Another chance to paddle

Several people are going out to watch this Polar Bear Dip ( I am not one of them)

www.torontopolarbear.com

HIGH winds are the reason for the cancellation of the originally planned paddle FYI

Paddle canceled

With the weather the way it is forecast at the present time:
http://www.theweathernetwork.com/weather/caon0493

I will NOT be participating in this paddle and I stress that others do NOT either.

Please do not become a statistic, watch from shore

If you do choose to still go out, take note that myself and Learn to Kayak take no responsibility for your actions.

NEW YEARS DAY PADDLE 2012

Polar Bear Paddle January 1st 2012 to go watch the brave/foolish swimmers that take part in The Courage Polar Bear Dip, www.polarbeardip.ca, at Coronation Park in Oakville.
Put in at Bronte Beach (35 West River St. Oakville, ON)
Meet between 12:00 and 12:30
On the water by 1:00
Polar Bear Dippers dip promptly at 2:00
Return to Bronte Beach 3:30ish
Coffee/drinks/etc afterwards perhaps

Please keep in mind the water and air temperature for Lake Ontario this time of year. Drysuit is STRONGLY recommended. Change of clothes in dry bag in boat and also back ups in car necessary if you do not have drysuit.

VHF, SPOT, PLB recommended if you have one.

Please RSVP here if you are coming.

Re: Toronto Islands Paddle: Oct 22nd, launch @ 3:30 p.m.

Guess we better bring lights then.

ONTARIO GREENLAND CAMP Sept 8 9 10 11

ONTARIO GREENLAND CAMP Sept 8 9 10 11

www.ontariogreenlandcamp.com

See you there!

Tons of Fun

Had lots of fun last night. Thanks for arranging and thanks to all who came out.

Re: Greenland Rolling FUN Aug 18 and Aug 25

See you on the 25th

Thank you

Thank you to all who came out on this paddle. We had a beautiful night. Flat calm "seas", and a nice big clear full-ish moon. The hoped for meteor shower did not materialize but we did see a couple of shooting stars.

Thanks again to those who came out

Ful Moon Meteor Shower Cherry Beach Friday Aug 12

Putting in at Cherry Beach (east parking lot) at 8:30 pm. Plan to paddle over to, and through the Toronto Islands. Possible portage over to the south side of the islands near Gibraltar Point. Be out for 3 hours or so.

It will almost be a full moon and also the Perseus Meteor Shower may be giving us a show

Remember to bring a deck light, headlamp or waterproof flashlight, as well as all th eother required safety gear.

Please let me know if you plan on coming

Re: Grand Island Circumnavigation

I'd rather slog it out at the beginning rather than the end.

SPOT is a smart device

So as mentioned previously I decided to go with the SPOT device. What I didn't realize before was that the SPOT is actually a "smart" device. Who knew?
So I spent a part of this mornig setting the device up. When I activated the device to send me a message as to where I was....sitting at the desk in our upstairs spare bedroom/office the SPOT not only activated from inside the house, which I was impressed with, but it got my location wrong. It was only by 10 metres or so, which I thought was pretty good. However the reason I figure the SPOT is a "smart" device is because the location it put me at was in our parking spot where my Jeep is parked. So I'm thinking that the SPOT is trying to communicate with me to go out on a trip so it can be properly utilized.
Lets see your "smart" phone do that!!!

Re: Grand Island Circumnavigation

Sorry Tom but agree with Carla on this one.
Would much rather paddle into the current in the morning before winds pick up.
Time wise I'm thinking for more than 2 ppl this is a 8-10 hour day. 25mile/40km est.
Think we should come up with an alternate date as like Carla I paddle for fun and the wrong conditions will keep me off the water for something like this.

My vote is for a counter-clockwise paddle starting and ending at the north tip of the island.

ALan

Re: a fond farewell to Lise - April 10 9:00

My apologies but unfortunately I will be unable to attend.
Lise, have a great paddle and I hope to see you, in person, soon either back down here or up there. xoxo

Re: a fond farewell to Lise - April 10 9:00

I shall do my best to be there.

Re: SPOT Satellite Messenger vs PLB

Here are some of the comments from a Facebook discussion on this topic


There have been many conflicting articles about the SPOT in the past few months. Rather conflicting and even negating. Our friend Mr. J also has an opinion on them I believe. I have one, and had it for a couple of years. I like it.... I also have a VHF radio. The combination of the two makes me feel safe. That and I don't travel alone. Perhaps it is not the best choice, but I'll stick with it for now. For what it is supposed to provide I am happy. I hope that I just never have to use it or any other PLB.


March 5 at 7:37pm ·Some good points and some good links here, Alan. As always, it seems to boil down to why you want one. Know why you want one first then choose the one that suits your purpose. And speed is always going to be iffy - our SAR all comes out of Trenton, so in Georgian Bay, you're going to wait a couple of hours anyway. Hopefully, you're smart and have the gear to survive that long.

March 5 at 10:44pm why should we suffer by where we choose to paddle? GBay is very busy. I don't understand why the response time should be that slow tho. Think of all the people who go into the wild wilderness who don't wait that long. Does this make sense?

March 6 at 6:27am The unit involved in the rescue in Superior was not a SPOT. It was a PLB, don't remember the brand name, but looking at the photos, it could very well have been an ACR.


March 6 at 7:34am · As a side note, we thought the response time was pretty fast for up here on Superior.


March 6 at 7:36am · Yeah, I was pretty impressed with 3 hours and 2 minutes! Not sure you'll do much better than that with anything.


March 6 at 8:07am · SAR response time, alas, is not like in the movies. It can take 3 hours for someone to get to you on a highway, for heaven's sake!


March 6 at 8:09am · I think the SPOT is a fantastic component for somebody who wanted to make use for the social features of the unit. It's awesome for that. If I was in a position where there was a medium chance that I would need to depend on it for an actual... emergency then I would would want to bring a SOLAS approved device like a PLB or EPIRB. To me it comes down to standards for the electronics and waterproofing. SPOT uses the basic IPX-7 rating for waterproof submersible which is 1m for 30min while SOLAS approved devices are at 5m for 1h.

Over the years I have lost pieces of electronic gear due to water getting into IPX-7 items so I just don't really trust it after after it bangs around the boat for a while. SPOT has got some amazing features with some really cool products coming out now. 2 years from now it's going to look much different with ACR playing catch-up on the social aspect. eg. ACR now has a PLB with their version of OK messages enabled.See More


March 6 at 10:15am · Produced by ACR but it's a collection of their educational videos breaking down the difference between their stuff and SPOT. Also is a good breakdown of the entire SAR system. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eqbf2kGP3QA&feature=youtu.be&a


March 6 at 10:23am ·Thanks DJ and the rest. If I'm some place where I would really have the possibility to maybe need to use the SPOT, then sry, as adventurous as I think I am, I would not be there. Btw, don't you think you should be allowed to upgrade the SPOT like a cell phone?


March 6 at 11:50am · I prefer the SPOT basically so everyone at home knows where i am and that I am okay. It relieves anxiety on trip - especially a solo trip. I've yet to use the SOS or Help feature - thank goodness - but I always get a signal - more so than if I was using a sat. phone


March 6 at 1:30pm · LikeUnlike · 1 person
Loading...Alan Drummond Thank you all for the comments. Thanks Ray for clarifying the unit used. I will edit my note to reflect that. DJ, insightful and informative as usual. BK, SV, LB, DR and KC thank you for your thought s and comments as well.
Truth be told th...ough I am no further ahead in my decision making process. I guess I have a lot of research to do before the hard water goes soft again. Thanks againSee More


March 6 at 2:55pm · Alan Drummond Here is the link to our National Search and Rescue Secretariat's website
http://www.nss.gc.ca/site/index_e.asp


March 6 at 2:59pm ·The SPOT works great for what it's designed for. If you are paddling on Lake Ontario and Georgian Bay 95% of the time then I wouldn't tell anybody to get anything fancier. Those areas all have full VHF radio and cell coverage so generally speaking you have redundant back-ups if necessary. You could start looking at other options for a trip on Lake Superior but then you could always rent a PLB if you thought you might be doing something more risky.


March 6 at 2:59pm · Again, Alan, it all depends on what you want to do and where you want to go. Speaking as someone who likes "backup plans for my backup plan", I regard the Spot (attached to me or someone in my group) as useful but not a stand-alone thing. Cell phones in a GOOD waterproof container, VHF bolted to my body, sat phone for areas outside cell coverage (but speaking as someone who has used one, they aren't goof-proof either!!) plus a good group/emergency plan should just about do it. ;-)


March 6 at 3:17pm I've been able to find satelite phones for short term rental but I can't find the SPOT. Has anyone heard of renting a SPOT?


March 6 at 5:14pm · LikeUnlikeAlan Drummond Another articel from the Coast Guard news which states that it was a PLB not a SPOT that was activated.
http://coastguardnews.com/coast-guard-rescues-2-in-lake-superior-after-kayak-capsizes/2010/09/17/


March 6 at 11:38pm · LikeUnlikeAlan Drummond Another article similar to the last one, but I love the line that the article finishes off with:
http://www.sootoday.com/content/news/full_story.asp?StoryNumber=48482

" they can take the "search" out of "search and rescue."


March 6 at 11:41pm · LikeUnlikeAlan Drummond So after much input and discussion with many different people, including Kevin Callan and Justine Curgenven. I have decided to stay with the SPOT I have, for now. A friend pointed out that most of the paddling they do is Great Lakes and Geo...rgian Bay based, they take their cell phone, where coverage may be quite wide spread, albeit with gaps and is not to be depended on, and also they take along a VHF radio, paddle in a group of at least two and are concious of the weather and the conditions constantly.

Seeing as how most of the paddling I will be doing will be similar I see no reason why the SPOT wouldn't compliment the above mentioned devices and plans to make any paddle I do as safe as possible.

Perhaps the PLB may be in the future if I was doing more solo, remote or dangerous paddling. But I still think even in that case I may pair it with a SPOT just to give those at home constant reassurance that I was OK.

So for now I will stick with the SPOT and its fun features and make sure I have extra batteries, a VHF radio, a cell phone, a float plan, and have any paddle I go on, solo or otherwise, well thought out, so that I never have to sit in the water for 3 hours waiting on a helicopter to come rescue me.

Thank you all for your input.See More

Re: Paddle 'n Sushi

Due to an unforeseen issue that popped up, me being a dumb ass and not realizig this paddle was tomorrow, I will not be coming out.
I'll get on this river eventually.

Have fun All

Staying with the SPOT for now

So after much input and discussion with many different people, including Kevin Callan and Justine Curgenven. I have decided to stay with the SPOT I have, for now. A friend pointed out that most of the paddling they do is Great Lakes and Georgian Bay based, they take their cell phone, where coverage may be quite wide spread, albeit with gaps and is not to be depended on, and also they take along a VHF radio, paddle in a group of at least two and are concious of the weather and the conditions constantly.

Seeing as how most of the paddling I will be doing will be similar I see no reason why the SPOT wouldn't compliment the above mentioned devices and plans to make any paddle I do as safe as possible.

Perhaps the PLB may be in the future if I was doing more solo, remote or dangerous paddling. But I still think even in that case I may pair it with a SPOT just to give those at home constant reassurance that I was OK.

So for now I will stick with the SPOT and its fun features and make sure I have extra batteries, a VHF radio, a cell phone, a float plan, and have any paddle I go on, solo or otherwise, well thought out, so that I never have to sit in the water for 3 hours waiting on a helicopter to come rescue me.

Thank you all for your input.

Which deck compass do you use

I had some work done on my boatr this winter and am now without a deck compass as I had the permanently fixed one removed.
Does anyone have any suggestions for a favorite deck comapss they use?
How much? and where to buy? would be appreciated as well.

Thanks

Alan

Re: SPOT Satellite Messenger vs PLB

Thanks for the feedback Goni.

Re: Paddle 'n Sushi

If it's a decent fish and chips place it will proudly serve haggis

Re: Paddle 'n Sushi

No thanks on the sushi but in for the paddle.
Brian, us Brits prefer our fish battered and FRIED.

SPOT Satellite Messenger vs PLB

Before Christmas I purchased a SPOT 1, at a really good price and was looking forward to using it this summer. Over the past couple of years I have enjoyed going on kayaking trips vicariously through others who use SPOT while they are on the water.

However, last week at the Outdoor Adventure Show I was speaking with a gentleman from the Canadian National Search and Rescue Secretariat and got into a discussion with him about SPOT, PLB's and their differences. I left their booth conflicted as I thought that with SPOT I would be safe and be able to entertain those shorebound all at the same time. Not entirely true apparently.

I entered SPOT vs PLB in Google and came up with over 25, 000 hits. One of the first ones,

http://desertexplorer.wordpress.com/2010/02/05/revisiting-the-spot-versus-plb-question/

led me here

http://www.acrelectronics.com/faqs/spotvs.aspx

I could not find a SPOT vs PLB comparison page on the SPOT website.

http://www.findmespot.ca/en/

Here is an article from Adventure Kayak Magazine from a Coast Guard rescue near the north shore of Lake Superior last September.

http://www.adventurekayakmag.com/blogs/flotsam-a-jetsam/blogs-flotsom-jetsom/1188-tandem-kayakers-rescued-on-superior.html

The personal locator beacon referred to in the article was activated at 12:59 pm, a Canadian AIRPLANE located them at 3:19 pm and they were finally plucked out of the water by a US HELICOPTER at 4:01pm.

To me, 3 hours and 2 minutes is a little too long to be floating around in the water waiting on a rescue.

One of the points that I have discovered that causes me some concern is that the SPOT signal ggoes to a call center in Texas which dispatches the closest emergency responders. Once a traditional PLB is activated the signal is picked up by the National Search and Rescue Secretariat which coordinates the rescue from, in our case, CFB Trenton.

I think I am going to sell my SPOT and purchase a PLB. It may not be as fun as a SPOT for those shorebound, and for dissecting my trip afterwards, but I think I will feel that much more confident that a big yellow helicopter will reach me faster when I really need a big yellow helicopter to find me FAST.

Anyone looking for a brand new SPOT Satellite Messenger?

I welcome any thoughts on this especially from those that have experience with both, or experience with one or the other.

Tragedy

Tragedy when lack of planning and high winds come in to play in Florida

http://www.theledger.com/article/20110123/NEWS/101235037/1001/BUSINESS?p=3&tc=pg

Re: Polar Bear Paddle January 1st 2011

Thanks to all those who came out today. Great paddle.

Re: Polar Bear Paddle January 1st 2011

What Craig said.
We will be keeping a constant eye on conditions as they develop and adjusting length of paddle accordingly.
Conditions at the Beach were calm but foggy and misty.

Re: Polar Bear Paddle January 1st 2011

Thanks for the above post siriusb. We will keep an eye on the weather throughout the morning, I will be posting again at noon once I have a birds eye view of the Lake from Bronte Beach.
If the paddle is a GO I urge extreme caution as to what you wear and what you think your abilities may be. We may be challenged with changing conditions this afternoon. Please come prepared with a drysuit or at the very least a thick wetsuit and at least one change of clothing in your boat.

WINDS

Winds are picking up for Saturday. Keep an eye here Saturday morning for go-no-go for this paddle.
Go-no-go will be decided at NOON.

Re: Polar Bear Paddle January 1st 2011

8 degrees with scattered showers. About as good as it gets this time of year
http://www.theweathernetwork.com/weather/caon0493

See you Saturday

Polar Bear Paddle January 1st 2011

Polar Bear Paddle January 1st 2011 to go watch the brave/foolish swimmers that take part in the Courage Brothers Polar Bear Dip, www.polarbeardip.ca, at Coronation Park in Oakville.
Put in at Bronte Beach (35 West River St. Oakville, ON)
Meet between 12:00 and 12:30
On the water by 1:00
Polar Bear Dippers dip promptly at 2:00
Return to Bronte Beach 3:30ish
Coffee/drinks/etc afterwards perhaps

Please keep in mind the water and air temperature for Lake Ontario this time of year. Drysuit is STRONGLY recommended. Change of clothes in dry bag in boat and also back ups in car necessary if you do not have drysuit.

Please let me know if you are coming.

THANK YOU

Thank you so much to all of you who came out to the paddle today. What a wonderful day. See you next year, November 13th.

Alan

weather or not here I come

OK so the weather forecast is not the greatest. Likely be a little damp both below and above the boat. But, I still hope to see you all there.
Here is the current forecast
http://www.theweathernetwork.com/weather/caon0100

Remmeber this paddle is now at Burlington Beach.....NOT Long Point

Any questions text or call mein the AM, 416-676-3619

See you there

Alan

LOCATION CHANGE AND DETAILS

Not realizing the distance to Long Point and listening to those wiser than myself, you may be few, but you are loud, I have decided to move the paddle from Long Point, to Burlington Beach. The put-in will be the easternmost parking lot along Lakeshore Blvd behind Joseoh Brant Memorial Hospital.
http://maps.google.ca/maps?ie=UTF8&hl=en&ll=43.313454,-79.801083&spn=0.005082,0.009602&t=h&z=17

Plan to be on the water at 10 am and we'll head out to wherever makes the most sense depending on the conditions of the day.

Bring a snack and bring something yummy to share. Last years "Alan's Birthday Paddle" brought together approx. 14 paddlers under a windless overcast 12' off of Cherry Beach and I believe we all had a blast.
So keep that boat out of storage for now and we'll have a blast celebrating my second favorite day of the year.

If you need a boat suitable for this event let me know and once I know numbers I can see what I can do about arranging on-site rentals.

PS feel free to invite others to this event. The more the merrier.

Re: Alan's Birthday Paddle November 14 Long Point

Details coming soon, in the next day or so.

Lise, I know Long Point is far and I really hope we get an excellent paddle day out of it but I have never paddled it and have heard great things about it.

Glad you are making the trek.

Details coming soon

Will be posting details for this paddle soon.

Re: Strawberry and Motor Island Day-Paddle

Note to self: bring kevlar boat

Re: Strawberry and Motor Island Day-Paddle

Looks like fun Carla, pencil me in for now. FOr some reason I think we have something else going on that day but if we don't I'm there.
So I guess it is forbidden to enter Beaver Island State Park without permission huh? Becaue I have heard that it is really nice to explore with all the foliage removed.

Re: Paddle board and yoga - Attn Dympna

That looks cool. Why didn't I see this until now? Damnit

Kayak tripping stoves

Which stove is best for kayak tripping?

Criteria would be 1-3 people going out for 2-3 days, several times per year.
Thanks

Re: Social Paddle Saturday October 9 Burlington Beach

Thanksgiving dinner tonight at the in-laws. I think you all know where I would rather be.
Enjoy

Alan's Birthday Paddle November 14 Burlington Beach

Join me as I celebrate another birthday, this year we will paddle near Long Point on Lake Erie.

Long Point is a 40 Km long sand spit that juts out into Lake Erie, and is recognized as a World Biosphere Reserve by the United Nations. It is an excellent location for birdwatching, as well as an ideal spot to see a wide variety of aquatic plants and amphibians.(taken/stolen from www.learntokayak.ca without permission)
Long Point also provides protection form the predominant west winds leaving the bay quite calm.

Bring a lunch and bring something yummy to share. Last years "Alan's Birthday Paddle" brought together approx. 14 paddlers under a windless overcast 12' off of Cherry Beach and I believe we all had a blast.
So keep that boat out of storage for now and we'll have a blast celebrating my second favorite day of the year.

If you need a boat suitable for this event let me know and once I know numbers I can see what I can do about arranging on-site rentals.

PS feel free to invite others tothis event. The more the merrier.

See you there,

Alan

no problem with marathon and trafic concerns

Several of you expressed concern regarding the Scotiabank Waterfront Marathon tomorrow and how it may affect access to Cherry Beach.

There may be a delay getting down to the beach but they are still allowing people access. See the links below for further info.
For those coming from the west
Gardiner to the end, and exit onto Lakeshore Blvd E
Turn right (S) onto Leslie St
Turn right (W) onto Commissioners St
Turn left (S) onto Cherry St

Once off the Gardiner your turns may be controlled by Police.

From the east
Down Leslie St to Commissioners St
Turn right (W) onto Commissioners St
Turn left (S) onto Cherry St

From the north
DVP south to Lakeshore Exit
Left (E) on Lakeshore to Leslie St
Turn right (S) on Leslie St
Turn right (W) onto Commissioners St
Turn left (S) onto Cherry St

These links provide info on access and road closures
http://www.torontowaterfrontmarathon.com/en/faq/faqroadclosures_le.htm
http://www.torontowaterfrontmarathon.com/en/pdf/roadclosures2010.pdf

Marathon Route Map
http://www.torontowaterfrontmarathon.com/en/pdf/stwmcoursemap10.pdf

I will plan to get there quite early and will update on this forum if there are any issues. If you are coming shoot me your phone # and I can call/text you if there are any issues.
My number is 416-676-3619

Hope to see you there and I am sure the marathon won't delay access to the put in by more than a few minutes.

Alan
alanrdrummond@hotmail.com

Cherry Beach Toronto Island Paddle Sunday Septmeber 26

Planning a paddle from Cherry Beach over to and through the Toronto Islands on Sunday morning. Meet at 930ish and on the water by 10. Over to the islands and poke about. Off the water sometime between 2 and 3. Bring a lunch and we'll stop somewhere for a bite.


Please forward to any and all that you think may be interested.

Location
http://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&q=cherry%20beach&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wl

Park and put in at east end of the parking lot.

Feel free to ask any questions regarding this paddle

Let me know if you're coming

Thanks

Alan
alanrdrummond@hotmail.com

Re: FULL MOON PADDLE SUNDAY JULY 25

See you then

Re: FULL MOON PADDLE SUNDAY JULY 25

Okay, looks things are a go for tonight. Weather and clouds should cooperate.


http://text.weatheroffice.gc.ca/forecast/city_e.html?on-143

http://www.theweathernetwork.com/weather/CAON0696

See you there

Re: FULL MOON PADDLE SUNDAY JULY 25

Weather is looking good for tomorrow night. Moon should be nice and bright.

FULL MOON PADDLE SUNDAY JULY 25

Details for full moon paddle Sunday July 25.
Leave from Cherry Beach 8:30.
Hope to be back at Cherry Beach between 1030 and 1100
Paddle through the islands. Possible portage from Trout Pond to south side of islands if lake is calm.
Must bring headlamp and at least one glowstick. Those with plastic boats may want to bring flashlight to put in bow hatch.
Weather is 30% chance of isolated showers right now, likely to change. Cloudy skies and/or lightning cancel the paddle

Please RSVP alanrdrummond@hotmail.com if you are coming

Feel free to invite and/or bring friends along or forward this to anyone you think may be interested

Hope to see you there

Alan

Carla....

Carla, this is a family place remember!

BOOM BOOM

Things that go BOOM are always fun. Should be there

Dang it

Me's think's me's missed the paddle of the summer. Hold on, it's not summer yet. So I guess I missed the paddle of the spring. OK, I feel better now. How's about another Carla??????

Re: Women's Scarborough Bluff Paddle

For some reason I really don't know if that is a conversation I want to have with Mr Donaldson. And option B, well as fun as that result may be, not sure I want to go that route either.