Jeff Charette

I have the Kokatat Expedition dry suit and I have been very happy with it. Basically you cannot go wrong with any of the Gore-Tex dry suits from Kokatat. I would recommend sticking with the Gore-Tex, but other than that the higher priced models are just offering more bells and whistles.

Pru, another fantastic trip report. Again, you have a way of making me feel like I was there with you. Thanks for sharing.

Rob, great day. Thanks for organizing.

Does a 10:00am beach briefing with return to launch around 4:00pm work for others?

Rob, count me in. Jeff

Dave and Mike, congratulations to both of you.

Great trip report Pru. I always enjoy reading your trip reports. In some ways I felt like I was there with you, (don't I wish).

Please consider joining us for the summer solstice paddle on June 26th. This year I will be coordinating the level 3 trip. Possible destination include Bakers, the Goosberries, and Dry Breakers, however our exact route will be determined based on conditions that day. As Peter mentioned in above post, launch is from Riverhead Beach in Marblehead. Beach briefing at 9:30, launch at 10:00. We will plan to return around 3:00 for the pot luck picnic at the pavilion across the street. If you are interested in joining please RSVP in the June 26th level 3 calendar posting. There are also level 2 and 2+ trips posted. Please see calendar and separate posting under Trips/Events, for more info.

Congratulations Sid. Well done!

Kevin, I will be there to help out. I'll bring boat and gear.

Bob and Kevin, congratulations to both of you.

Pru, I always enjoy reading your trip reports, makes me feel like I was there with you. Baja is now on my wish list of places to paddle. Thanks for sharing.

Great trip report Pru. Wish I could have been there.

Great trip report Pru. I wish I could have been there. The next time I plan a trip I should also plan to be there. Im glad it was a fun and uneventful trip.

Unfortunately I will not be able to make. Have fun, be safe, and Happy New Year.

Count me in.

Count me in. I'll pm float plan.

Congratulations Cathy.

Did not intend to post the same picture several times. Here are the pictures I met to post.

Saturday proved itself to be a perfect day to kick off the cold weather paddling season. Temperatures would top out in the 50’s with a cold, brisk, wind out of the west. Eight hardy paddlers met in the nearly empty parking lot at Odiorne Point in Rye, NH. Pru, Cathy, Rob, Kevin, Mike, David M, and Dave C, and I gathered for a 10:30 launch. As gear was sorted and dry suits donned Cathy called out for a repair kit. One of the wrist gaskets on her dry suit tore as she was putting on the suit. With a little help from a few small pieces of gorilla tape, Rob and I were able save the day, successfully completing a temporary gasket repair. Cathy reported, at the end of the day, that the repair held up fine and her sleeve was dry. Success! As we paddled out of Little Harbor and thru the breakwater we were greeted by flat, calm seas. With a brisk wind from the west this was to be expected. Crossing the Piscataqua we encountered a mild chop with wind against tide. We paddled over to Fort Foster for a planned meet up with Dave M (not to be confused with David M). We now completed our group of 9 with a trio of Daves. With a mid-afternoon high tide we chose a counterclockwise circumnavigation. Heading along the coast of Gerrish we continued to encounter flat, calm seas. There was just enough swell for the group to enjoy a little rock play in a few spots. Kevin took advantage of this both to play in as well as coach a few paddlers in developing and improving our rock gardening skills. After a brief debate to find the perfect lunch spot, we settled on a nice place, out of the wind, just inside Brave Boat Harbor. Credit goes to Kevin for finding the perfect spot. After lunch we had a pleasant paddle thru the marshes, for the most part sheltered from the wind. The highlight of paddling the marshes was sighting a flock of turkeys. There were few comments about an early Thanksgiving dinner. Hopefully someone will post a picture or two. As we exited the marshes, thru the culvert, into Chancey Creek we were met head on with the full force of the wind. As we came out of Chauncey Creek Dave M left the group and headed for the Kittery Town Docks, where he launched from in the morning. Crossing the Piscataqua and heading back toward New Castle we encounter a little bumpy water. Outside New Castle we spotted an inbound tanker, escorted by a large tug boat. Again, maybe someone will have a picture to post. As we rounded the jetty and paddled back into Little Harbor I suddenly felt like I had that tanker under tow. Did I mention the wind at any time? We were now headed straight into the wind. From this point on there would not be any conversation as everyone put their head into the wind and concentrated on forward paddling. Landing back at Odiorne Point our group of very tired paddlers all agreed it was a wonderful day, in spite of the wind. Thanks to everyone for joining me and helping to make it a great day.

It looks like we will have somewhere between 8-10 paddlers for tomorrow's Gerrish Island trip. For anyone planning to join us, please forward your float plan info, if you have not already done so. Later this evening I will finalize the plan and send each of you a copy. Looking forward to seeing you all on the water. Jeff

Sat looks to be a cool fall day and the tides will work for a counterclockwise circumnavigation of Gerrish. Launch from Odiorne, BIB 10:30, stopping for lunch inside Brave Boat Harbor. High tide about 2:10, so after lunch we will be able to ride the flood thru the marshes. Air temps will top off in the 50's, so dry suit and cold weather paddling gear required. Please post interest here and pm float plan info to me. Float plan info should include name, cell number, boat make, model, and color, emergency contact name and phone number.

I have sunglasses with interchangeable lenses for a variety of light conditions. The sunglasses lenses are not prescription, however the frames hold a prescription insert that sits behind the sunglass lenses. In my case this is a bifocal and works well for distance and close up chart work. I then coat all the lenses with "sea drops", which is an anti- fog for diving masks. I have a retaining strap that holds the glasses in place and does not interfere with wearing a hat or helmet. Never lost glasses with a roll or wet exit. David, I'll show them to you this weekend.

Congratulations Rob. Well done. I was also happy to be a "teabag" for this 4 star assessment. We created a lot of mayhem for you and you handled it well.

Gary, I will second Doug's suggestion to take a guide prep course. The course offered by Pinniped Kayak is highly recommended. I took the course with Seacliff Kayakers and I would highly recommend this course also.