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Joseph Berkovitz

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  1. Joseph Berkovitz
    Thanks everyone for the interest in this trip! Since the waitlist is now as long as the list of people on the trip, we will shut down the waitlist for now. We will post again if more space becomes available.
  2. Joseph Berkovitz
    Little Whaleboat Island Geology Field Trip Sat. Oct 1 - Sun. Oct 2, 2022 This weekend camping trip visits Little Whaleboat Island, one of the lesser-known gems of Casco Bay, with the aim of learning more about the beautiful and surprising rocks of the region. We'll be joined by the distinguished Maine geology professor Dyk Eusden, an expert on the region who has visited the island a number of times to teach courses with his Bates students (in sea kayaks, no less!). His bio is included below. Dyk will introduce us to the geologic history of the region, and help us understand some of the events and forces that have shaped Casco Bay with its unique formations. He'll lead us on walkabouts on the island, showing us how to observe the rocks and gather information with a geologist's perspective. Then we'll get together to assemble our observations, discuss what we saw and, with Dyk's help, try to understand what it all means. It's science and paddling, all in one event! And, of course, there will be plenty of time to enjoy our beautiful surroundings too. (By the way, Little Whaleboat has just become Maine Coastal Heritage Trust's newest land acquisition.) Here are some details: - Janet Lorang and myself are the NSPN organizers for this trip. - We can take a maximum 10 people (not counting Dyk, Janet and myself). - A contribution of $15 is requested to cover Dyk's expenses and time. Logistics to be covered later. - The paddle is a Level 2 trip and is sheltered from ocean conditions. It includes crossings up to 1 nm that are subject to wind chop. - You will need to arrange your own food, water and camping equipment. Weather at this time is often very mild and pleasant but... it's New England. - In case of bad weather we can delay this trip one day to 10/2-10/3 - Launch location to be determined based on availability; likely spots include Merepoint or Yarmouth. The trip is now full. We have a long waitlist and are no longer accepting more requests. Here's some more information about Dyk: Dykstra Eusden, or Dyk for short, lives in South Paris, Maine and recently retired from being a professor at Bates College where he taught a variety of field-based courses; his two favorite being “Geology of the Maine Coast by Sea Kayak” and “Katahdin to Acadia: Exploring Maine Geology.” He went to Bates for his B.S., then University of New Hampshire for his M.S. and finally Dartmouth College for his Ph.D., all in an effort to stay close to New England’s mountains and coastline. His research is on the bedrock geologic history and ancient tectonics of northern New Hampshire, western Maine, and the coast of Maine as well as active tectonics, faults and landscape geomorphology in New Zealand. This year he and six other geologists published a book for the lay-public titled “The Geology of New Hampshire’s White Mountains” (Durand Press).
  3. Joseph Berkovitz
    until
    Little Whaleboat Island Geology Field Trip Sat. Oct 1 - Sun. Oct 2, 2022 This weekend camping trip visits Little Whaleboat Island, one of the lesser-known gems of Casco Bay, with the aim of learning more about the beautiful and surprising rocks of the region. We'll be joined by the distinguished Maine geology professor Dyk Eusden, an expert on the region who has visited the island a number of times to teach courses with his Bates students (in sea kayaks, no less!). His bio is included below. Dyk will introduce us to the geologic history of the region, and help us understand some of the events and forces that have shaped Casco Bay with its unique formations. He'll lead us on walkabouts on the island, showing us how to observe the rocks and gather information with a geologist's perspective. Then we'll get together to assemble our observations, discuss what we saw and, with Dyk's help, try to understand what it all means. It's science and paddling, all in one event! And, of course, there will be plenty of time to enjoy our beautiful surroundings too. (By the way, Little Whaleboat has just become Maine Coastal Heritage Trust's newest land acquisition.) Here are some details: - Janet Lorang and myself are the NSPN organizers for this trip. - We can take a maximum 10 people (not counting Dyk, Janet and myself). - A contribution of $15 is requested to cover Dyk's expenses and time. Logistics to be covered later. - The paddle is a Level 2 trip and is sheltered from ocean conditions. It includes crossings up to 1 nm that are subject to wind chop. - You will need to arrange your own food, water and camping equipment. Weather at this time is often very mild and pleasant but... it's New England. - In case of bad weather we can delay this trip one day to 10/2-10/3 - Launch location to be determined based on availability; likely spots include Merepoint or Yarmouth. Please contact us via private message with any questions. The waitlist is very long and we are no longer accepting new waitlist entries. Here's some more information about Dyk: Dykstra Eusden, or Dyk for short, lives in South Paris, Maine and recently retired from being a professor at Bates College where he taught a variety of field-based courses; his two favorite being “Geology of the Maine Coast by Sea Kayak” and “Katahdin to Acadia: Exploring Maine Geology.” He went to Bates for his B.S., then University of New Hampshire for his M.S. and finally Dartmouth College for his Ph.D., all in an effort to stay close to New England’s mountains and coastline. His research is on the bedrock geologic history and ancient tectonics of northern New Hampshire, western Maine, and the coast of Maine as well as active tectonics, faults and landscape geomorphology in New Zealand. This year he and six other geologists published a book for the lay-public titled “The Geology of New Hampshire’s White Mountains” (Durand Press).
  4. Joseph Berkovitz
    Most GPS “backcountry nav” phone apps including Gaia GPS do have some version of the feature Leon is talking about. It can take a bit of research to find the feature though. To access this feature on Gaia: - tap your destination on the map. A details panel will appear at the bottom of the screen - tap the “…” button - choose “Guide me” which displays a line on the map from where you are to the destination - put the map in compass mode by tapping the cross hair icon until the icon turns green and the map rotates dynamically with the phone orientation - maintain course such that the line always points straight up on the screen. (Not like shown below - I need to go more to the left!) Having said all that, I maintain that if you can see anything, using a visual range to maintain course via a ferry is always going to be just plain easier than trying to use a device that is not your eyes and brain.
  5. Joseph Berkovitz
    Absolutely, this will be recorded and shared.
  6. Joseph Berkovitz
    Did you know... that NOAA is in the process of retiring the paper-based navigational charts we all know and use, in favor of electronic charts (ENC)? This process officially began in 2021, is underway over the next 5 years, and it will affect all of us. Many if not all of the chart products we use today, both online and offline, will be altered radically. Some have changed already as NOAA has already withdrawn support for some digital services based on the old charts. Join Joe Berkovitz on Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022 at 7:00 pm for this 90-minute Zoom seminar, which will cover what our government is changing about nautical charts, why they're doing it, and examine the good and bad things about the change. We'll take a detailed walk through the use of NOAA's new online custom chart generator which produces PDFs of the new electronic charts covering any desired area. NOAA has stated that this tool is the official replacement for the old paper-based charts (including the digital downloads). Love it or hate it, let's learn to use it! In order to accommodate a large number of attendees, this will be a structured presentation rather than a hands-on workshop with exercises. Link to the calendar entry and RSVP
  7. Joseph Berkovitz
    until
    Latecomer registrants: please PM me to receive zoom info for this event. Did you know... that NOAA is in the process of retiring the paper-based navigational charts we all know and use, in favor of electronic charts (ENC)? This process officially began in 2021, is underway over the next 5 years, and it will affect all of us. Many if not all of the chart products we use today, both online and offline, will be altered radically. Some have changed already as NOAA has already withdrawn support for some digital services based on the old charts. Join Joe Berkovitz for this 90-minute Zoom seminar, which will cover what our government is changing about nautical charts, why they're doing it, and examine the good and bad things about the change. We'll take a detailed walk through the use of NOAA's new online custom chart generator which produces PDFs of the new electronic charts covering any desired area. NOAA has stated that this tool is the official replacement for the old paper-based charts (including the digital downloads). Love it or hate it, let's learn to use it! In order to accommodate a large number of attendees, this will be a structured presentation rather than a hands-on workshop with exercises. Zoom meeting details will be provided to attendees just prior to the actual date. All NSPN members are free to attend.
  8. Joseph Berkovitz
    You didn’t specify sunsets etc only so…
  9. Joseph Berkovitz
    They are hard to get now. I advertised my interest as a buyer on this forum and someone eventually contacted me who had one to sell. I recently saw a new kayak using a Ritchie F-50 flush mount compass, mounted where a Brunton would normally go. I don’t know if the shape is compatible but it looked like a natural fit and the compass appears to be high quality.
  10. Joseph Berkovitz
    Phil, we have been using ACA insurance for all these sessions for the last two years because having people in a specific role as facilitators already meant the “peer practice” model did not apply. We don’t use the club waiver for these sessions.
  11. Joseph Berkovitz
    Having not heard from potential borrowers I’m taking the Virgo off the car. See you all there! j
  12. Joseph Berkovitz
    I happen to have my P&H Virgo on my car. If you are interested in trying this boat tomorrow please respond on this thread and it’s yours to paddle for the day! for those who don’t know it, the Virgo is a 14.5’ plastic boat that is highly playful and maneuverable but also tracks well and can keep up a decent cruising speed. In my view, a perfect day-trip boat!
  13. Joseph Berkovitz
    Thanks 1,000,000% Janet and Sue - this is terrific news! I hope to facilitate as many sessions as I can make and as you will allow.
  14. Joseph Berkovitz
    Yes!
  15. Joseph Berkovitz
    From the most recent Board of Directors minutes (Dec 2021). “Skills sessions: Discussion continues without consensus. We are discussing two models, one similar to the last two years but providing some reimbursement to leaders for expenses, or a new approach where qualified instructors would propose skills instruction sessions for fee, the club partially subsidizing and participants paying a fee as we do for pool sessions.” I think it might be worth having a broader discussion of this question in the club, lest it remain as an item buried in the minutes. I look forward as an instructor to supporting any and all models that are available. I’ll help with anything. But my 2 cents on the above question is: The latter model (participants pay a fee) does not accord with the club’s long-standing “pay it forward” ethic, and adds a paywall barrier discouraging novices from improving their skills. It also adds a qualification barrier discouraging some knowledgeable experienced members from sharing those skills. Why not do both? There are benefits to setting up sessions with qualified instructors, sure. But it’s a totally different project from the original model of Skills Practices in which members share their knowledge in an informal club setting. Let me put this out there to the membership at large: I think this “problem” would go away if someone, anyone, is willing to do the organizational tasks for Skills Practices. We do not need the Board to decide which model is best, as the original model was simply a grass-roots effort by myself and Bob. It did not need approval, we just calendared it and made it happen. so… Is anyone (or a couple of people) willing to organize future skills practices? You don’t need to be an instructor, just a good trip organizer who can network with potential facilitators in the club. It is just not that hard. I’m only stepping away from this role because I have other plans next year and think it makes sense in a club this size to rotate these responsibilities. If anyone is interested in hearing more about what it takes to do this, I’ll be happy to explain. And if no one is interested, then I guess the model is less sustainable than I thought.
  16. Joseph Berkovitz
    Assuming weather holds I will be there! I have done this paddle a few times including last year and it is a fun outing.
  17. Joseph Berkovitz
    Happily, there is no cure. If there were, your insurer would probably find a way out of paying. The only thing is to keep on paddling! With the best of holiday wishes, Joe
  18. Joseph Berkovitz
    I have found that a 100% reliable way to force syncing to the cloud is to open a saved track, select Share and then Copy Link. This forces Gaia to push the recording up to the server so that a link can be generated (even if you do nothing with the link in your phone.)
  19. Joseph Berkovitz
    It’s low tide - it’ll probably look super different soon. Often just below mid tide is a great time for long boats at Nahant, the rides are longer and better formed and we can catch waves further out than boarders in areas that aren’t as appealing for them
  20. Joseph Berkovitz
    Per Rob's comment above, I will be organizing a post-workshop trip. Route and timing to be decided at the event, but likely leaving right after lunch (12:30? and landing by 3:00 at the latest). Tomorrow is forecast to be a very calm and windless day with very little swell.
  21. Joseph Berkovitz
    Very cool news about a great area!
  22. Joseph Berkovitz
    I will be paddling out of Marblehead on Saturday morning and visiting rock features in the area that are notable in high water. If people are interested and have cold-water paddling experience, please PM me.
  23. Joseph Berkovitz
    Marblehead at fort beach. Wind NNE now so not as exposed as could have been… tides not large either. Still impressive though. And… not going out.
  24. Joseph Berkovitz
    I recently experimented with turning my boat upside-down only to find that there was plenty of room for Dan (feral as he is) to squiggle in and access the hatches from underneath. (The bow and stern of the Cetus protrude somewhat creating space below the deck when the boat is inverted.) But resting the food-containing hatch on a rock or stump might cut off this avenue and save a lot of trouble with rigging, clamping, etc. By the way... Dan... if you are ever hungry, you know you can just ask me for food and I promise I will give it to you if I have any.
  25. Joseph Berkovitz
    Thanks for the tips Nancy! I have always aspired to your food hanging abilities and, now, here are some tools to pick up and use…
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