lunches.Individual trips will be posted by members here on the Trips forum. We may have L2, L2+, and an L3 trip that day .... Find the trip posting and please RSVP in the calendar posting of you trip to attend. The L3 trip: beach briefing at 9:30, launch at 10:00. This trip leaves the earliest and goes the furthest: a traditional destination is Bakers Island. The L2 and L2+ trips: beach briefing at 10:00am, launch at 10:30am. LIkely destination will be Dolliber Cove, Browns Island and the area around the head of Marblehead Harbor (L2) , Salem Willows or Children's Island.(L2+) The L2 and L2+ trips may be combined depending on group size and preferences All trips return around 3-3:30pm Upon return in the afternoon (most likely 3 -3:30PM ), all groups pack up their gear, change and collect under the picnic pavilion at Devereaux Beach across the street, and enjoy a pot-luck style beach party for dinner! Non -paddling friends and family are of course also invited to meet up with us there for the food friends & fun!So bring your gear, your love of paddling, and a yummy dish to share, and help us kick-off the summer paddling season in style!!!

congratulations!

On Thursday evening, five of us had a lovely full moon night paddle from South Portland to Jewell, arriving around 9:30PM, guided at the end to our campsite by the lucilight beacons left out for us by Nancy's group who had arrived earlier that afternoon . On Friday , Gary and two others set off for Bangs and Crow islands , and most of the rest of us paddled from our campsite to Outer Green and Junk of Pork islands, out there in Casco Bay south of Jewell Island . On our return we threaded our way between ledges and stopped for lunch at the south end of Jewell. Nancy ,Joyce and Jane then returned to the campsite , and the rest of us paddled up the east side of Jewell as winds were picking up and seas getting crashier . Back at the campsite we watched Gary's work detail round the northeast end of Cliff Island and make their plodding way back to the campsite against mounting winds. They'd had a stiff headwind for much of their afternoon ,and Kyle's eyes were rolling in his head by the time he trudged back into the campsite. Yes the Saturday night potluck was impressive. Pablo's Spanish tortilla (most of us thought of it as as a frittata) was noteworthy, and Mike brought salmon as well but, taking a gander at Yongs offering, conceded that even his advanced culinary skills had been upstaged, and left his unfurled. When you return from a camping trip with intact smoked salmon, thats a good sign. After supper a bunch of us took a stroll across the island to the Punchbowl campsite , bathed in moonlight on the east side of the island. This trip corresponded to spring bird migrations ,and our campsite was alive with warblers : chestnut- sided warblers, bay- breasted warblers, magnolia warblers, black and white warblers, yellowthroats, redstarts, back -throated green warblers- and on and on. Our campsite also had a resident scarlet tanager. The Sunday weather forecast of rains and 15+ knot NW winds prompted the northward- headed Dolphin Cove group to abridge their weekend and return on Saturday, so we paddled en masse to Eagle Island where the Dolphin Cove group continued onward , and six of of us returned to Jewell into building SE winds. Our Saturday night dinner was less orgiastic than the night before but impressive by any other standards than the ones set by that epic Friday affair. On Sunday morning the rest of us returned to South Portland as planned. Bob and Rene left early , and the remaining four of us departed a bit after 8AM , and arrived back at S. Portland @ 10:30. It was a great weekend. Pro summed it it up on Friday as our boats were arrayed in the channels between Outer Green and Junk of Pork , basking in the sun and flashing surf, when she murmured to me , " we are blessed".

That is what I read in a guide to paddling the Maine coast by Shelly Johnson. It seems that on the flood , the current of the Sheepscot River winds around the top of Westport island and impedes any northward flood current on the Back River, or actually pushes southward. Years ago we did a clockwise circumnav. of Westport island, were counting on some push up the Back River from Hockomock Bay, but got none.

Thanks for the trip report . Damn: this makes a trip such as yours , exactly as it was, look most appealing: I now feel inspired to save my pennies for just such an excursion next year.