A Perfect Way to Start Sea Kayaking

I paddled away from the island, pointed out into Southeast Harbor, against the wind. It was the first time I had paddled alone in awhile and it felt good to really let go and move quickly through the water, concerned only for myself. A breeze mildly corrugated the surface, but the whole Inner Harbor-Southeast Harbor area was relatively calm... amazingly so, considering the bumpy conditions at the mouth of Webb Cove that had driven us in this direction. My clients had hoped to spend the first night of their multi-day trip out in the archipelago, but this was just their second day of sea kayaking, and the lure of quieter water beckoned. Fortunately, it was as placid as I had predicted.

My clients were a couple who wanted some instruction and guidance to get started sea kayaking. For our first day we'd scheduled a full-day Fundamentals class, followed by a Journeying focus on the second day. I would help them get to their first destination. After that they would continue their trip on their own.

It's good to have such a specific goal: try to get them paddling safely and efficiently enough to continue on their own. A full-day Fundamentals class is a good start. We cover strokes and maneuvers as well as safety and navigation, all in the context of a journey. We may cover some of the same material in a shorter class, but in a full day, students have the chance to really try out these skills and get coached on them.We finished the first day with rescues in the pond.

After their first day of paddling, the couple had the chance to go back to the campground and recuperate- get a meal in town and a good night's sleep before the next morning, when they packed their boats and we headed out- me just for the day, while they were packed for four nights. The focus of our second day was more on the big picture: navigation, seamanship, making choices along the way.

Our environment was a good teacher. Conditions picked-up quickly. Shortly after launching I was asked about the wave height. "Under a foot," I said, but by the time we made it to Indian Point I conceded that the waves had grown to a foot and a half, and were a solid two feet soon after that. This was more than my day-two paddlers wanted to be in, and since the forecast called for more of this the next day, we planned a route to more sheltered waters. In the meantime, they were able to experience enough bumpy water to start gaining their own perspective- to understand what they might or might not want to paddle in.

We ate lunch on a ledge and found our way in through the river-like passage of Hatch Cove. The wind faded to a distant hiss and we passed beneath the bridge, floating on the ebbing tide into the calm pocket of Inner Harbor. Ahead, our island lay waiting. We landed and had a look around. The couple sat on the edge of the tent platform, looking content. It would be their home for the next couple of nights.

A couple of mornings later I received a text from them. They'd loved staying on the island and exploring the more sheltered areas around it (the following day had turned even windier). But then the weather improved and they felt confident enough to head out into the archipelago for a couple more days. When they finally returned, they had a calm, satisfied air about them, and they were certain they would be doing more of this.

End of Summer

Isle au Haut

While gathering photos from some of the trips I've led through Pinniped and Old Quarry over the last month, it became clearer to me why I haven't written posts about individual trips- I've been busy.

Fog Island

We've spent a lot of time on the water, but the rest of the time we're doing other work around Old Quarry. It often starts at 6:30 in the morning and ends around nine in evening, shortly before we eat dinner in front of a tv show on the computer. We tend to nod-off before the show is over.

Little Sheep Island

But it's been good. You know it won't last forever. You just focus on the work. We get out on the water most days. We'd love to be on the water even more, but the big picture here is that the entire operation at Old Quarry is what enables us to get those trips.

Fog Island

And we especially appreciate it after working at a brand new company last winter- we were lucky to get any sort of trip or lesson, let alone one that ventured farther than the local salt marshes. Most of my time and effort went into trying to develop the business- an uphill battle to be sure... and we didn't have the Stonington archipelago at our doorstep. Cumberland Island is wonderful, but not everyone can get there in a kayak, and even then you need to choose your days to go with the tide.

Hells Half Acre

Most of the guided trips that leave from Old Quarry are a half-day or less, so even though we don't have "milk run" trips covering the same territory each time, we do tend to find ourselves in the same spots pretty freqently.

Isle au Haut - Western Head

When people rent boats we recommend all the same islands we visit on guided trips- places that most paddlers ought to be able to get to fairly safely. People like the swimming quarry on Green Island, or the view from the top of Little Camp. The south side beach on Hells Half Acre makes people want to hang-out for awhile, and Little Sheep Island feels like another world, despite our ability to get there and back in two hours.

Little Camp Island

You never know who you'll get on a guided trip, but we've had a lot of people who seem truly grateful for a chance to do what many of us paddlers may eventually take for granted. For some people, it's a really big deal to get into a little boat and propel oneself over the ocean. And many would never give it a try or attain the privileged view of the islands without the help of a guide.

Little Camp Island

Despite the satisfaction of helping all kinds of people get out there, I'm not sure I would guide if I didn't also get the chance to take them to the next level- teaching and taking people on longer trips and into more challenging environments.

Isle au Haut

I've had a few full-day trips and classes through Old Quarry and Pinniped, including another three-day trip around Isle au Haut. Pinniped attracts more clients who want to learn and be challenged.

Sullivan Falls

Nate Hanson at Sullivan Falls

Renting-out boats is a bit scary, and probably the least satisfying part of this business. We ask a question or two to discern a renter's preparedness, but it's a moot point if they're determined to rent a boat. Every once in awhile I launch someone who seems to understand what they're doing, but few are even vaguely prepared to be on their own. They're just determined to take the cheaper and more independent option of renting a boat and a guided trip doesn't interest them. Sometimes, as I'm launching someone, they may ask the last minute question "so what happens if I tip over?" Plenty of "experienced" paddlers need to be shown which side of their paddle is up. Sometimes we show them. Sometimes they obviously know it all.

Rebecca launches her group

Most of them return eventually..

Long Porcupine Island

The summer has flown past. It seems like a long time ago when we were taking out standup paddleboards or poling canoes in our spare moments, and yet it's been just over two months.

Isle au Haut

That's the summer here in Maine, and it pretty much ends this weekend. We'll be here at least until the end of September, when we'll head up to the Bay of Fundy Sea Kayak Symposium, where I'll be assistant coaching. I'm not sure what we'll do after that.

Gooseberry Island

In the midst of all of this, I've also needed to do some last-minute work on the guidebook, which is now due out in April of 2016- a year past the original release date.

Smith Cove, Brooksville

It feels very different today at Old Quarry than it did even a day ago. The wind picked-up this morning and a steady stream of campers checked-out and drove away, anticipating traffic jams on I-95 in southern Maine. They seem subdued, heading back to the cities and jobs. We still have a lot on our schedule, but the pace seems less frantic. 

Little Camp Island