Pintail

Saturdays: no can do; Sundays: interested...(even though, as I told Kevin and Gillian, once you've done this trip, you've done it -- it's not <overly> interesting, except that there is plenty of history attached to the isles)(and always assuming that everything goes according to plan!)

Welcome to these pages, Tacomakayaker; but to announce yourself as "friend and student of BB" might not necessarily be a Good Thing...? For one thing, we don't remember him (it's been so long); for another, didn't he eschew the BCU system (so he <can't> be any good!); for yet another reason, he got me into deep sh*t many years ago (getting me into this whole, damned mess) and I have never been able to recover -- bloody sea kayaks coming out of my ears! Not to mention all the equipment and paraphenalia (apparently) that goes along with those boats! If we are to use initials, then I'd have to say that BB would stand for Big Bob? I mean: we wanted to economize and give the blighter a Romany; but -- oh, no -- Himself had to have the bigger, more expensive Explorer! (Cost us each an arm and a leg, I can tell you! As I say, I'm still suffering) There are rumours here of late that Himself is also due to visit us in the near future: I can only tell you that we'll do our best to drown him.

Kevin, doesn't that woman just love to embarass you?

"Are you off on Monday? Might be up for an early morning dash around Cape Ann:) " Ah, now you're talking! I'll be in touch -- sounds like a good idea. My new boat needs a proper trip!

Dear Mr. Lawson, I don't think your hair can possibly hurt -- no nerves in your hair strands? Silly man... ; ^ )

Kevin and Whatsyername: what about Sunday? You always seem to plan for the days I cannot manage...

First thing: I do not have blue eyes, you kayak slut, you! As usual, you are confusing me with one of your other beaux...(oy, this woman!) Secondly, I am sorry: I was thinking about Sunday when I posted my response to yours (Kevin's, actually). Thirdly, are you paddling tomorrow or do you have to visit mothers? Since I no longer have one of those (I miss you, Ma), I am free -- and would love to kayak. I shall very likely paddle in Gloucester area (Harbour? Perhaps a circumnav. of the Cape?) Can you join me, Kevin and you, whatsyername?

I always think Gloucester a much more attractive area, somehow, than Salem: wouldn't you guys rather come up here? Oh, come on: be a sport...

The Rasdex cagoulles are highly breathable. I do not know who stocks them anymore (NESC?); but the Kokatats are easy to find.

"...it would be interesting to know what the Coast Guard really thinks about sea kayakers..." The last CO at USCG Merrimac (ie, Newburyport) was himself a kayaker. He and his family lived at Annisquam light.

WARNING: philosophical content (therefore potentially boring?) I agree with the person (Gay?) who asked why kayakers should appear to be made the butt of so many reports or allegations regarding safety...if the authorities are so damned determined to make boating sanitised, homogenised and pasteurised, why on earth do they stop there? Driving on the roads is far more hazardous, I would have thought -- and with good reason: the standard of driving is appalling in the United States. No, I am not in bashing mood; I am simply stating what every visitor or expatriate already knows: American drivers are <really> bad! The ease with which any youngster can get his or her licence is amazing, compared with anywhere else I have lived. That, in itself, is not necessarily bad; but the attitude to road use <is>. Adults (and even most police) are guilty of setting a bad example almost all the time, it seems to me: if we profess to attain high standards in one field, then why do we accept lower standards in any other? <We> here in this forum aspire, most of us, to good seamanship and technique; then why do we not aspire to similarly high standards in other tasks we perform (like driving)? In my professional flying days in Africa all my friends did likewise (performing "by the book"), yet when many of them got out of the aircraft and behind the wheel of a motorcar, their standards went out of the window! Self-discipline is all that is required to overcome this sloppiness. Driving is potentially lethal and one hand on the wheel (as just one example) is totally inadequate and affords no control in the event of an emergency. If only we could imbue in our children a sense of responsibility (towards their fellow members of society, fellow road users). I am trying to draw parallels here -- not, in my opinion, irrelevant or out of place! End of rant: do I make sense? I am also feeling less-than enamoured of the Environmental Police after a minor run-in last week; but that is another story! (Warning #2: the PFD rules are still in force and I am told that the Environmental cops are very powerful. They evidently do not know as much about boating as the USCG, who can employ some degree of discrimination)

I assure you that Rick really does know his waterfowl since he is a registered Maine Guide and I know he had to study field identification for his piece of paper -- therefore he surely does know the difference between buffelheads and red-breasted mergansers! (Right, Rick?) <How> long have you had my field-guides? ; ^ )

And today's prize-winner is...(drum roll)...Marc! You have won...a slap in the lug-'ole! (Lug-'ole, not to be confused with the kisser, mind) Congratulations! I was put off by Duluth, associating that name with Duluth Trading -- not the same thing at all. Those packs and field bags are <exactly> what I was after -- thanks Marc (and you others who entered the contest) Problem solved by the NSPN Brains' Trust! (Yes, that includes you, Mr. Condon -- when are you going to come east -- really east -- for some kayaking?)

Leslie, where is this "Cumono" place? Or did you mean "kimono"? Conomo, perhaps? (You know you can rely on me to correct your spelling, dear!) Could you bear to slum it in Fish Town? ("In cod we trust" -- now passe, sadly) I bet you I can find something -- when? The seasonal lets (rentals) will go fast and high summer might already be out; but if you want something soon, I bet you I can sniff it out. Let me know as fast as possible and I'll gladly put out feelers.

No, I was wrong -- any other ideas, please? (Thanks, Leslie)

Joe, I think you are right on every count (personal opinion); but your spelling sucks! (Having trouble healing a kayak? Try anti-biotics?) I am guessing that, around here, few are interested in anything but <paddling> their sea-kayaks.

Paul, why don't you look for an old turbo-diesel Mercedes Benz wagon? You can find them still in good nick for not too much money and they are totally reliable and go on for ever and ever and ever and ever... Sorry, Ernie; but I was never impressed with the steering of a Subaru: in my opinion, it is nowhere near on a par with any German car. Original Minis had <the best> steering and handling; but I know nothing about the new ones. Oh, I do hear that the wagon version of the Mini is in the offing; but will it come to the USA?

Marc and PeterB, thank you; but I am now <almost> certain that Miz Beale has hit the nail on the head -- thanks, Leslie! Yes, I'm sure that's the one I was lookjing for (they used to send me their catalogue)

Can anyone guess which catalogue I am thinking about, but whose name I forget, out of Minnesota (I think) and the company putting it out sell things like backpacks for canoeists, field bags and such. I am <not> thinking of Duluth Trading Co...any ideas, please?

I would scrub the Mini as a candidate immediately: several years ago I looked at one and thought it tiny inside -- I could not have got more than about two plastic tubs in that back area. I reckon I need at least three tubs' worth of space! (Don't ask which tubs...)

Two quick points: (i) Blaine, the Valley Nordkapp was designed <expressly> as an expedition boat! Yes, it has been around for many years in various incarnations and certain details have changed: its history is convoluted. The difference between standard Nordkapp and LV may not be as dramatic as that between the Explorer and its LV version. (ii) Mr. Lawson (Ed), you and I know what we mean by an AA; but I doubt Blaine knows? Tootle-OO, pip pip!

The origins of May Day are in our pagan history: dancing around the Maypole was a celebration of reproduction and fecundity -- indeed: springtime! However, I daresay that that is <not> what Gene had in mind. To confirm -- singulier: "M'aide"; pluriel: "M'aidez". The only person whom one might ask to "M'aide" would be someone with whom one is very familiar or someone juvenile -- hardly the case here. On addresserait un etranger toujours au pluriel. Written as an English word, I have only seen it thus: "mayday" (one word). Of course, as everyone here knows, I am not <always> right! Now, any queries regarding usage in Swahili, perhaps?

Welcome, Blaine. Ed is correct in pointing out that we are an opinionated bunch hereabouts...don't let that put you off. Heidi (dear Heidi) is <not> necessarily correct, though, about renting first, inasmuch as those people only sell Perception boats (as far as I am aware) -- maybe they sell Necky, too -- but you have shown us in your choices that you are leaning towards British boats (very good logic, Sir!) Myself, I wonder why you are considering the Explorer LV -- I am not comfortable in one of those and I am smaller than you, by the sounds of it. The LV is of much lower volume in the foredeck. Add the <regular> Explorer to your list, however, and I think you'd be spot-on! I loved my Explorer and I loved my Sirius, before that. The latter was my first boat and I learned plenty in it: they are fast boats and track really well -- and you can get them to turn quite dramatically, if you learn to edge them deeply. A plastic boat might not be such a bad idea, you know: you will not be squeamish of scratching it on rocks and beaches and the Avocet is much-loved by all those I know who own one (plenty!) You will get everything you need for several days into the three hatches. The plastic Capella, ditto. Later you might like something a bit more specialised. Look at the calender for details of the "Getting Started" workshop soon, when members of this club will be discussing equipment and suchlike. By the way, all those boats you mention are good, seaworthy vessels.

Someone mentioned Palm drysuits: if you want to inspect one, then NE Small Craft have some in stock! I know one paddler who swears by them (Mr. Stoehrer).

First: thank you, Gary and Ed: now I understand. Secondly: I also understand your concern about the visibility of a light forty or fifty feet up in the (comparative, as far as we lowly kayakers are concerned) stratosphere; but (surely?) this is academic. We are not discussing a <laser> here: a light beam has an increasing (with distance) beam width/depth, hasn't it? Consider a person standing on a beach, just a few miles from a light: that person still sees the beam despite being lower than its level of projection -- whatever the mathematicians say -- don't they? You can see a beam of light that passes <over> you, can't you? Why should this instance be any different? I am not trying to pooh-pooh what has gone before: I simply think that this question is limited by an over-academic approach? Maybe I am missing something you mean, here? The question about seeing the definition of the <quadrant> is much more interesting.