gyork

This pretty much sums it up. When paddling solo, our perception of risk is unbiased by others, and we generally believe what we are perceiving under any given situation (perception closely approximates reality/truth). Life is short; keep paddling, solo or otherwise.

The first and last days look like long slogs, wheter you are travelling E or W MDI, coming or going from Lamoine SP. Behooves one to work with the tides when planning.

Seems to me Gail ought to have her choice of chocolate thingies. She is in easy walking distance of Granite State Chocolate, Mr. Moose something, and Bread and Chocolate. A blank check should START to make things right.

Thanks for the replies. Planning circumnav of MDI/Swans, camping at MITA sites, and noticed there are few spots to camp along the eastern shore of MDI. Will likely launch from Lamoine or Trenton, just N of MDI.

Anybody aware if either the Seawall or Black woods campground are accessible from the ocean (kayak)? Gary

[quote name='Gillian' date='Jun 29 2008, 11:37 AM' post= At no time did anyone not know where the other paddlers were although there was a good half mile between the groups How many were wearing radios in the group? Here's a situation where VHF radios might help to round up the paddlers, if needed, assuming everyone remembers to do a radio check immediately after each launch. This could be covered at the beach briefing. Gary

A reminder for us all to secure something to our boats (sprayskirt or cockpit cover; paddle lashed across SOT) if kayak is left ashore unattended during a tidal cycle, to avoid costly search operations.

Much banter lately about tow line gear and configurations. Can someone recommend a good reference (internet, DVD, book) that describes, IN DETAIL, the how-tos of different towing scenarios, including short-tow, specifically addressing the various contact points, and who is responsible to clip/unclip the various set-ups. Perhaps it is as simple as clip and tow, but as a land-locked kayaking gypsy, I seem to have missed these various classes. Thanks in advance-Gary

Rick, thank you for posting the pix-very helpful. Ed, might you be referring to the anchor bend (fisherman's bend) under the "boating" section of the referenced site? http://www.animatedknots.com/anchor/index....imatedknots.com

Phil, Rick, others-a pic or 2 of your personal set-up might enhance the discussion of hog rings, shrink tubing and "quickdraws", if you are able. Thanks. Gary

The name suggests the obvious, but I can't picture what these are? Gary

From testimony of other boaters, this stuff does seem to add increased visibility to the daytime kayak paddler. Please share the source of the tape Carl.

May 15-17 for the third ANNUAL trip to Jewell-mark your calendars now!

And here's the proof: http://community.webshots.com/album/563500834lwcyeI?start=24

Seconded.

And in related news today.... http://www.concordmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dl...EWS01/805010411 The headline might have been different, had there not been others nearby.

Here's a cheaper cousin of the "volcano". Haven't made or tested it, but plan to before my next camping trip. http://www.backpacking.net/makegear/falk-w...tove/index.html Thanks to Kate for turning me on to this and the link to the alcohol "cat" stove. Gary

From my understanding of Private Trip versus NSPN Trip, the planned kayak camping trip to Jewell Island is posted here under Private Trips, though, in fact it behaves more like a Public Trip, in that it is open to all, not just NSPNers. Anybody confused? To clarify, I am posting as the facilitator/organizer/host, and NOT Trip Leader. The Common Adventure Model (CAM) will be adopted http://www.nspn.org/trip_participation.htm The SUGGESTED itinerary is as follows: FRIDAY: Arrive at Sandy Point Beach at Cousins Island (Yarmouth) on Friday, May 16, at 9:15am, for a 10am launch (HT-0935). CW Blaney Pt. to Chebeague Pt., to small cove, middle of Bangs I. for lunch, to C “5” between Cliff and Bates I., to Jewell campsite(s). Total Nautical Miles ~8 SATURDAY: Agenda TBD-bring your ideas for a day paddle (HT-1123). Last year we held an impromptu outfitting class after our hike to the towers, then headed out noonish when the winds subsided. Consider spending some time doing island cleanup at the Punchbowl, in support of Maine Island Trail Association. I’d be in favor of Ed’s suggestion last year, depending on weather and sea state, to paddle to Potts Harbor for a lobster roll/supper, and paddle back, glow-stick-attired, watching the near-full moon rise. SUNDAY: Back to cars via ???? (HT-1107) If you are committed to joining me please send me (gyork@crhc.org) the following information: -Auto color, make, model, and tag# for registering with Yarmouth officials. -Contact info, including cell, E’s, H,W phone, and permission to share with participants. -Standard RSVP info, including a paddling resume if I don’t know you. http://www.nspn.org/how_to_sign_up.htm Gary Link to nautical chart: http://www.charts.noaa.gov/OnLineViewer/13290.shtml Link to tidal chart (Portland): http://www.maineboats.com/tide-charts/tides?t=maypt08 Link general weather forecast: http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findwe...=portland+maine Links to marine forecast: http://www.erh.noaa.gov/displayprod.php?pr...amp;versions=10 http://www.gomoos.org/waveforecasts/ Link to current/historical sea state: http://www.gomoos.org/data/recent.html

I love the thumbnail of Doug paddling his new orange-over-pea green Cetus. Perhaps it should be captioned "Ever see a sinking Cetus?"

The Gerrish trip is a popular day trip and there are others (Misery, Castle Neck Circumnav, Great Bay, etc.). Perhaps the Board might consider adding a bar/button/menu option titled "Popular day paddles" or some such thing. A NSPNer might volunteer a trip description on the General Message Board, welcoming input from from other members familiar with the trip. There are many not-so-minor details to heed on the Gerrish trip (must be at the "culvert" <1.5 hours before or after high tide, water flows towards sea after HT, use care entering Brave Boat Harbor-stay to the ____, lots of wave action at the jetty, etc.) that a detailed account of such an outing might be useful to the general Membership. Something worth considering? Gary

As my drysuit hasn't been wet since Hector was a pup, and the tides are right (HT~12:30pm) it's time for a trip up Chauncey Creek, around Cutts, lunch/frisbee at Seapoint Beach, Gerrish, to cars. Launching from Odiorne at 11am. Will monitor channel 72 for stragglers and/or those launching elsewhere. Please reply here if joining me, and send your contact info to me at gyork@crhc.org. Gary

Thanks for non-responding Ed! Yes, dividers are the way to go much of the time, and the preferred method when sitting around the campsite, or leisurely at sea. What I'm looking to do is pre-program my GPS with waypoints of certain landmarks/aids to navigation along a planned route. I find this to be tedious, even when snowbound, but much prefer to do it now, rather than on the water. Of course this is for back-up only, typically when fog-bound. Meanwhile the snow is slowly fading, and I haven't donned my drysuit in a dog's age. G

Now that Topozone.com is part of Trails.com, which requires a paid subscription, where can I find free-access maps/charts that provide waypoints by mouse-clicking on a section of map/chart? Gary

Refreshing with some eye candy. http://good-times.webshots.com/album/559033966zNiwgx?start=0

Frank, in lieu of a Nav-aid, I use a $10 hand-held orienteering compass for chart work while cruising. Compass is stowed in my PFD vest on an anchored lanyard long enough to employ course plotting on my sprayskirt. (Aside: I have parallel magnetic N lines drawn, spaced every X nautical miles, on my photocopied, laminated charts). The reasonable price of the more accurate (a few degrees) hand-held mirror compass makes it a good option. One advantage of the bungeed deck compass is its portability, whether switching between boats, or moving closer to the cockpit for night navigation (some use a small glow-stick under the base for illumination). I'm still trying to work out a night option for my deck-mounted compass, using glow sticks, duct tape, and Aluminum foil. Gary