kayaking the liquid skies

PLEASE READ ENTIRE POST BEFORE SIGNING UP!

Launching from Annsville Paddlesport Center, address 1 Annsville Circle, Peekskill, NY 10566 at 09:45 am (MEANS IN THE WATER) please get there early to get yourself ready. This is tidal & we will not wait. Hi tide 10:50 am, 3'; Lo tide is 5:38 pm, 0.3' we will have an assist on the way up & back. Bring wheels.

This paddle shows the beauty of the Hudson River as we go north under the Bear Mt. bridge, Popolopen Suspension bridge and the bridge over Rt 9W. Remember when going under the Popolopen Suspension bridge go thru the LAST trestle as there are obstructions under the others and you could snag.

Approximate distance to be covered 8.5-9 miles on this trip. You should be able to paddle at a pace to keep up with the group. Please have your own kayak and equipment.
Sea kayaks only 14' minimun, no SOT's, SUP's, inflatables. Surf skis OK, no pets.

Dress for immersion. Pack a change of clothes in a dry bag & put it in your hatch. A polar fleece top is good for when we stop to stay warm.

Please sign a waiver if this is your 1st paddle with us this season.

Check back the Friday before for a weather update. My cell if needed (845) 548-2198.

Cross Posted with MHDK group

PLEASE READ THE ENTIRE POSTING BEFORE SIGNING UP!

Please arrive early to get yourself situated. We will launch promptly at 10:00 am. Get there early to park, set up your boat and get dressed. The river is tidal and we will not wait. Do not block the launch area, stage your boats on the side.

We will paddle past Peck's Ledge Light and thru the islands to enjoy the beauty of the LI sound. We'll have lunch stop. There may be a shorter paddle of approximately 7- 9 miles in addition to the full 14 mile paddle depending on the group. The full paddle will go to Sheffield Is, approximate total distance 14 miles. Please put in comments your preference and we will try to accommodate.

Sea kayaks only 14' minimum, NO canoes, SOT's SUP's, Inflatables, Rafts or pets allowed. Surfskis Ok.

Dress for immersion, pack sunscreen, lunch, water, meds anything you need for a day trip. Please put a change of clothes, in a dry bag and put it in your hatch. PFD'S MUST be worn & fastened at all times. No exceptions.

Keep in mind that swells, currents, wind, tides, and other natural factors not found in inland venues will require vigilance and an honest self-assessment of your skills and conditioning before you decide to venture out. This is a gathering of people enjoying a common interest, not a guided tour, so your personal safety is your responsibility alone. You should know how to assist/self rescue and keep a pace with the group. This is an intermediate paddle not suitable for beginners.

Low tide @ Saugatuck river is 12:01 pm, 0.2'. Hi tide is 6:07 pm, 7'

The launch is on Elaine Rd past the Westport town sewage treatment plant, turn left under the hwy into the parking lot. There is a port o potty.

Check back the Friday before for a weather update.
my cell---if needed (845) 548-2198.

PLEASE READ THE ENTIRE POST BEFORE SIGNING UP

We will meet in the grassy area to unload our boats. Please get there early to be in the water by 9:45 am. Do not block the launch area. Park in the designated spots in the metro north train station. Free on weekends.

Since this is totally tide dependent we leave on time and will not wait. Be mindful of how long it takes you to unload and park your car. Wheels/cart helpful. We travel in a pod to get under the trestle which can be wavy at times.

Pets are never allowed on Liquid Skies paddles and the Constitution Marsh Audubon Sanctuary doesn't permit dogs in the marsh.

Waivers must be signed before attending if you haven't paddled with us this season.

This is a beautiful tidal marsh in the Hudson River Estuary devoted to the conservation of birds, coastal fish and other wildlife. Views of West Point and the waterfall are memorable. Sometimes we see an eagle.

We will be in the Hudson for a short time on this trip but all size kayaks & canoes over 12' are welcome, no rafts, SOT's or inflatables, surf skis OK, Beginners welcome!

Dress for the water temp not the air, always pack a change of clothes in a dry bag with a polar fleece jacket and put it in your hatch. Pack water, snacks, lunch & anything else you need for a day trip. PFD's must be worn at all times. You should know how to assist/self rescue, approximate distance 7-8 miles. Everyone is responsible for themselves.

High tide @ Peekskill 11:32 am, 2.69'; low 6:10 pm, 0.43', full moon, slack 2:13 pm, flow 11:50 am +0.6 kts,
Please only sign up if you are definitely attending. Those that don't show w/o canceling in advance will be put on a waitlist for future events. Please be kind. My cell if needed: (845) 548-2198.

Check back for the weather report the Friday before.

This paddle is also with the MHADK.

ATTENTION: this is NOT a Liquid Skies outing! This pertains to an ACA Leader Certification Workshop! This is a PAID EVENT!!

If you are interested, please contact Tai directly at "liquidskykayaking@gmail.com" and arrange payment and other requirements; only then should you register here. Thank you!
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Hello all,

I hope this note finds all of you as well as possible. I'm reaching out to announce an option other than the Instructor path for the ACA: the new Leader Pathway.

It used to be that the "ACA Trip Leader Award" was something that was... well, it existed - but almost no one bothered with it. There was no support, it wasn't a recognized certification, had no benefits, was looked upon rather as a door prize than something valuable, yadda yadda. No longer.

The ACA has revamped it considerably... perhaps finally understanding that "Guiding" is very different from, and has a different focus than, "Instructing". Now, the new Leader Pathway is a full certification - meaning it's recognized country-wide and even abroad, and has access to insurance, pro-deals, and a lot of support for planning trips, etc. I'm in the program, and am in the process of becoming one of the first Leader Trainers in the country. My next step is to "teach" a Leader Certification Exam.

I'm looking for folks to take part in my "Lead Trainer Test" exam. I've outlined some answers to common questions, below:

Length of exam: three days

Conditions:
L2 - waves up to 1', wind up to 10 kts, current less than 1kt
L3 - waves up to 2', wind up to 15 kts, current up to 2 kts

Focus: Navigation (desk- AND deck-top), group management, risk management, rescues, proper packing, gear knowledge, leading day trips in conditions up to L2/3.

Do you need a roll: for L2, no - for L3, yes. The roll doesn't have to be perfect (1 out of 3 attempts succeeds) but it does have to be there if you're going for the L3 equivalent.

Cost: TBD, but quite minimal; I'm more interested in clearing this hurdle than charging full price. This would normally be a $5-600/pp course; figure about $75 for the three days, tops. Like I said, I want to get this done. My need is your gain.

Are there any pre-requisites: Yes. You need to either 1) pass an L2/3 skills assessment, or already be an L2/3 Instructor. If you need to have your skills officially assessed, well, that's what Instructors do - look up an Instructor and ask them (Linda does this, BTW, up to L2). Or, I'm happy to start a day early and do an Assessment for those in need, free of charge. If you're already an Instructor at some level, you don't need an Assessment at that level - by definition, you pass.

Do you need to be certified to take this exam: Absolutely NOT. You do not need any certification whatsoever to take this Leader Certification Workshop. That said... you might need to do a skills assessment before the course. Linda can do skills assessments up to L2 - and I can do skills assessments ahead of the course up to L3, free of charge.

Course size: 6 people max

Why wait?: Because the water is still COLD!

Why am I charging anything at all?: Fair question - and it's because I still have to pay for gas, tolls, wear and tear on my car, loss of wages from my other job, etc. Even guides need to eat something other than ramen and canned meat.

Is this an L2 or L3 exam? Can I join it regardless?: So, complicated answer... there is no L1, L2, etc for this Pathway. Instead, you have: Community Leader (equivalent of L1-2), Leader (equivalent of L2-3), and Advanced Leader (equivalent of L4-5). And yes, if you want to try for L2 or L3, this is the one for you.

For what it's worth... you folks that paddle across LI Sound - don't try to tell me that's not above L2 conditions. Paddling from Trolley Road into the Thimbles... paddling from Orchard Beach to Five Islands... the Norwalk Islands... that all fits, even into L3.

Anyway, if you have a moment - and are interested - please consider helping me out and taking the exam - and, feel free to forward this to anyone you think might be interested.

Regardless, thanks very much for hearing me out - and I hope to see you at a group paddle in the future. Don't hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns.

Cheers,

Tai

Coastal Kayaking L3 Instructor
Coastal Kayaking L2 Instructor Trainer
Coastal Kayaking Leader Trainer Candidate
River Kayaking L2 Instructor
Registered Maine Guide - Sea Kayaking