Birding for Kiting

Andre and I fill the back seat of his helicopter with kiting gear, take the bird to Martha's Vineyard for an after work session. This is the kind of birding I really enjoy! I wonder if I should feel guilty about flying at 100 MPH over the traffic jams below. I don't. This is the scenic route. Getting there is as much fun as the kiting. Charles River               Boston Harbor The Approach to Katama Bay     Kitesurfed, Martha's Vineyard- Katama Bay, SW 12-18, 17M Fat Lady/Flex 138 with Andre.

Getting Down in Delaware

I make the short drive to Delaware for a little kiting in Rehobeth Bay. This is a pretty nice shallow water spot for kiting. It doesn't seem to have water that's over waist deep at low tide. Friendly crowd. Nice place to visit so they say. Rehobeth Bay Oh yeah, while I'm here I pick up a new/old motor for my boat that I bought online. On the way home I sleep in the back of my truck snuggled up next to my sleek motor in a New Jersey Turnpike rest area. Isn't that a cozy image? I have happy dreams.

The Fog of Kiting

Fog. Nothing good is happening at Hardings. I drive to Chatham light where the fog is a little thinner. The flag on the South Beach Flotsam Shack is stiff! The meter still says 5 mph. Yeah, somebody's lying. Flotsam Shack I walk out to the New Cut and  have a fine12 meter session in the mist. I'm overpowered. I'm underpowered. I kite to the Old New Cut and Stage Harbor. I'm lost in the fog. Some of the fog is lost in me. This is good. Fog goes into my brain, worries go out. New Cut, High Tide, Small Pool in the Marsh The New Cut has a tiny pool at high tide and some waves at the opening. It's a little Gusty in SW from the wind coming across Stage Island. It might be fun in a S to NE wind. Waves at New Cut Opening, Side Off Wind Chatham New Cut, Kitesurfed, SW, 12-28, 12M Rally/Flx 138, Solo. Where else have I been kiting this Spring? Few times at Chapin, Nahant, Horseneck. I had an afterwork session at Dog with Andre. He's getting about 50% of his slide transitions. Yay!

Making the Cut

Cuts happen, especially in Chatham. I kite out from Hardings to the newest one, stopping at the old new cut on the way out and Stage Harbor on the way back. The beachscape changes quickly around here! It's hard for a poor kiter to keep up. The Newest Cut, shrouded in mystery Boats are going to like the newest cut. It looks deep enough for most even at dead low. Not any particular attraction here for kiting though. The old new cut and Stage Harbor still hold the jewels for kiters. This (massive) delinquent buoy was trying to run away from home, until it got tripped up by South Beach. Click on pics to see full size. I put away my mountaineering boots and have been kiting since the end of March. It's great to be on the water again! Kitesurfed, Hardings Beach, WSW, 15-22, 10M Rally/ Mako 150, Solo

Hiking Summary

Hiking Summary 2017-2018 Winter  Warm Ups 10/21/17    Saco Bay, Harpswell, Cliff Trail, Devils Back Trail, a few miles. 10/22/17    Saco Bay, Little Chebeague Island, a few miles. 10/29/17    Lake Winnipesaukee, Stonedam Island, a few miles. 11/4/17      Monadnock, White Dot, Cliff Trail 5 miles. 11/11/17    Monadnock, Pumpelly Trail, White Dot, double peak, (up down up down), 12 miles. 11/18/17    Sandy Neck, Cape Cod, 11 miles. 11/25/17    Monadnock, Pumpelly Trail, Smith, White Arrow Trail, 1.25 peaks. 10 miles. 12/3/17      Lincoln/Lafyette, 9 miles, 6 hours, solo. 12/10/17    Monadnock, Red Spot, White Cross, 5 miles, solo. Struggling with sore knees Winter 1/14/18       Liberty and Flume, 10.5 Miles, Solo. More sore knees. I may need to take a break from hiking. Sunrise from Zealand Hut 2016-2017 Winter Lots of day hikes, slept in my truck a lot so I could start early, 2 hut trips, 1 camping trip that turned into a shelter trip due to wet conditions. My goal was to try Winter camping and do more of the NH 4000 footers. I want to see all of the high peaks with their Winter coats. Warm Ups 11/27/16   Monadnock, Red Spot, 4 miles, solo. 12/4/16     Monadnock, I found the Pumpelly Cave! 5 miles, solo. 12/11/16   Monadnock, Pumpelly Cave, 5 miles, solo. 12/17/16   Monadnock, White Dot. 4 miles, solo Winter 12/25/16   Waumbek, 8 Miles. With Starr King, easy hike, no steeps, like Moosilauke, solo. 1/1/17       Osceola/ East Osceola, 7.6 miles. Grey Jays, very steep to East Osceola. Fun slide down. 1/7/17       Moriah, 10 miles, Relatively easy hike on Stony Brook. Beautiful ridge for 1.5 mile, solo. 1/14/17     Zealand, hiked into Zealand hut the day before. No steeps, no views from peak. WHP. 1/15/17     Hale, hiked from Zealand Hut over Hale to cars, no steeps, no views. WHP. 1/21/17     N Kinsman/ S Kinsman, stayed at Kinsman Pond shelter after hike, no steeps, WHP. 1/21/17     Cannon, from Kinsman Pond shelter, over "Cannon Balls", steeps on final 1/2 mile. WHP. 2/5/17       Mid/ S Carter, Loop, cut thru Camp Dodge return, no steeps, 11 miles, 8 hours, solo. 2/11/17     Cabot, 10 miles, 7 hours, no steeps, AMC. 2/19/17     Wildcat A,B,C,D, from/to Carter Notch Hut, some steeps to Wildcat A, WHP. 2/20/17     Carter Dome, from Carter Notch Hut, very steep on hut side, crampons, WHP. 2/26/17     Hancock, S Hancock, some steeps, micro spikes, 10 miles, 7 hours, AMC. 3/5/17       Garfield, gentle hike, mild steeps last 1/4 mile, microspikes, 14 miles, 7.5 hours, Solo.  3/11/17     Table Rock Trail, Grafton Notch, short but beautiful, with Lee.  3/19/17     Pack and North Pack Monadnock, gentle hike, 7 miles, with Jeff, Cora (dog). 8/30/17     Chocura with Ben, 7 miles, 4.5 hours, easier hike than expected.  My favorite 3 hikes were along the Carter Ridge- Moriah, Mid and S Carter, Carter Dome. I loved the  the wind sculptured coating of snow and the stunning intermittent views from the ridge. On my way to Middle Carter 2015-2016 Winter Lots of day hikes, slept in my truck sometimes so I could start hiking at or before sunrise, 1 car camping trip. My main goal was to learn enough and get conditioned enough to make it up Mt Washington. My secondary goal was to make it back down from Washington. Mt Monadnock warm ups in Nov and Dec. 12/9/2015   Completed 2015 Winter Hiking Program, (WHP). 12/12/2015 Jackson, 5 miles, with WHP. 12/13/2015 Chocura, 7 miles, solo. 1/2/2016     Dublin Lake/Mt Monadnock, 11.5 miles, solo. Winter 4000 Footers 1/9/16         Pierce/Eisenhower, 8.5 miles, 6 hours, WHP. 1/17/16       Tecumsah, 5.2 miles, no steeps, solo. 1/24/16       Willey/Field/Tom, 11 miles, 9 hours, Grey Jays eat from hand, mild steeps Willey, solo. 1/31/16       N Kinsman/S Kinsman, 10 miles, no steeps, WHP. 2/6/16         Moosilauke, 10 miles, 7 hours, no steeps, WHP. Very easy hike. 2/14/16       Jackson, 5 miles, 4 hours, no steeps, Solo. 2/21/16       Washington, 8.5 miles, 9 hours, WHP. Lions Head, very steep, very challenging! 3/5/16         Lincoln, Lafayette, 9 miles, beautiful loop hike on Franconia Ridge, no steeps, solo. 3/19/16       Madison, with AMC. 4/3/16         Hancock/ S Hancock, 9.8 miles, Steep approach to S Hancock, solo. 8/24/16       Liberty/ Flume, 10.1 miles, nice hike with Ben! Flume slide trail up, steep. Red- New Hampshire 48 4000 Footers in Winter AMC- Appalachian Mountian Club WHP- AMC Winter Hiking Program Boston Mt Eisenhower Mist

Martha's Vineyard in a Bathtub

I have no idea if this crazy plan is going to work. Everyone I told about it said I was nuts. Probably true, but it still might work. Martha's Vineyard in a 12' Dinghy- I spend the first half of my vacation working on my tiny boat, getting it ready for open ocean and to sleep in. I install a battery, bilge pump, a charger for my phone (which I use for navigation), a bench seat that also holds my gas tank, tent poles to support the canvas cover, and a sleeping board that I can move into position for sleeping. I'm ready for the seven seas. I boat out and spend one night camping in a tent on Washburn Island, Waqoiut Bay. That's been on my bucket list for a few years! Then on to Martha. Nice Secluded Campsite on Washburn Island The wind is 15-25 when I cross the 6 miles from Waqoiut Bay to the Vineyard. More wind and waves than I wanted for my first crossing with my little boat! At least it's a NE wind for a following sea. I get knocked around but I'm very happy to arrive, kinda dry and still floating. My toy boat made it! I go into Edgartown and notice that my dinghy looks different from all the other dinghies at the dinghy dock. Mine has the bright red canvas covering the bow, gear strapped all over the sides, the big bench seat, a kiteboard hanging off the back. I stand out like a circus clown among grey suited businessmen. I worry that I might be told to leave because I'm obviously not a tender for a yacht but nobody says nothing. They just stare, (in admiration I assume). I love kiting and spending the night in Cape Poge. I anchor near the lee shore and set up the boat for sleep as the setting sun paints the sky deep orange and the almost full moon creeps above the horizon. Beautiful. Kiting in Cape Poge, Chappaquiddick Now's the test. Can I really sleep on this tiny thing? I have just enough room to stretch out on my sleeping board. Clearance between my forehead and the canvas is about 2 inches. I drift off to sleep to the sound of ripples lapping at the bow. I feel like I'm sleeping on an air mattress adrift on the ocean. I sleep 8 hours, more sleep than I've had in forever. I learn a lot about cruising in a boat. How the dinghy docks work, where to find showers, ice, fuel, and legal anchorages. Many harbors have amenities such as the dinghy docks etc. set up for visiting yachts. I feel like I'm cheating because my dinghy is my yacht but these amenities are great. It makes getting what I need way too easy. I could stay out here until the snow flies. Getting Underway Early, This is the Moon Setting as the Sun Comes Up With light wind for a few days, I boat around the island and explore all the bays and harbors along the way, (I cover 80 miles in 2 days according to my phone, 40 miles per 6 gal gas). What I learn- Katama Bay is off limits for legal overnight anchoring. Edgartown is great and has everything I need right there. Oak Bluffs has a vibrant party feel, almost a Caribbean vibe. The west side of the island is fairly secluded and rocky with striking cliffs that I want to climb, rocky areas where I want to snorkel. Menemsha has a fishing village feel with a beautiful hidden cove that I find to anchor in. The south side of the island is fairly secluded but not varied, except for the stunning cliffs at Gay Head. No harbors or shelters on this entire side, not a place I would choose to break down please. Menemsha Night The Menemsha cove is my high point of the trip. Glassy water encircled by marsh and stubby trees. 3 deer watch me enter the cove before bounding away. I eat my dinner anchored in the middle of this secluded pool as the golden full moon rises. Fish are jumping all around the boat. I stretch out in my dry sleeping bag surrounded by whispering water. The night is perfect. On the last day Josh boats out with a friend to meet me and to do some kiting and fishing. I've had trouble off and on with my 25 HP motor during the trip. Now it finally dies. Unbelievable timing! This is the opposite of Murphy's law. If anything can go wrong it will at the best possible time. Josh goes to work and determines that my motor is not getting a spark. Done. He has my old 8 HP on board as his back up motor. We swap motors, (not easy but Josh doesn't hesitate), and I'm saved from a near death experience. I boat back to the mainland at night because the wind is almost still. I use the full moon for light and my phone for navigation. Lights on the mainland, shining off the black water, act as a beacon. It's stunning! I'm sad to go home to a backlog of work emails, phone messages, estimates, invoices, scheduling headaches, and all the trivial ups and downs of running a small business, although I'm glad to be back with Barbara. This trip was a bucket list trip that I didn't even know was on my list. Until very recently it hadn't occurred to me that it might be possible to live and sleep on a 12' dinghy for a few days, not to mention crossing over to Martha's Vinyard and back. It took a little creativity but that was part of the appeal. Out on the water I had a feeling of complete freedom, joy, and adventure, with many moments of tranquility and bliss. I think I was using a part of my brain that's dormant in 90% of my life. Now I'm using all of my brain to think about my next trip.

Martha My Dear

9-10-2016 Josh and I make it over to Martha's Vineyard in his boat for kiting and fishing! This has been a goal for both us with our boating this year. Josh kiting in Katama Bay Is it crazy to come over here with his 40 year old motor that cuts out frequently? Yes, probably. It helps that we have an auto mechanic on board. Also Josh has a small back up motor just in case. Still it takes a little faith or foolishness. We have plenty of both. With Josh, Darren, Kaitlyn.

What Are You Thankful For?

8/24/16 Blue skies overhead, a trail beneath my feet, wonderful hiking company. This is what I'm thankful for! Ben On top of Mt Flume 2 peaks- Mt Flume, Mt Liberty. Flume Slide Trail up. Liberty Spring Trail down, with Ben.

You Never Forget How to Ride a Bike

8/21/16 Kiting with Josh This is Josh's first session in 2 years. I thought I'd get to see some really good crashes! I was disappointed.

My New Kite Boat

Goodbye little red bathtub. Kiting in Chatham 7/16/16   Hello little gray bathtub. Kiting at Horseneck West End 8/5/16 My old boat was 10'. My new one is 11.5'. Just big enough to get myself into some real trouble. I'm sorry to see the old red boat go. I have such great family memories in that little old boat. Josh's boat is still bigger than mine.

Sandy Session

Sandy Neck- Sandy feet, sandy hair, sandy brain. I love it. This is how I relax. Kitesurfed, Sandy Neck, Barnstable, ENE, E, 12-18, 17M Fat Lady/ Mako 150.

Egg on my Kite

I've been using my teency tiny inflatable boat to kite off the grid a little. I'm drawn to the wild, secluded spots like South Monomoy. I can't kite there anymore, (legally), so I'm doing some exploring and poking around for new venues. Egg Island, near Kalmus Beach. I launch from the sand bar at low tide and kite in the kiddie pool. This bar is exposed for only about 2 or 3 hours before and after low tide. The main beach in the background would be an easier launch but it's off limits. It has massive signs saying so and a guard actually patrols the beach. I can't say I didn't see the signs. You can read them from 10 miles away. Is this spot worth all the effort of boating out here? No, not really. I just like the challenge of finding a way to kite an otherwise inaccessible spot.

Chatham Light

Oh yeah, I love this spot in SE! Especially on the outgoing tide. The waves, sand bars, slicks all line up beautifully in this wind. Sand Bar at the Mouth of Chatham Harbor My favorite spot is on a sand bar off South Beach near the mouth of Chatham Harbor. This may be one of the very few remaining spots in the world without a kite ban. How lucky is that?! We had better enjoy it while we can. Chatham Lighthouse, Kitesurfed, ESE, SE, 15-25, With Jean, Jamie, Rich.

Ban Kite Bans.

Assachusettes is becoming the world capitol of kite bans. I think the authorities won't stop until kiters have been officially declared an endangered species. That's probably the only way we'll get any rights. Then they'll have to put up signs, ropes and barriers to keep birds from interfering with us. Taking a break on Great Island All the kite bans make me nostalgic for windsurfing. I go to Kalmus for a good ol' windsurfing session. I get some good ol' forearm cramping and muscle failure. Windsurfing is hard work! It can age you quickly. I was a young man when I started windsurfing this morning, a tired, frail, old man by the afternoon. Kalmus, Windsurfed, 15-30, SW, WSW, 4.2/Surf 85, 5.2/Acid 94, with Martin, Jay, lotsa others.

Plover Sandwich

High tide, solid north wind, and the parking lot in Sandwich is still open to outta towners. Life is good! After my session I walk out to the point so my skin can absorb a little more of the rejuvenating sun and salt. Injured Plover? Nope, she's just faking it. This plover built her nest way out on the point where everyone walks. Every time someone walks near the nest the mommie fakes an injury and limps away from the nest to lead the mean humans away from her eggs. This is what soccer players call flopping and plovers are great at it. The sad thing is that the nest is way below the astronomical high tide mark. It doesn't bode well for the survival of this particular plovers gene pool. Maybe that's as it should be. Town Neck Beach, Sandwich, Kitesurfed, N, 14-22, 12M Rally/ Mako150, Solo.