New Member looking for paddles 8/6, 8/9-8/11

[ann]

Hello!

My name is Ann and I just joined your club hoping to find opportunities to paddle during my frequent visits to the DC area.

For my current trip, I'll be arriving on Thursday and would like to paddle on Friday and the beginning of the week, if anyone is available. Over the weekend I'll be visiting with my non paddling friends.

I earned my BCU 2 Star award from Sea Kayak GA in '09 and am about ready to do my 3 Star evals next month. Most of my open water paddling is at Tybee Island, in Georgia, where I spend a lot of time in the Triangle. If you've not been there, its kind of like a big blender. Really good place to practice combat rolls! My longest open water journey to date is 18 miles.

I also paddle whitewater, mostly class II, but since my combat roll is coming along nicely, I've been paddling some class III and doing well. However, I won't be paddling whitewater on this trip, just sea kayak.

I will be driving up with my Romany and all the gear I need to paddle, so all I need are some folks to meet at a put in!

Please help make my vacation perfect and paddle with me.

Ann

[baykayaker]

Hi Ann,

If you are looking for a paddle and don't mind a group, the Baltimore Pirates will be meeting at Rocky Point State Park on the 10th at 5:30 PM. I'm sure the group would welcome the company of a visiting kayaker. I, for one, would like to know more about the Georgia routes of which you talk about. The paddle would offer an opportunity to get to know more kayakers in this area.

Baltimore is about 35 miles north of DC.

Dave

[ann]

Hi Dave,

Yes, I'd be interested. And I know where Baltimore is!

Other than googling Rocky Point State Park - what else do I need to know about location? Is there a boat ramp or anything where you all meet?

Whatever you'd like to know about paddling in Georgia, I'll try and answer. I paddle mostly at Tybee, just because there is so much variety a boat cart walk from where I stay, but I've paddled other places in Georgia and done some paddling this Winter in N. Florida, with my home club, the Georgia Canoe Association.

We also have BCU week going on in October, which is really fun.

Ann

[jay_gitomer]

Ann, we'd love to have you join us. The directions for Rocky Point Park are on the Pirates page. It's $2.50 to enter the park. Come straight in and we'll be on the right, just beyond the little playground and across from the gray buildings on the left. We do *not* launch from the actual boat ramp near the gate, so ignore it and keep going. You really can't miss us -- the kayak racks on the cars are a giveaway.

We go out to eat afterward, so hopefully you can come to that as well.

I'll be at BCU Week in Tybee, btw. I look forward to chatting with you!

Jay

[ann]

Jay & Dave,

I'll be there! Thanks for the invite!

Jay -BCU week is going to be a good time!

After last year I learned a few things though. If you've not done it before, these are the things I discovered:
Don't take a whole week of very focused skills. You miss lots of fun stuff. And you are exhausted!
Just because Tybee is really hot between April and September, does not mean that the end of October is warm. While my drysuit would have been overkill, it was certainly a good place for hydroskins and a shorty dry top, or a long sleeve dry top. Especially when working on rescues and getting soaking wet.
A thermos with something warm in it is a good thing for "Elevenses."
Those Brits can DRINK!

And back to paddling - anyone else have anything else they want to paddle? I'm perfectly happy to wander through the Smithsonian - I think I need to revisit American History, but paddling something new is always fun too!

Ann

[baykayaker]

Hi Ann, Jay,

I see I managed to entice Jay to join in here. Jay is our Captain. She gives good directions - both to and from sites as well as directions in how to escape, re-enter, roll, paddle... etc.

Will see you there and I look forward to hearing about Tybee.

[terpjd]

Jay- Not to rain on anyone's parade (or paddle), but according to my calendar, the bracing/draw strokes clinic is on the 10th. Is that still a go?

[jay_gitomer]

Oops, you're right, Mike!

Sorry, Ann! We're not having our regular paddle that night. We have a clinic instead, which is full to the brim. If anyone who is not in the clinic plans to paddle, will you please post in this thread so Ann can join you?

I'll be sending out the reminders a few days before the clinic. We have a pretty big waiting list, so if you signed up but can't attend after all, the sooner you let me know, the sooner someone else can fill your spot so it doesn't go to waste.

Thanks!
Jay

[Tom]

jay, Kathy and I wont be able to attend not sure if you had us on the list or not

[baykayaker]

I don't believe I was signed up for this one Jay, so will be paddling that evening on a peer paddle, weather permitting. Ann? It's still a go. I suspect there will be others as well.

Dave

[ann]

Hey All

I arrived in DC with Romany on roof (which is now crammed into my friend's basement) last night and am very interested in paddling on the 10th!


Ann

[biotechbill]

Ann, If you haven't made plans for the 8th yet I'm planning on paddling at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center in Edgewater on Sunday and would love some company. It's a somewhat pristine spot that also offers a few hiking trails. It's normally closed to the public on Sundays but I have some connections.

Cragg

[baykayaker]

Looking forward to it. Low tide is 2:54 PM and high is 8:23 PM, so the Back river should be fun.

Jays directions still hold.

Who else plans on paddling Tuesday (vs attending the class).

Dave

[ann]

Really looking forward to paddling on Tuesday evening!

I suspect I'll be needing to allow myself plenty of time to head from DC to Baltimore - specially at that time of the day.

Can anyone suggest anything boat on car parking friendly things to do during the later part of the afternoon for me to do in Baltimore?

Ann

[swimthiel]

Ann, any interest in seeing the National Harbor Race Course on August 11th; Wednesday Afternoon? I need to refine the race course and get one more look at the race venue at a low tide:

2010-08-11 06:18 EDT Sunrise
2010-08-11 08:08 EDT Moonrise
2010-08-11 09:43 EDT 3.37 feet High Tide
2010-08-11 16:30 EDT -0.12 feet Low Tide
2010-08-11 20:07 EDT Sunset
2010-08-11 20:51 EDT Moonset

I will put in at the National Harbor Race venue (North Cove aka. Smoots Bay) ramp at about 15:30 and paddle until at least 17:30 (3:30pm to 5:30PM) WX permitting.

This will be a work trip for me (I plan to "DRAG" the course in my Tsunami 145) but that doesn't preclude a dash over to Belle Haven Marina/Dyke Marsh.

A few other CPA Pirates are welcome to join also; lots of surface parking (you can pay by credit card) at the Commercial Pier on the waterfront. Check out links on the August 15th Swim Support posts for directions and other information.

NB: Please email me if you decide to come because NH police will have you ejected/arrested if you trespass on the private waters and property of National Harbor.

I'm trying to work this venue into a CPA party and paddle place also

Kurt

PS: it is going to be HOT as H@ll so bring Hat, water or other hydrating fluids. I will have lots of H2O, ICE and Power Aide (sp?) This is not a forced march type of paddle but more of a spurts and floats while I work the GPS refinements.