gyork

Thanks for sharing John. Groups do split up, not uncommonly, despite attempts (or not) to stay together. Perhaps if your group had decided to monitor channel X for the day, you would have regrouped-no worries. Perhaps not. I don't see a downside to having those with radios monitor an agreed-upon channel for their trip. I recall a group paddle many years ago-a group of ten or so paddlers on Lake Umbagog. Most opted to paddle up the Rapid River as far as we could go. Two less-experienced paddlers preferred to head back to the campsite. Radio contact was maintained until they arrived safely back at the island.

Phil, can't say I've tested the "monitor" function for 6-8 hours x 5 days, the longest I've paddled in a group. Most of my extended trips are solo and my monitoring hours are limited to weather forecast. Shall I do a dry land test to simulate a group sea safari? If my fully charged ICOM indicates a full charge level of 7.8, for example, at what numeric level would my ability to transmit or receive be compromised (what percent of full charge)? Related: does my Li-ion battery prefer to be fully discharged before re-charging, or doesn't it care?

For me this is a no-brainer, but in a group paddle, everyone must share the same attitude, for when cats stray how will you herd them if they (independent creatures) have chosen not to participate? I don't think this is a consideration, but those in-the-know please correct me. I am not a frequent paddler, but my fully-charged ICOM-88 will last a season without recharging. Seems to be a vanishingly rare event? ANYONE with anecdotal experience to the contrary? Summary of my radio thoughts: FOR GROUP PADDLES- -Include this as a key element of the beach briefing. If you own a VHF turn it on, have it accessible (preferably attached to PFD-http://outdoors.webs.../63141273BimkGp), and turn it off when the day is over. -perform radio (and skeg) checks immediately after each launch. FOR SOLO PADDLES- -Monitor channel 16 when weather threatens or forecast suggests a high likelihood of thunderstorms. -Always on 16 when in fog and other high-risk conditions, and be prepared to make the securite (with the French accent), pan-pan, and mayday calls correctly.

Thanks for sharing Leon-easy to lose track of kayakers behind you. Always been a proponent of live on-the-water radio contact. Typically of value in larger groups (herding cats) but you've demonstrated nicely its utility in the smallest group setting. I believe that most of today's VHF batteries have a very extended life, not compromised by multiple full-day uses (on at launch, off at final take out)? My ICOM 88 has a battery level indicator that I monitor.

Perhaps a typo (dung)?

Choice #2 please

Peter, others: What is the max current, flow and ebb, for Moosebec Reach? Important to consider when touring here? Wondering why you chose NOT to CW Great Wass on your return trip-looks like about the same distance to get back to Home Base?

Update: http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2012/07/31/new-seal-flu-outbreak-could-pose-threat-to-humans

better link: http://www.concordmonitor.com/article/345369/sewage-dumped-in-street

timely topic-happening next door in my neck of the WOODS: http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=CMOB&p_theme=cmob&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&s_dispstring=allfields(sewage)%20and%20allfields(dunbarton)%20AND%20date(all)&p_field_advanced-0=&p_text_advanced-0=(%22sewage%22)%20and%20(%22dunbarton%22)&xcal_numdocs=20&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&xcal_useweights=no

This is really incredible! Reminds me of the dental office mag "Highlights". In this picture find a comb, broom........ Look very carefully at Jewell. I see 3 kayaks, a tent, and Ron/Rob's tender @ Cocktail, and Rene's tent at site #2. Mary and Rob are kayaking along the NE portion of Cocktail Cove near the rocks!!!!!!

Rene, how and why did you come across this?

Skip report; go straight to slideshow HERE It was almost a ‘naster (read “disaster”)! The weatherwoman had forecast a glorious week for my exploration of the “Western Rivers” portion of the MIT. Day 1 had me riding the ebb down the New Meadows from the public launch at Sawyer Park (notify police if you want to overnite-they were receptive). Had my sites on a private campsite on ____Island, and I set up camp noon-ish, then delivered a box of fresh pastries to the gracious owners, an insufficient “thank–you” for their offer of a waterfront paradise. Proceeded to paddle the western side of the river, past Cundy’s, then SW to ____Island (MCHT), for lunch and a beautiful loop hike around the perimeter. I half-expected Ewoks to appear from the Endor-esque landscape Back on the “bus” along the western shore of Phippsburg, past the Sebasco compound, Harbor, Burnt Coat and Wood, beaching at Hermit Island Campground to wait out an impending thunderstorm. I didn’t tally long, and started back on the ebb slack, retracing most of my route, diverting sideways into the “Basin”. Thirty-five years ago, on the Tanzer, I remembered the quiet anchorage to be so much smaller. Explored the island, signed the log, and headed back to the campsite, arriving at dusk. Parked the boat above the high-tide line, on a large ledge, supported, as always, by small logs/limbs fore and aft. It was a warm, somewhat sticky nite, and I fretted about how I would sleep without my neck-to-toe, all-cotton informal evening wear that was left behind in the car. (we kayak-campers have too many pieces of equipment/kit to attend too, won’t you agree?). [Ahh……what would Shackleton do? What would he remark of all my creature comforts?] The Hubba Hubba is a better fit for this giant, slightly more weight and room than its little sister, and kept me from the surprisingly few mossies and ticks. Slept well, but woke with a start. Across the mudflat cove, 100 yards or so, was a big orange boat, just like mine, resting on layers of seaweed over rocks. Not a little anxious, I risked my life slogging barefoot through the knee-deep mud, sharp shell edges digging into my soft soles. My boat was non-plussed, surely enjoying the gentle midnight ride across the cove, evidenced by the presence of the very same 2 logs she had been propped with, still beneath her belly! Why do we tie up our boats overnite gary? Lazy by itself is usually harmless, but add stupid to the mix and trouble’s brewing. Hoped to launch from Bath South landing for circumnav of Georgetown/Arrowsic, but my debacle left me behind the eight-ball, so opted to launch from Boothbay’s Sawyer I. launch, after permission and registration at the Town Office for Tues-Th overnite parking. Loaded (evening apparel) and paddled to Ram for Home Base set-up, and decided to fill the day resting/reading/charting Independence Day woke up foggy, and I celebrated my own as I rode the flood up the Sheepscot, my destination Wiscasset. Mostly uneventful, save for powerful eddies at the Sheepscot/Back confluence. A pleasant woman, preparing to boat over to the 10 o’clock parade, recommended a quick detour to Fort Edgecomb which has quite a history. Checked that off with haste, and landed in Wiscasset to catch the “Americana” celebration. A bit of a wait until Red’s Eats opened @ 11:30, so I took a chair, “in-line”, and read my book. I had saved up my appetite for their famous food, and decided I had paddled far enough to splurge. Many times one wonders after ordering a lobster roll, “where’s the lobster?” At Red’s, you’re thinking “where’s the roll?” I felt no sense of guilt for spending seventeen dollars and a nickel. Down the Back River at the start of the ebb, passing beautiful Berry I, for a long slog through the puddle of Montsweag Bay, then a visit to several MITAs in Hockomock Bay, waiting for the slack ebb. Two hours pre-slack, the can at Lower Hell’s was still “leaning towards Sawyers”, so I opted to ride the back door around Beale, without incident. The fog was “up” again through Nubble Bay and Goose Rock Passage, and I checked off my handrails to southern Boston, foghorn at the ready, the ebb still directing me to Townsend Gut over to Boothbay Harbor for a shower at Brown’s (I swear it was on the other side of the Harbor 35 years ago!) and a front row seat for fireworks. Thunderstorms roared through the area as I feasted on a fried clam dinner; the celebration would be postponed until the 5th. I calculated my campsite waypoints carefully, triple checking the numbers, entering into my non-mapping, entry-level Garmin. Kind people are everywhere. As I prepped my boat for a 2130 launch, a foursome approached in a tender, asking if I was camping. Worried about my safety in the storms, they offered a berth in their boat. My heart melted, I thanked them for their kindest offer, but declined, then paddled off into the pea-soup darkness. Glow sticks decorated fore, aft, and overhead, and I was able to MacGyver a light for my permanent deck compass . The one aid I finally located glowed green with the intensity of a night-lite. From there, I transferred the island outlines to my chart in the eerie darkness, as I dead reckoned back to Ram, spooked along the way by a towering ledge marker, finally confirming my destination’s end with my GPS, landing at 2330-a LONG day. A bit knackered I was the next day, and thoughts of the Damariscotta up-and-back were replaced with a day at the beach. A leisurely bright, sunny morning on the rock pleased me, and after lunch I rode the ebb along Southport’s W edge , splitting off SW from Cozy Harbor for the calm crossing to Reid State Park , landing at the W terminus, a fun creek that morphs into a popular water ride on the lower ebb. After a restful afternoon, scooted up to Five Islands for a lobster roll, bumping into SMSKN locals Bob and Fred, before heading back to camp with plans to head home the next day. Number of near-'nasters-1 Number of meals cooked: 0 Number of times needed the LNT box: 0 Number of kayakers I encountered on the water: 2 Number of perfect days: 4 (of 4) “Required” pit-stops for me when I safari to Maine: Amato’s, Hamilton’s Marine, and Standard Baking Co. (Portland); Pat’s Pizza (Falmouth); KTP and When Pigs Fly (Kittery)

Phil, check out Brian Nystrom's slideshow (?link anyone) re: attaching a VHF to your PFD. It doesn't require a special pocket on your PFD; it attaches to the shoulder strap. The "cradle" is always attached, but the radio needn't be for the good reasons you've outlined in your post. gary

Yup-just finished a multi-day, multi-mile trip without upper body/shoulder/arm soreness, attributed to techniques gleaned from Ben's forward stroke class. (Heels are a little sore from the rubbing during the leg-cycling portions of the strokes)

Agree with Ed about the passage (aka Little Sheepscot River)-akin to a gentle tube ride at a water park. On a chart it looks perhaps a little worrisome, but if you understand fluid dynamics like I don't, you could likely explain it; but my best guess is that the huge volume of water from Nubble Bay prefers to continue its straight course into Goose Rock Passage (path of least resistance?), rather than turn an almost right angle thru the passage. This was confirmed on my paddle Wed, as I enjoyed a push across the Sheepscot towards Townsend Gut, even at 1.5 hours pre-slack (Ebb). Again, fluid dynamics course for me was decades ago, but I'm guessing the total volume of water from Montsweag, Hockomock and Nubble Bays "overwhelms" the lesser amount draining from the upper Sheepscot? Can anyone explain this scientifically (professors Huth, Lewis, Lisa, Leon, others)? Thanks Ed for the detailed "local knowledge" of Lower Hell's Gate, something I lacked on Wed. As I peeked around the corner of the northern entrance, the can #5 was "leaning toward Sawyers" 2 hours pre-slack, so I opted for the western passage around Beale, ending in a ride I guessed at class II-III; no worries.

Seems more than a little klunky for planning purposes, though the price is right ($25/3nites, if I remember correctly).

Not clear from your post BJS if you are spending time ON IAH. I'd recommend the hiking trails on IAH especially if you are camping or landing in Duck Harbor.

Pru and Rene have reminded me that some of the best trips are low-mileage, low-pace, smell-the-flowers. I too, have leisurely enjoyed some of the Maine Coast Heritage Trust preserves that include camping and island hiking. If you are not already a member, I would highly encourage contributing to this worthy cause.

I have done this, quite unintentionally, as I presumed to be far enough (100 yards or more) away as to not disturb-wrong!

On the (maybe) bucket list, but have my sights on those southern magical islands that you have so adoringly referred to in your previous posts. Thanks Ed and Peter for the info.

Anyone know of launch sites on southern Mount Desert Island that allow overnight parking?

The Brunton model I purchased for $60 (BBLeans, free shipping) has wind or current (waterproof) speed, temp, clock, alarm, stopwatch, and countdown timer. Trending graph up to 10 h I think. http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/36949?feat=sr&term=brunton%20wind

I'm not great at estimating wind speed, and a recent on-the-water survey suggests others might have trouble as well (estimates between 6 and 12 knots). Brunton makes a small waterproof version that measures current/wind speed/temp/time. Seems might be a nice gadget to have when out touring? Anybody use/own a similar gadget?