BethS

Josko, Maybe part of the problem is that the people you are inspiring need to step up and thank you once in a while! I am guilty here; the fabulous trip report that you and your partner gave of your trip to Labrador last summer was one of the things that inspired me to go for it and get involved with going to Alaska this coming summer. So a very belated but heartfelt "thanks!" to you both for that! Often people just take trip leaders for granted; and if the same people keep coming back to your trips year after year they are obviously having a good time... I'd say keep doing what you most enjoy sharing about the sport, whether it is a favorite spot to return to, or a new and more challenging spot to explore. If you are excited about trip(s) you are leading, it will be rewarding both for you and for the participants. As far as specific suggestions go, I'm not sure what trips you have been leading in the past, but it does seem to me that there are not a lot of leaders willing/able to lead longer/more complicated trips, i.e. multi-day expedition style up the coast of Maine, going to Nova Scotia, etc. Usually people who want to do such a trip arrange it on their own with friends, which is great but can be a bit daunting especially the first time. If you had an interest in doing a longer trip, with the add on of helping participants learn about planning a kayak expedition, (not coaching mind you, just friendly advice!) I'm guessing you might have some interest. Of course participants would have to be carefully screened (as for any trip) but a multiday trip does not need to involve a lot of risky paddling conditions, there are many fine longer trip options along this coast for solid level three paddlers.

Those are great, thanks for sharing them!

I agree about the paddle, a good paddle is actually just as important as a good boat. However as mentioned above if you start out with a so-so paddle it can always be demoted to a spare later on (But please don't get one of the horrible aluminum and plastic ones! Get a decent one to start, then a deluxe later when you try one and fall in love...) Try a bunch of different ones before you spend the big bucks, but when you do, it will be worth it.

Count me in as well! I'll bring extra chocolate.

I'm planning to stay in Maine for the night also, haven't figured out where yet, probably camping or a cheap motel, does anyone have any suggestions? If anyone wants to share a room/campsite I might be interested... and I like the dinner in Portland idea!

Sorry I can't help out with this, i'll be taking the SOLO WFA afloat class this weekend.

Andy, so sorry to hear about your injury! I hope it heals well and as fast as possible! I hope you were at least doing something fun like skiing, and didn't just fall on the floor or ice like the rest of us.

I just signed up for this, thanks for the information, it sounds like a great course!

Welcome, You will find friendly folks and a whole new world awaits you! My bit of advice about gear; don't make the mistake i did and cut costs on things that you will be wearing (or SHOULD be wearing) while paddling... Like your PFD for example. Try them on and get the most comfortable one that has the features you want/need, but comfort should come first, and that means comfort in all temps (remember it gets HOT in summer!) while you are actually sitting in your boat and paddling, not just standing in the store. Put one on, and sit in a kayak with a sprayskirt on as if you were paddling, and move your arms around. If it bugs you at all, don't get it. A good PFD will last 20 years, and if it's not comfortable you won't wear it. And you need to be wearing it, all the time! Sometimes you can get good deals on used stuff, it's better to get good used than cheapo new. Check the boards here, and on paddling.net, as well as craigslist, etc. Definitely come to the NSPN new to kayaking workshop, you can learn everything you need to know to get started and you may pick up some gear deals there as well!

You have my sympathy, shoulder injuries can be so painful and frustrating! But i agree, you should be fine in the long run, just do the darn PT and find other things to keep you busy. Also just from my own experience with a shoulder separation many years ago (different injury, no surgery needed, but i was not given a great prognosis at the time) i found that after i was better, what really got me to 100% was aquatic therapy (specific excercises using water as resistance); at some point you may want to look into this as part of your rehab, many PTs know about this and some do it as a specialty. It will get well, don't despair! Also, consider a Greenland paddle, much easier on the joints!

Back to Greenland... OK i mostly prefer them anyway, but especially when paddling into the wind; i like to use a sliding stroke with my full sized GP (I don't have a storm paddle but maybe I should try one..)

What a great pic! And yes, where were you planning to go? Is does occur to me now that the car sized drift in front of my garage might actually make it easier to load my boat onto the car, if I could just get the boat out of the garage that is... For now I went out on my snowshoes for a bit today, nothing like walking on water...

Actually just a fly can work very well in snow, IF there's enough snow to build a small wall around the tent to keep the wind out. I do this a lot in winter if I'm backpacking below treeline; the tent body doesn't really add much except extra weight, a sturdy fly-tent pole structure w/ snow packed around it works very well. But not so well if there is not enough snow, or if it is raining hard.... as is more likely along the coastline.

Quite delightful Warren, I will make sure that at least one of my outfits is color coordinated for next weekend! Seriously, very nice job on those... Looking forward to your future efforts.

more ice cream!

Wonderful trip report and pictures Pru, you guys are fabulous! I'm looking forward (brrrr!!) to December, and will certainly bring extra gloves and mittens! And pogies! Beth

nifty, I have been hanging mine over the radiator which is not as convenient, thanks for sharing this tip!

Very interesting trip report, thank you! Sounds like you had a great time.

I would be happy to see it again!

Your presentation at Autumn Gales was absolutely fantastic! Extremely inspiring, and stunningly beautiful. Thanks so much to both of you!

Hmm, thanks everyone for the info... i'll have to give it some thought.

Alaska, Newfoundland, British Columbia, lots more in Maine, lots of places in the British Isles, some wilderness river/lake trips in Canada (this place looks interesting, has anyone been there? ) http://www.staff.science.uu.nl/~rutte101/stuff/manicouagan/manicouagan-eng.pdf Some warmer, more tropical locations too... the Exumas sound very nice, for example... And wow the Croatian Adriatic sounds terrific! I might be interested... Lots to dream about!

Wow. I have only been there on a bicycle, and while looking out over the ocean in Cape Breton I thought how much I wanted to be on the water. Now I am inspired to make it happen, thank you! Beth

When using my wing paddle (the one mentioned above!) I vary the length between 205 and 210... I seem to generally prefer 205ish (which is what was recommended for me, they said 206) but sometimes 210 just feels better... I don't know why really. Maybe it just uses slightly different muscles and my arms like the change now and then. I think I am more efficient overall with the shorter length though. If it's windy or rough I prefer the shorter 205-207 as well. But then most of the time I am using a greenland paddle anyway!

Thank you everyone for a simply funtastic fantastic weekend, I second the vote for doing it again next year. Wow, I can't believe we just missed the northern lights! Thanks for all the great pics, a waterproof camera is on my wish list!