Doug

Pru and Cathy, congratulations on these well deserved achievement awards. As you can can see below, Bill was glowing with pride after receiving the Hard Knocks Award. Doug

Yummy cupcakes for those of you willing to splurge. Doug

http://issuu.com/_aca/docs/jpe_12.13 Doug

Can't make it. Sea you next week.

I'll most likely join you. Doug

Nice video Rick. This must have been taken Saturday. I heard that Sunday the group was so tired they could only muster 4 hours on the water. Looks like a whose who in the kayaking world was in attendance. How many actual paid attendees paddled that day? Doug

Here are some pics of the day... http://pixel8er.smugmug.com/Ship-Cove-to-Dyer-Cove-Cape/i-tp66x9X I suggest watching in "slideshow mode" Doug

A thank you should go out to Nancy Priest and Rene Braun for scaling the old logo in the new header photo and new NSPN font creation in the beginning stages of this project as well. Doug

current route: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com?r=6139865 Doug

Your right Cathy. Putting in at Ship Cove at Fort Williams Park is a better launch spot if you want to hit Crescent Beach. From Bug Light it will add 6 miles. Your original plan works best. Doug

Note: This is an NSPN event not to be confused with the one Lincoln Canoe & Kayak is putting on also with Suz. Doug

I may join you as well if you'll have me, especially if we go around Ram Island. The inner harbor can be mundane with the exception of the Fort but outside Cushing and Peaks make it a very pretty paddle. The conditions should be pretty mellow considering the time of year. How about a 10:30 launch? Doug

Pics from last years COLD WATER CLINIC Doug

Don't forget the Hard Knocks Award

Picture perfect day yesterday for a pre-winter paddle. Nine attended. Doug see all pics here: http://pixel8er.smugmug.com/Lanes-Cove-to-Dry-Salvages/i-8cztq3q

We have eight paddlers

Lanes Cove to Rockport or Thachers Island SaturdayMost likely L3 We will keep pace with the slowest paddler Saturday, November 2, 2013 LANES COVE Lanes Cove Rd, Gloucester, MA Launch promptly at 11AM Play in the rocks a bit (optional) on the way to Rockport or Thachers Island hugging all of the coastline on the way out. High Tide 10:42 AM Weather Details for Saturday High 59F / 5-8 mph breeze / Water Temp 52f / 2-3ft swell Possible Trip Tics: Lanes to Rockport ..... http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=4468990 Lanes Cove to Thacher Island ..... http://www.gmap-pedometer.com?r=5350397 RECOMENDATIONS: Dry Suits,Radios on vest,Tow Belt if you own one with instant access to it,Helmet if playing near the rocks,Something hot to warm the body at break,Water and food.Post below or PM me if interested......

Rick, Thanks for the candid recap of your experience. I was curious if you could have avoided this by dressing for a colder paddle or were you already dawning a dry suit? I tend to push the limits this time of year with hydro skins and dry top but it's right around now I pull out the dry suit with 2 pair of glacier gloves to follow soon. (I change to the second pair after a long midday break with hot to drink.) Doug

Having paddled this area quite a bit, I figured I'd add my two cents here. A 10 or 10:30 launch from Pierce Island will allow you an easy paddle out the river Saturday. Looks like seas should be very flat for your paddle but you'll most likely have to deal with slightly sporty W or SW winds as the day progresses which can be fun and good practice in the New Castle area navigating and dodging their impact. Certainly no reason to alter plans to paddle the area IMO. In fact the ocean side will most likely have the least effect from the wind. Sea temp should be around 55. Have a nice paddle. Doug

Pru mentioned that we had some website glitches that the board felt was part of the reason our membership is down 35% or so from this time last year. I'm sure some of you became very frustrated by this and simply gave up. I notice that many of our paid members from past years have stopped renewing their club memberships yet are still very active on paddles and even more so on the forum. It is our paid membership base that helps keep our website going. Software upgrades, website designers, professional fees, annual donations to MITA and facility rentals for free navigation or CAM clinics deplete our resources. We were fortunate enough in the past to have members step up and keep the website fresh and interactive but with the exception of Jason and Rene currently, we have had to seek out paid services beyond our membership to facilitate our current needs. We are reaching out to those of you that who find value in being part of NSPN to support us as you have done in the past. With this support we will continue be a strong resource for not only the experienced paddler but to those who are just start out with renewed energy and fresh ideas. If your having any difficulty at all with your membership renewal, free to contact me at (Doug at NEBM dot net) if you feel you'd rather not post your concerns publicly on this thread. People in a non-member status do not have the ability to PM other members. I'd be happy to facilitate a speedy resolution. Phone calls to board members can work as well. Thanks for your continued support. Doug

Really? Was he from Canada? This could happen anywhere as far as I'm concerned.

What a disappointing turn of events. Sorry you all had to deal with it. Life can really throw you a curve ball at times but the important thing was you all accomplished your main objective, were able to have a kayak camping weekend and returned safe and sound. I'm sue the looming violation/altercation however was difficult to shake while camping. As sea kayakers, we are so fortunate to have adventurers and experiences that most people can't even imagine. There will always be people out there that could find us to be easy targets because we are different and in their wrapped sense of balance feel we deserve to be targeted. A few years ago we had weekly skill sessions in Kingston, NH and one night we returned to out cars to find the inside of our car door handles smeared with the worst fishy goo slime that is apparently used to attract fish. This was a clear message from the bass boat fishermen to stay out of their parking lot. I never went back. I got the message. In your case, it sounds like more of an isolated occurrence which I hope will not put a damper on next years annual trip. I think one more kayak camping weekend is needed to erase the negative vibes. It's a long winter. Doug

Call RackAttack in Framingham MA. They are excellent in finding a perfect configuration for most any need and will install on the spot. I think Thule is over rated and over priced. I would look at Yakama as I believe their quality across the board is better but that's just my opinion. Doug

Sorry for the false alarm but conditions are drawing me to the ocean Saturday. Heading to the Portsmouth area instead the lakes. Doug

If there is any interest in a Squam Lake Paddle this Saturday, Oct 12th, please reply below. If there is enough interest, I will post a trip. Note: originally, a trip was planned next weekend the19th and 20th of this month but I removed it quite a while ago from the calendar. This does not mean it still can't be scheduled by someone else but I chose not to do it. I will be ocean bound next weekend. Foliage is peak right now at the lakes. Doug