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Ed, Like yourself, I plan to watch from a safe distance. I will, however, have my tow belt and contact tow and it might be useful to practice hauling some paddler's sorry butt off the rocks. Warren

Doug, I agree the forecast for the sea state does not look too dangerous. I will admit I have not spent much time understanding the effect of the tidal range on the "play" aspect of rock gardens. I assumed the low tide and tidal range would indeed expose more rocks and ledges, thereby creating more challenge in finding channels to navigate through. I thought rock gardeners like low tide versus high tide since the challenge is greater? Of course greater challenge can create greater risk especially when you come down hard on a ledge as the water moves quickly out from under you. Am I missing something? Earlier this year most of my practice sessions were in these waters and I noticed how large (3-4 ft) breaking waves can pop up due to the ledge formations. It can make for some memorable Bongo Slides or Window Shades even when the overall sea state is in the 2 to 3 ft range. Just something we might need to watch for. I would be interested in observations others have made regarding this section of the coast. Warren

Good Morning, I suspect many of us have been reviewing the marine forecast and trying to determine what the sea state will look like tomorrow morning. Although sca's may remain in effect until late tonight, tomorrow morning the wind and seas should be below sca levels. It is forecast that we may see some NE swells remaining into Saturday morning. Perhaps we might confirm several key metrics that will effect our activities. 1. Low tide will be around 9:15AM on Saturday morning. 2. The tidal range will be around 9.5 feet. 3. I suspect the seas will be "active" with left over waves and swell. Conclusion: The rock garden will present opportunities for those with the proper skills and significant risk to the others. I also suspect there will be breaking waves of some significance in the waters we plan to paddle. The breaking waves could inhibit rescue activities for those on the rocks. In other words, if you do something dopey while playing in the garden, we may have to let you bounce around on the rocks until we can determine a safe way to rescue you! Warren

Josko, I agree with Gary's definition above. I would also add that, for me, I like an expedition where you break camp each day and keep moving to new locations. For me, those trips seem to explore more territory and tend to require more planning. Warren

Pru, Excellent plan. Count me in! Warren

Thank you Paul! You were definitely the catalyst that got me moving. I remember when we were talking about learning to roll and you quietly said to me, "Warren, it is time you learned to roll". At that point in time, I knew what I needed to do. Warren

Thank you Lorrie! It has been a fun journey and John Carmody has been so very supportive. You could not ask for a better coach. Warren

Rob, Congratulation! We really did have fun on the water yesterday. John's guidance definitely agrees with you, I have never seen you happier or smiling more. The best part of the weekend, however, with being on the water with good paddling buddies who all share a genuine love for the sport. So.......what do we do next? Warren

Josko, Facinating issue you raise. It is important that we all stay together for group safety on the water, yet we can differ in our on-water boat speed, particularly if we paddle different length boats. Last summer I posed this question to John Carmody while visiting Boothbay. Apparently both he and Todd Wright had discussed this isse at length since they had seen the end result of poor group cohesion and/or poor paddling form. The suggestion to me was to try not to pull on the forward stroke as hard. Keep good form, but use a lighter touch. I frequently use this approach and it does work for me most of the time. Warren

Rick, Yes, our goal was very much to keep with the CAM methods. Everyone participated is all aspects. We were very much a team with team effort. I will admit that Pru and I did possess more local knowledge of the areas, but that seemed OK to the team. I suspect the team felt Pru and I were very willing to share our knowledge and help when needed. Pru and I also learned a great deal from each member. I really liked how we were all learning and finding ways to share our knowledge with each other. As a case in point, one team member shared her experiences in a family where sailing and living on a sailboat was a routine part of her childhood. That experience had prepared her in many ways to be a great kayak camper. I now have a greater appreciation for how life on a sailboat prepares you for kayak camping. Facinating! I believe the end result was a feeling that we all benefitted from the experience. Perhaps that is what a CAM trip is all about? Warren

Rick, These were definitely CAM trips. I keeping with the CAM concept, we felt the need to both initiate and co-lead the teams. As you and others have taught us, most CAM trips will benefit from a leader or co-leaders. We were fortunate, our teams performed very well and that gave us a sense of accomplishment. I hope that helps. From your perspective, is that the correct approach for CAM based trips? Warren

Rick, Pru and I tend to be fairly well organized and our professional training has provided us with insights into the adult learner. We wanted the NTSKS series to function like a learning laboratory to help us identify what works and what does not. Our written material was posted on PM threads we built for each trip. The material was organized into three major postings and were published at key points prior to each trip. The first posting covered concepts such as; joining MITA, obtaining a nautical chart, understanding a tide chart and locating the launch site. The second posting was structured to be a discussion with our lessons learned. The topics we covered were; gear, such as dry bags and loading a kayak, personal first aid, footwear, eyeglasses, etc. We also talked about food, water and poop management. The idea was to address up front the issues which might distract a paddler from having a good time. The third section addressed the float plan publication, navigation prep work, weather issues, and the "go, no-go" decision timetable and framework. Our goal all along was to provide a sense that we know what we are doing and we highly value group safety. Perhaps some of the paddlers who participated in our trips will comment on whether or not this approach was helpful. Warren P.S. Rick, if you would like to know more, I can send you more info.

Pru, Another wonderful trip report! The way you incorporated the photos into the story was outstanding! These three NTSKC trips have been an amazing experience due to the great paddlers who were willing to join us. It was clear to me each prepared by reading our written material and giving great thought to all the logistics involved. With their good prep, we were all able to focus on the beauty we encountered and the fun that resulted. But Pru, this trip report will always be extra special to me due to the words in the title, There’s a Place for Us. For me, this trip was the completion of a major milestone in our attempt to give back to our kayak club. So the words, there’s a place for us, relates to a place within the NSPN organization. That is a very good feeling! Warren

Cathy, First off, I have never been to Crescent Beach State Park and I have no local knowledge. However, I do not believe you will find it to be a dumping beach. I reviewed the beach via the nautical chart embedded in the EarthNC app. The sea floor appears to drop off in a gradual manner, especially at the east end in the section called Ship Cove. That section does have a fair number of rocks and rock ledges, so a knowledge of the timing of the tides would be helpful. I suspect, if you seek some rock play and an easy landing on the beach, that might be the area you want. I, as well, would benefit from local knowledge to determine if this approach is reasonable. I tend to use this method when camping in new areas and it has helped me in the past. Warren

Cathy, Wonderful trip report! Maybe on a future trip a group of kayakers will arrange to have pizza delivery to their lunch time stop at White Beach. Isn't that the main purpose for carrying their smart phones? Warren

Rob, You are correct, a Wilderness First Aid (WFA) course with a focus on water based activities is important for all sea kayakers especially those of us who kayak camp. Once you obtain your WFA certificate, it will be good for two years. Many of us renewed our WFA certification in the spring of 2012, and for us we will not go back to class until the spring of 2014. I do hope your class obtains the necessary number of participants. The knowledge will be very helpful. Warren

Ed, I followed your lead and went to the supermarket last night. The Uncle Ben's rice section was full of great options. You are correct, the prep effort is minimal. This weekend I will be testing several choices while paddling on Muscongus Bay. Thank you! Warren

Rob, It is true we need to practice our skills. This spring a very wise paddler told me, "Warren, your paddling skills are perishable. They have an expiration date." I guess it was not the first time I heard that phrase, but this was the first time I was ready to translate the words into actions. I now believe it is wise to continue practicing our skills every time we are out on the water. I also understand that "Practice does not make perfect, perfect practice makes perfect." In other words, we should strive to learn and practice best technique. I do acknowledge that not all paddlers share that approach, nor do all paddlers share a common set of skills and methods. I am OK with that. As long as I can practice my skills while paddling with a group, I am happy. Warren

Cathy, I really like your description of the preferred way to cross a channel with a group of paddlers. I know we both have participated in superb training this season on that issue and others involved in managing a CAM based group. I really like CAM trips where a leader emerges from the group when potential risks are identified. That leader takes command and the others paddlers generally appreciate the focus on group safety. I can not speak for the Solstice paddle, but I can speak to my own experiences. Sometimes a group may vary in how observations are made and how risks are identified. Groups can also vary in how they respond to both potential and perceived group safety risks. Sometimes the best you can do is to propose a "safety drill practice session" to manage the group. We all know it is important to practice our skills while out on the water. Sometimes the group practice is the leader's way of obtaining group compliance for managing the risk. I hope this is helpful. Always remember, our greatest risk can be who we have choosen to paddle with on each trip. Warren

Kate, Regarding the Trader Joe's food, I like their Indian Fare - Punjab Choley (very spicy), as well as the Indian Fare - Jaipur Vegetables. Both heat up in a pot of boiling salt water in less than 5 minutes. I also had a couple pieces of Joseph's Flatbread, garlic and herb. I also like their box soups, Chicken Noodle Soup and their Beef Barley Soup both with Veggies. I heat up the soup in the morning and fill my thermos to take on the water for lunch. I will add all these to my San Juan trip menu. I enjoyed reading your trip report regarding your paddle on Casco Bay. Although I have completed 8 camping trips on Casco Bay, I keep discovering new places to see. I have not yet paddled in some of the sections you described, so I look forward to further explorations in that section. Some day you need to consider paddling in the east end of Casco Bay. Rob Folster and I were paddling in that section at the beginning of April and it had a magical feel. I do hope Pru and I will have an opportunity to paddle with you soon. My Explorer (Charlie) would enjoy paddling with Dora. Warren

Pru, As always, another great trip report! I did make an attempt at posting a photo of the outstanding sunrise on Sunday morning. It is amazing how enjoyable our adventures have become. I know it is primarily due to how the three of us are like-minded paddlers who obtain great joy from our kayak camping. It seems I no sooner get back home and all I can think about is when and where do we go on our next adventure. Actually, I do know! This coming Saturday we will paddle on Muscongus Bay for another great adventure! Warren

Clearly, there are many options to consider. For me, I chose the Jackery Bar 5600mAh External Battery Pack. (List price of approximately $39.00 on Amazon.) So far it works really well. Will do more field testing this summer/fall/winter. Warren

Rick, Try accessing YouTube and search using Garmin eTrex 20. There appears to be a boat load of videos for your viewing pleasure. Warren

Paul, Today, I had an opportunity to test the Lightning Cast app. More specifically I was testing the push notifications and alerts. The product works really well and the iPhone does a nice job of logging the notifications which you access on an the icon home page via a simple drag down screen. Slick! You can also easily access the NWS alerts to see the speed and direction of the moving storms as well as any wind related hazards. This app is definitely becoming an essential tool in my weather tool box. Warren

Paul, There is a relatively new (May 8, 2013) weather app that you might want to consider. I just added it to my iPhone, so I am still learning it's features but it does look good. It is called "Lightning Cast - Push Notifications, Alerts, etc." It has the Doppler Radar like Radar Cast, but if your focus is on safe paddling during potential fast moving lightning storms, this app takes safety to a whole new level. It is important to note this app has subscription based pricing, so read the details via the app store. Also note this app is only useful for the lower 48 states. In essence, you set your locations as bookmarks. A location can be Whaleboat Island in Harpswell, Maine. You tell the app how and when you want to receive automatic notifications. Let's say you want a beep alert, every 10 minutes when a lightning strike is within 30 miles of your location. You can set multiple bookmarks or locations to approximate your camping trip during high risk weather patterns. The app seems to have cracked the tech barrier to rapid identification of the lightning strikes. As I write this posting there was a lightning strike 1 minute ago that is 66 miles from my current location. Last year I was paddling in the Sheepscot River waters and a fast moving (approximately 25 miles per hour) lightning storm was moving in my direction from Augusta, Maine. I remember thinking it was hard to arrive at an accurate time when the lightning would be over me. I needed one more hour of paddling to arrive at my destination. My solution was to paddle like hell and get to safety. The "Lightning Cast" app would have been very handy to have at the time to give me a greater comfort level that my plan was sound. Hope these ideas are helpful. If so, give me a heads up and I can suggest others, especially for the Canadian waters. Warren