Dabend

Hi Ed, I paddled from Round Pond to _____ late last September and found no place to camp. I was using a bivy sack so I didn't need much space at all. But I went up and down that Island and found nothing even for that. I ended up on the rocks which wasn't so bad at all (see pic). I did write to MITA afterward and encouraged them to emphasize how iffy the island is if you have any kind of footprint for a tent. It was beautiful though. Seals everywhere. Herons. Peace. I hope you get a chance to try it for yourself.

I have a many years of experience using a bivy sack. The bottom line is that I love them. One of the main reasons I love the bivy is that feeling of sleeping outside looking up at the stars is unmatched. And when the wind is blowing on an island bluff, you unzip the bug screen and it is heavenly. Even when the clouds come in, the air on your face is something you don't get in a tent. And when it rains, I even love the sound of the rain on the bivy -- if your bivy is a good one, there's a feeling of imperviousness. I love being able to sleep right out in the open often where a tent cannot be set up either because there is not enough room or earth to stake it. Although I did start off using a tarp on nights that I suspected rain, I soon learned that it was like putting a waterproof gear bag inside a leaky one...why bother. Instead, I set up a tarp away from my bivy (usually in the protection of trees) and that is where I store my gear. Overall, I think having a bivy requires: -Getting a good one. Do not skimp on waterproofing and breathability. I have an Intergral Designs UniShelter and it repels water like a duck and rarely sweats. -Get headroom. My first bivy was a second hand one and it had no way to keep the material off your head when zipped up in the rain. While I never felt claustrophobic, it just wasn't fun or comfortable. The Unishelter also has a vent in the top that helps keep things dry. -A change of attitude. If you get a bivy and then do everything you can to make it a tent, you're missing the point. Once I stopped worrying about getting a little wet on the way from the bivy to my tarp. It really was just a cost/benefit analysis for me. The joys of sleeping in the bivy outweighed the negative. -Get a system. It took me a few trips but after a while, I figured out a pretty good system so that I never got surprised by anything. I keep a drybag for my boots (I camp mostly in the fall) next to me, outside the bivy. I put my clothes inside my pillow case so they are ready to go in the morning. I always keep a poncho in the bivy. I have a night bag with everything I could possibly need that I always put behind my head and can access quickly (such as headlamp, ipod etc). You might be surprised how much you can actually fit in a bivy if you want to. I have attached a photo of a campsite I was at on an island off the coast of Maine. You can see where I set up the bivy on the rock and then the tarp over by the rocks. It rained all night and into the morning before stopping just before I took this picture. The other photo is on a tent platform in Muscongus bay with the 30 knot winds making the bivy look occupied.

I have a many years of experience using a bivy sack. The bottom line is that I love them. One of the main reasons I love the bivy is that feeling of sleeping outside looking up at the stars is unmatched. And when the wind is blowing on an island bluff, you unzip the bug screen and it is heavenly. Even when the clouds come in, the air on your face is something you don't get in a tent. And when it rains, I even love the sound of the rain on the bivy -- if your bivy is a good one, there's a feeling of imperviousness. I love being able to sleep right out in the open often where a tent cannot be set up either because there is not enough room or earth to stake it. Although I did start off using a tarp on nights that I suspected rain, I soon learned that it was like putting a waterproof gear bag inside a leaky one...why bother. Instead, I set up a tarp away from my bivy (usually in the protection of trees) and that is where I store my gear. Overall, I think having a bivy requires: -Getting a good one. Do not skimp on waterproofing and breathability. I have an Intergral Designs UniShelter and it repels water like a duck and rarely sweats. -Get headroom. My first bivy was a second hand one and it had no way to keep the material off your head when zipped up in the rain. While I never felt claustrophobic, it just wasn't fun or comfortable. The Unishelter also has a vent in the top that helps keep things dry. -A change of attitude. If you get a bivy and then do everything you can to make it a tent, you're missing the point. Once I stopped worrying about getting a little wet on the way from the bivy to my tarp. It really was just a cost/benefit analysis for me. The joys of sleeping in the bivy outweighed the negative. -Get a system. It took me a few trips but after a while, I figured out a pretty good system so that I never got surprised by anything. I keep a drybag for my boots (I camp mostly in the fall) next to me, outside the bivy. I put my clothes inside my pillow case so they are ready to go in the morning. I always keep a poncho in the bivy. I have a night bag with everything I could possibly need that I always put behind my head and can access quickly (such as headlamp, ipod etc). You might be surprised how much you can actually fit in a bivy if you want to. I have attached a photo of a campsite I was at on an island off the coast of Maine. You can see where I set up the bivy on the rock and then the tarp over by the rocks. It rained all night and into the morning before stopping just before I took this picture. The other photo is on a tent platform in Muscongus bay with the 30 knot winds making the bivy look occupied.

I have been paddling for years and usually do not get seasick. But the times I have always involve swells where I focus on one object that is not the water itself. For example, being close to the cliffs and getting a reflective wave. When I stared at the rock, I got seasick in about 20 seconds. Also, when doing or practicing rescues, I have learned to not focus directly on the person or boat I am helping but keeping half an eye on the horizon. Also, I did not see it mentioned here, but I have found the wrist bands you can get OTC at a drug store like CVS to be very effective when I am on ferries or sailboats. Good luck!

Has it occurred to anyone that it's possible that the event in question never really happened? Or at least not to he degree that the author describes. When I read it the first time I was struck by how purposefully negligent they were. Almost impossibly negligent (They didn't check the weather?? And if they actually had flares, radio and whistles, what would make them NOT take them??) Perhaps somewhere there is a newspaper article confirming this event, but I haven't seen it. And I don't think it is beyond the realm of possibility that the author, pressed with a deadline and nothing to write about, conjured up this event based on past paddling experienced and an overactive imagination. Given the poor and unconvincing narrative, "It flashed through my mind that he was right, that the kids would be better off with one parent rather than none. Then it flashed through my mind that our life insurance was paid up and that our kids — one a college grad, the other well on her way — would be fine." it would not surprise me at all if she just made this all up perhaps knowing that it would be some tasty bait for kayakers everywhere to take. In this age of social media, when the number of hits on your blog, or the amount of email hits you get to the magazine is how success is being measured, it would not surprise me in the least. David

Thanks everyone. This has been very helpful. I am currently storing it on its side hung from two 1 inch wide pieces of webbing on the side of my shed. It is also (loosely) covered by tarps. (and it has a nylon cockpit cover on it) But based on this feedback I will remove the hatch covers and cover those with plastic as well as seal the skeg box. One more question, besides the expense of one of those built-to-fit kayak covers (kayak condoms?), is there any reason not to get one? Thanks again. david

I finally purchased my first fiberglass boat last week and am wondering if it is a problem to store it outside in the winter. (I hope not since that's the only choice I have). I have it covered but will freezing temperatures harm the boat? And, as long as I've got you here...I have a compass that I plan to mount on this boat in the spring. If I do store it outside in freezing temperatures next winter, do I have to remove the compass first or will that endure? Thanks, David

I know, I know, the North River is in Scituate, not the North Shore but there is no South Shore Paddler's Network that i know of. I am planning to practice rough water rescues at the mouth of the North River with some friends and was wondering if there are any particular safety concerns (such as known rips etc) that could take us by surprise. I have been there with a Charles River Canoe and Kayak surf class and it was just perfect...very rough but no dangerous currents. But I wasn't sure if the trip leader carefully planned out the schedule or whether any time or tide is safe there. If you are familiar with the area, please pass along your thoughts. thanks, david

I am interested in getting people's opinions about the good and bad of a thermoform kayak. The material sounds like a great compromise between the sluggish (and heavy) rotomolded and the faster, lighter but more delicate and expensive composite. Would love to know what others have experienced or heard. thanks, d

Hello all, I just wanted to report back about the overnight parking at Round Pond. Just before you get to the boat ramps (there are 2) there is a sign on the right that says no overnight parking beyond that point. There is room for about 5 cars along the side of the road. I went out last Thursday and there was plenty of space. When I returned on Sunday, it was completely full. Not sure where people were because i never saw another kayaker the whole weekend except the ones in my group. Great long weekend of paddling. It's tough to be back in the office. david

Thanks everyone for your replies. I was able to find out that there are places to park overnight right off the ramp so it looks pretty easy. I have kayaked in there for lunch many times and have never gotten any attitude from the lobstermen. Sleepy but friendly town.

Thanks for the responses. I have to say i am surprised by the concerns about vandalism. I have been leaving my car at various put-ins in ME for 10 years now and have never had an issue with that. Perhaps I have just been lucky. Or maybe going through the motions of getting permission usually assures that i am parking in a place that deters vandalism either because of its public visibility or private self interest. Now, hopefully I haven't just jinxed myself. d

I'm heading up to Muscongus BAy in early October and was wondering if anyone has been to Round Pond and knows if you can leave cars there. I know there is a put in as I have been there in the past going out of Friendship. But i wasn't sure if there was a place to park for a few days. I know this is north of the north shore, but i figured this would be a good group to ask. thanks, david

are you using nautical or statue miles on GE?