rfolster

Hey Linda, the weather is looking OK for Saturday. The launch is at the opposite end of the entry to the parking lot and is fairly obvious. We will probably set up next to the ramp, but look for me, the guy with the long beard.

This trip is now full, but stay tuned for future opportunities. We will be doing a Level 1 Ocean Introduction trip this Saturday in Portsmouth. The plan is to launch from Odiorne to paddle under Wentworth bridge at the very beginning of the ebb. We will take a discussion break and then ride the ebb to Frost Point beach (just inside the breakwall) where we will get out and observe / discuss ocean conditions. There we will take opportunities to journey outside the wall for a bit, or stay in the harbor and work on paddling skills, before heading back to the boat ramp. Trip is expected to be around 3 miles. We need to be ready to launch at 9:30am, and return around 1:00pm. Temps in the mid-60's with showers possible, so dress on the warmer side and bring snakes snacks (please don't bring snakes!) and a warm beverage if possible. We won't be stopping for lunch, so make sure your snacks are portable (eat in the boat) and plentiful enough. Parking costs around $5, and you should reserve a space ahead of time by clicking this link. If you have questions or are interested in participating, please email robert@nspn.org. Loaner boats may be available with advanced notice for those that need them. Please let me know sooner rather than later. Any club members that want to assist with this trip, please PM me so we can discuss logistics.

Hey Linda, glad you are joining us. We will see who else joins in and watch the weather for the day to get a sense of how folks finally land into pods. Often the Level 1 and Level 2 can mix fairly well, but we will wait and see. I expect discussions to earnestly get underway the week before the trip.

For those who are new to sea kayaking, we are holding a special lake session in Hamilton, MA on Thursday June 2nd starting around 5:00pm. We can have boats and equipment for those who ask, as well as discussions about ocean kayaking and practice of specific skills such as wet exits, re-entries, paddle strokes, and so on. Email robert@nspn.org with questions or if you are planning to attend, and include any gear or equipment you are interested in borrowing or experimenting with.

Oh yeah!!! Thanks.

The Annual Solstice Paddle Returns!! Date: Saturday June 18th, 2022 Location: Riverhead Beach, Marblehead (across street from Devereux Beach on the Marblehead neck) Time: Ready to launch 9:30am, back for potluck by 4:00pm Parking: Cost will be $20 cash per vehicle. Level 1 Trip: Please click this link to see descriptions of the different trip levels. This will be an introductory trip of just a couple of miles, and is geared to the newest ocean kayakers. Depending on the number of participants, we might merge the Level 1 and Level 2 groups together. We will have assigned leaders for this group who will be providing guidance as well as introducing participants to the concepts of cooperative group paddling (being a more involved participant). PPPO: Tradition calls for a Post-Paddle-Pig-Out, where we all meet for a potluck gathering and share tales of the day, catch up with those we haven't seen lately, and make new friends. We have rented the Garfield Pavilion which is located near the playground, and will gather there. Requirements: Please note that this is a sea kayaking trip, so boats appropriate for the ocean are required. I loosely define this as a boat with integral flotation front and rear (or added for skin-on-frame kayaks), deck lines around the majority of the perimeter, and cockpit coaming that accepts a spray skirt. PFD's are required, as well as appropriate safety gear for your level of experience. If you are unsure about your equipment or experience, feel free to reach out on the forum or directly to me for answers. Participants: This trip is open to all active NSPN members (please email membership@nspn.org if you have any membership issues), regardless of experience. Please be honest with your trip level selection, and be prepared for a possible adjustment based on group makeup. If you are unsure about what trip level group to join, don't hesitate to ask. Registration: Please POST TO THIS THREAD if you plan to join the this Level 1 group, and don't hesitate to let us know your experience level. If you prefer to share privately, please click on my profile image, and then click the Message button to send me a private message. Also let us know if you are attending the potluck, and what category of food you might bring, such as appetizer, main, side, desert, or snack (BYO beverage).

The Annual Solstice Paddle Returns!! Date: Saturday June 18th, 2022 Location: Riverhead Beach, Marblehead (across street from Devereux Beach on the Marblehead neck) Time: Ready to launch 9:30am, back for potluck by 4:00pm Parking: Cost will be $20 cash per vehicle. Level 2 Trip: Please click this link to see descriptions of the different trip levels. This group will be a shorter ocean trip for newer paddlers. Some ocean paddling experience would be encouraged for participants in this group, but depending on weather, more or less experience might be expected. Depending on the number of participants, we might merge the Level 1 and Level 2 groups together. We will have assigned leaders for this group who will be providing guidance as well as introducing participants to the concepts of cooperative group paddling (being a more involved participant). PPPO: Tradition calls for a Post-Paddle-Pig-Out, where we all meet for a potluck gathering and share tales of the day, catch up with those we haven't seen lately, and make new friends. We have rented the Garfield Pavilion which is located near the playground, and will gather there. Requirements: Please note that this is a sea kayaking trip, so boats appropriate for the ocean are required. I loosely define this as a boat with integral flotation front and rear (or added for skin-on-frame kayaks), deck lines around the majority of the perimeter, and cockpit coaming that accepts a spray skirt. PFD's are required, as well as appropriate safety gear for your level of experience. If you are unsure about your equipment or experience, feel free to reach out on the forum or directly to me for answers. Participants: This trip is open to all active NSPN members (please email membership@nspn.org if you have any membership issues), regardless of experience. Please be honest with your trip level selection, and be prepared for a possible adjustment based on group makeup. If you are unsure about what trip level group to join, don't hesitate to ask. Registration: Please POST TO THIS THREAD if you plan to join the this Level 2 group, and make sure to participate in discussions about the trip plans. Also let us know if you are attending the potluck, and what category of food you might bring, such as appetizer, main, side, desert, or snack (BYO beverage).

The Annual Solstice Paddle Returns!! Date: Saturday June 18th, 2022 Location: Riverhead Beach, Marblehead (across street from Devereux Beach on the Marblehead neck) Time: Ready to launch 9:30am, back for potluck by 4:00pm Parking: Cost will be $20 cash per vehicle. Level 3 Trip: Please click this link to see descriptions of the different trip levels. This group will be taking on a moderate coastal journey in the range of 15 miles give or take. I would recommend that participants look at weather forecasts as they become available and discuss options on this thread. Based on a cooperative group concept, trips may or may not have assigned leaders, but instead can call on the skills and leadership within each group as needed or designated. PPPO: Tradition calls for a Post-Paddle-Pig-Out, where we all meet for a potluck gathering and share tales of the day, catch up with those we haven't seen lately, and make new friends. We have rented the Garfield Pavilion which is located near the playground, and will gather there. Requirements: Please note that this is a sea kayaking trip, so boats appropriate for the ocean are required. I loosely define this as a boat with integral flotation front and rear (or added for skin-on-frame kayaks), deck lines around the majority of the perimeter, and cockpit coaming that accepts a spray skirt. PFD's are required, as well as appropriate safety gear for your level of experience. If you are unsure about your equipment or experience, feel free to reach out on the forum or directly to me for answers. Participants: This trip is open to all active NSPN members (please email membership@nspn.org if you have any membership issues), regardless of experience. Please be honest with your trip level selection, and be prepared for a possible adjustment based on group makeup. If you are unsure about what trip level group to join, don't hesitate to ask. Registration: Please POST TO THIS THREAD if you plan to join the this Level 3 group, and make sure to participate in discussions about the trip plans. Also let us know if you are attending the potluck, and what category of food you might bring, such as appetizer, main, side, desert, or snack (BYO beverage).

The Annual Solstice Paddle Returns!! Date: Saturday June 18th, 2022 Location: Riverhead Beach, Marblehead (across street from Devereux Beach on the Marblehead neck) Time: Ready to launch 9:30am, back for potluck by 4:00pm Parking: Cost will be $20 cash per vehicle. Level 4 Trip: Please click this link to see descriptions of the different trip levels. This group will be taking on the longest or most aggressive trip of the day. I would recommend that participants look at weather forecasts as they become available and discuss options on this thread. Based on a cooperative group concept, trips might not have assigned leaders, but instead can call on the skills and leadership within each group as needed or designated. PPPO: Tradition calls for a Post-Paddle-Pig-Out, where we all meet for a potluck gathering and share tales of the day, catch up with those we haven't seen lately, and make new friends. We have rented the Garfield Pavilion which is located near the playground, and will gather there. Requirements: Please note that this is a sea kayaking trip, so boats appropriate for the ocean are required. I loosely define this as a boat with integral flotation front and rear (or added for skin-on-frame kayaks), deck lines around the majority of the perimeter, and cockpit coaming that accepts a spray skirt. PFD's are required, as well as appropriate safety gear for your level of experience. If you are unsure about your equipment or experience, feel free to reach out on the forum or directly to me for answers. Participants: This trip is open to all active NSPN members (please email membership@nspn.org if you have any membership issues), regardless of experience. Please be honest with your trip level selection, and be prepared for a possible adjustment based on group makeup. If you are unsure about what trip level group to join, don't hesitate to ask. Registration: Please POST TO THIS THREAD if you plan to join the this Level 4 group, and make sure to participate in discussions about the trip plans. Also let us know if you are attending the potluck, and what category of food you might bring, such as appetizer, main, side, desert, or snack (BYO beverage).

I was able to get my helmet to stay really secure when I had a GoPro mount attachment base stuck to it. The bungee would go over the mount base and really hold in place. Perhaps something like that stuck to the top would hold the bungees in place and keep the helmet from sliding out?

I am willing to bet if you did it again, but entered them in reverse order, they would come out right. But yeah, not critical.

If you click on the triple dots at the upper right of the initial posting, you should see an EDIT option. Once in editing, you should see that all of your pictures appear in a separate box below the posting editor frame, separate from the pictures in your posting. It might be easiest to delete your pictures from the posting, and reinsert them in the order you want them to appear.

I am interested in finding out whether or not the cost of parking at Riverhead Beach will be a deterrent for attending the Solstice Paddle on June 18th if we are unsuccessful with our request for special consideration. The results are anonymous, so please take a second and help us figure out if the parking cost is an issue or not. If you are not planning to attend, there are options for you to answer as well. Your feedback would be very helpful!

The suggestion is to find a location where all pods could meet for lunch. I wonder if this will be a challenge in reality as it might challenge a Level 1 group if there are any conditions to speak of, and might constrain a Level 4 group on how far they can go. However, these are only my conjectures, and would need to look into options further.

Linda, we always run multiple pods of varying trip levels so everyone can find their comfort level. Further details will be announced once we decide where we are holding it.

We are looking to hold our annual Solstice Paddle on Saturday, June 18th (Sunday is Father's Day!), but we have a dilemma. This trip has historically been held out of Riverhead Beach with a Post Paddle Potluck Pig-out at the pavilion across the street at Devereaux Beach. However, Marblehead has instituted a non-resident parking fee of $20, which is a potential deterrent. One suggestion has been to use Peirce Island at $10 per launch, and have the Potluck on Four Trees Island. It is just a little bit of a walk out to Four Trees from the parking lot (600-700 feet), and tides will need to be considered. Any other thoughts of where we could launch 20-30 kayaks and hold a potluck afterwards?

Video is in the posting on the Business forum

Looks like we have a good size group with a wide diversity of experience with the club, which is excellent. Here are a few notes about tonight: We are not setting policy, but just sharing helpful information and observations I will ask that attendees use the chat feature or raise a hand if they have a question or comment. I know it can be a little grade-school-ish, but it is helpful for allowing everyone a chance to speak. Due to the size of the group, we need to keep questions and comments brief and on-topic. There is a lot to discuss, and any one topic could go all night if we let it! Looking forward to seeing everyone!

As we continue to listen to our members' suggestions, we have been working to improve the liability waiver, and in the process, upgraded to a comprehensive Participant Agreement Most importantly, the Agreement can be renewed when you renew your membership! No more need to sign an agreement for each trip or event. While the agreement is incorporated into new member registration and existing member renewal, you can access and sign the Agreement at any time by visiting the Paddling With NSPN page of our website, or clicking this link: Participant Agreement Once signed and accepted, you will receive a confirmation email that can be sent to a trip organizer if required. We are working hard to make it easy for trip organizers to determine that all participants have an active Agreement, but in the meantime will allow organizers utilize their own process. If you have any questions or need assistance with confirming active agreements when organizing a trip, please email trips@nspn.org or send a Private Message to any of the current Board of Directors.

Thanks for checking in everyone, and for understanding the need to cancel. Hope to see all of you soon!

Thanks

I hate to do this, but I am calling the paddle off. The day has been on the hairy edge of comfortable with a heavy offshore wind to contend with. Adding rain was pushing even further, but chancing thunderstorms and hail I just can’t justify. I really hope everyone checks in before going, so please confirm that you have seen this update.

Ben, I will send you the link to the meeting

The goals are to find out what participants goals might be. Do they want the leadership skills to organize and post trips to a particular level? Do they want to be more confident paddling with a group? Really, it is just starting with a conversation. Attendees might start thinking of or setting their goals. Depending on the participant, it might be starting to develop a plan of action, or just how they can go about developing their goals in the first place. That is up to each individual, and how they wish to proceed

We will be having another discussion this Tuesday night, April 19th, at 7pm, for those seeking further development as club paddlers and leaders. Please let me know if you have questions or would like to participate.