Isle au Haut - Kayaking

“I know there was discusion of adding a bit of kayaking to the trip itineray and I was wondering what the official status was.

I do realise there are a few differances in the group but I dont think they are unworkable. From what I read on the web site they do host guided beginner level trips but Im not sure the more experianced ones will want to sit around waiting on a two hour intro class. Perhaps we could split into 3 groups? beginner - guided , expert - guided? and landlubber? I also see that they might be able to come to us on the island for a small fee (20?) which would save a few problems.

If Twigeater still would like to have this on the trip perhaps we could get a list of which group each of us falls and what options or problems need to be dealt with? Once we have an idea of how many are interested and how many guides, kayaks and how long ect it might be possible to arrange a group deal and save a bit of dough...

Twigeater:
If this is unworkable or too much trouble I understand, I dont mean to impose on you or anything I just love trying new things and floating upside down while banging my head on crabs sounds like a lot of fun.”

“DOM,I love the idea of Kayaking, but not the added expense. Doesn't mean I won't do it if it's available. The issue is that alot of people will be taking time off from work, traveling quite a distance, incurring some expense and this adds to it. I am only 4 hours away, and am already counting the cost of this trip to us. Just something to bear in mind.”

“A bit pricey yes but after two days of hiking it might be a welcome change of pace and Ive spent more to be where I didnt want with people i dont like.... :}”

“I'm sure we can accomodate whatever anyone wants to do. :)

It doesn't sound Capt Bill provides classes that could be divided by skill level, more like you either prove competency and are able to rent a kayak on your own or go on one of the guided tours.

SO...
The reservations I'm hoping to get will give us 3 nights in BSP and 5 nights in Isle au Haut. The dates overlap, with one extra night in BSP as a rain date. The mail boat leaves Stonington at 7am, 11:30am, and 4pm. The best plan is to leave BSP and drive to Stonington to make the 11:30am mail boat.

AND...
Looking at the kayak tour schedule and the ferry schedule, it might work if the kayakers left BSP in time (around 6:30-7am) to be in Stonington for the 8:30am tour. (we'd check to see if reservations are necessary) The rest of us could take our time packing up, and plan to arrive in Stonington for 1pm, when the kayak tour is done. Course we can get there whenever and sightsee - there are shops in the town (which is one street) and the harbor is a working harbor. Then perhaps we could have a shore dinner locally (lobster, clams, corn on the cob) if the guy's open, which I would call ahead about. Then we could all grab the 4pm mail boat, assuming the park doesn't mind our late arrival.

Or it might work after Isle au Haut, but this way we'd all be on the same page, this far anyway. Since we aren't hiring Capt Bill to take us across, anyone can leave when they want, but we must leave on Saturday. If we get bored with Isle au Haut, we can leave and go to Acadia or something like that. There's a state park and public lands (free) off the island, and I'm sure Pennsy and monkeyboy are willing to be our tour guides.

Whaddya think?

Also, we need a way to let Lyndy (and any others going on the Isle au Haut part only), know what day we are leaving BSP to go to Isle au Haut.
Any ideas?”

“What! you don't like us already??? LOL

There's been nothing but love on the Maine TT trips, you'll see. ;)”

“Naw, I like you people, I was refering to some other expensive trips I have taken....


"I'm sure we can accomodate whatever anyone wants to do. :)" - forgot I was going on this trip huh? :P

Ok - well back to serious mode then, since twigeater is ok with it how bout a show off hands..er .. letters?”

“yam -
twigeater - competent - rental?
Santartex -
Pennsy Hiker -
trekkngirl -
Skeetah bait -
LyndyS - n/a ?
dirtyoldman - beginner - rental
monkeyboy - competent - rental?
Geobeet -
Buddha Bear -
Fritz -
rox -
2scoops -”

“I'm a little confused, help me clear this up. You call me competent (thems is fightin' words!!!) LOL

Actually, I'm guessing that means that I can handle a kayak, as well as Twigeater. And the question mark by the rental means I might do it. If thta's so, then you got me pegged.”

“expert is such a relativistic term. everyone is a legend in their own mind. :}

some might want to bring their own kayak but I have no idea how that will work with the groups plans. Also the competent group can decide to not have a guide if they wish. Then again they may find watching the rest of us entertaining as well.”

“No I didn't forget you were coming on the trip dom. I meant we could accomodate whatever you or anyone else wants to do. :)

Although I have my boating safety certificate, I doubt I can pass Capt Bill's test. I've done very little ocean kayaking, and if you say "eskimo roll" to me, I'm apt to start hyperventilating. Ditto if I put on a spray skirt. :) The Island Trail intrigues me, just not enough (yet) to spend gobs of money and time getting outfitted and trained.

Anyway, wouldn't it be more fun to stay together on the guided tour? Unless you're skilled at navigation, it's very easy to get lost out there - I don't know where the tour takes you, but there are over 40 islands off Stonington. I don't believe there's much lesson involved in a guided tour, beyond "this is how you paddle" although I could be wrong. It's up to you guys as I probably won't be kayaking myself.

The tandem kayaks are a little cheaper if anyone wants to partner up. The only drawback to bringing your own kayak, is that unless you bring it to Isle au Haut it'll be on top of your car for around five days - if it's hot, you could have a warped kayak when you get back.

So far only 8 of the people on that list are confirmed.”

“I'm 100% confirmed for the trip but 1000% confirmed that you won't see me in a kayak. I'm strictly a landlubber but I have absolutely no problem if any or all the group wishes to hit the water. I'll have no problem entertaining myself while others are kayaking.”

“i wouldn't mind kayaking (i've only gone a few times before), but i will have to see closer to the date how much $$ i will have. a big factor will be how much my airfare costs, and that is someting i need to start checking out.

ps. where do i want to fly in, anyway? there really isn't any airports near there...is there.”

“Well put Pennsy! Did you guys get to test your tents in the rain this weekend?

Yam, I believe the closest airport is Bangor, but it may not be the cheapest. Course there is an airport in every rinky dink town in Maine, but do you wanna get on their planes, lol?”

“yam - ?
twigeater - no
Santartex -
Pennsy - no
trekkngirl -
Skeetah bait -
LyndyS - no
dirtyoldman - yes
monkeyboy - yes
Geobeet -
Buddha Bear -
Fritz -
rox -
2scoops -

I looked at the rate list and with a single group using tandems it might work out to about 35 each for a half day. So long as noone is stuck standing around for a long time waiting on us novices a single group is just fine.”

“Never kayaked before and would love to do so,but I want to see as much as I can on foot of this trip before I risk "banging my head on crabs" LOL..DOM. Although that sounds like a blast,I'll stick to the hikes. :~ )”

“ooops, me bad, make that 45 per person for 1/2 day...”

“I've canoed around merrymeeting bay quite a bit, and am looking forward to some kayaking, if I can afford it. I'd prefer to single kayak, but perhaps a newbie and competent in doubles will keep the groups together. Thing is, those long slender ones go like a shot and the wide doubles are slow as canoes....”

“The tandems are also almost impossible to flip.”

“I had an opportunity to try dumping a kayak and getting out of it. That's the first step to learning an eskimo roll. The water was way cold, so I passed on it. Oh well. In all honesty, any of these kayaks will be pretty hard to tip over. If it is a sit in kayak, you sit on the bottom and make it very bottom heavy. If it's a sit on top, they are pretty wide and hard to tip over.

Strange but true story, a client of mine was kayaking in a long skinny tandem (two cockpit) and they both leaned the same way in quick procession and suddenly rolled the kayak in the ocean (read less than 60 degrees). His skirt didn't let go like it should have, and his wife swam to him and yanked him loose. They were okay, but sold the kayak.

Anyways, if I'm going solo, long and slender is my choice. If we double up, wide is the choice for me. (The disadvantage to wide is having to reach to paddle.)”

“His skirt didn't let go like it should have...

See, that's why I won't go kayaking. I ain't gonna wear no dress to get in one of dem dose skinny boats.”

“Oh come on! It's just a skirt Pennsy, put it on! It'll be so cute - and we won't take any pictures...honest! ;)

My tandem kayak doubles as my solo, and I don't feel that I have to reach to paddle, but I'm just out farting around usually, enjoying the water.
If you're going over monkeyboy, ain't it most likely that the water's gonna be cold, period? Whaddya want - a heated pool, lol!”

“PS - it dawned on me today that there is a pay shower at Billings Marine in Stonington. The water on Isle au Haut is full of iron and hard minerals - we'd all be red heads if we bathed in it. :)”

“The time I had opportunity was early April in the ocean. Now that's real cold. If it was in a lake in mid summer, or Old Orchard Beach in September, I'd a done it in a minute.

Does your tandem kayak have a seat that slides to the center of the cockpit? Sounds like it would be great for storing gear while you paddle!”

“Yes the seats slide. There's plenty of room in it for gear and people.”

“I was just remembering the first thing my Dad had me do in a canoe when we went to the lake. He told me an my brother to go out there, dump em over and turn it back upright and empty it out. These canoes are 14' long and 34" wide. At the time, I weighed 110 lbs. or so. It took so much effort to turn it over... I finally klimbed on the sides. Feet on one side, hands on the other and I yawned on it pretty good and finally tipped it over.

Having done that, I was wondering, if it tipped over that hard, could I ever accidentally tip it over? Next was to roll it over in such a manner that most of the water rolled out, then we splashed the rest out.

Dad, I did it!!! Now can I take it for a paddle around the lake? You know what he said? He said, that's great, now go out over your head and do it again.... It was a bit harder when I couldn't stand. I already had demonstrated I could swim a good distance, and I had the life vest, so finally I could take her for a spin.
I guess he just wanted to make sure I could "fix" an accident and get back if need be.”

“DOM

Updated list:

"yam -
twigeater - competent - rental?
Santartex -
Pennsy Hiker -
trekkngirl -
Skeetah bait - beginner - N/A
LyndyS - n/a ?
dirtyoldman - beginner - rental
monkeyboy - competent - rental?
Geobeet -
Buddha Bear -
Fritz -
rox -
2scoops -"

Monkey boy thinks I'm interested in trying it out, but NOT!!! I like the water and everything, but it I'm doing a kayak and end up rolling in that @#?*! freezin ocean water, I don't think so. I'd rather be on a lake or pond doin it. Been on those that you rent on a lake and have done okay with it, but haven't done the rolling thing and try to get back in. So that's my take on it, I'm on the same page with Pennsy..... :p”

“4 no and only two yes.... well it doesnt look like this is going to go very far... whatcha think twigeater 30 mile march for day three? :D

Unless I hear otherwise I guess this is a no-go....”

“I just got the 2003 ferry schedule and the round trip is now $32 rather than $28.”