COW ISLAND - MITA ISLAND MAY STEWARDSHIP PADDLE

It's that time of year again! Once again The SMSKN Island Adoption Team will be off on an island monitoring paddle to Cow Island. For those of you not familiar with it, it's a really nice MITA Island in Casco Bay that we have adopted and look after periodically on behalf of MITA. It's a great opportunity to enjoy a nice sheltered and moderate length paddle, meet and paddle with some nice folks and help out our good friends at MITA with some island stewardship.
Let's plan to meet at the SMCC Beach (Fort Road, South Portland) around 9:00am in time to launch at 9:30am sharp. We'll paddle go up through Diamond Pass stopping at Little Diamond Island around 10:00am to meet up with Steve Bishop. From there, up to Diamond Cove and around to the MITA camp site on east side of Cow Island (about 3.5 miles). Once there, we will inspect the campsite and adjoining area and collect any trash and/or debris we will happen to find (and we will!) I'll be sure to brief you on all the details when we arrive.
In addition to your normal paddling kit, pleases bring some plastic trash bags (at least 2), gloves and suitable clothes to rummage around in (I find it easier to move around without my drysuit while on the island). We'll carry out whatever trash we can in our kayaks but any excess or larger items, we'll leave to be collected by a MITA boat in the following days.
Time-wise, we should plan on about 4 1/2 to 5 hours; about 1 1/2 hours out, 1 1/2 to 2 hours there, 1 1/2 hours back give or take. Be sure to bring a lunch.
As with all paddles, please have a properly fitted sea kayak, with a spray skirt, PFD, sound hatch covers and make sure to dress for immursion (dry suit or web suit) as the water is still quite cold. Also, please make sure you all have signed the online Participation Agreement which can be found at https://www.smskn.net/club-documents/1116-2/. (You only have to sign it once, so if you have already, you're all set.)
Hope you can make it and looking forward to seeing you on the water!