billvoss

Here is a Bing link showing the Haverhill pool. (Google apparently has obsolete satellite images.) The street address is 137 Monument Street, Haverhill, MA 01832. We usually start bringing gear into the lobby a little before the start, but rarely get to bring our kayaks into the pool itself until the start time. Students swim in the pool, and occasionally it is WARM, but usually it is a bit cool. Some people just use a swimsuit and shirt, others wear a wetsuit and tuilik. I leave my drysuit at home because of the pool chemicals. There are locker rooms to change in with showers. Though at least on the men's side, we can not control the shower temperature. Other than that, bring the same gear you would use at a summer pond session. Kayak, paddles, skirt, PFD, and optionally helmet, nose plugs, mask, goggles, paddle float, etc. We usually help everyone carry kayaks into the pool area, then change in the locker rooms. So getting there five to ten minutes early is a good idea, though thirty minutes would be excessive.

ditto. Thanks Suz

I think I'll be Mandarin bound this evening. -Bill

My 2014 sea kayaking goals. Lot of sea kayak surfing! (Perhaps join Cathy, Lorrie, and Phil?)Learn some more kayak rolls.Improve my current kayak rolls.Get better at teaching kayak rolling.Get out on the ocean more than last year.

Since my VHF is a DSC radio with integrated GPS, and my PLB sends GPS coordinates to the satellite as well as incorporating a short range distress radio signal, I expect any rescuer to get very close to me based on electronic signals. That should be enough for them to find me easily except at night in severe fog or gale conditions. So I basically carry my flares for the case where I can hear but not see the rescue boat/chopper. That is why I prefer hand-held flares to gun or parachute flares.

There are strict international standards covering true PLB devices. For example they are required to use lithium batteries which will operate for hours despite cold temperatures. These are the devices which you purchase once, register with the government for free, and that use an international government satellite system to relay your mayday. Your mayday goes directly to a government employee. I purchased my PLB based on price and size about four or five years ago. I'm sure the current offerings are slightly different. There are also alternative systems such as the SPOT which so far as I know do not have to meet any particular standards other than FCC radio transmission rules. These systems are sold more like cell phones, often with a subsidized up-front cost, but an ongoing subscription. Their "911" support is serviced more like an alarm system. Your signal goes to a commercial satellite, gets relayed to the company's call center, and then they call the coast guard. These systems are generally bundled with non-emergency services, such as letting people track where you are, and letting you send "I'm OK" messages. If you travel internationally or are focused on total-cost-of-ownership, the true PLB is probably the better device. However, that big international bureaucracy does not approve innovations nearly as fast as the commercial companies do. So in some ways the alternative systems have passed the older true PLB systems technically. Users also tend to use, and thus test, the alternative systems regularly which tends to improve reliability. I have not kept up with the latest offerings. Regarding strobes, I don't think you will find more than one or two SOLAS offerings. It is a small market.

My personal kit, in priority order: VHF radio with DSC and integrated GPS. Personal Locator Beacon Cell Phone Whistle Strobe (SOLAS preferred). Signal Mirror SOLAS hand flare (not a Coast Guard hand flare) quantity 3.My personal assumption is that one of the first devices will normally be used to inform someone that I need help. The later devices are in my mind primarily to help a searcher actually find me once they get within a fraction of a mile. Though in theory all seven devices can be used to inform someone that you need help. Note that SOLAS standards are generally much higher than Coast Guard standards. For example a SOLAS hand flare is more likely to work when you need it, is much brighter than a Coast Guard hand flare, and unlike a Coast Guard hand flare a SOLAS hand flare is not supposed to drip hot material making it safe for use in an inflatable life raft (or skin-on-frame kayak). The main downsides of a SOLAS hand flare are price and size relative to a Coast Guard hand flare.

I've enjoyed attending the Cold Water clinics in the past, and suggest everyone attend. Even if they only paddle in water above 50F. Did you know that the loss of breathing control associated with "cold shock" appears to reach maximum intensity in water between 50-60F (10-15C). The cold shock affect is no stronger in 32F water because the body is already responding as strongly as it can at 50F. There are other hypothermia issues which do get worse at 32F. I suggest you check out http://www.coldwatersafety.org for more information.

Paddler's Math: Get up early and have breakfast + Check Email, Website, Weather, and Tide No thunder in the forecast No small craft advisory Bumpy water Air temperature close to water temperature (perfect dry suit weather) + Dress for paddle, pack food + Drive a little more than an hour and a half + Spend an hour and a half at put-in + Drive a little more than an hour and a half + Check Website _______________________________________________________________ We all missed a potentially great day on the water.

Great! Don't get too excited. No matter what Leslie thinks, it is not a SOF, so it can't be that great.

Hi Stranger! I'm interested, though BIB at 10:30am is a bit early for me. Lanes Cove is a long drive. Would you mind BIB at 11:00am? I need my beauty sleep. -Bill

The three who did arrive had a good time.

Walden is open, so lets keep it simple and go to Walden. I'll try to be there by 4:00pm.

Yong and anyone else coming, if Walden is still closed on Wednesday, lets go to White's Pond. http://www.nspn.org/forum/topic/9578-whites-pond-on-tuesdays-walden-alternative/#entry56938

Looks like I'm bound for Walden on Wednesday! Though it does sound a little hot.

I guess the summer rolling season is now really over. I'll make other plans.

Oops, the thread title should be "Walden Thursday, September 26th, 2013?"

I have a conflict Wednesday, but would anyone like to join me at Walden this Thursday afternoon/evening for rolling practice? Let me know what time you want to arrive. -Bill P.S. Though certainly not required for safety yet, I consider a drysuit very desirable for rolling comfort at this time of year.

I am currently targeting Walden 4:30pm if anyone else wants to join us.

Hi Yong, I can probably still go. I should know early afternoon. What time can you get to Walden? The guards will probably lock the gate at 6:30pm today, so we will want to be off the water around 6:00pm.

I guess there is no interest this week. I'll make other plans.

I won't be able to attend Walden this coming week because of family obligations. Is anyone interested in rolling practice this coming Tuesday afternoon and/or evening? -Bill

I encountered an NSPNer at Walden yesterday who had brought his Pungo to the pond. I told him I would post the "I will take my pungo" link on the board. Unfortunately, while I found my bookmark, it is no longer showing the video. Does anyone have a working link?

You do what you want! There is certainly a bit of "just hanging out" involved. If you are new to kayaking, you usually start with wet exits and assisted rescues. With some practice you should be comfortable as both the rescued and the rescuer with capsizing the kayak, wet exiting the kayak, having the rescuer empty the capsized kayak of water, and having the rescuer assist the swimmer back into their kayak. Many people stop there. However, if you kept coming back you might practice solo self rescue techniques learning to dump the water out of your own kayak in water over your head, and learning paddle float, cowboy or ladder solo reentry techniques. You might also practice your strokes at least part of the time. Eventually you might decide that spending minutes getting back into a kayak is silly when you could instead just roll up in a few seconds. So you might keep coming to learn to roll, or to maintain and improve the reliability of your roll. Eventually, you might get addicted to rolling, and start working on lots of different ways to roll. At that point you would probably acquire a Greenland Paddle, and might even start practicing rolling more often than you go paddling! If you kept at that, you might start working on rolling with a paddle stored on your deck, or half a paddle, a Greenland throwing stick, or work on rolling with just your hands, or just your fist, or just your elbow, or without even your elbow. There are no formal instructors at pond sessions. However, there is a strong tradition of passing it forward and helping others. Even the first time you show up you could help someone practice their rescues by volunteering to be the rescued. People first learning to roll usually like someone standing by ready to offer a quick bow rescue if they miss their roll, or an assisted rescue if they have to wet exit. Later you may find yourself trying to teach people to roll, or show them new rolls they have not tried. Some people also work on "stupid pond tricks" such as standing up in their kayak, and progressing to juggling while standing up in their kayak. The rolling addicts with drysuits usually start attending pond sessions in late May. In July and August only a swimsuit is required. After Labor Day attendance quickly crashes as the sun sets earlier and the water cools. If any of that sounds like fun, come ahead and join us. Though early and late in the season, or if thunderstorms are in the forecast, posting first can be a good idea to see if anyone else also plans to be there.

I'm not familiar with Hart Pond. Your "fairly certain is open" comment worries me. OK. This week, I will plan on arriving at Walden around 3:30pm despite the heat. This week, I will also NOT plan on White's Pond. Future weeks TBD later.