Paddle Day 54: Wet, Windy, Wild Waves; and Almost Accidental Rescue

Wet waves leaving Flag Harbor

The plan was to start before dawn, with calmer winds and paddle two days of distance to get ahead of the storm.

Paddle Day 34: Wild, Wet and Wicked; and Great Inspiration from Safe Passage Mothers

Getting wet

Can't believe I had to be rescued by a shoreside angel.

Paddle Day 20: Calm to Rough

Calm in the Wareham bay

I started paddling early today since the forecast was for high winds in the afternoon.  And it was almost glassy calm at first.

Paddle Day 18: Sneaking between the whitecaps from the wind and the breaking surf from the swells

The helpful dock master at the Scituate Harbor Yacht Club and Bart, Mike and Janet.

The day started out with calm water and a light breeze, as I waved goodbye to my Scituate hosts: Janet, Bart and Mike.

Paddle Day 3: Confused Seas and Fog

If it's Maine it has to have a light house!

Set out from South Portland with clear skies, but knew there was fog down at the end of Cape Elizabeth.  Paddled with two new friends, Bob and Marian.  Great company as they pointed out the sights along the way like the War of 1812 forts, the location where the shipyards that built the Liberty ships during WWII and House Island that was used as a quarantine location, but has now been sold to a developer.

War of 1812 fort on House Island

As we went past Portland Head Bob said he had never seen the seas so confused there.  Bumpy ride.

By the time we rounded Cape Elizabeth, we were fogged in, and navigated by compass and listening to the surf crash on the cliffs of the southern edge of the cape.

Landed in Kettle Cove and tried to unpack the kayak and have some lunch, but kept getting interrupted by people coming over and asking if I was the woman they say on the news.  It's great that folks are hearing about this expedition and are interested enough to come over and talk with me and have their pictures taken with me.  I am going to run out of the cards I am handing out before I get to Boston, but that's a good problem.

If it remains foggy tomorrow I may reconsider paddling to Scarborough.  I want to be safe, and I haven't had a lot of hours in the new kayak, so am still not fully at ease with how it handles in waves.  Waves when visibility is reduced by fog are more problematic when you are in an unfamiliar area.  Stay tuned!

Scott, Bill, Deb, Bob and Evie - Paddlers on Day 1, then Bob on Days 3 and 4

Paddle Day: 3                                                     Date: July 14, 2014
Start: South Portland                                           End: Kettle Cove
Distance: 11.1 miles                                           Total distance: 24.23
Max speed: 5.4 mph                                           Moving ave.: 3.4 mph
Kayak storage:  Evie and Bob                            Hosts: Evie and Bob