Thursday, March 2, 2023

I never have to say, "I wish I had rowed in a Regatta!"


SARASOTA INVITATIONAL REGATTA (SIR) IS ON!!

I started rowing a few years ago at the Lake Sunapee Rowing Club. As a newbie, I progressed from starting with the 45-foot quad (four-person rowing scull), then once the group was comfortable and learned about the oars, and critical techniques, we progressed to the 65-foot 8+cox sweep with one oar each, eight rowers, and a coxswain guiding the group. Later, we did the double and one-person sculls.

Admittedly, the one-person scull was the most challenging rowing boat for me to learn. Fortunately, after I wrote my article, "Rowing Through the Eyes of a Beginner," a friend read the piece and called me, offering me the single rowing scull he had not used for years. I willingly accepted and now regularly row this single.

Last year, I joined the Sarasota County Rowing Club (SCRC) in Osprey, Florida as a seasonal member and began more coached rowing. 

I had never participated in competitive rowing. The Sarasota Invitational Regatta (SIR) offered me this opportunity. On February 26, 2023, I completed my first regatta, the SIR, in Sarasota, Florida. 

I competed in two quad races at SIR, one of which is described in my video below.

Nathan Benderson Park Course Map

Enjoy my seven-minute video as my Quad Team shares their silver medal experience in the SARASOTA INVITATIONAL REGATTA (SIR). 


I experienced the excitement of sprint racing at Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota, FL! The Sarasota Invitational Regatta (SIR) features three days of youth and masters rowing at Nathan Benderson Park (NBP). My chance to row was a thrill being NBP was the site of the 2021 U.S. Olympic Team Trials, the 2018 World Rowing Masters, and the 2017 World Rowing Championships.

Nathan Benderson Park, Benderson Lake, is one of the best rowing scenes in the country. Rowing Olympians have competed and trained here, and now the SCRC offered me the experience of this unique venue.

My attendance at the SCRC and SIR was coached rowing by former Olympic rower Dragos, assisted by coaches Ray and Joe. 

Support Team


Of particular meaning to my participation in SIR was my family’s attendance. My wife Catherine understood my 5 am morning wakings four to five training a week for the last two months so I could make the 6:45 am coached rowing times on the Intercoastal Waterway (ICW). Our adult sons, Shaun from Georgia and Timothy from Boston, were present during the days of my participation and volunteering at SIR. They followed my wanderings throughout the day, which included taking photos and videos to document the tasks needed to be part of the SCRC team. 

Other sacrifices by my family were getting to the NBP two hours before my Sunday 11:08 am race start time and staying through the day with 80-degree temperatures.  Indeed, rowing often requires a family commitment.

I was also a volunteer Stake Boat Holder on Saturday.  Want to know what a Stake Boat Holder is?  A Front Row Seat of a Regatta Stake Boat Holder.
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"Everyone must do something. I believe I will go outdoors with family and friends" S. Priest

Click this link to SUBSCRIBE to OutdoorSteve's YouTube Channel


References

Sarasota County Rowing Club (SCRC)
https://www.sarasotacountyrowingclub.com/

Sarasota Invitational Regatta Attracts People Worldwide
https://www.mysuncoast.com/2023/02/26/sarasota-invitational-regatta-attracts-people-worldwide/

Nathan Benderson Park
https://nathanbendersonpark.org/

Front Row Seat of a Regatta Stake Boat Holder
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Monday, January 16, 2023

Kayaking a Nature Preserve: Braden River, Bradenton, Florida - Jiggs Landing to Linger Lodge.


On a nice warm February day, my fellow paddler Mike and I decided to kayak at Jiggs Landing, a nature preserve in Manatee County, Bradenton, Florida. This would be Mike’s first paddle at Jiggs Landing, my second.

We wanted to paddle the Braden River from Jiggs Landing to Linger Lodge Restaurant, about 3 ½ miles upstream, but given that our time was limited, the many turns of the River, and we had not brought a map with us in case we got lost, we decided to limit our trip to one hour upstream and then turn around.

Briefly, our trip was loaded with many types of birds, including egrets and pelicans. We saw many large turtles. There were warning signs to be on the watch for alligators, but we saw none on this particular paddle. Of special interest is the kayak/canoe slide at Jiggs Landing. I had never experienced this type of put-in or take-out, usually, I did a shoreline entry or dock entry. The below video shows both the wildlife and kayak slide entry.



For those paddlers interested in going from Jiggs Landing to the Linger Lodge Restaurant and RV Park, I recommend first scouting this eight-mile roundtrip Braden River trip first, as there are lots of turns where one can get side-tracked, meaning possibly lost. I have attached a Google Earth map where I indicated this paddle to see the many choices that might get confusing.

Yellow Lines from Jiggs Landing to Linger Lodge Via Braden River

To scout this section of the Braden River with a limited time frame (paddle only one-way), I suggest leaving one car at Linger Lodge and a second car going to Jiggs Landing to put in. Of course, the option is always present to do the eight-mile trip.

Remember, for any paddling trip, always leave your put-in and take-out locations with family or friends. I always bring a compass and/or iphone app to trace my paddle as both a reference and a source to confirm where I am on any water paddle.

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Sunday, January 8, 2023

Colony Cove Boat Club Kayaks from Oscar Scherer State Park to Intercoastal Waterway (ICW)





In addition to all-size motor boating enthusiasts, the Colony Cove Boat Club entertains kayaking adventurers. On this day, our kayaker organizer member, Connie, set up a trip to the Oscar Scherer State Park in Osprey, Florida.

Seven of us met at 10:30 am on a beautiful Saturday morning and left from a sandy beach on the South Creek near the ranger station. We went right and shortly paddled under the South Tamiami Trail Route 41 bridge and found our way to connecting waterways, eventually leading to the Intercoastal Waterway (ICW). Warning signs are prominent in slowing boaters for awareness of manatees.

Birds are prominent throughout our two-hour five-mile paddle. In particular, we saw droves of pelicans.

The ICW goes under the Blackburn Point Road Bridge. A swing span bridge rotates in a horizontal plane around a vertical axis into a position parallel with the marine channel and shore, allowing boats and ships to pass along a waterway that would otherwise be obstructed by the bridge. It is always interesting to stop and watch as the large boats wait and then pass by the open bridge.

I have a personal interest in this particular ICW area in that I belong to the Sarasota County Rowing Club, and we do our rowing in areas on both sides of the turnstile bridge. Thus, we frequently pass under it. Seeing this bridge from a kayak gives a different perspective than a rowing scull. 

In this same bay, but not today, I experienced two playful dolphins swimming around our rowing scull.

Click the below video to paddle with the Colony Cove Boat Club



Colony Cove Boat Club Kayakers


Blackburn Point Road Intercoastal Waterway Turnstile Bridge

"Everyone must do something. I believe I will go outdoors with family and friends" S. Priest

Click this link to SUBSCRIBE to OutdoorSteve's YouTube Channel


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Wednesday, December 28, 2022

Steve's SRKG Interview with Peter St James & Jeanne Lester, WNTK 99.7 FM


On Christmas Eve, I received a telephone call from Peter St James of WMTK 99.7 FM radio. Peter and his co-host, Jeanne Lester, invited me to be a guest on their radio show on Boxing Day, to discuss my latest book, Outdoor Play, Hiking New Hampshire’s Sunapee-Ragged, Kearsarge Greenway Trail: 75 Miles on a Fourteen Trail Loop. Click the link below recording to hear my radio interview.


Map of Sunapee-Ragged-Kearsarge Greenway




Trapezoid SRKG Direction Sign


The uniqueness of Hiking New Hampshire’s Sunapee-Ragged-Kearsarge Greenway Trail is for each of the fourteen trails, I share a video of my experience on the SRKG. The videos make the hike “come alive." Each trail story is a short read with tips, details on preparation, pictures, maps, and references.

I follow the fourteen SRKG trail discussions with a Chapter on Warning Signs, Survival, Rescue, and First Aid. That section prepares the hiker for what it takes to have a safe and fun outdoor adventure. I shared preparations and the responsibility of hiking in the mountains of New Hampshire.

The Sunapee-Ragged-Kearsarge Green Coalition has graciously given me full permission to use pictures, text, and maps from their SRK Greenway Trail Guide 3rd Edition. Indeed, I carried the Guide with me on all fourteen trails and regularly referenced it.  While my book and videos give you a “what it feels like” to hike the SRKG, the Guide is a continual reference with maps and content for locating a trailhead, when to turn, and where you exit the Trail. 

 History of SRKG

Conceived in the mid 1980′s by a  small group of creative and imaginative individuals associated with the Ausbon Sargent Land Preservation Trust, The Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, Lake Sunapee Protective Association and several local conservationists, the Sunapee-Ragged-Kearsarge Greenway Coalition (SRKG or Greenway) has evolved into a dynamic non-profit corporation led by a board of directors, three ex-officio directors from the organizations mentioned, and ten towns that include SRKG trails: Andover, Danbury, Goshen, Newbury, New London, Springfield, Sunapee, Sutton, Warner, and Wilmot.

The mission of “Outdoor Play Hiking New Hampshire’s Sunapee-Ragged-Kearsarge Greenway Trail” is to inspire and encourage families and individuals to make the outdoors a key component of their daily lives.

 Locating the Book

The book is available in hardcopy and e-book at Amazon.com.  It also is available at OutdoorSteve.com, the Morgan-Hill Book Store (New London, NH), Harborside Trading (Sunapee Harbor), and Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center Gift Shop (Lebanon.)

 "Everyone must do something. I believe I will go outdoors with family and friends" S. Priest

Click this link to SUBSCRIBE to OutdoorSteve's YouTube Channel

Books by OutdoorSteve.com


References

  1. WNTK 99.7 FM Radio
  2. Sunapee-Ragged-Greenway Coalition
  3. OutdoorSteve.com
  4. Outdoor Recreation for Seniors (ORFS)







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Friday, December 16, 2022

Outdoor Recreation for Seniors 2022 Christmas Caroling in New London, New Hampshire


Our Outdoor Recreation for Seniors (ORFS) Christmas and caroling pageant is an annual "extravaganza." It remains a creative endeavor that warms the residents and our hearts. ORFS step out of their comfort zones and become a caroler for three hours. Our leader, Kathy, asks us to TRUST, go WITH THE FLOW, and HAVE FUN!



MERRY CHRISTMAS. MAY GOD BLESS US, EVERYONE!

We first visit the Bittersweet Residence and then the Lyon Brook Condominium, both located in New London, NH. Al is the keyboard Orchestra, and Cathy is the conductor of the ORFS Choir. We are decked in Christmas red with songbooks for the "formal chorus."

After singing is over at Bittersweet Residence, we socialize with the residents and wish everyone a very merry Christmas. We enjoy their hospitality of homemade goodies of pies, cakes, eggnog, and apple cider. We then depart to Lyon Brook Condominium Community for a repeat caroling performance, a dinner, and the famous ORFS Yankee Swap.


Thanks to Kathy and Rosemary for coordinating the event and for costumes, props, skits, music books, etc. Thanks to Al (piano), Rosemary (dinner), and Joy (Yankee Swap). Great leaders like you make ORFS fun and inspirational.


ORFS gives the gift of themselves, which is much appreciated and shared with the audience. 

Who are the ORFS? The Outdoor Recreation for Seniors are part of the Chapin Council on Aging, New London, NH. The ORFS meets every Tuesday year-round at 10 am. In the summer, we kayak/canoe, swim, and hike. In the fall, we hike and bowl, and in the winter, we snowshoe and cross-country ski. Our trips are from 1-1/2 to 2 hours, followed by lunch.

Directions and location are available for our Tuesday 10 am outings via email and the Meet UP online site https://www.meetup.com/ , the monthly New London Chapin Senior Center Courier newsletter and https://www.coachapincenter.org/orfs/ To learn more and join, contact the Chapin Senior Center at 357 Pleasant Street, PO Box 1263, New London, New Hampshire 03752.  ORFS is a very informal group, and participation is for all outdoor enthusiasts wanting guaranteed good exercise with a friendly, fun group.

" Everyone must do something. I believe I will go outdoors with family and friends"

Motivate friends and family to make the outdoors a key component of your daily life. 

Click this link to SUBSCRIBE to OutdoorSteve's YouTube Channel.

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Steve’s books are available as hardcopy and e-Books at Amazon's Kindle and hardcopy at Harborside Trading Company, 81 Main St, Sunapee, NH, Wild Goose Country Store, 77 Main St, Sunapee, NH, Morgan Hill Bookstore, New London, NH, Bookstore at Colby-Sawyer College, New London, NH, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Gift Shop, Lebanon, NH, and Village Sports, New London, NH.


  Outdoor Play has trip preparations, routes, and narratives of bucket list places to go. The book will motivate friends and family to make the outdoors a key component of their daily life. If you want 5 or more books signed, send Steve an email and we can work out the logistics. 




Additional Sources of Books at:
Hardcopy at: http://outdoorsteve.com and https://www.amazon.com/dp/098503842X
E-book at: https://www.amazon.com/dp/098503842X


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Tuesday, October 25, 2022

Hiking the Interpretive Sawyer Trail in Dewey Woods, Sunapee, New Hampshire


As noted in the Sunapee Conservation Commission brochure, “The Sawyer Trail,” is an interpretive hiking/walking trail. I first learned of Sawyer Trail when my wife Catherine hiked it with members of the Outdoor Recreation for Seniors group, known simply as ORFS. She was so impressed she had to share this trail again with me on a beautiful NH fall day. 


Click the below video and enjoy insights into the interpretive Dewey Woods Sawyer Trail.


Twelve signs, known as stations, provide the hikers with brief stories, such as the trail’s history, tree surroundings, and how trees contribute to conservation. For example, the sign at Station 2 tells about a nearby cavity tree used by various wildlife. Station 4 describes “old-growth” trees over 100 years old. Some people call these “wolf trees.” A wolf tree is simply a tree that is much older and larger than the surrounding trees in the area, most likely due to bygone days when selected trees were left by farmers in a field for shade. When farming stopped in the area, tree seeds matured and grew into a forest surrounding the wolf tree. The hemlock trees at this station are at least three feet in diameter and 50-plus feet tall. For more on “wolf trees” go to my blog narrative of the SRKG Trail 6 noted in the references.

The trail is named after Sawyer Webb who for his senior high school project, conceived, designed, and spent many hours creating this nature trail here in Sunapee, New Hampshire.

Click this link to SUBSCRIBE to OutdoorSteve's YouTube Channel

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" Everyone must do something. I believe I will go outdoors with family and friends"

References

1. Sunapee-Ragged-Kearsarge Greenway Trail 6 – Wolf Trees and Many Trails
https://outdooradventurers.blogspot.com/2020/04/sunapee-ragged-kearsarge-greenway-trail_28.html

2. Outdoor Recreation for Seniors (ORFS)
https://www.coachapincenter.org/orfs/

3. Sawyer Trail in Dewey Woods, Sunapee, NH

https://www.town.sunapee.nh.us/sites/g/files/vyhlif5056/f/uploads/sawyer_trail_map.pdf

4. Sunapee Trail Maps

https://www.town.sunapee.nh.us/conservation-commission/pages/trail-maps

Steve’s books are available as hardcopy and e-Books at Amazon's Kindle and hardcopy at Harborside Trading Company, 81 Main St, Sunapee, NH, Wild Goose Country Store, 77 Main St, Sunapee, NH, Morgan Hill Bookstore, New London, NH, Bookstore at Colby-Sawyer College, New London, NH, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Gift Shop, Lebanon, NH, and Village Sports, New London, NH.


  Outdoor Play has trip preparations, routes, and narratives of bucket list places to go. The book will motivate friends and family to make the outdoors a key component of their daily life. If you want 5 or more books signed, send Steve an email and we can work out the logistics. 




Additional Sources of Books at:
Hardcopy at: http://outdoorsteve.com and https://www.amazon.com/dp/098503842X
E-book at: https://www.amazon.com/dp/098503842X
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Monday, October 10, 2022

All Trails Lead to Ledge Pond

The Sunapee Conservation Commission invited the town to a walk in the woods to Ledge Pond by way of five trails for access to the pond.  A recently developed trail, Lucien Trail, was showcased on this hike. My wife Catherine and I, joined the Commission leaders and 40 or so residents, on this Commission-directed hike.


Ledge Pond has five defined trails:
  1. Lucien Trail (Yellow Arrow Marker)- recently prepared as a Boy Scout Eagle Scout Project by Lucien Osborn.
  2. Ledge Pond Trail (aka- the snowmobile trail)
  3. Meadowbrook Farm Trail
  4. Daniel Bean Trail (Red Arrow Marker)
  5. Bog Trail (a dead-end trail)

The Lucien Trail is a well-thought-out and very nice hike. The Lucien Trail is a circuit north and south of the existing snowmobile trail leading to the pond. The trail is a moderate effort of about 1 3/4 miles, with some elevation gain. The entrance to the Ledge Pond parking area is reached by taking a left before the Irving station in George’s Mills, onto Springfield Rd., immediately left onto Main Street, and then a right on Prospect Hill Rd. Meadow Brook Rd is on the left. 

During the hike, attending members of the Commission, Barbara, Tim, and Mark, shared the history of this Ledge Pond area and how George's Mills had once relied on the Pond for their water. Tim, Mark, and Lucien shared forest and animal life and the Lucien Trail construction.

Due to frequent stops to ask questions of our hosts, times and distances for the trip varied as not all of the hikers returned on the same trail. Outdoor Steve's trip was roughly two hours using the Lucien Trail up, and returning on the Meadowbrook, Daniel Bean, Ledge Pond, and Lucien Trails, covering 2.1 miles.


As referenced below titled Ledge Pond / Town of Sunapee, "the Town of Sunapee and its Conservation Commission donated a conservation easement protecting 41% of the shore frontage on Ledge Pond to the Ausbon Sargent Land Preservation Trust. The property was originally owned by the Town to protect the pond’s water quality; it was formerly used as the drinking water source for Georges Mills. The easement includes a total of 103.32 acres and over 5,100 feet of shore frontage.

The bulk of the property is a town forest, managed for timber as well as water protection, wildlife habitat, and pedestrian and snowmobile access by the public. Common loons nest on the pond, which is ranked among the highest-quality wildlife habitat in New Hampshire. A public parking area, located off of Meadow Brook Road, allows walkers/hikers to park and walk less than half a mile along a woods road to the pond. From there, hikers can take in the views of the pond or continue along trails in either direction which run near the shoreline and provide views of the pond, its shoreline, and sometimes of the loons themselves.

An established snowmobile corridor crosses the pond and enters the easement property making the property accessible to many in the winter also. We are grateful to the Town of Sunapee for ensuring that this pond will maintain much of its undeveloped shoreline."

Click this link to SUBSCRIBE to OutdoorSteve's YouTube Channel

References
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" Everyone must do something. I believe I will go outdoors with family and friends"

Steve’s books are available as hardcopy and e-Books at Amazon's Kindle and hardcopy at Harborside Trading Company, 81 Main St, Sunapee, NH, Wild Goose Country Store, 77 Main St, Sunapee, NH, Morgan Hill Bookstore, New London, NH, Bookstore at Colby-Sawyer College, New London, NH, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Gift Shop, Lebanon, NH, and Village Sports, New London, NH.


  Outdoor Play has trip preparations, routes, and narratives of bucket list places to go. The book will motivate friends and family to make the outdoors a key component of their daily life. If you want 5 or more books signed, send Steve an email and we can work out the logistics. 




Additional Sources of Books at:
Hardcopy at: http://outdoorsteve.com and https://www.amazon.com/dp/098503842X
E-book at: https://www.amazon.com/dp/098503842X
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Saturday, October 1, 2022

Practicing Skeet Shooting Skills

A sunny 45-degree Saturday morning at Rodys Gun Shop, Newport, NH, offered Steve and his friends an opportunity to practice their skeet shooting skills.

L-R: Steve, Coach Rick, Mark, Leon

Outdoor Steve is a newcomer to this sport, and this blog is definitely not a "how-to" tutorial. The two references below provide the reader insights into American Skeet Shooting. 
  • An Upper and Lower House on opposite ends of the range where the orange clay disks (commonly called "targets" or "clay pigeons") are thrown.
  • Eight Stations from where the shooter rotates.
  • One round of shooting is 25 shots spread across the eight stations.
  • A round of Skeet involves one box of 25 shotgun shells per shooter, which will be fired at eight stations.
  • The shooters begin a round at Station 1 in front of the High House and progress around the arc to Station 7 in front of the Low House, ending at Station 8 precisely in the middle between the two houses.
  • Today, Steve and his friends did two rounds, firing 50 shots each. All shooters wore hearing and eye protection.
The below graphic of a skeet shooting range specification and picture of Rodys Gun Shop range show:

Skeet Field Layout from http://nssa-nsca.club/all-about-skeet/american-skeet/





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Steve’s books are available as hardcopy and e-Books at Amazon's Kindle and hardcopy at Harborside Trading Company, 81 Main St, Sunapee, NH, Wild Goose Country Store, 77 Main St, Sunapee, NH, Morgan Hill Bookstore, New London, NH, Bookstore at Colby-Sawyer College, New London, NH, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Gift Shop, Lebanon, NH, and Village Sports, New London, NH.


  Outdoor Play has trip preparations, routes, and narratives of bucket list places to go. The book will motivate friends and family to make the outdoors a key component of their daily life. If you want 5 or more books signed, send Steve an email and we can work out the logistics. 




Additional Sources of Books at:
Hardcopy at: http://outdoorsteve.com and https://www.amazon.com/dp/098503842X
E-book at: https://www.amazon.com/dp/098503842X

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Sunday, September 25, 2022

A Visit to Prince Edward Island, Canada


Steve, Cathy, Dave, and Helen visit Prince Edward Island, Canada. 


We strolled the boardwalk of Cavendish Beach in the Prince Edward Island (PEI) National Park.

We spent one evening at a Ceilidh in Stanley Bridge Hall. A Ceilidh (pronounced "Kay Lee") is a celebration of music connecting traditional music from Prince Edward Island and Cape Breton Island. An evening enjoyment of music complete with stories, fiddling, song, and step-dancing.


We visited the lighthouse in North Rustico, one of sixty-one lighthouses on PEI.  We saw the offshore statue in North Rustico harbor celebrating the role of the fishing industry in the lives of the people of PEI.

A must-visit in PEI is the home of  Lucy Maud Montgomery, author of Anne of Green Gables. Cathy and I had previously watched an Anne of Green Gables movie, and Cathy could not wait to see the homestead of L.M. Montgomery (her author name), as described in the movie and book. We walked the garden enjoyed by her and read the signs with excerpts from her books (most signs in PEI are in English and French.) You will hear Cathy read one of the many meaningful signs along the path.   


The Buzz PEI is Prince Edward Island’s monthly Guide to "What’s Going On" featuring community events and local art, music, theatre, books, food & drink, film and more. https://buzzpei.com. 

We stayed in a delightful two-bedroom cottage at Cavendish Bosom Buddies Cottages and Suites.

Our visit was shortened because of Hurricane Fiona. We thoroughly enjoyed our two-night stay - originally planned for six nights. We could feel how proud the people felt to be P.E. Islanders. We definitely will return.

Click this link to SUBSCRIBE to OutdoorSteve's YouTube Channel

References
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