Ken

Unfortunately if you google covid-19 and salt water, you'll get a gazillion hits on the falsify that gargling with SW helps kill the virus. I suspect splashing with SW is too much of a niche concern right now for anyone to do any research.

I would think using hand sanitizer before and after two-person carries would also work. That might be easier than gloves as with gloves, you'd have to remember which side of the glove touched what. I drove down to NY with my son to clean out is dorm room yesterday. We brought a squirt bottle of hand sanitizer in the car and did double squirts every time we got in and out of the car.

Is it possible to have group day paddles and maintain social distance?

Yep, 50 minute shift a day. Fourteen days is a shift of 11:40 which is why the tides, with two high/low tides a day, are almost the same time every fourteen days.

I find fishcurrents.com useful long-term planning. Like what Saturday or Sunday in May or June would have favorable currents both directions leaving Hull between 9:00AM-10:00AM, going out the Brewsters, and returning in mid-afternoon. One thing I noticed when scanning through days on fish currents, and feel free to check my math on this, the diurnal tides we get around here shift about 50 minutes a day so they move a bit each day. So if you find a day when the tides/currents are favorable, about one week later, the tides/currents are reversed and they will be unfavorable for the same trip. But then seven days after that, they'll be favorable again. Not exact. They'll drift a bit, maybe an hour or so. But, if you find a weekend that is favorable for a trip, about two-weeks after may also be favorable, within an hour or two. And of course you have to check the charts as they are never exact. -K

Here's another resource for currents -- http://fishcurrents.com/index.html It's particularly useful around harbors, rivers, and channels. Click on the map and zoom in to an area to see the magnitude of currents. You can to any datetime in the future which is could for planning.

I've been paddling three season, took lessons and rented the first season and have been in a P&H Scorpio MV I bought used from Osprey for two season. I like paddling for fitness, touring, and this last summer my skills got to the level to start going rock gardening trips and dabbling in surfing. I really like playing around rocks. When I ski, if the conditions are right, I spent 80% of me time in the bumps and/or trees and find I have the same fun paddling in bumpy water and around the rocks. As far as skills, I consider myself comfortable on level 3 day paddles and in level 3 conditions. I've been thinking of upgrading to a glass boat and last year I was thinking of a touring boat like a Cetus. But now I'm thinking more of a play boat. But, I don't want a boat that's a slug when I have to paddle a couple miles to get somewhere as I aint a spring chicken as they say. I was on a paddle last year and one guy in a Delphin was clearly sucking wind trying to keep up when we were paddling between spots. Now it would be really great if just the right boat showed up used as I don't really want to drop >$4K on a brand new boat. But if I could get a pretty good deal on a lightly-used or new-old-stock boat from a shop, that would be a good compromise. I been searching around saw some boats at Newbury Kayaks. They have a new-old-stock 2016 Romany Surf for just over $3K and a lightly-used demo 2018 Romany Surf for the same. Not sure but I think that'd be the right size for me. They also have a lightly used Current Design Karla and a lightly used Current Design Sisu; I don't know anything about those. I didn't ask about the Romany Classics they have as I thought my size would be more suited to the Surf. I'm 6', about 190lbs., size 10.5 feet (so I don't think I need a boat with extra foot room.) So, any offer any tips on what might be the best boat for my size and skills? Anyone have any feedback on Newbury Kayaks? I haven't been up there yet. There's a good chance I may wait a month r two and demo but I thought maybe talking about it now would help with my ideas for what I'm looking for. -Ken

Okay, now you've made me want to paddle that spot. Lead a trip on a weekend when us working stiffs can make it? -K

Has anyone figure out how to select an extent with that tool? I'm trying to do it and I would expect you click on one corner and drag to the opposite. But the move function doesn't disable in that mode so it scrolls and ends up selecting the wrong area. Figured it out. You do not draw a box like a typical selection tool, you must click the center of what you want your chart to contain.

I haven't read it yet but for Xmas I received -- https://www.amazon.com/How-Read-Water-Patterns-Puddles/dp/1615193588/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=how+to+read+water&qid=1578494129&sr=8-2 I'm in the middle of another book but as soon as I finish that one, I'll start the above. I flipped through it and checked out some of the pictures and diagrams and it looks comprehensive and facilitating. It covers things from how you can tell how clean a small stream is by looking at the insect larvae under a rock to determining which way the waves were breaking during the last high tide by looking at the ripples left in the sand. -K

I'd liked to check the rocks out up there sometime as I lovin' the rock in RI. But I booked a day of coaching at Gales today. How about a some rock weekend days next season? -K

At the last minute (yesterday) I signed up for Saturday only. Figure I'll learn something and have some fun. Weather is supposed to be nice and conditions should be just challenging enough for me. -Ken

Darn, looks super fun. I wish I could have made. Please please someone schedule this route again next season. I'd love to do it. -Ken

I saw those pictures and the map and was really hoping to make it. Looks like a great day paddle in a scenic and fun (rocks) spot but unfortunately I pulled some muscles in my back and don't think it's a good idea to attend. I'd hate to get five miles down coast and be in pain trying to get back. Write up a trip report and hopefully if the plan works great it will be done again and I can try to make it next time. -Ken

I've noticed there aren't a lot of NSPN day trips, mostly weekend getaways (which are totally fun; I really enjoyed Stonington, ME this summer) and evening practice (nice paddling Walden on my way home from work) but some more local level 3 trips on the weekend around Boston and the Northshore would be great. -Ken

I haven't been to Ogunquit in many years, I'm curious which river you are referring to, the little river maybe 20' or side wide running behind Ogunquit Beach? I recall being there once when the current was ripping through. If that's the river, I would think you would have to plan it based on the tides or you might not get back if the current was ripping out. But it's been decades since I've been up there so others may know way more than I do. If I'm free that weekend, I might be interested in an L3 trip, also more interesting in playing than covering distance. -Ken

Rather sad note, a B-17 crashed a Bradley Airport in CT today and I believe it was the Collings Foundation Wings of Freedom tour so it was likely the same plane we saw flying over Beverly a few weeks ago.

I did a google on "inflatable boat roller" and it appears that there are many commercial products available in numerous sizes. Some of them look like overkill for a kayak but there are smaller sizes. But yeah, can't beat the price of a $0.99 pool noodle.

I'd love to learn about some of these places as i'm new and still learning all the spots that are available in the area. Since I'm not retired, I'm mostly a weekend warrior but may take some weekdays off next summer if I have some extra vaca time. Not sure if this season is over yet. I guess it depends on the weather and if anyone is up for some drysuits days. -Ken

Did you find solid noodles or those with a hole? I use the ones with holes for hangers; I put a pvc pipe and then rope through them. I would think the hollow ones would crush a bit when used as rollers. But putting a 3/4" length of PVC pipe fixes that. Might try adding that if you are using the hollow ones. FYI, the hollow ones come in two sizes, almost 3" and almost 4". The larger size is harder to find but I find them more useful. -K

Darn, I am away this weekend. I'm just getting into level 3 stuff and did kings beach several weeks ago and it was perfect. Some really fun rocks along that route. I'd love to do it again. Windmill Point has plenty of parking on weekends but there are restrictions on weekdays.

Drive all the way out to Windmill Point in Hull and then paddle out to the Brewster Islands. Check the tides and current before you go.

Here's a graph for time vs. speed. It does look like there is one anomolous spike. All the other peaks are between 4.5 and 5.25 MPH.

I use a different app, Ski Tracks, for skiing as it does a great job with number of runs and veritical distance. I was surprised when it said I hit 95mph, if I'm ripping on a cruising run I might hit 45 or so, but then realized I forgot to turn it off when I drove home on I93. We did have a tailwind in the AM, I suspect that might have upped the speed a bit. I'm to know to this sport to know how fast I really go.

I leave my phone in my pfd which I leave in my boat specically so that a lunchtime walk doesnt mess up that stats. I chalk that up to GPS inaccuracy. I've seen silly stuff like an 800' total vertical gain after a day at sea level. Or maybe that is up and down 800 one foot waves ?