bazzert

New England is truly a playground.

Doug

lol ... I used that exact phrase when talking with Kevin yesterday! Terrific shot Warren.

Barry.

Put on at 10:30 am at Harris Island Road. Plan to ride the ebb out and attempt to find some rocks and or surf with the ultimate destination TBD. Ride the flood back in at the end of the day. Duration of the day will depend on the weather. T-storms predicted for late afternoon. For rocks or surf, helmets are a must. Feel free to email me at rpskayakcoachingatmacdotcom or pm through this site.

Hi Kevin,

I plan to get there about 10am. I pm'd you my cell, call me if anything come up.

cheers,

Barry.

And now the Boston Globe is referring to the Cape Cod guy in the little blue kayak being chased by the shark as "the most famous kayaker in New England." His first time ever in a kayak - and note that he is not wearing a pfd!

pru

Thats what I was thinking ... far more likely to drown than be eaten by a shark!

We spent Sunday at Sandy Point (very end of Plum Island) and we got some occasional bites, but not intolerably so (of course that depends on your level of tolerance for the little monsters!).

Barry.

Chris,

I'd like to join you. Dying to try my new greenland stick!

Barry.

Hi All,

Its short notice but I have a camping reservation for Washburn Island in Waquoit Bay, Falmouth MA for this weekend (fri 6/8 & sat 6/9) that we cannot use. It's paid for and I am not looking for any money, just would like to see it used. The forecast for the weekend is looking great.

Washburn Island is a short protected paddle from the launch where there is free overnight parking (even on a july weekend we were easily able to get a spot). The campsites are right on the water amoung pine trees. The water in the bay is shallow and warm, and you have quick access to the back side of some stunning barrier beach; or can venture out into Vineyard sound if you are feeling adventurous. Would be a good trip for kids (or adults who believe they are kids!).

Reservations in summer are almost impossible to get, especially at the weekends. First to pm me gets it. The site can accommodate 4 people.

Barry.

I recently completed a class in mobile application development. One of my class mates, for his final project, built an android app which amoung many other things does stroke analysis. While primarily geared towards rowers it does have a kayak mode and he is looking for input specifically from kayakers.

The app is free and you can find it on the google play store here. There is also a website here.

Barry.

Hi Folks-

Lorrie and I have been getting out on the Charles river (Magazine beach and Brighton ramp) a few mornings before work and I was wondering if there was interest to make this a regular event through the summer? A quick hour before work with a 2-4 mile paddle and maybe some stroke work? If you're interested, post here expressing your interest, which day of the week you'd prefer and what time works for you.

See you on the water.

Phil

Would love to join you. Flexible on the day. ~ 7am would work best.

Barry.

Hi all - would anyone have a small kayak for a 4ft, 50 lb kid that i could borrow or possibly buy? Perhaps a piccolo or something similar?

I'm in Arlington

Thanks,

Karen

Hi Karen,

I think we had this conversation last year :-) I got a Perception Scout for my now 7 year old that would be perfect. We havent started to use it yet so you are welcome to borrow it. We live one town over in Medford.

If you decide you like it Doug Kirk (smskn.org) may still have it's twin for sale.

Barry.

Hi Barry,

Yes that is the put-in I had planned to use. We both live close by. Just so others know, they have finished replacing the dam and redoing the parking lot. All the trees along the water are gone but all is new and clean (not sure I like the trade off). The boat ramp to the Upper Lake remains the same. There is a relatively steep but short, good path down to the Lower Lake.

Launch at 10 AM good for you Barry if you are coming?

Hi Al,

There is one meeting in the morning that I need to participate in. Could you make it 10:30 ? If so, I'll see you there.

Barry.

Plum Island Kayak, Newburyport MA

http://www.plumislandkayak.com/plum/index.php

[*]Rents boats/gear for a day or weekend.

[*]Get instruction on kayaking.

[*]Day/Half Day trip in the area to experience kayaking.

[*]Online sources for gear.

NorthShore Kayak, Rockport MA

http://www.northshorekayak.com/

[*]Rents boats/gear for a day or weekend.

[*]Get instruction on kayaking.

[*]Day/Half Day trip in the area to experience kayaking.

[*]Sells sea boats and gear.

Will post full information (time, put-int, etc) once we see if there are any more takers.

Al

Hi Al,

I live just down the road from the lakes and am a strong maybe for monday. One option would be to put in on the lower lake which would give us the option of extending the paddle down the river.

The launch is here.

Barry.

Great session Doug, thanks for putting it together. In particular, I'd like to thank Dan, Nancy, Fred and Bill who gave so generously of their time and expertise to get me to my first roll!

Barry.

Shameless request for a vote

https://apps.facebook.com/contestshq/contests/192520/voteable_entries/47417616

thanks,

Barry.

Only 6 Spots remaining for this Greenland Clinic.

You do not have to own your own Greenland paddle to attend. There will be many extras there.

Demonstrations and on on one instruction by Fred Randall, Wayne & Nancy Hill. Leslie Beale will be assisting.

Cost for this one time opportunity is only the cost of attending the pool session.

Doug

Hi Doug,

Add me to the list, check is in the mail.

Barry.

Niamh

niamh “radiance, lustre, brightness.” The daughter of the sea god Manannan she was known as “Niamh of the Golden Hair,” a beautiful princess riding on a white horse. She fell in love with Fionn’s son Oisin (read the legend of Niamh and Oisin) and lived with him in Tir-na-nOg (“Land of the Young”) (read the legend) where 300 years passed in what seemed like three weeks. In 2003 it was the eleventh most popular baby girl’s name in Ireland.

If our son,Ronan,had turned out to be a girl this was to be her name :-) It's pronounced "Neeve", by the way.

Barry.

Hey Pinkpaddler,

A privy is a primitive toilet w/o flush. Usually someone has left toilet paper. Although the more prepared paddlers pack a roll of TP in a zip lock for these special occasions.

It is a good way to begin your camping experience. Next trip out you can learn how to manage your own wastes on the return trip.

Suz

A privy is the height of luxury on the trail

Hi Gary,

I did this trip with SMSKN the year before last. We launched from Five Islands and landed at Fort Popham launching shortly after the start of flood which we rode up the Kennebec to the Back river and then down through the gates past Robinhood and back to Five Islands. I'll see if I can dig out the gps log when I am back in Boston.

It's a terrific trip! Has it all, bold ocean past Reid State park combined with the serenity of the back river. I'd love to tag along if you are planning it. You should also reach out to Bob Arledge at SMSKN who lives in Georgetown and has timed the tides for this and other trips (round trip from Bath to Popham).

Barry.

Gary-

I'm pretty sure Barry Mullen has done that trip at least once, so PMing him might be useful in planning. There are current forecasts for several points up the kennebec, so figuring out how much that will help or hurt should be pretty straightforward. Also, just to be obvious, the creek at the head of Sagadoc bay doesn't go through at normal tide levels (found that out the hard way).

Phil

A friend shared this poem on facebook which I thought would resonate with my fellow paddlers.

enjoy

Barry.

Exiled by Edna St Vincent Millay

SEARCHING my heart for its true sorrow,

... This is the thing I find to be:

That I am weary of words and people,

Sick of the city, wanting the sea;

Wanting the sticky, salty sweetness 5

Of the strong wind and shattered spray,

Wanting the loud sound and the soft sound

Of the big surf that breaks all day.

Always before about my dooryard,

Marking the reach of the winter sea, 10

Rooted in sand and dragging driftwood,

Straggled the purple wild sweet pea.

Always I climbed the wave at morning,

Shook the sand from my shoes at night,

That now am caught beneath big buildings, 15

Stricken with noise, confused with light.

If I could hear the green piles groaning.

Under the windy, wooden piers,

See once again the bobbing barrels,

And the black sticks that fence the weirs; 20

If I could see the weedy mussels

Crusting the wrecked and rotting hulls,

Hear once again the hungry crying

Overhead, of the wheeling gulls;

Feel once again the shanty straining 25

Under the turning of the tide,

Fear once again the rising freshet,

Dread the bell in the fog outside,

I should be happy!—that was happy

All day long on the coast of Maine. 30

I have a need to hold and handle

Shells and anchors and ships again.

I should be happy, that am happy.

Never at all since I came here.

I am too long away from water; 35

I have a need of water near.

Please excuse the lack of picture quality. Someday a better camera.

https://picasaweb.google.com/111328304688886244913/PaddleFromTucksToMagnoliaBack12411

Once again, thanks to Doug.

Great pics Scott. I particularly like #45 ... very evocative of the day.

Barry.

I'm interested. Thanks for posting.

Barry.

This morning I noticed additional signs at the parking lot. Parking is free for the boat launch after 7pm on weekdays and all day on weekends.

Passed the dock the other day on my way to a meeting at Fidelity and took a couple of pictures ... there are a few parking spots right at the dock which are reserved for dock users and according to the sign are free at the weekend or evenings. You can enter the parking lot here. Would be a great launch to explore the inner harbor.

Barry.

Hi Al,

I have a copy of Scottish Sea Kayak Trail you're welcome to borrow.

Barry.