prudenceb

I'm in! While prefer having an Easter plunge on Easter, I recognize that folks who actually celebrate the day, either alone or with family/friends, might prefer Saturday. Whatever you decide, make it super clear so that those who have gotten used to the Sunday tradition won't skim over a posting that says it will be Saturday! pru

John, is there a link you could post to somewhere else the slides exist somewhere out there in a cloud? Thst would probably be the easiest way for people to access.

Thanks to John Huth, today nineteen NSPNer's took a highly educational, amusing and informative voyage through weather, wind and waves - ending up in the Marshall Islands getting a crash course in navigating by ocean swell. This five hour event, held in the Community Room at REI, was - as is the case with all of John's talks - a great success. Add to the knowledge gained the chance to socialize with others and to snack on some of the treats provided by various attendees - most notably Janice's blueberry banana bread - and, well, you have a most excellent way to spend a Sunday afternoon. I can share a few aphorisms proffered by John to help those who weren't in attendance with their weather forecasting. As for this, well, you just had to be there to understand how Botticelli is relevant to making sense of one's environment when at sea in a small skinny boat... But seriously, many thanks to John for giving his time and sharing some of his rather staggering amount of knowledge about the world around us. Looking forward to the next time, whenever it is. pru

Mike, go to Calendar, click on the course, a description willl come up, woth rsvp to the left. I just looked again and it wad there and I had no trouble rsvping.

I would look at the equipment a company offers. Double kayaks or plastic rec boat type singles probably aren't what you want if that's what's being offered. If you google Nigel Dennis Kayaks Expedition Centers, you will get a list of outfitters/guides with good training (BCU certifications) and real sea kayaks to use. They are located in US, Mexico, Canada, UK and Europe. Sea Kayak Cornwall that Andy mentions above is one, I think. pru

Piece o' cake for you, Andy!

Hello club members, This will be my final posting encouraging members to come both to the member's general meeting and party that will follow at Gould Barn this Saturday. It promises to be a good time. We have a number of really good raffle items - including two Werner paddles, an Astral Greenjacket Guide pdf, and some artwork contributed by members - as well as an assortment of other kayak and kayak/camping related equipmennt. You can't get the cool raffle stuff if you don't come! There's no need to rsvp about your plans, but if you wish to post on Janice's thread about what food you will bring, that will help keep our - yum yum - juices flowing! Hope to see you all there. I would particularly encourage newer members to the club to come. It's a great way to meet other people who are passionate about paddling! Feel free to bring spouses as well. pru

Dessert!

Andy, my question is whether initiation of tow needed to be made at that point at all. I would not ultimately have been any happier being towed by fast paddler (who by the way didn't have a tow belt on) than by Rob. And at the very least I could tell myself I had given Rob the experience of doing a long tow into wind and waves as he contemplates that fifth star ;-). My question is whether conditions were such that anyone was at risk - I think not - and whether slowing down would have accomplished the same thing.

OK, so naming names, I’m the “slower paddler.” Here is my take on the day. A group of five paddlers set out to greet the New Year in Boston Harbor. I had paddled with four of the five members of the group at least several times, and in the case of Rob, many many times. The fifth was clearly a fast paddler, and not someone with whom I’d paddled other than a large group at Odiorne several years ago. It was clear pretty much from the get-go that it was going to be a slog paddling home into the west wind once we made it out to whatever island we ended up on. We knew this from paddling from our launching beach down to the L St Bathhouse, where we had hoped to watch the Polar Plunge spectacle. Returning to our starting point, we were heading into the wind, and got a taste of what we would face returning. I have paddled in much worse. The fast paddler was ahead of us all the way out as we paddled with the wind at our backs past Spectacle Island and over to Long Island. I was particularly interested in going along the shoreline to look at the abandoned buildings that - before the island was evacuated and the unsafe access bridge blown up – had housed detoxes and homeless shelters that I was familiar with from my work. Indeed, I’d even lectured at one of the detoxes many years ago. There wasn’t a chance to do this as the fast paddler headed directly for the end of the island. We rounded the end of the island, and got some protection from the wind on the other side, where we pulled up onto the beach for lunch. It was a nippy day. Sunnyish in the morning, but overcast in the afternoon. There had been discussion about going out to George’s Island. I voted against this as I was not thrilled about the amount of work we already had ahead of us once we finished our circumnav of Long Island and headed back toward Southie. When we made the turn and faced into the wind and waves, I voiced my lack of enthusiasm for the slog ahead. Lack of enthusiasm did not translate into lack of ability or lack of willingness to just do it. We had a mile crossing (back to Spectacle, was it?) ahead of us, into wind as Rob described and waves. Many of you know me. I am not the fastest paddler in the world, but neither am I the slowest. In this group, I would say that there were three faster paddlers and two slower. The fast paddler soon came up to me and asked how I was doing, and suggested that I had more directly into the waves (rather than have them a bit quartering). I did this. It was a slog, no doubt about it, and it was a lot of work to paddle. I saw the other slower paddler heading off more directly into the waves. I was closer to the others. Then the fast paddler went over to Rob, who was trip initiator (but as this is CAM, not trip leader), and I could see that the fast paddler was discussing putting me on a tow. They came back, and indeed this is what they wanted to do. I accepted without putting up any resistance for two reasons: one, it hit at my lazy bone – there was clearly a lot of work ahead. Two…I’m not sure what the second reason was – this is hazier: not wanting to have any conflict, not wanting to piss anyone off, not wanting to slow down the group…whatever. So Rob put a short tow on me, but it was not a sit-back-and-enjoy-the-ride tow. I paddled actively, and from my view behind Rob, the two rope was only occasionally taut, but was much more frequently loose: meaning I was keeping up on my own power, perhaps by drafting behind Rob. The times when it was taut were likely times that had I not been on tow, I would have lost ground. So we got over to the island (Spectacle?) and various things about tow ropes were sorted out. I kind of got the sense that the other slower paddler was going to be put on tow as well for the final leg back to the beach. This didn’t happen, and I only found out in reading Rob’s trip report, that this indeed had been the plan, but the paddler had declined/refused the offer/request – and made it back with no problem other than slowness. So on we headed. It was less windy/wavy, and somewhere off shore, I asked Rob to take off the tow and I proceeded in on my own. I felt cheerful about the day, thanked Rob for his gallantry, and warming my icy blockish hands and feet (still haven’t figured out to keep extremities reliably toasty) drove on home. I wasn’t until that night, as I was lying in bed, that I started to get down on myself for having been towed. It had taken away from feeling that I had “done” the day. I was wishing that Cathy had been there, with her new pink boat on which is printed her paddling mantra “No Regrets.” When I’ve been in scary/hairy situations since Cathy got that boat, I’ve thought of that – and it was kept me going in conditions far worse than what we faced that day. (Ask Rob about the 5* training weekend that Cathy and I both participated in!) As a possible 4* aspirant, I was really disappointed in myself for not resisting the “offer” of a tow. And that disappoint kind of ruined the day for me. I felt I had cheated myself of the feeling of accomplishment from soldiering on like everyone else. But are those selfish thoughts? I should add that it wasn’t late in the day; it wasn’t getting dark. We landed before 2 pm or so. What I found myself asking was whether if the fast paddler hadn’t been on the trip I would have ended up on the receiving end of a tow. I rather think not. I would have slogged on, as I have in cold and windy conditions before. (Indeed, I have been on a camping trip with Rob and others in either November or December when the wind and cold absolutely put an end to our plans to be able to do the paddle we wanted to do, and we ended up doing around the length of the Boston Harbor one.) I don’t know whether it was the fast paddler’s lack of familiarity with me and my skills that played into the tow issue being brought up. If it had been someone the fast paddler knew who was fighting the conditions, would a tow have been suggested? This question goes to the issue of paddling with people with whom we aren't familiar, and the different ways that leadership issues come up. From my perspective, we were not in a dangerous situation – other than that which makes cold weather paddling Level 4 paddling regardless of wind and sea state; we had plenty of time to get back to the launch; I felt perfectly comfortable with the sea state and never had any concern that I might capsize. Maybe I’m wrong in the analysis that it was not a dangerous situation. Had I been left to my own slow devices, maybe I would have reached the point that I just couldn’t have continued and would have asked for help. I don’t think so, though. If the fast paddler had been more familiar with me, would the tow suggestion have been made? For the sake of thinking this through, let’s just say the other slower paddler hadn’t veered off (dealing with which raises a whole other set of leadership questions) and we had all been more or less together: three faster paddlers and two slower ones. The question that comes to my mind when I think about leadership in this situation is: would it have been reasonable for the faster paddlers just to slow down, to stay with the slower ones. Obviously when safety is at stake, this is not a reasonable plan. I don’t think that was the case on New Year’s Day. Interestingly, all this has made me think about another paddle I was on this summer, when I SHOULD have asked for help and to be towed…and didn’t. Right after my two week kayak camping trip to Alaska I did a three day 4* training with John Carmody (one of the days involving a one mile crossing of the Sheepscott River as a gale was descending) and a bunch of NSPN buddies. The following weekend, I went out on the Fourth of July with Nancy and Wayne Hill and a cast of many for an absolutely flat calm 17-mile paddle. About two miles from the finish, I started feeling a twinge in one of shoulder blades that got worse and worse. I kept having to stop to massage the spot. I remember that Wayne slowed down and asked me if I needed help. Ah, pride! I said, “No.” By the time I got back to the launch, my shoulder blade was on fire. I couldn’t help lift my boat out of the water. I had trouble sitting in the restaurant where we all stopped for burger and a beer. Driving home was agony. It turned out I had muscle spasms that lasted for three full WEEKS without respite. I went to an orthopedist and got an injection. I went to PT. It wasn’t until I was directed to a magician of a sports massage guy that I had my first night of non-drugged and relatively pain-free sleep. I couldn’t paddle for a month. What would have happened if I had just said, “I’m in pain and I can’t go on.” Would I have lost that month of prime paddling time? I don’t know. I know that it was stubbornness/pride that made me keep going – to my detriment. As for New Year’s Day…well, it was complicated. I would be interested in any GENTLE thoughts that people might have. I have not yet stopped being disappointed in myself. But question whether that is just a selfish reaction. So to end on a cheerful note, let me let you all enjoy a few photos: And, my ignominy... (and towing hero, Rob!) pru

I've gotten a few responses to my earlier request for NSPN members and friends to donate artwork - prints, photos, paintings, whatever - for raffling at the party on January 30 (see the Events forum for more info on the party and members general meeting). I know there are more of you out there with talent! Please contact me if you have anything to donate. Not only do you support a good cause by so doing - MITA, MCHT and/or Salem Sound Watch - you get exposure for your artwork PLUS a letter to give to the Feds for tax purposes that documents your generosity. Last year, works of art were among the most popular items at the raffle. We're hoping to make this an annual tradition, but can't do so without YOUR participation! Thank you! pru

NSPN CABIN FEVER BREAKOUT PARTY January 30, 2016 6 pm - Gould Barn, Topsfield Preceded by MEMBERS ANNUAL MEETING, 5 pm On the assumption that we have all survived the holiday season, it’s time to focus on a fun event to help us get through the dreary winter months. I am hoping that everyone has put in her/his calendar the date for our annual party, to be preceded by the NSPN annual members meeting. For those of you who have been burning the midnight oil studying kayak-related subjects in hope that you will do better this year on the party quiz, REST EASY! There will be NO quizzes this year. Instead, we want to focus on having good conversations with good friends, eating excellent food, and – we hope – hearing our compatriots play music! After the excellent Bar Harbor retreat in September, which featured an evening of music, I would like to encourage musicians to bring your guitars, banjos, harmonicas, zithers, tubas – whatever. If music happens, great. If not, all the more time for just chillin’ with other kayakers. The raffle to benefit MITA, MCHT and/or Salem Sound Watch promises to be first rate. Friends of NSPN have donated some excellent items, and some of the artists among us are promising works to be put up for raffle. So please plan to come for both the party – and the meeting that will precede it! And of course as this is a potluck supper, bring something delicious, plus whatever adult beverage will please you and your friends! Pru and Janice

Thanks.... And altho it took me a minute to understand...I will indeed "stop" prior to arrival......???

I,m happy with an early launch. Is there anywhere that gives actual dirctions to the launch rather than just lat/long coord? Float plan info on the way. pru

Yup...if weather cooperates.

I'm not thrilled at forecast. Winds W 15-20 gusts to 25. I don't think there's much protection along the way. This plus the cold...plus the fact that between now and Xmas I have to drive to RI to Carl Ladd's house to pick up his donation to the party raffle has me thinking...no. Others, thoughts? (I know, I'm a weenie) pru

BTW, do we know if the Odiorne lot is still open?

I'm in!

...to donate a piece or two of your creative work to be raffled at the NSPN Cabin Fever Breakout Party (following the annual member's general meeting) on Saturday, January 30. ALL the proceeds from the raffle of donated items will in turn be donated to one or two of three nonprofit organizations that benefit NSPN members: MITA, Maine Coast Heritage Trust and Salem (MA) Sound Watch. We raffled off several pieces of members' artwork at last year's party, and they were among the most coveted items in the whole raffle. We're hoping to offer EVEN MORE this year! So come on all you painters, print-makers, photographers, potters, wood-turners etc etc. Please consider donating one of your works. We welcome all medium. If you are willing to help support good causes, and want to brighten the life of the lucky person who wins your piece...please PM me to let me know what you'll be able to contribute. All donations are tax deductible, and we will provide you with a letter to that effect. And if I already know that you're an artistic type, don't be surprised if I reach out to you directly! Thanks in advance to everyone! pru

Trip unfortunately cancelled. Not enough paddlers. There will be other opportunities - especially if El Nino keeps pumping warm air our way! pru

Looks as though Saturday is the more popular day, so Saturday it will be. This is an L4 trip given the time of year and water temperature. Dry suits required. This trip will require a minimum of THREE paddlers, which we appear to have now. Please PM me float plan info and confirmation of your firm commitment to join the trip. If by tmrw night (Friday ) we don't have a sufficient number of paddlers, trip will be cancelled, and I will post to that effect. But weather forecast is still great, and it should be a rare December gift! Meet at Lane's Cove by 10 am for a 10:15 - 10:30 BIB. pru

Thread keeps getting knocked down by questions about summer sessions! So I'm bumping again in hopes more people will see/respond! forecast still predicting 60 for wknd!

Bump... Lets see what otber people post. We'll do something!

Yes, boat ramp is locked.