Gillian

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!!!

Hi there, Kevin and I are going to do a little practice from our 3* training yesterday. We're meeting at Walden Pond around 6:15 depending on traffic . . . If anyone lives in the area swing by to paddle for awhile!!! I need to practice tows and rescues so plan on getting wet I believe from some other threads the parking lot for the boat ramp is only open until 7:30 but hey at least it's a little time out on the water . . .

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

Rick that's great! How long do you usually stay out? My commute gets me there around 7ish so I'm not sure if you stay out until sundown during the summer . . . either way I'm sure I'll see you there at least a couple times . . .

Wow Bethany, that's a sure way to get flipped - I'd watch out for Kevin on Sunday if I were you . . . but it's hard to miss that enormous orange boat coming at you . . . wait what am I saying, my boat is the same color as his . . .

Yesterday was probably the most fun day I've had paddling ever (mind you it was only my 4th or 5th time out on the ocean but it was still the best paddle I've ever had

We did a last minute SNG and ended up with a great group of people; Walter, Billy, Kevin, Peter, Bob, Deb, and me, launching at around 11am from Conomo Point. The weather was picutre perfect and we set off into one of the winding creeks leading to Essex Bay to practice our boat handling skills. Pretty much everyone but me has these elusive boat handling skills but I got some great practice in trying to do a bow rudder with some sense of grace (someone kept yelling at me to look at my watch but I didn't have one on so I didn't know what they were talking about but watching these paddlers move their boats effortlessly as I'm banging into marsh is an inspiration to practice, practice, practice.

We emerged from the creek into pretty heavy boat traffic crossing the bay but with the experience in our group we stayed together and crossed with no trouble landing on the back side of Crane's Beach without incident . . . The rest of us had PB&J's and granola bars but Walter of course pulls out gourmet sandwiches which as usual he graciously shared with the rest of the group . . .

We put back in after lunch and headed around to the ocean side of Crane's which was my first experience in surf. Two words: I'm hooked. We spent the rest of the afternoon playing in the surf and I learned more than I ever expected. Bob showed us all beach landings in surf - we got lucky with a perfect day with small waves which I'm sure wasn't as fun for folks like Walter, Billy, and Kevin, but it was one of those perfect days where despite our varying skill sets everyone seemed to be just happy to be out on the water. Deb as always the natural teacher shares the different experiences of all the paddlers she knows and always made me feel comfortable and encouraged. Kevin the ever adventurer was either upside down practicing his roll or in the surf . . .

After a couple of beach landing lessons from Bob, we all tried a few and then Billy, Deb, Walter and Bob practiced surfing backwards . . . I remember Bob upside down quite a bit

Kevin started catching waves and I gave it a go, but it was slim pickings for waves that day so Billy kindly sat facing England and yelled at me to paddle every now and then . . . just before heading home I heard a number of shouts to paddle and I cought my first wave got to brace and somehow managed to stay upright - now THAT was fun . . .

Everyone practiced their rolls and I don't have one yet so I practiced the bow rescue/eskimo roll. I even lost my first pair of sunglasses although Kevin was responsible for that and I hear I'll be getting a new pair soon . . .

If I had to characterize the day, I'd describe it as beautiful weather, good conversation including a few choice jokes from Billy involving a penguin and ice cream, learning, sharing, surfing, and I will always remember the booming sound of Walter's laughter which is infectious even if you didn't hear what the joke was . . .

I hope everyone had as great a time as I did . . . can't wait to get back out there . . . Saturday can't come soon enough!

Will be there!!!

Hey Deb, okay 11 at Conomo sounds good . . . Kevin and I will meet you guys there . . . would love to try some surf . . .

Hey Pierre, thanks for the post, I'm not sure if my skill set is up yet for where you're paddling today yet but I'm sure we'll paddle sooner rather than later

Anyone up for a paddle tomorrow? We were thinking possibly Essex Bay, Marblehead . . . anywhere up on the North Shore . . . post if you're interested and we can figure out a time and place for tomorrow . . . casual paddle, level 2 or 3 . . .

Kevin, you can put me down for either water or booth for Hingham - I can help out both days . . .

Welcome!!!! Hey once you get your boat give me a buzz . . . a few of us in the North Shore area paddle locally and a couple of us, myself included, are also pretty new to the sport . . . NSPN has some great level 2 and 3 trips scheduled on the calendar, but if you want to get out for a day with us just shoot me an email

Hey Kevin, count me in for both days, I'm happy to be on the water (preferable) or man the booth . . . wherever you need me is fine!

Sounds great . . . count me in . . . will coffee be provided?

Hi there, we've noticed lately that many of the directions and information related to put ins for our trips are out of date and it wouldn't hurt to be updated. I'm sure most of you guys know these places by heart, but for us newer members to the club, I'm collecting any information and updates you can send me! Someone even mentioned a road had disappeared from one set of directions

Most of what we'd like to update is located:

http://www.nspn.org/play-put-ins.html

If you could post to this message or email me directly at gilliankirstel2003@yahoo.com, any updates you have on directions, parking, parking fees etc. it would be greatly appreciated so I can get the site updated . . .

Thanks!

Sweet! I'm in

Hi, I'm definitely interested in attending . . . .