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Winter Pool Sessions 2008 |
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Written by mwl
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Sunday, 06 January 2008 |
Several winter pool sessions are planed for this winter. If you are planning on going to the Spring (April) AMC paddler training as a trainee you will have to demonstrate a wet exit to paddle that day. Seriously consider using one (or more of these) pool sessions to practice (demonstrate) your wet exit before you go to the April class. You might even get your roll down before the class, better still.
A wet exit in 34 degree water is not a good way to start the paddling season! Do it in a 70 degree pool!
Manchester NH The Manchester pool sessions will begin on Sunday January 6th from 7
to 9PM.
There are 7 sessions, minus Superbowl Sunday (Feb 3): Jan 6, 13 20,
27,
and Feb 10, 17, 24.
The sessions will be at the Manchester YMCA pool.
YMCA
30 Mechanic St
Manchester, NH 03101
link to Mapquest map: http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?
latlongtype=internal&addtohistory=&latitude=L%2falvyK0AlUqzkjC4DbFpg%
3d%3d&longitude=hBtgQSIqS7K1YFX5ASvqmA%3d%
3d&name=YMCA&country=US&address=30%20Mechanic%
20St&city=Manchester&state=NH&zipcode=03101&phone=603%2d623%
2d3558&spurl=0&&q=YMCA&qc=Community%20Services
Directions: From Route 93 North or South and Route 3 North take Route
293 through Manchester. Take the Amoskeag Bridge exit, #6. This will
bring you on a rotary. From either direction take the first leg off
the rotary. This will take you over the Amoskeag Bridge. Keep in the
right hand lane. Just over the river, bear right on the ramp that will
take you down to Canal Street. At the 5th set of lights, take a left
on Mechanic Street. The Y is on the right at the crest of the hill.
Parking on the street is free at this time of night.
To get into the pool: facing the Y, walk down the alley on the far
right of the building. There is a fenced in area. The door sometimes
looks locked but will open once the padlock has been removed. The door
inside the little playground leads directly in to the pool
area. Please remove all leaves and sand before coming to the Y. The
debris clogs the filters. You need to remember to come to this door as
the main entrance closes just after 7PM. If need be, unload your boat
and move your car. We can tell you how to get behind the Y to get it
after but it's private parking and you can not park there.
Costs are as follows: $65.00 for all seven sessions, $12.00 per
session. Checks should be made out to the "Merrimack Valley
Paddlers". Exact or close change, or checks are appreciated.
If you would like to use the club's boats please contact the keeper of
the boat. Remember that we do not have actual "instructors", but
rather a fun group of previously rolled paddlers who are (as always)
more than willing to share with the newbies their expertise and
advice. All in all we have a pretty high success rate.
For more information feel free to Email me.
Joe Wild
Billerica Mass Billerica pool sessions will run on Wednesday nights from 9:00pm to
11:00pm and will start Wednesday night, January 9.
The pool sessions will run for 8 weeks and exclude Presidents week, February
20.
Cost will be $75 for all 8 sessions OR $12 per night.
No reservations are required to join us.
If you have not joined us before, MVP membership is not required but
greatly appreciated, it is only $15 so why not? Membership forms will
be available. One free MVP T-shirt will be handed out for each paid new
or renewal membership while supplies last
(so join or renew early since T-shirts are not guaranteed and supplies are
limited)
There are no set instructors or lessons but let us know what you are
looking to learn and people are very good about sharing what they know.
There are locker rooms to change and shower before hopping in the
water. Please do not enter the pool area until 9:00pm since there
are swim lessons going on until 8:45pm
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE make sure all the critters/leaves etc are out
of your boat and that it is clean before putting it in the water. If
you have no way to clean it out at home there will be a hose in the
pool room to rinse it out. The cleaner you and your gear is, the better.
We don't want to loose the use of the pool.
The sessions will be held at the usual place.
Billerica Boy's and Girl's Club
19 Campbell St
Billerica MA 01821
Directions
From the North: Take Rt. 495 or Rt. 3 to Rt. 3 South to Concord Rd.
From the South: Take R. 128 to Rt. 3 North to Concord Rd.
Take the Concord Rd. exit off Rt. 3
Turn right at the top of the exit ramp (from either direction)
Go 1/4 mile past the lights at Middlesex Tpk.
Take a right on Campbell St. There is a sign for the club on the
telephone pole at the intersection. The club is a block down Campbell
on the right.
Hope to see you there!!!!
Kevin Lindberg
Dover NH
Greetings from the seacoast and Happy New Year, One again we have reserved the Dover NH indoor pool for general kayak practiceon Sunday nights from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. The sessions will run every Sunday from January 13th through March 16thexcept January 20th and February 3rd. The Dover pool is large and can accommodate anything from sea kayaks to canoes and rodeo boats. Last year we had a mix of everything. There is aseparate dive pool we can use also if it gets too crowded. Informal rolling instruction will be available at the pool from experiencedpaddlers. The session is open to anyone who wants to practice any type offlatwater skill. No advance reservation is required to attend and MVPmembership is encouraged but not a pre-requisite. Other clubs welcome. Just show up on Sunday with your boat.. The cost for the session will be $15.00 per night per person for the two hours to offset the rental cost of the pool. I may adjust downward if attendance is good. I would appreciate hearing from you if you plan to attend so I know howhard to advertise. I will email the group if it looks like cancellation due to snow. Parking for the pool is located on Henry Law avenue in downtown Dover. SYITP Curt(603) 767-3347
Laconia NH Mvper's and Guests,It's that time of year again and Pool sessions begin in Laconia.January 13th Sunday 9 a.m. to 11a.m. at the Laconia Pool is the first session ~ Rick and I will be there a little early to set up if you folks have any questions don't hesitate to contact us.....
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
or our home at 603-863-6458Hope to see you there !Barbi Covill |
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New Years Day on the Winni |
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Written by mwl
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Saturday, 22 December 2007 |
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 Start 2008 off right with the first paddling event of the year. New Years day on the Winnipesaukee River in NH has been an MVP tradition for several years. This year marks the 26th annual run. Numbers were held down last year because of an early morning ice storm but still approximately 45 boaters braved the icy conditions. This year Nancy Gero and helpers will put on a pasta feast for all to enjoy after the run. Also, an award will given out to a worthy recipient who has worked for the protection of this fine resource.The early years saw few boaters and was mainly run by a local group called the River Rats. The MVP got more involved when a hydro developer submitted plans for a dam and diversion pipe near the current put-in in Northfield. This structure would have dewatered the river bed in all but the highest water events in the spring. In an effort to highlight other uses for the river the club organized river cleanups, trips, and joined the River Rats for their annual New Years day plunge. A large group of people running rough chilly waters in the dead of winter always attracted the local and sometimes national press. Many icicle-laden beards made interesting pictures for the front pages of local and regional newspapers. But this also allowed us to get our views across concerning the protection of this valuable recreational resource. Eventually the hydro developer cancelled their plans but the New Years tradition continued. In recent years the New Years day Winni event has become the second largest social event the Merrimack Valley Paddlers sponsors. The club currently flips the bill for the days activities. Boaters are treated to a warm hall for changing and early socializing over coffee and donuts, a limited shuttle service to and from the river put in and take out, plus a pasta dinner, refreshments, and more socializing after a cold day on the river. Even if you do not boat come along and enjoy the events, you will not be sorry.
 We will be renting the Unitarian Church Hall on Central St. in Franklin NH. Take interstate 93 to exit 20. Take a right on NH rt 3, 11 to Franklin approximately 4.5 miles. Going South on Rt 3 (Central St) you go past the Mill Wheel (Trestle View Park), Past Grevior's Furniture over the Bridge and take a Right into LUCKIE LENNYS Parking Lot the Unitarian Church is right there! Across from Packer's Outlet. Hall Opens at 9:00 AM. Paddlers can meet there to change and get a quick snack and hot drink before running the river. Shuttle at 10:00 boat at 10:30 
Spectators are encouraged to join this event. The best viewing spots are the put in area at Cross Mill Bridge, the Route 3 bridge in Franklin, or walking / skiing along the newly opened Winnipesaukee River Trail that parallels the entire run. Come watch the fun! At 2:00 people will return to the Church Hall for a festive meal and the awards ceremony. The public is invited. Mapquest directions from Concord NH at: http://tinyurl.com/3ctnag Lower Winni River information at: http://tinyurl.com/2ezn8s Upper Winni River information at: http://tinyurl.com/pogka From Nancy Gero To help save conservation money, this year we would like people to bring a dessert. To make this more fun and interesting, we will be giving a prize for the best dessert. We will also be doing a canned food drive for the church, so if you have a few unused items left in your cupboard, after Christmas dinner, bring them and feel good about helping the hungry. The church will really appreciate anything you can do to help. Last, but not least, a donation can will be put out for contributions for the MVP conservation fund. As was pointed out earlier this week, the funds are low, and they go to a lot of very good paddling causes, so please help us keep conservation alive and give whatever you can so we can continue our conservation efforts. Thanks very much and have a Happy Holiday! Nancy :-D From John Jenkins I will be leading a trip for the NH AMC Paddlers on New Years Day on the Upper Winni (class 1-2) and I would like to invite the MVP to join me. For those of you who might be a little 'rusty' or not ready for the Lower Section, this is an opportunity to paddle that day and help the MVP and the AMC bring awareness of this great resource to the public. Who knows, we might even get interviewed by the press! In any event, it will be great to get out on the water and share in the comraderie of the day. Afterwards, we can all join the festivities at the church and help to consume some pasta and such. Please contact me by phone or email to sign up and get trip details. email
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
phone 603-895-0274 Happy Holidays, John Jenkins From Ken Norton The usual put in for the Upper Winni (boat ramp on Shaker Road) is completely iced in.
Once again the good folks at Nissen Bakery on Rt. 140 have given permission for boaters to access the river from their parking lot.
While the store is closed for the day, they still get tractor trailer deliveries, so the manager has asked that boaters use the back part of the lot (the corner closest to the river). He would appreciate it if as few cars are left in the lot as possible, so please shuttle prior to paddling.
Since the lot across the river is now under construction, it is important that we keep on good terms with the folks at the bakery, so please be respectful of their requests.
Happy New Year and Happy Paddling
Ken Norton
New Years Day 2008 on the Winni
We are encouraging as many boaters as possible to show up for the New Years paddling event on the Winnipesaukee River in Franklin, Tilton, Northfield NH. Not only do you get to paddle with a fine group of people but this is also a major MVP conservation event.
We will be renting the Unitarian Church Hall on Central St. in Franklin NH. Take interstate 93 to exit 20. Take a right on NH rt 3, 11 to Franklin approximately 4.5 miles. Going South on Rt 3 (Central St) you go past the Mill Wheel (Trestle View Park), Past Grevior's Furniture over the Bridge and take a Right into LUCKIE LENNYS Parking Lot the Unitarian Church is right there! Across from Packer's Outlet. Hall Opens at 9:00 AM. Paddlers can meet there to change and get a quick snack and hot drink before running the river. Shuttle at 10:00 boat at 10:30 Back to Hall for Pot Roast Dinner at 1:00 and back on the road by 4:00 pm!
There are two river sections that will be paddled on New Years Day. The traditional Northfield to Franklin run (class III) starts on Cross Mill Rd. in Northfield. This river segment is about 1-1/4 mile long and will take about 30 to 45 minutes to run. For description and directions go to the American Whitewater website at: Lower Winni webpage
The upper section (class I-II) starts out in Tilton just south of the Kentucky Fried Chicken on NH 140. This section is suitable for novice boaters. It is approximately 2 miles long and should take about 45 minutes to an hour to complete. More information including description and directions here: Upper Winni webpage
Please note these are not official trips they are only notification of paddlers meeting locations and times in order to make paddlers aware of a meeting and launch point of “common adventurers”. Each paddler is responsible for his or herself being properly equipped for the conditions to be encountered that day. That means PFD’s, wet suits, dry suits, gloves, helmets, booties, etc. Furthermore, each individual is responsible for their own safety, you should have the skills and physical conditioning to be able to perform or assist in self rescue and not put your fellow paddler in danger by being irresponsible.
At this time it does not look like ice would be a problem on the rivers this year. Please be aware that this could change with a few cold nights leading up to the event and scout the problem areas especially the takeouts at the upper and lower rivers.
 After the run we will have a pasta dinner served up by Nancy Gero and a few volunteers. Afterwards the MVP will be handing out awards to people who have had a positive impact on our sport. And all this is FREE, the town donates the warming tent at the take out and the MVP (along with a few donors) will be pitching in for the food and drink. The press is there every year and the day after NH New Years day newspapers usually has one of the boaters pictures on the front page.
Non Boaters and boaters from other clubs are welcome. We are asking for a few volunteers to help shuttle, help out in the kitchen and clean up afterwards. This year the we will continue to press for the Winnipesaukee Recreational plan. The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services is in the process of creating a Lake / River management plan that will affect flows on the river.
Winnipesaukee Recreational Plan: Info at: Winni Proposal We need backing on this from the paddling community. We are looking for summertime releases on this river and this event will help publicize our request. Make sure you tell the press you are in favor of summer time recreational releases on the Winnipesaukee River
This is a prime opportunity to get our voices heard on this matter. We will get front page news coverage on this, better than sending hundreds of letters to the legislators.
Please show up and support us on this, a huge turn out will be bigger news.
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Last Updated ( Sunday, 30 December 2007 )
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