prudenceb

I basically never wear bug spray when I have the suit on (although maybe some residue the next morning). So I'm a bit baffled at the latex breakdown. As I said, Suz said sunblock can cause this. Science geeks and others: any data to support this conclusion?

John - as for the wet feet, I thankfully am able to conclude I don't have disgustingly sweaty feet, because there were leaks in the feet!

pru

Suz told me that sunblock - as well as bug spray - degrades latex - I have no idea what the science is on this, but it made sense as an explanation given how new the suit was; how much sunblock I use; and the poor state of the gaskets. I do use 303 - but likely not enough. I will plan to apply it early and often when the new suit arrives!

pru

Buy Kokatat!

A week ago I sent my drysuit (1 year old) back to Kokotat to have all the gaskets replaced. The sorry state of the gaskets was totally my fault: likely due to sloppy application of sunblock according to Suz. I'd wondered too whether a dampish feeling in the feet was due to sweat or water from a leak, so what the heck, as long as it was there, I asked them to pressure test the suit.

I just got a phone call from Kokotat telling me they'd found some minor delamination near the rear relief zipper. Certainly not a problem that I had noticed. (Oh, and maybe a few pinhole leaks in the feet, which they didn't even mention until I asked.)

You know how the story ends: The very nice tech guy said that because of the delamination - which really isn't a problem now but could be down the road - they'd just send me a brand new drysuit. So, instead of paying for gasket replacements, pressure testing, and return postage, I spend nothing AND get a new drysuit! Which they said they're put in the mail today - on their dime.

Sweet!

I know I'm not the first person who's had this experience, but for people contemplating buying a first or new drysuit, my recommendation, spend the extra money and buy a Kokatat! Really nice experience to have a company stand so cheerfully and firmly behind their products.

pru

ditto - pru

Fabulous, fabulous trip report - photos and text!

And not one mention of mosquitoes!

pru

I'll try the bird forum website.

As for what I did with the bird - I turned it into the park rangers, and left them calling various places that take in injured wildlife. I don't think the bird would have survived. As I think I said in my post, one of its legs appeared to be damaged - when it finally revived a bit, it kept falling to one side. Could definitely not hop! The reason that I did more than leave it on he shore, which was my original thought, was the band on the leg. Whoever put it there should be informed of what its fate was. I am hoping that getting the bird to the appropriate wildlife place will accomplish that - and maybe save its tiny little life.

pru

I was paddling at Walden Pond this morning working on strokes and rolls and just meandering along looking at fish in the water when I saw what I thought was a dead fish floating on the surface about six feet from shore on the far side of the pond. It turned out to be a dead baby bird. I picked it up by the tail feathers, intending to deposit him on land. Only to discover that he wasn't dead. And he had a band on one of his tiny little legs. I debated what to do, then ended up putting him on my spray skirt and paddling slowly across the pond to find a ranger-type person. Which I did (but only after being yelled at by an old lady swimmer who angrily chastised me for bringing my boat through the swimmer's area to shore - and who seemed to have no sympathy for the fact that I was on a mission of mercy). By then, this tiny bird was somewhat more revived. He appeared to have a damaged leg, but he swiveled his head and was breathing and shivering. He was small enough to hold between my cupped hands, which I did until someone came with a box to put him in - and to figure out who to call.

My question for you birders out there: First of all, what kind of bird was he? His two most distinguishing features (because the rest of him was just brown fuzz) were his bright orange beak and lovely black and white horizontal striped tail feathers. And second, who would be banding birds (obviously in the nest) at Walden Pond? The rangers had no idea, didn't know who to call etc. By the time I got out of the water, had my boat on my car, and was able to go to the ranger station, they had some idea about places to call.

But all the way home, I kept wondered who would be banding baby birds in the nest and why at Walden. What birds would be deserving of that attention? Any ideas out there?

pru

And I can't get out of work early, so count me out.

pru

I may end up being at the pond in the morning on that day - does anyone have interest in meeting in the am rather than the pm on Labor Day?

pru

If I can find a way to get out of work and beat the !@$%* Fri nite Labor Day traffic to get up to the launch, I'll be there... pru

I'm happy to switch to Mondays if others want to do this - and to help out with whoever wants to work on whatever. Let's discus this Wed pm.

pru

Anyone who can come next Wed should do so, and perhaps we can discuss whether keeping Wed evenings will work, or whether it would make sense to switch to another day. I, for one, am flexible.

(I also would be willing to help out with rolling practice/learning for anyone...)

pru

I'm happy to keep posting for Wednesday nights - unless there's another night that works for you, in which case ?we could all switch? In any event, I'll plan to keep showing up, as long as others express interest, until they are kicking us out five minutes after we arrive!

pru

Although for some reason the Walden sessions aren't listed as recurring events, we continue to meet on Wednesday nights, weather permitting, starting at around 5 until they kick us out. (Closing time last week was 7:30 so we were off water a little after 7.) While there were only three of us last week, we had a good time working on stuff in the warm water. Tomorrow is supposed to be a nice day, so hope that folks will join us!

pru

There's a free launch area if you turn left (by the Japanese gardens - ?Asticou garden) on Rte 3 before you get into NE Harbor. Keep going on that road, and either just before, or just after, the turn into the National Park/Jordan Pond area there's a free parking lot on the left across the road from a beach from which you can launch to Baker's. At low tide, it's a bit of a walk over the beach.

pru

I paddled out to Baker a couple of years ago from NE Harbor, but it was a pretty calm day. I do remember that the water between Baker and The Cranberries (I think they're the ones, don't have a chart in front of me) can be confused so watch out for that. There's a VERY cool osprey nest off of one of the Cranberries (you can find out which in a guide book) and if you return that way, it's well worth a look.

pru

I'm going out with a friend who's looking at a boat to buy on Saturday, and need one day - Sunday - on land to get my life in order - so I will have to take a pass on this ladies paddle. I hope to make the next one! Have a blast and eat good ice cream!

pru

Thanks, all, for your kind words. So many people at NSPN have helped move my paddling forward (and boy does it still have a long way to go!!). And a special shout out to Lorrie - who first told me about John Carmody; and Warren - who got me to go on my first 2-3* wknd with John a year ago. And to the Walden Pond skills gang, with whom it's been fun and educational to work on stuff.

Lorrie, I'm going to enjoy my three little stars for now before thinking about more!

pru

Ocean Paddler, out of the UK is gorgeous-the photos are always stunning.

Ocean Paddler is gorgeous - but the font is so small I need a magnifying glass to read the articles! What's up with those Brits?? pru

Methinks it’s not worth it to ever publish trip reports where there was any potential incident or lesson-learned. It’s just not worth the hassle of defending oneself against all of the self-appointed experts who think they know better than the paddler’s that actually did the trip.

Leon

CAM-able Leon,

Please don't stop posting trip reports regarding potential incidents and lessons learned! Some of us relatively newer paddlers get a lot out of hearing about these things. I say this not to divert the thread from Rob's desire to keep it focused on radio usage and protocols, but I just wanted to throw this in.

Pru

I have a tiderace xplore s (the low volume one). I used a greenland stick exclusively until this year. The boat rolls very easily. I will be looking to sell it in the fall when my new Cetus comes in. If you have interest in checking it out, I'd be happy to arrange with you.

pru

If they had a button for bow rudders, I would have done much better. As it was, disaster! Repeatedly!

pru

Foot end first, zipped. Then I don't close the dry bag until I'm ready to stuff the whole thing into the boat. As I work it into my front hatch (usually the last thing to go in up there because it's so eminently stuffable when there seems to be no room left), the air gets expelled, and I fold down the dry bag after it's all in place.

pru

I may be able to join you this time - wherever...

pru

Wonderful report and pictures, Peter, and as you well know, I REALLY wanted to be on this trip as well. Next year?

I am very impressed that you got a photo of the legendary figure from the past standing in his impressive boat. Only a very skilled observer, paddler, and photographer could have captured such an image!

pru