prudenceb

Hey Jim, it's YOUR group, too! See you on the water! pru

I believe I'll be available - with radio pru

Yeah, Jim, you'll get it! And it was nice meeting you yesterday. pru

A Most Lovely Day on the Water - Odiorne to Rye Harbor Saturday 7/27/13 A group of 14…or was it 13?...or was it 15? launched pretty much on time at dead low tide at Odiorne. (Counting was one of the day's activities, and with enough repetition and cross checking, we got it right: 14 launched…or was it 13?) We had managed to avoid the mud at the launch site by carrying the boats well to the left over rocky ground, then paddled out a narrow channel down the center of Seavey Creek with tall mud and sand banks on either side. Our original plan - the subject of much message board discussion prior to the trip, given NOAA's propensity to change the forecast on what seemed like a random basis at least once a day for the days preceding the trip - was to stop and interact with rocks, either intimately or at more remove, and to end up at Wallis Sands, where we'd have lunch and then head back. After going back and forth: small craft advisory, no small craft advisory, small craft advisory, no small craft advisory, NOAA settled on the morning of the trip on, yes, small craft advisory. But paddling out from behind the breakwater onto the ocean, we were met by fun and friendly swells and not much else. (Of NOAA's frequently erroneous forecasts, Rob said, "If they can't get it right, why do they bother?!") The temperature was perfect, the breeze fresh. We meandered along, pretty much staying as a group, albeit a spread out one. We stopped to play in some rocks while our compatriots waited a bit father out. We eventually reached Wallis Sands, where for the first time we could see that landing might be for some a bit of a challenge as the beach was quite crowded, and there was some surf - although not the high dumping surf some of us had been apprehensive about. Doug scouted ahead and pronounced that an area at the far end of the beach had a safe way in and fewer people. He positioned himself in a calm spot between rising waves, and waved people in one at a time. Several people landed. However, there was an on-water discussion about others' reluctance to do so given the conditions and the number of beachgoers, so in true on-water CAM fashion, we decided to split into two groups. One would either stay or land at Wallis Sands, the other would head on to Rye Harbor, the next pull out spot and then we'd meet up on the way back. But the already beached people must have immediately missed the rest of us, because they changed their minds and re-launched to join us, and we paddled as one large pod the extra mile to the welcome of the harbor. We had to skirt breaking waves before we got to the calm channel in. We lunched by the boat launch, and chatted with an older woman who pronounced that she had some apprehension sitting on the beach that someone might come up behind her and do her harm; she'd been watching too much of the Whitey Bulger trial, she said. We assured her that we would alert her if we saw anyone looming up behind her, and settled down for our lunch break. As we had paddled into the wind down to our break spot, we hoped for a push on the way back. But the wind, and sea, had died down. We went along, heading close to the beach just to the north of the harbor, and enjoyed playing among the swells and waves headed toward the beach. Ed had decided that he wanted to guide Cathy closer to the rocks, to show her the calm and safe zones that exist closer to shore - where the view is often more interesting than farther out to sea. For the rest of the way back, Cathy shadowed Ed near rocks large and small. At some point we got separated into two groups. The leading group eventually stopped, as we couldn't see our compatriots anywhere behind us. We were unable to raise them on the radio. We sat in the pleasantly bumpy water, under milky skies, chatted and waited. Glenn - good eyes! - was the first to see our missing friends in the distance. When they caught up with us, they told us that they had been delayed by carrying out a rescue. Dana related that at the end of the long beach by the Harbor, he'd been dumped over by a wave that chose to break on him. He successfully rolled up, only to see another less friendly wave staring him in the face. This wave immediately dumped him again, and he exited this time. From what I understand, Doug and others accomplished a towing rescue to get out of the surf zone. Dana pronounced the experience rather enjoyable all in all. And so we continued on back as a spread-out group, some in the rocks - Peter and Doug among others - some near the rocks, Cathy and Ed among others, and everyone just enjoying the really spectacular day. The shores of Seavey Creek as we headed in at high tide were crowded with families of picnickers and swimmers. Small motor boats bobbed just offshore. Altogether, a benign, high-summer kind of scene. We got back around 3:30, to find Gene waiting for us at the launch. He had come late, looked for us at Wallis Sands, and ended up having himself a lovely day doing our original trip, only without the rest of us. Thank you Cathy, Ed, Dana, Jim, Rob, Warren, Doug, Peter, Leon, Liz, Judy, Dave and Glenn for another excellent day out on the water. There, got it right: 14 launched, 14 returned! pru

That's fine, Judy - see you at the launch.

love to have you, Leon - see you at 9:30 tomorrow! pru

too funny!

The launch side is the bigger parking area on the near side. It's free and doesn't go underwater when the tide comes in! Plan for launch at 9:30 - with pre-launch beach briefing. Again, could people please send me float plan info. Thanks! Looking forward to tomorrow. (We should still take another look at the forecast and at this thread, but absent notice the trip is cancelled/changed, assume that we are on!) pru

I too have been tracking the weather, and the NOAA discussion is predicting winds/seas below sca levels tomorrow. Unless there's significant change for the worse through the day - and we can make final decision this afternoon or early evening - I'd be inclined to say, "let's go!" Again, particularly given the conditions, I'd like to have people's info for float plan prior to launch tomorrow - so those who haven't already, please pm me with your cell #, emergency contact, boat description, and car make color license. Thanks! Looking forward to hearing other people weigh in. pru

Thanks for your thoughts, Doug. Yes, a good idea to all check in and discuss tomorrow. I do not relish the thought of trying to land in big dumping surf, but would relish the thought of riding on fun predictable swells away from the shore and rocks. Where would one put in for the Newburyport trip? pru

Cathy, I think that we have enough skilled paddlers in the crew that we can keep each other comfortable and safe if the conditions don't deteriorate further. I would encourage you to come. However we should keep an eye on the forecast. If it looks as though things are getting too wild, we could always think of another venue that might offer some protection - I would appreciate others' thoughts on this. I won't have email access from tomorrow morning until midday, but folks can weigh in and I will as well. Feel free to email if you wish to discuss further. And hopefully everyone will keep track of the thread in case we need to make any changes in the current plan. pru

Looks as though we will have a nice group and maybe a bit of bounce and wind on Saturday. It's all good. Just bring those helmets if you plan to crash into rocks! To put together the float plan, could everybody please pm me with: name and cell, emergency contact, boat and description, car make/model and license #. (even if you've given me this info before) Thanks! pru

previously unpaddled by oneself, I assume? pru

This Saturday July 27, join us for an L3 meander down the NH coast from Odiorne to Wallis Sands, with time for interacting with rocks for those who would like to do so. We will launch in mud and return to firmer ground with low tide a little after 9 am, and high tide around 3:30 pm. BIB at 9:30 am with beach briefing to precede. Please post interest here. pru

Enough will all these individual kudos - Let's put all the accomplishments into one neat thread: It is now official that the following three NSPN members have a total of 9 new BCU stars (3 stars each): Rob Folster, Dave Merriman, and Warren Parlee. Congratulations to all three of you. Must have been great to have all that NSPN support as you all assessed this Sunday. pru

Because he'll be too modest to say so, I also want to let folks know that Warren got his three star this wknd as well! He woulda/shoulda had it last year - but the roll didn't arrive til this year. Hey, better late than never, right? Way to go, guys! pru

Bravo! pru

I was out in Salem yesterday and we were just meandering along working up no sweat at all, and even with the breeze it sure was HOT. As well it might have been, as it was the hottest day of the year thus far, and a record for the date. And it sure didn't feel any cooler today. Congratulations to you all for your fortitude, discipline and speed! pru

My friend Connie will be joining us - and I will forward on her float plan info to you, Cathy - pru

Round trip, of course - pru

out and back for sure!

I'll be there. pru

When Cathy and I talked, we were talking about being off early - before predicted t-storms, so 1:30 sounds reasonable. We have to keep a weather eye out for that day, but hope you can join us! pru ps - we would definitely stay out of the way of getting run over by the Blackburn speed demons!

We are wanting an early launch because the weather forecast is calling for increased afternoon t-storms as the week goes on. So a trip to get us on and then off the water in safe time is what we're thinking about. pru

For our first trip, Warren put together a number of things, including packing lists that we'd gathered from different places, and also a wonderfully detailed exposition on LNT camping. He wrote about food and water needs. We've also tried to incorporate tips from trip members for subsequent posts - things about what to bring and etc. In our communications to trip members, we've added links to useful sites - such as for weather and where to purchase charts and so on and have addressed some of the things that go into go/no go decisions for any given trip. We've tried to communicate about changing weather forecasts as the trip day approaches and so on. Warren deserves the lion's share of the credit for all of this. When it was my turn to take over, I was able to build on everything Warren had already done. I think we both view it all as an ongoing and evolving work in progress (now there's a redundancy!). pru