brambor

If schedule permits we (me and my son) may show up saturday, stay overnight and return padle with the group on Sunday. Rene

I've used Warmlite tents since 1992. The 2-3 person tent is under 3 lbs. If you get the tent with windows option you can have a nice breeze going through the tent in hot weather. They're super easy to put up which is something to appreciate if you get caught in a thunderstorm. Since I haven't really tried any tents since 20 years ago, my tips might be a bit outdated.

How big of a wave would such whale create? Have any of you experienced this while in a kayak?

Scott Thank You for the excellent answer and informative synopsis. I especially liked the history info on the 'trail'. Perhaps it wasn't clear from my questions but I am personally not interested in making the trail a reality. I just like brainstorming, that's all.

Good points. Does the word Trail in MITA's name mislead newcomers?

You probably missed a whole lot. I was not barking. We're just talking here about an idea. If knew 100% what I was talking about and I thought that it warranted 'lobbying' MITA then I would have done so. In other words. I am just trying to have a conversation about something I found interesting. p.s. (MITA encourages use of self propelled vessels as opposed to motorboats)

Jason, If there was a 'trail' would the preferred route be North to South? I'm thinking that by the time the paddler reaches Casco Bay they will have the added experience and confidence to tackle more open water for the rest of the way? or Are the prevailing winds from the southeast to paddle with the wind heading north a better approach?

I think that securing 'campgrounds' or b&b's (in stage locations where it is absolutely impossible to camp) and bringing it under a separate membership fee would help ensure safe rest stops as well as focus membership dollars on these specific campsites - thus managing the wear and tear on the trail. The camp locations don't necessarily have to be on an island either. For example there are sections between Casco Bay and Portsmouth where paddlers would have to paddle upstream of a river to get to camping opportunities.

Sorry if this has been covered before. I just thought of it today while staring at the renewal form that came in the mail I have heard from some paddlers who have paddled 'the trail' (coast of Maine) but I do not see it being promoted as such by the MITA. Probably because there are many islands in private ownership and getting a consensus could make for a loong meeting. It would seem to be a great promotion to sea kayaking to find a way plot out places to camp that are separated by 4 hours of paddling. This would give an opportunity for paddlers to reach a camp in 4 hours, or by lunchime and subsequent camp by sunset. Slow paddlers would have all day to reach a suitable shelter. Provide a different membership fee to trail padders which would include registration and some certificate of completion as well as fees to maintain these camping stations.

Gong is a brass frisbee hanging vertically.

Nice variations on the buoy theme! Looks like Bob is in a new boat! Nice. :-) We paddled Casco Bay today and the paddle back was interesting too.

Craft is also big in Nordic Skiing.

My kid was arguing with me yesterday about being too hot in a drysuit. So I told him to take a dip in the water to cool down. He floated in his drysuit for a while until he got really cold. :-) That held him from overheating for a while. During the paddle I told him to wet his hair and face with the cold water. The wind picked up anyway and cooled him down even more. Now we were not paddling like a band of NSPN'ers would 'haulin a$$' and such. I suppose you will get hot during a high output paddling. Perhaps rolling during the paddle is an option?

Ed You are a rebel ;-) I went alone this morning. Drysuit and a thin wool long johns with wool long sleeve. Futzed around in a cove ,playing with a few new toys. Observations: Stohlquist Rocker PFD - love it. Very comfortable. Solar radio - a joke Windpaddle - dont get one too big. If the wind changes suddenly it will trap you under. Same if the wind blows it to the side and it picks up water. Definite liability for single kayaker. It will be good on a tandem which is why i got it . Greenland Paddle - My second time outside with it. Love it but didn't have the guts to venture alone out of the cove.

Why not then just call it the left side and the right side? just wondering...I think that's what I will start using. Rolling up on the left side...rolling up on the right side.

I'm left handed but for many things I appear to be right handed. I learned not to think of which side is the right side. This has its advantages and also drawbacks. The drawbacks turn into nice surprises sometimes. The 'off side' roll last Saturday was one of them.

Thanks for all the tips. I really appreciate the expertise here. Maybe I'll make it to the Walden Pond scum someday but being in Maine it is a little bit out of reach for weekday.

Did you guys agree on the boat color beforehand?

Yesterday at a pool session I tried to roll with a greenland paddle. First 2 tries were fails. The stick felt slow when doing a sweep until I realized my blad is not flat on the water. Then I just let the blade float next to the kayak before I started the sweep. This helped and I was able to roll up on the third try. Subsequent rolls were good with occassional fails. What I liked was that I was able to also come back on the sweep if I felt I did not have the lift I needed. I then tried to roll on my off side. After 3 tries I was able to do this. I have realized that my off side might be really my strong side. The roll appeared easier. I did severall rollls on both sides and then it was time to go. I'm itching to do this again next weekend. I don't want to forget this. My question is about the hold of the greenland paddle with the inside hand. I was holding the paddle by the tip of the blade and then someone suggested I hold the paddle about 5 inches down the blade. When I asked why the person wasn't sure only to say that is what they always heard should be done. ?

Do I have to carry an ID while paddling?

It can keep a lot of dung.

Well I was slower than my son but that's just the way it might be for the time to come ;-) oh well. But I did enjoy waving the stick. Also, I felt a slight tendonitis the next morning. Probably because of my imperfect style combined with higher cadence for greenland paddle. I can't wait for a pool session this Saturday.

Download an app called MEGL It is simple and does the job right.

I think if i went with you in this cod water i would have to change my diapers. I am looking forward to the surf sessions with Sal this summer though. Maybe I will get good enough to go with you next year.

I am not using a spot device. Mine is a cell phone 'nexxus one' with an android operating system. I downloaded a free app which tracks movement and saves the results in a kml file that can be directly opened in google earth. I then do a print screen and crop in image editing.