MPARSONS

Since I skipped yesterday at Mystic Lakes, I'll try to sneak out early to make it to Salem on Friday. I'd love some constructive criticism of my rolling because I seem to be getting worse. This time a year ago, I was successful about half the time; now I'm very surprised when I come up. I have no idea what has changed.

I just saw the weather report for this afternoon...nevermind.

Will you be out there today? If so, I should be able to make it.

I agree. It was also a fun hour or two on the water. The mild conditions weren't too mild for me, as evidenced by my unexpected swim.

Unless something comes up unexpectedly late in the day at work I'll try to be there around 6.

Are you still planning to be out on Tuesday?

I have a slight preference for Tuesday since Mondays at work tend to be busy. Still, I'll be there no matter what, probably starting next week.

I've just spent the winter rehabilitating a back injury. After visiting five doctors to get to the bottom of it, I haven't found any doctor who cares to determine what is causing the pain. They all just recommend physical therapy and muscle relaxants. The muscle relaxants were the most useless medical treatment I've ever undergone. Years ago I tried PT and found that it did absolutely nothing. This winter, with a different therapist it seems to help a fair amount. There is still pain every day, but at least the pain is managable so I can usually sleep through the night. The "good" physical therapist was Stephen at Boston Center for Physical Therapy which is located at the Boston Athletic Club. If you find a doctor that cares about determining the cause of the pain instead of just masking the symptoms, I'd like to know about it. My experience with this is seriously eroding my confidence in the medical profession.

I just got a catalogue for Boundary Waters in Ely, Minnesota. Is that it?

I got so much out of these sessions last year that I will definitely do them again this year if they happen. I'm not sure I should volunteer to help facilitate, though, because its likely I'll be late all the time and absent occasionally.

I noticed you discussing this trip and thought I should point out that Sunday is the St. Patrick's Day parade in South Boston. That makes it a very inconvenient day to get to City Point with a car and kayak. For the record, since I live in Southie, I'm usually up for trips that start from City Point, but not on the day of the parade...

Will we be able to share compasses at the workshop? My deck mounted compass is permanently affixed to my kayak. Actually, it was affixed by a prior owner and is slightly rotated to one side. I'd like to figure out how to straighten it out, but that is a topic for a separate posting.

I'm pretty sure Charles River Canoe and Kayak rents storage space. You might also consider a folding boat. I keep my boat in my parents garage or under my brother's porch in the winter and on the roof of my car all summer.

In case anyone runs into a similar problem, Carl Ladd at Osprey Sea Kayaks patched this for me and did an incredible job. I don't know how he was able to match the gel coat so perfectly, but the patch is virtually invisible. Moreover, it cost me less than the cost of the orbital sander I would have needed to buy if I had tried to do it myself. Now if I could only get him to take my boat off of my car for me each time I need it then my problems will be completely solved!

Thanks for the offer. Carl Ladd from Osprey returned my call and I'll be bringing it to him on Saturday. I'm starting to look at this as a blessing in disguise since it will keep me away from my boat for a weekend, so I can get some other errands done!

Thanks for the guidance. I'd like to try it myself, but since I don't even have room to store the boat, I have no place to work on it. I'd have to do all the work on a sidewalk in South Boston, which I just can't see myself doing. If I left the boat for anytime to allow the gelcoat to harden, I'm pretty sure I'd come back to find someone's name carved in it. I won't be living in the city forever, though, and will almost certainly have more mishaps -- I mean, opportunities.

Yes, I've had the new Shadow for three weeks and, in trying a new approach to taking it off of my roof rack, failed miserably. As soon as I get it patched, I'll be back on the water!

Does anyone know someone in the area who does professional gelcoat repair? I had a mishap over the weekend that needs to be patched. Since I don't have the tools or experience or workspace to do it myself, I must find someone who could do it for me. Any thoughts?

Very sorry. I got unexpectedly held up at work so I couldn't make it. I just paddled that much harder on Saturday and Sunday to make up for it.

I'm going to try to make it, but I likely won't be there until 5:00 or so. Where is the launch you describe? Do you just continue north on the Mystic Valley Parkway past the Tufts boathouse lauch area and look for it on the left?

Will anyone be there on Tuesday, October 9? I just got another kayak and paddle on Saturday, so I'm dying to use them! Not that I don't like my Folbot, but this one is more rugged...

I'm interested.

Are the Forest Hills sessions done for the season or will they occur in September too?

I'll have to miss this week, but will make sure I'm prepared in case any more games of krisbee break out in the future. I'm thinking a hockey helmet, mouthpiece, and lacrosse elbow pads should cover it. Come to think of it, would a hockey helmet float? I guess I'll just have to learn how to control my boat instead.

I might be interested. This would be my first NSPN event, but I need to check with someone first to see if I'm free that day. Also, my boat is a folder, so just how rocky is the landing? I usually hop out while still afloat so that I don't tear out the bottom. Is that possible on Kettle Island? Marc