Today's topic is lighthouses and their value to sea kayakers, not only as signaling devices at night and in fog, but also their value as daytime landmarks and as a teaching tool for how to read nautical charts nautical charts with a sharp, accurate eye and an inquisitive sense of curiosity.
A minor 20th-century American poet (Ira Sadofff) once wrote that "as a symbol of loneliness, even a lighthouse has its limits", but it's the element of aloneness that many associate with lighthouses: remoteness, solitude, an overlook of likely bad weather and, until the mid-1900's in North America, a family on an island or scrap of ledge island tending to a revolving beacon. For sea kayakers, lighthouses have a variety of uses and values. The most obvious is their value as nighttime landmarking signals. Paddling at night, trying to feel our way down a remote coastline in the fog, when the lighthouse's foghorn is most likely to be emitting its low mournful call, the lighthouse lets us know where we're near. As a practical matter, truth being that few kayakers paddle night and most tend to head for shore at dusk or when the fog rolls in, it's more valuable to learn how lighthouses how are represented on charts. They're encoded according to their height, flash pattern and range, and these details are of value to kayakers for a whole host of reasons. Let's take a look at a lighthouse in person, or in the light of day, as it were: Gurnet Light, perched on top of a sandy bluff and terminal glacial moraine along the northern shores of Plymouth Bay, in Massachusetts. Gurnet Light looms over the end of this lengthy and spare barrier beach on the south coast of Massachusetts, in maritime New England. Built in 1862, the light has been moved a couple of times from one section of the scarp which forms end of the spit barrier beach's southwestern shore. The scarp and cliffs are periodically undermined and collapse in the windstorms and nor'east gales New England is known for. Like almost every lighthouse in North America, the Gurnet Light is no longer manned, although the keepers house still stands. The light is powered by an array of solar panels; the short, stubby light, made of wooden clapboards, has a catwalk around the lens housing, and off to one side an electronic eye, which flashes a signal towards land to measure the dew point and range of visibility. Once range of visibility is reduced to a half mile by fog, rain, snow or darkness, the light is activated. Let's take a look at the light's salient use to local sea kayakers, value which comes not so much that the light is illuminated at night or in times of limited visibility, but rather, at how the light is depicted on a nautical chart. The chart tells us the light's flash pattern, height, range of visibility, and perhaps most important, shows around the northeast corner of the bluff, there's a beach to land on that is protected from winds from the west. Just as important, the chart show us that, around the northwest corner of the light, there's a second beach, good for landing, that is fully protected from swell, seas and surf generated by weather to the southeast, east, and northeast.
0 Comments
Chicago has so much beautiful water. The Chicago River, Lake Michigan and kayaking is a great way to go out and explore right in your own city. Lessons are necessary. Kayaking may look easy, and it is when you have had the right lessons, but it takes a special knowledge to do it right. Take a look at these schools in Chicago that have kayaking lessons, Each one is a bit different, with a different approach. One even had a special children's program. Contact them and go take a look at what they have to offer. Find the one that has the right classes and schedule for you and most importantly, the people you feel most confident in, the ones you know will be able to teach you your new passion.
Chicago Kayak (for more information visit this site) has sea kayaking lessons for ages 9 and up. Beginner courses at the Skokie Lagoons, a wildlife refuges just 20 minutes north of Chicago and a beautiful place to learn. You can go kayaking and explore the refuge at the same time. More advanced courses are taught on Lake Michigan. The beginning kayaking lessons include Introduction to Sea Kayaking. It is four hours long and gives you all the information needed to start kayaking. After this one, you take the Mini, which is held on Sunday evenings. Here you get to practice paddling almost exclusively. The Intermediate Kayaking Lessons consist of two four hour classes. And two additional four hour classes, Advanced Rescues/Techniques and Cold Water Paddling. They also have women's only kayaking lessons and for the kids, with separate levels just like in the adult classes. Kayak Chicago has a nice., warm indoor pool to get your first lesson in. Not a bad idea. Look at the schedule It gives you a chance to get your first lesson or two in while it is still too cold to go on the river. Pool classes are every wed. from 7-9:30 at the U.I.C. pool in Chicago(Nov.- May) and every sun. from 3-5 and 5:30-7:30 at the I.B.C. pool in Lisle.(Nov.-March). After you have gotten your feet wet, so to speak, and you are ready to hit the water, start with the Intro to Sea Kayaking. You need to take at least this course to be eligible for the special trips. Then the Intermediate and Advanced lessons. When you reach this point, you are ready for the specialized lessons. Advanced Race Training, Kayak Surfing and Eskimo Roll. You can also take private and semi private lessons. If you can get a group together, you could arrange for your own semi private group lessons. If you are going to Rose Canyon you do not pay when entering the National Park on Catalina Highway, but rather you pay when you enter the area. Usually you just fill out an envelope, put money in it, and place it in the box. Because of this method, it is good to have exact changes for putting in here. For one vehicle with up to 4 passengers it is $6. The lake is not accessible in winter.
You can camp and picnic here, but the main draw is the fishing. They call the water the Rose Canyon Lake, however it really is not much more than a large pond. It is stocked with trout regularly. You do need an Arizona fishing license with trout stamp, though, for those over 13 years old and can see (i.e. blind residents do not have to have a fishing license). We picked up our fishing licenses at a Sports Authority in Tucson before leaving town. You can take home up to 6 fish per licensed fishing tips person. For those who can fish without a license and do not have one the limit is 3 fish. The fishing experience can be quite enjoyable with the cooler temperatures than being down in Tucson. The path along one edge is entirely handicap accessible with its nice sidewalk. There are paved areas to fish from in a wheelchair, lawn chair, or even if you just want to stand. The path can at times become kind of full of people. There is also the other side with no path along the lake that you can fish from if the sidewalk is too crowded or you just want to feel more in nature. On the June day I visited here my dad and I caught six good sized rainbow trout during the three hours we fished. Other wildlife we saw besides the fish were ducks and other birds. There were also many dragonflies. Some of them were blue darners, but my favorite were the orange colored Mexican Amberwings. The orange ones mostly flew around and rarely landed making it quite a challenge to photograph, but shortly before we left one landed in the grass near where we were fishing and I was able to photograph it. Out of all the lakes I have fished at in Arizona, Rose Canyon has become my favorite. In part it is because it is one of the closest to where I live. It is also because of its location in the mountains that makes its location it enjoyable during the summer unlike many other lakes in Arizona. Lastly I enjoy the peaceful setting with the dragonflies and the lack of boats. There are five ice fishing destinations within 20 minutes of the city of Willimantic, which sits in the mid-eastern part of the state of Connecticut. Coventry Lake, Hall's Pond, Bishop Swamp, Mansfield Hollow Lake, and Pine Acres Lake are all just a stone's throw from Willimantic, all state owned waters that are goods for ice fishing. Ice fishing near Willimantic, Connecticut offers action from species such as bass, pickerel, yellow perch, walleye, and northern pike once the waters have frozen over.
Coventry Lake, also known as Wangumbaug Lake, is some 373 acres in area, located in the center of Coventry off of Route 31. Coventry Lake is a bass management lake, meaning that any of this species taken from the waters there must be a certain size to be legal, with strict creel limits enforced. Walleye are also stocked in Coventry Lake, which sees the ice fishing season end there on the final day of February. Trout and pickerel inhabit this lake as well; it takes maybe 15 minutes to get to Coventry Lake from the center of Willimantic if you take your time. Hall's Pond is the northernmost of these ice fishing spots, lying at the southern end of the town of Eastford, about fifteen minutes from Willimantic. Hall's Pond contains some good sized largemouth bass that can be taken through the ice, in addition to a hefty supply of chain pickerel. This 82 acre lake is another of Connecticut's bass management lakes, but the ice fishing season doesn't end when March arrives, extending as long as there is safe ice to fish on. Hall's Pond can be reached from Willimantic by heading due east on Route 6 to the junction of Route 198. Proceed on 198 north throughout the town of Chaplin until you spy a left onto Hall's Pond Road right before the Eastford line. There is limited parking for Hall's Pond available off a dirt road close by the water. Bishop Swamp in Andover is just 53 acres, and not very deep but it is a hotbed for bass and pickerel action when ice fishing. It is west of Willimantic off of Route 6 on Jurovaty Road; indeed, another name for Bishop Swamp is Jurovaty Pond. Bishop Swamp has a small parking area next to the lake and remains open through ice-out. It is lightly fished for the most part, with no development on its shores, a rarity for any lake in New England nowadays. Mansfield Hollow Lake is two minutes from Willimantic off of Route 6 on the northern border of the town of Windham. The locals either swear by or at Mansfield Hollow Lake, as it is often red hot or ice cold. Pike are stocked in its depths by the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, and they are the main target for ice fishing enthusiasts that travel to its 460 acres to try their luck. It also goes by the name of Naubesatuck Lake, closes when February ends, and is a bass management lake. Slot limits are imposed on the bass here, meaning you can keep them if they are not between 12 and 16 inches, but only 2 bigger than 16 inches can go home for your supper. Pine Acres Lake is a shallow and long pond that spans 190 acres of the town of Hampton, 20 minutes east of Willimantic on Route 6. It is part of the James L.Goodwin State Forest and was created by the damming of Cedar Swamp Brook in 1933. Pine Acres Lake is no deeper than 7 feet anywhere in it and has loads of rotten trees and stumps in it. The largemouth bass here hare plentiful, along with yellow perch. Pine Acres stays open for ice fishing until the ice has been sent packing by the oncoming spring sun. There are 5 ice fishing destinations within 20 minutes of the city of Willimantic, which sits in the mid-eastern part of the state of Connecticut. Coventry Lake, Hall's Pond, Bishop Swamp, Mansfield Hollow Lake, and Pine Acres Lake are all just a stone's throw from Willimantic, all state owned waters that are goods for ice fishing. Ice fishing near Willimantic, Connecticut offers action from species such as bass, pickerel, yellow perch, walleye, and northern pike once the waters have frozen over. Coventry Lake, also known as Wangumbaug Lake, is some 373 acres in area, located in the center of Coventry off of Route 31. Coventry Lake is a bass management lake, meaning that any of this species taken from the waters there must be a certain size to be legal, with strict creel limits enforced. Walleye are also stocked in Coventry Lake, which sees the ice fishing season end there on the final day of February. Trout and pickerel inhabit this lake as well; it takes maybe 15 minutes to get to Coventry Lake from the center of Willimantic if you take your time. Hall's Pond is the northernmost of these ice fishing spots, lying at the southern end of the town of Eastford, about fifteen minutes from Willimantic. Hall's Pond contains some good sized largemouth bass that can be taken through the ice, in addition to a hefty supply of chain pickerel. This 82 acre lake is another of Connecticut's bass management lakes, but the ice fishing season doesn't end when March arrives, extending as long as there is safe ice to fish on. Hall's Pond can be reached from Willimantic by heading due east on Route 6 to the junction of Route 198. Proceed on 198 north throughout the town of Chaplin until you spy a left onto Hall's Pond Road right before the Eastford line. There is limited parking for Hall's Pond available off a dirt road close by the water. Bishop Swamp in Andover is just 53 acres, and not very deep but it is a hotbed for bass and pickerel action when ice fishing. It is west of Willimantic off of Route 6 on Jurovaty Road; indeed, another name for Bishop Swamp is Jurovaty Pond. Bishop Swamp has a small parking area next to the lake and remains open through ice-out. It is lightly fished for the most part, with no development on its shores, a rarity for any lake in New England nowadays. Mansfield Hollow Lake is two minutes from Willimantic off of Route 6 on the northern border of the town of Windham. The locals either swear by or at Mansfield Hollow Lake, as it is often red hot or ice cold. Pike are stocked in its depths by the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, and they are the main target for ice fishing enthusiasts that travel to its 460 acres to try their luck. It also goes by the name of Naubesatuck Lake, closes when February ends, and is a bass management lake. Slot limits are imposed on the bass here, meaning you can keep them if they are not between 12 and 16 inches, but only 2 bigger than 16 inches can go home for your supper. Pine Acres Lake is a shallow and long pond that spans 190 acres of the town of Hampton, 20 minutes east of Willimantic on Route 6. It is part of the James L.Goodwin State Forest and was created by the damming of Cedar Swamp Brook in 1933. Pine Acres Lake is no deeper than 7 feet anywhere in it and has loads of rotten trees and stumps in it. The largemouth bass here hare plentiful, along with yellow perch. Pine Acres stays open for ice fishing until the ice has been sent packing by the oncoming spring sun. Top Grill Benefits Reviews!
Bar-B-Que grill cast iron grates now are widely available through quite a few sources. Then imagine that you've a grill which is made for healthier eating. You just connect the grill to the pure gas line which is already in your house. You will not have the ability to have a whole propane grill on your back porch on account of the probability of fire. Infrared cooking uses infrared energy. It is highly efficient for this reason. In general, it is far better to purchase stainless cooking grates for bbq grills so they aren't prone to rust. Grilling, rather than many other cooking techniques, offers benefits to people who are making an effort to control their calorie intake. Grilling is among the remarkable joys of summer. Infrared grilling is among the latest trends in outdoor cooking. Especially during the hot summertime, grilling is an excellent approach to eat well, and to invite family and friends to joining you in doing this. Winter grilling makes a whole lot more sense. Introducing Grill Benefits If you think about purchasing a charcoal grill read this, you ought to take into consideration the quantity of food that you want to prepare and then pick a size accordingly. Despite so many benefits, charcoal grills come with a couple drawbacks also. They are also less expensive than gas grills, though the cost of charcoal will add up over the years. Infrared grills are a lot hotter than a conventional grill. They are suffering from a similar type of misinformation-caused hesitance today. If you're considering getting a dental grill, make sure that you speak to your dentist first. When you're working with an electric grill, this isn't likely to be true. Utilizing an electric grill can give you quite a few benefits in contrast to other kinds of grills. Electric grills are really simple to clean and you're not going to need to visit the extreme procedures that include cleaning a conventional grill. The Tried and True Method for Grill Benefits There are a number of kinds of grills available on the market. Initially, these grills are more expensive than charcoal units, but they're more affordable than gas barbecues. Utilizing a pure gas grill may be a pricey proposition. Should youn't have a grill, you're prepared to upgrade the grill that you have, or you're trying to try a different kind of grill, read this guide before going shopping. Lastly, the form of grill that you select depends a lot on the way you live. Many gas grills supply an organic gas kit option that accompanies a manual (often accompanied with an internet video). Grills may be trendy for now, but pearly whites won't ever go out of style. It's awesome how this grill can cause you to feel much healthier and stronger. Possessing this grill usually means that you will end up grilling more often. Gas grills usually provide a larger selection of accessories. Just like all products, the pure gas grill isn't all sunshine and roses. An organic gas outdoor grill has a lot of benefits and offers many advantages over propane. |