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yukionna · 02-21-2006, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chuck

WARNING

as a native of this neighborhood, I feel I must post this PSA about boating in the area. ....just be carefull.

Chuck...thanks for posting that info! It is important to know.

One of our favorite kayaking trips to do on the Merrimack River is to pack a lunch and put in at the Amesbury ramp about 3-4 hours prior to peak low tide. The Amesbury ramp is about 3-4 miles away from the mouth of the Merrimack. By doing that, we take advantage of the low tide current to assist us with the 3-4 mile trip out to the sandbar (right next to Salisbury Beach park) just before the mouth of the Merrimack. The best part about the sandbar, is it is located right in the middle of the river with views of Plum Island to the right, views of Salisbury Park to the left and the ocean straight ahead. And, as a bonus, the sandbar is only assessible by boat!

It should be noted that under no conditions should a kayak navigate into the mouth of the Merrimack because of the turbulence. It will literally eat you up and spit you out (as Chuck indicated in his post).

We then hang out on the sandbar, sunbathe, eat lunch and watch all the boat activity (the channel is only 20' away from the sandbar) and the seal activity for a few hours. In the meantime, the low tide will have peaked, ebbed and turned into the high tide cycle. After a while, with the high tide coming back in, we start to lose the sandbar so know it is time to pack up and head home. We take full advantage of the high tide current and can easily make it back to our launch point without even paddling!!!

It's a great trip and I would highly recommend it.

Chuck · 02-21-2006, 11:44 AM

sounds like a fun trip!

the "catch" w/ the river and the un-initiated is that it often appears deceptively placid. very common occurance for some citi-fied person to come up for the day, go exploring out on one of the jetties, slip and fall in (or get washed off the jettie by a rogue wave), and in the words of my 2 year old son, its, "OK! B'bye! SEEEEE YA! "

(Good to see you back, Nancy!!

)

TinLizzie · 02-21-2006, 11:57 AM

Trust me, I'm stayin' out of the river!

Well, I kind of can't believe we did it, but we just reserved our spot at the rally with all of you. We're in D44....is that at least kind of in the same area as everyone? And since it will most likely be our first trip with our Airstream, can we arrange to have the towing/backing up demonstration to be scheduled at say, like, maybe......ON OUR ARRIVAL???

Mark may be sheepishly asking for help to get us situated. Or, better yet, you all get to see our first Airstream Screaming Match.

I also learned from reading that "coffee" is the preferred liquid, and "coffee cups" the preferred containers. Good to know. Please fill me in on anything else you can think of! Like pack the warm clothes and down comforters?

No turning back!
Lizzie

yukionna · 02-21-2006, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TinLizzie

Trust me, I'm stayin' out of the river!

Well, I kind of can't believe we did it, but we just reserved our spot at the rally with all of you. We're in D44....is that at least kind of in the same area as everyone? And since it will most likely be our first trip with our Airstream, can we arrange to have the towing/backing up demonstration to be scheduled at say, like, maybe......ON OUR ARRIVAL???

Mark may be sheepishly asking for help to get us situated. Or, better yet, you all get to see our first Airstream Screaming Match.

I also learned from reading that "coffee" is the preferred liquid, and "coffee cups" the preferred containers. Good to know. Please fill me in on anything else you can think of! Like pack the warm clothes and down comforters?

No turning back!
Lizzie

Lizzie..you are correct...there is no turning back now!!! Your location of D44 is right in the middle of the Airstream parking. Depending on what time you arrive, and as long as it is after others have arrived, there will be plenty of willing volunteers to help you park your rig.

Chuck · 02-21-2006, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TinLizzie

...and since it will most likely be our first trip with our Airstream, can we arrange to have the towing/backing up demonstration to be scheduled at say, like, maybe......ON OUR ARRIVAL???

Mark may be sheepishly asking for help to get us situated. Or, better yet, you all get to see our first Airstream Screaming Match.

.

You'll have all the help you can stand. and then some!

Quote:

Originally Posted by TinLizzie

...
I also learned from reading that "coffee" is the preferred liquid, and "coffee cups" the preferred containers.

Yes, well...this is the preference of the State Parks department....not the NEU of WBCCI.

but you know what they say: "when in Rome....drink your beer out of a coffee cup. "

Quote:

Originally Posted by TinLizzie

...
Please fill me in on anything else you can think of! Like pack the warm clothes and down comforters?

Oh, yeah. gets quite chilly there...we were wearing sweatshirts all weekend last year...and it was Memorial Day! So a month earlier=bring your snuggies. although, a shiny new airstream should have a top-performing furnace.

yukionna · 02-21-2006, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chuck

(Good to see you back, Nancy!!

)

Thanks! It feels good to be back!

myboyburt · 02-21-2006, 01:50 PM

Tin Lizzie,

Here are the campground rules:

Quiet hours are 10pm to 7am. Please, no unnecessary or disturbing noise at any time.
Confine campfires to designated fireplaces. Never leave fires unattended. Extinguish fires by midnight.
Please keep your campsite clean. Wash your dishes on your site, not in bathroom sinks or at public faucets.
Children 12 years old and younger must wear a helmet when bicycling.
Equipment is limited to two tents or one camping vehicle and one small tent per site. Tents are limited to 300 square feet of combined floor space.

Other than that just be ready to meet your fellow New England Unit members! We are looking forward to welcoming you and your family to our ranks.

We will have our Unit tent up, that's where we meet for breakfast, happy hour and dinner. I believe at least one night DEO will entertain us, there will be games, seminars and a camper open house. BTW, these are all optional, you can do whatever you feel like doing. Some folks will be braving the Merrimack (I'll stay behind, ready to dial 911 if needed

), others like to go down to the boardwalk area, some like to hang around the campfire. It's all up to you because "it's just camping".

yukionna · 02-21-2006, 02:29 PM

With regards to finding space to erect the tent, it looks like we will have plenty of room. Our group has reserved four sites which all share the same backyard (so to speak): E043, E045, D044, D046. Last year, we were able to fit the tent in a similar fashion using 4 shared "backyards".

Question: did anyone from our group reserve site number E047? If not, that lucky camper will be in the middle of a sea of Airstreams!

myboyburt · 02-21-2006, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yukionna

With regards to finding space to erect the tent, it looks like we will have plenty of room. Our group has reserved four sites which all share the same backyard (so to speak): E043, E045, D044, D046. Last year, we were able to fit the tent in a similar fashion using 4 shared "backyards".

Good, this means TinLizzie won't have far to walk to attend our events as she has booked D044.

yukionna · 02-21-2006, 02:35 PM

Last year, when I held the spring biz mtg at Salisbury Beach, we successfully negotiated with the non-Airstream camper in the middle of the Airstreams to switch places with an Airstreamer who had a site next to the ocean. It benefited both parties. Perhaps we could do that in this case too!?

yukionna · 02-21-2006, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by myboyburt

Good, this means TinLizzie won't have far to walk to attend our events as she has booked D044.

TinLizzie is actually sharing a "backyard" with you!

bobandcarla · 02-21-2006, 02:49 PM

Last year we were at a different campground and we were invited to join the group on Saturday evening. We loved the people and joined shortly after. We also went camping there a few times and loved it.

balrgn · 02-21-2006, 04:34 PM

Speakin of warm, Have we talked about campfires yet? I can bring wood

I also have a portable fire ring, the one there was, well, um, Oh for cryin out loud TINY!

balrgn · 02-21-2006, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TinLizzie

Trust me, I'm stayin' out of the river!

Well, I kind of can't believe we did it, but we just reserved our spot at the rally with all of you. We're in D44....is that at least kind of in the same area as everyone? And since it will most likely be our first trip with our Airstream, can we arrange to have the towing/backing up demonstration to be scheduled at say, like, maybe......ON OUR ARRIVAL???

Mark may be sheepishly asking for help to get us situated. Or, better yet, you all get to see our first Airstream Screaming Match.

I also learned from reading that "coffee" is the preferred liquid, and "coffee cups" the preferred containers. Good to know. Please fill me in on anything else you can think of! Like pack the warm clothes and down comforters?

No turning back!
Lizzie

If you need a hand backin up, we can hook up with my truck, That thing can back into anywhere. We After 3 tho...

gadgetat · 02-21-2006, 04:42 PM

Hi again all! Really getting excited, April isn't too far away.

I was wondering what the count of attendees is now. I checked the Calendar for the listed folks, and the list seemed the same (or I checked the wrong thing).

Guess my kayak will be coming along too. Water might be a little chilly to dip into though....

myboyburt · 02-21-2006, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gadgetat

Hi again all! Really getting excited, April isn't too far away.

I was wondering what the count of attendees is now. I checked the Calendar for the listed folks, and the list seemed the same (or I checked the wrong thing).

Guess my kayak will be coming along too. Water might be a little chilly to dip into though....

I was going to post a nag about attendees posting on the Rally Calendar but you beat me to it. I know that there are at least 5 (count them!) forum members who have not added their "names" to the Rally Calendar. All you need to do is to go to the first post on this thread and you will be able to drill down into the Rally Calendar and add your "name". Or, just click on the Rally Calendar link and navigate to the April Rally Calendar, it's wicked simple.

As for the attendee count - I believe we are at 25 rigs, but it's hard to know for sure until I receive all the attendees kitty funds. This is of course, another nag......

myboyburt · 02-21-2006, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yukionna

With regards to finding space to erect the tent, it looks like we will have plenty of room. Our group has reserved four sites which all share the same backyard (so to speak): E043, E045, D044, D046. Last year, we were able to fit the tent in a similar fashion using 4 shared "backyards".

Question: did anyone from our group reserve site number E047? If not, that lucky camper will be in the middle of a sea of Airstreams!

Hee hee! If it isn't one of us I'm willing to bet they will be asking to move pretty quick!

Over59 · 02-21-2006, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by balrgn

Speakin of warm, Have we talked about campfires yet? I can bring wood

I also have a portable fire ring, the one there was, well, um, Oh for cryin out loud TINY!

Sorry to hear that....

myboyburt · 02-21-2006, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by balrgn

Speakin of warm, Have we talked about campfires yet? I can bring wood

I also have a portable fire ring, the one there was, well, um, Oh for cryin out loud TINY!

I don't know what the "rules" are (and I'm sure they have rules) but a bigger fire pit would be fantastic because we will be freezing our buns off (being April, it's still wicked cold here in New England) and I need to bake about 100 potatos for Saturday night's Potato Bar.

Bring as much wood as you can. Leon and I will be doing the same thing but we are many miles from the campground so that limits what we can load into the truck and still tow "The Tube" safely. We also need to figure out how to get our Unit's trailer with all it's rally stuff to the site so that we have the tent and cooking thingies.

yukionna · 02-22-2006, 06:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by myboyburt

I don't know what the "rules" are (and I'm sure they have rules) but a bigger fire pit would be fantastic because we will be freezing our buns off (being April, it's still wicked cold here in New England) and I need to bake about 100 potatos for Saturday night's Potato Bar.

Bring as much wood as you can. Leon and I will be doing the same thing but we are many miles from the campground so that limits what we can load into the truck and still tow "The Tube" safely. We also need to figure out how to get our Unit's trailer with all it's rally stuff to the site so that we have the tent and cooking thingies.

There are rules regarding fires -- they must be contained in the campground designated fire rings (one per site). We have many sites congregated in a central area, so you could coordinate building a fire at a few campsites and cook the potatoes at each location.