Napatree Point Pre-Hurricane Irene Surfing - August 27th 2011

Drove up to Stonington CT saturday to see if any pre-Irene surf had developed. Fog ruled out going to the tidal races/overfalls east of Fisher's Island, so went to Napatree instead. Zip-tied a digital camera to my helmet to see how that would work. Managed to capture some video! Only uncertainty was knowing if/when the camera was on or off! Basically pressed the on/off button and hoped it worked.

Four (4) video links below:

Two Boats on One Wave

Various Rides at Napatree

Napatree Rock Slide

Unexpected Capsize

URI to Narrow River - ConnYak paddle 8.13.11 - "GoPro Hero" Camera "test"

Posted some photos from yesterday’s paddle from URI to Narrow River here: https://picasaweb.google.com/paddledude5/URIToNarrowRiverConnYak81311

The “experiment” with the suction-cup mounted GoPro Camera on the rear of the deck wasn’t perfect but fun to try – camera was on loan, I have to return it to my office traffic engineering department which uses it to record vehicle flow patterns, but wasn’t putting the waterproof housing to good use so I offered to “test it” for them. It was set to take just 1 photo every 60 seconds – on the paddle out it took roughly 150 photos (little over two hours) before the battery died (?) so no photos on the way back. Of these 150, only the ones on the link were marginally worth looking at. Key would be to get a taller mounting pole to get a wider view and to set it to take photos more frequently – the surf at Narrow River only had a few random shots. Ah well. Had a great time and a nice paddle back to the put-in with John.

Playing at Beavertail Point - Rhode Island, Sept. 2008

Towing Practice - Beavertail Point

I have a wealth of photos from staffing trips with Atlantic Kayak Tours - even though a bit dated, am posting a few.  This was a great trip practicing skills in conditions.  Taking turns towing, rescuing in moving water.

AKT is a great place to learn core sea kayaking skills and to enjoy the sea with a group of instructors who are fun and knowledgeable.  Bill and Janice Lozano have run it for 30+ years (at this writing) and their on-line Expert Center is a valuable resource.  I worked for them for number of years in the 2000's and learned so much - was a great time in my life.  Check them out! 

Balancing boats at Lunch Time - outer Narraganset Bay (me on the far right)

Narrow River (I assume)



Quonnie Pond - December 2008

For the second time in the 2008 season I joined a group of intrepid Rough Water paddlers from Connecticut to play in the incoming waves/outgoing tide at the Quonochontaug Breachway in Rhode Island. What a BLAST! Had so much fun, I did it again just two weeks later.

Luckily the event was documented for posterity by first-rate kayak photographers Carl Tjerandsen and Ron Gautreau. Pics attached.

Waves (and wind) against Current = fun at the Quonnie Breachway (December 2008)

Block Island Crossing - May, 2005


 


GPS Track of our crossing

 

Jack rounding Sandy Point

Left photo shows our actual track to Block Island in GPS - a little swaying with the ebb/flood current but not bad. Lower photo of Jack during a relaxing paddle around the north end of Block Island the day after a more strenuous crossing from Point Judith (mainland). Took public ferry back in thick fog - same route as paddle over so a clear warning to check the forecast to avoid becoming a "speed bump" for the ferry.

What a great paddle and one I'd like to try again some day. Off-season (mid-May) was the perfect time to hit Block Island. Inns just opening in the Spring and cheap - stayed at the one shown, Narrgansett Inn, nearly empty except for us. Restaurants are open for business but no crowds. (AKT Paddlers - Jack, Bob, Tony, Chuck and Jim - 5/2005)





Paddle-up kayak parking at the Narragansett Inn



Rounding the NE side of Block Island on way to Ferry Day 2



Rhode Island 2006

Slippery footing at Whale Rock. Such landings on barnacle-encrusted rocks illustrate why I haven't taken the time to fix scratches in my gel coat in recent years - what's the point. (Sid and John on rock, fellow staff on AKT 4 Star Training)