bazzert

Did Rockport last weekend so my vote would be for the Harbor islands.

Sounds like a great trip. Count me in (either day).

Barry.

I am meeting some friends who are renting from NSKOC on bearskin neck in Rockport this sunday. I planned to launch somewhere close by and paddle over to meet them. I know front beach is not good in summer, can I launch from back beach ? I wont need parking as I am being dropped off. Or will granite pier be a better option ?

thanks,

Barry.

I'd like to get braver in amongst the rocks, but need to get a helmet. Any recommendations ?

thanks,

Barry.

Cancelled. Rain and thunderstorms were not in the plan.

Barry.

Kate,

Thanks for sharing ... the pictures are stunning.

Barry.

Turns out I can't do saturday after all so sunday it will be. Let me know if you can make it.

I'm trying to finalize my weekend plans. Are you thinking about Saturday or Sunday for this trip?

Hi Marc

I am leaning towards saturday, but could do sunday as well. Do you have a preference?

Barry

Hi Barry,

I won't join you on this one because I'm a late riser. One thought however: The Gooseberries are home to nesting birds. They will either scare you or you them. Also, if there is any type of conditions in the surf, landing and launching from the Gooseberries is fraught with fun or anxiousness depending on you point of view. A stop between the Miseries would probably be more comfortable and not add much to the trip distance.

Gene, thanks for the heads up. I checked with the Audubon society and they are keeping people off Kettle Island (Manchester) for another month so have to assume this would apply to Gooseberries as well.

Add a stop at Misery adds 2 miles for a total of 10 miles. Updated track below.

Barry.

I took my dog for a hike on the beach at swampscott early this morning and then went on to chandler hovey park on Marblehead this morning. The sea was wonderfully flat (compared to yesterday afternoon for the transition paddle) and there was virtually no boat traffic.

I was thinking of initiating a trip next weekend with a BIB time of 7am, and beach briefing at 6:45am. This would of course be subject to weather forecast and conditions at that time. My proposed route would take us from Riverhead beach, Marblehead, out past the neck, just south of childrens island and on to the gooseberry islands (where we can land) before returning to Riverhead. There is a link below to the route. Total distance is 8.1 miles; with the longest open water crossing from north gooseberry to childrens of 1.4 miles. I'd really appreciate a critique on this and weather on the day would dictate the actual route. This would be a level 2+ (2 for distance, 3 for open water)

Tides:

7/26 High 5:43 am Low 11:47am

7/27 High 6:43 am Low 12:31pm

Let me know if you are interested or if you have any comments on the proposed route,

Barry.

Here's a link to the gps track for today's trip. 10 statute miles (including the rock play). Thanks, in particular, to Kevin and Al.

Barry.

Count me in,

Barry.

I have been given a pass for this weekend ... so definitely interested.

Barry.

I have no affiliation with but have really enjoyed the guided trips to Thatcher Island with North Shore Kayak in Rockport. They also rent boats from their on-the-water location.

Barry.

Count me in ...

Barry.

Looking at Google earth it is ~ 50 miles by water. It's 155 miles by road! Here's the website. http://www.bostonharborcruises.com/ptown_schedule.html $80 roundtrip.

Hey Mike,

Thanks for the Geary's! Hope you had a great paddle in Maine,

Barry.

Based on the posting it appears that MMSI is not available on hand held radios?

There is a standard horizon model with built in gps and DSC support.

http://tinyurl.com/4b2j8c

Is there a session at Forest River tonight ?

thanks,

Barry.

Hi Kevin:

If you go out saturday I'd be interested (will be in Maine on monday). Here is the tide chart for May http://www.boatma.com/tides/mayblt08.html low tide is at 9am on Sat and 10:22am on Mon. This might not be good for putting in at Lynch park as the mud flats are uncovered (anyone know how bad this really is ?).

Marine weather for Boston here http://www.wunderground.com/MAR/AN/250.html and Buoy data for day of trip check http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/station_page.php?station=44013

Barry.

WHERE ARE THE MYSTIC LAKES? Can you provide a map?

Doug

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&...080338&z=14

The boat launch is on the strip of land between the upper and lower lake. Look for a sign for "Medford Boat Club" on the left as you travel north on Mystic Valley Parkway.

The session will most likely start next week. Forest River is a great salt-water venue for practicing strokes, rescues, rolling, etc. We often go out afterwards for dinner in downtown Salem (the number of places to go has exploded since last year

Hi Kevin:

Will this be Friday at 5pm again ? Look forward to it.

thanks,

Barry.

As a newbie there were a lot of people I'd like to thank ...

Ernie (aka The Subaru Guru) - For introducing me to the sport in the first place, and for hooking me up with a great paddle.

David Lewis - For lending me his boat before I owned one and for the great instruction sessions on the Mystic lake.

Brian & Gillian - For the great instruction sessions in Salem.

Adam - For his great blog and videos.

Roger & Bob - For rescuing my sorry ass off the back of Bakers Island!

Barry.

When I grocery shop I select products based upon recyclable packaging. I insist on paper bags, which we then use for recycling plastic, metal, and paper and even insist on repacking bag(s) when I was not asked prior by the bag packer. Those plastic shopping bags that do accumulate end up back at the grocery store where they are recycled.

In Ireland they introduced a 15 euro cent per bag tax (recently increased to 22 cent) which resulted in a 90% reduction in bag usage. People seem to adjust to using either paper or reusable canvas bags. When we were there last year no one seemed to complain about the tax.

I just finsiehd reading Alan Weisman's 'The World Without Us'. He quotes a study which reported that 80% of the plastic in the North Pacific gyre was originally disposed of on land and then was blown into the sea or into rivers. He also states that every year we manaufacture 250 billion (billion, not million) pounds of those little plastic pellets for packing annually, none of which will degrade in our lifetime. Even those so called bio degradeable plastics actually degrade into microscopic particles that enter the foodstream and will last an eternity.

Count me in. Promise to turn up this time.

thanks,

Barry.