Gillian

I'm in!!!

Kate, that'd be great thank you - I work a few miles away from Walden so maybe some evening next week we can coordinate? Thank you!!!

thanks guys! i'll bring the instruction manual out there with me and try to read it while i'm hanging upside down . . . . "now which left arm is it? did someone say something about whales with guns?"

Hi there, on a paddle this weekend it was recommended to me that I try a Butterfly Roll along with learning the sweep roll . . . does anyone know how to do this kind of roll, and if so be willing to teach me sometime? Thanks!!

Oh yeah, I forgot that highlight - Jason I think I left a couple scuff marks on your boat, my bad . . .

Well if someone wants a tow from me going forward, they better learn how to hang on with their hands! I am now anti-caribiner . . . (kidding of course)

Bob, totally understand If you're going to be at Tuesday's Mystic session next week, I'll take a look - thank you . . .

Went to my first lake practice last night and it was a BLAST. Thanks to David for organizing!!!! It's definitely a great forum for practicing skills . . . Peter took some time showing me a high brace which I started practicing . . . the goal will be to try to get the elbow in the water (or is it shoulder for 3* assessment??) and make it up without flipping next time I got to try my first hand of god rescue on Peter which in practice is actually a lot of fun . . . the first time I blew it . . . I tried to just use one arm to grab the coaming. Peter of course can hold his breath for an inordinate amount of time so it took awhile before he realized that I wasn't getting him up . . . I banged on the bottom of his boat as I had lost my paddle and was floating away . . . it made me realize we should probably have had a signal agreed upon to come on out of the boat, before I tried it. The second time I leaned all the way over and used my body and boat to help me swing him upwards and it was a little awkward but I got him up. Now when Jason practiced his hand of god on me it was like a roller coaster ride - that guy is strong!!! Thanks Jason!!! I thought it would be an imposition to ask him to do it again and again and again . . . I unfortuantely still have half a roll but got the sweep right last night, just lifted the head . . . did a couple cowboy re-entries and Kevin even got Julia out of her boat!!!!! Kevin did about a hundred rolls until he actually made himself dizzy I hear - we're still wondering if that's perhaps from the motion or water in the ear or a combination of both? Great times all around last night. The word of caution is something that happened during a standard re-entry I was doing during a T Rescue . . . I happened to have Kevin's tow belt on and he keeps the caribiner cliped on the outside of the bag as had been recommended to us in the past . . . Kevin was performing the T Rescue, and as I rolled into the boat, I had rotated the tow bag around to my back as it's bulky getting back in the boat with it kept in the front. As I was turning around in the boat to face forward, the caribiner caught and clipped onto the strap of the back of my seat. I didn't realize it at the time, but I went to sit up, realized I was attached very firmly to my boat, and I wasn't sure by what. Had I happened to flip over it would not have been good (in hindsight releasing the tow belt would have done the trick had I flipped, but I realized later that thought might not have occured to me because I wasn't sure what was attaching me to the boat). . . so my thought is to either not keep the caribiner clipped on the outside of the bag or to always remember to keep it in front of you . . . any thoughts?

Heidi, don't skip Thursday!!!!!! Just bring your boat or Matt's boat to the practice session - even if you intend on upgrading your boat you can practice wet exits in the one you have now . . . . also, rei outlet has small drybags on sale for about 6 bucks each . . . you can have my noseclips if you want because they don't stay on my nose . . . i had to get a full face mask . . . apparently my nose is coated with teflon and slippery

Heidi, just wait till you get good at it . . . what we do is duct tape you in your boat and then let you try to get out of it under the water - you're official NSPN at that point . . .

Hi Barry!!! If you decide to join NSPN, you should come to the lake practice sessions once you get a boat - they're held on Tuesdays at Mystic Lake in Medford and Thursdays at Chebacco lake in Essex . . . it will be a great way to meet some other folks in the club (all ranges of skill levels) and get some free training from the rest of us!!! I'd also go with skeg, not rudder when looking at boats but that's just my humble opinion

Wow, thanks guys, Suz the first suggestion is the 4* training that's going on that weekend . . . I'm going along for the ride (don't think I'm ready for 4* yet) but I'll definitely give Aquaterra a call as that seems to be the primary recommendation . . .I'll be sure to say hi for you!

thanks for the info!! i'll definitely give them a call - my concern also was that it would be a complete novice trip . . . one of them even made you kayak in tandems which is out of the question i'll definitely be bringing my own boat . . . i'd love to paddle with you but it's already such a hike!!!!! drive to bar harbor and do a tour there and i'll come with

Does anyone know any of the companies in the Bar Harbor area that give tours? I'm going up next weekend and not knowing the water up there instead of paddling by myself I thought I'd join a tour. There seem to be a few outfitters up there but I thought I'd ask if anyone had a recommendation . . . Thanks!

hey guys thanks so much!!!! i'm going to be volunteering at demo day but liz maybe you can drop off the video at walter's house if he's home since you're leaving from conomo? i'm not too far from him and can pick it up there . . . peter, if you're going to any of the lake sessions maybe we can coordinate that . . . thanks!!!

You guys ROCK!!! Congrats!!!

Hi there, was wondering if anybody had any of the Nigel Foster Kayak Series on DVD that I could borrow - they're pretty expensive to purchase so I thought I'd watch a few of them first and see how helpful they were. . . . Thank you!!

Oh bummer, I'm away that weekend, but I hope it's a great trip!!!!

Kevin, thanks for the comic relief . . . I would have flipped off Plum Island if I were Keith too

Keith, to echo the others, I'm incredibly glad you're both safe and appreciate that you'll share your story when ready, especially as someone still fairly to the pursuit of sea kayaking . . . I for one would consider myself lucky to paddle with you some day . . .

Hey Patty, I meant to post here not under the Private Trips . . . do you think you'll lead any other level 2 or 3 trips anytime soon!!! Hope to paddle with your group if you do Thanks . . .

Hey Patty, I noticed this was cancelled - that's too bad was looking forward to it! Do you think you'll lead any other level 2/3 trips anytime soon? Thanks!!!

Hey Heidi, Also, don't forgot to protect both your boat and your pfd with 303 (will protect your gear from UV Rays which can damage both) . . . I know they have some at Small Craft . . . this is an important tid-bit that I learned when starting out and will prolong the life of your gear . . .

Yikes, I'm with Suz . . . Bob I don't know what a freshette (sp?) is but is sounds scary and I hope I never have to use it Heidi find the biggest relief zipper you can - you won't be sorry!! I have the NRS Farmer Jane wetsuit which I've really liked - I know a number of the other women in the club have the same one so it seems to be a popular choice.

I don't know Brad, I think us Salemites put up those signs to keep the riff raff out