The weather forecast was for nice calm winds on Saturday May 1st. I traded emails with Lora and Jordan early in the week. Found out Lora was busy Saturday but Jordan was ready to launch the new NDK Explorer for the first time. Jordan suggested that it would be a good chance to go out to The Graves Lighthouse if the weather forecast held true to what they were predicting 3-4 days in advance, so we posted the trip on Wednesday to see if anyone else was interested. Chip W. was the only one to respond but Johnysmoke showed up at launch time. We chose to meet at 10:00am because Jordan had an early PT appointment and would be done by 9:00.
I arrived early so I could take a ride around Hull. I'm always in a hurry to get to a game when I'm in this town, so I thought it would be a nice chance to cruise around and see the neighborhoods. The beach sidewalks near the carousel were filled with people walking, riding and just looking around. I pulled over and looked out at the two lighthouses we would be paddling past today and took a couple snapshots to test out the zoom and image stabilization on my camera. At this point, Boston Light was about 3.5 miles away and Graves Light was about 6 miles away. I'd be getting much better pictures later in the day. I did get one nice shot of Boston light from Point Allerton Avenue that showed how calm the water was at about 8:45.
When I arrived at Hull Gut, I drove right to the end to see if the water was calm there also, and it was. There were two kayakers out there taking their time cruising right in the middle of the channel with absolutely no boat traffic around. It was immediately obvious who the kayakers were because of the bright lime green color of one of the boats. It was Libby and Jan who we had just paddled with in Wellfleet last week. I watched them for a while as they headed out towards Georges Island.
Jordan arrived and found me still out at the end of the road so I got back in my truck and moved to a better parking spot between the restaurant and the boathouse. Chip W arrived as we were parking and John pulled in a few seconds later. We helped each other unload the boats off our vehicles and geared up in dry suits for the trip. The air temperature was climbing and was probably about 60 degrees at launch time so we knew it was going to be hot in the suits. The marine weather forecasts mentioned that the water temps were still in the 40's, so we knew the suits were the right choice.
We launched and headed along the shore for a while but then pretty much angled across the channel straight out towards Boston Light as there was still almost no boat traffic. Jordan was out in the lead as usual but Chip W. was keeping up with him pretty well. Here they are stretching and waiting for John and I with Boston Light flashing in the background.
When I caught up to them, I took their picture with the Boston and Deer Island skyline in the background.
Here is a closeup of Boston Light from the west side. You can only get this view from a boat.
We headed to the west of Boston Light, still staying anywhere we wanted, right in the middle between the islands. No need to hug the shores to stay out of traffic this beautiful May morning. Here is a picture of Great Brewster Island behind Jordan and Chip, and Middle Brewster on the right.
The broken sea wall on the east side of Great Brewster Island.
Middle Brewster from near Boston Light with a little bit of swirling water to cross as the tide rushes past Little Brewster.
Outer Brewster Island with the old WWII barracks visible on the south end of the island.
Our destination visible between Middle and Outer Brewster Islands. Plenty of water to head right through between the islands.
John, Jordan and Chip, pausing with about a mile left to go out to the Graves. I believe that is Green Island beyond the brim of John's cap.
Almost there. Finally can get a picture of the lighthouse without the ship behind it. Wish I didn't have a smudge on the camera lens...
Made it! Are we going to paddle in there amongst the rocks?
I guess we are.....it wasn't as bad as I was expecting.
But I'm not following John through that gap.
Some Cormorants hanging out on one of the outermost rocks.
Graves Light from the north side. Chip headed back in amongst the rocks at the base of the light.
Jordan with the Boston skyline behind him.
Gathering up for the trip back. Did anyone else bring lunch? How about a stop on Outer Brewster on the way back?
A little beach on the north side of Outer Brewster. Didn't look too bad on the way out. As we approached the beach, all the birds that call it home complained loudly as they did not want us there. Most of the birds just moved to the small cliffs on either side of the beach and a few went out for a swim.
The beach was a lot rockier than I expected, but we all landed as softly as possible and then found driftwood to support the 2 delicate NDK Explorers.
We pulled out our snacks and had our lunch break.
There were two of these American Oystercatchers keeping an eye on us from the cliffsides.
The Common Eider Ducks and Canadian Geese swam around offshore while we used their beach. I think the rocks in the background are part of Green Island and the far off buildings are in Winthrop.
A couple Sea Gulls watched us from the left cliff.
Our lunch beach from above with Graves Light off in the distance.
John, Chip W. and Jordan ready to get back in the water after lunch. Everybody launched safely but me - I made a stupid mistake trying to use a piece of driftwood to support the back of my boat while I got in and ended up tipping over and falling in. Oh well, that's why I'm wearing all this gear and packing all my electronics in dry bags, right?
John hugging the shoreline along Outer Brewster.
Boston Light showing us the way home.
One last picture of Cormorants and Sea Gulls.
Last picture before putting away the camera for the windier final legs back to the take-out. Jordan and Middle Brewster Island.
Here is a topo map showing the route we took. On the way back, it seemed that we were trying to cut straighter across the channel, but the wind and tide must have been pushing us along the same track that we took on the way out.
A few stats from the trip:
Launch Time: 10:20am
Take Out Time: 2:40pm
Number of stops: One
Total Distance Paddling: 11.4 miles
Participants: Jordan (kayakerjnj, Norm (norm), Chip (Chip W), John (Johnysmoke)
Jordan and I went to the new EMS store in the old Hingham Shipyard to check it out on our way home. The store seemed very nice, but didn't have anything we were looking for. Jordan picked up one little item. After scoping out EMS, we went to Panera Bread for PPR.
Thanks for suggesting The Graves Jordan. Perfect choice for the day.
Sorry for all the crooked horizon lines in the pictures. It's hard to take a level shot with one hand from a rocking kayak with a little camera that doesn't always click when you press the shutter release button. And I don't have the patience to fix everything in photoshop...
Norm
The Graves Lighthouse - May 1, 2010
Moderator: Chip
The Graves Lighthouse - May 1, 2010
Last edited by norm on Mon May 03, 2010 7:26 am, edited 1 time in total.
- kayakerjnj
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- Location: Randolph MA
Re: The Graves Lighthouse - May 1, 2010
Still grinning Norm!
Thanks for the photo-funtastic write up! Great Report, as usual!
Thanks again for a really great day on the water.
Thoroughly enjoyable!
Thanks for the photo-funtastic write up! Great Report, as usual!
Thanks again for a really great day on the water.
Thoroughly enjoyable!
Paddle with a big smile, its contagious
Jordan
Jordan
Re: The Graves Lighthouse - May 1, 2010
Another great report Norm. Thanks for posting.
P&H Quest LV - Yellow/white/blue
Re: The Graves Lighthouse - May 1, 2010
Great report Norm! Glad you guys had a good trip. I had a tear in my eye and a lump in my throat while reading this report. The withdrawals are killing me. Ken
- Finn McCool
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Re: The Graves Lighthouse - May 1, 2010
Wow! This is what its all about. Great report and shots.
I was out on Hull cycling my usual circuit with my wife about the time you guys put in. Were you in the water when the big tanker came through the gut?
I was out on Hull cycling my usual circuit with my wife about the time you guys put in. Were you in the water when the big tanker came through the gut?
Alla har rätt till min åsikt!
Re: The Graves Lighthouse - May 1, 2010
Finn McCool wrote:Wow! This is what its all about. Great report and shots.
I was out on Hull cycling my usual circuit with my wife about the time you guys put in. Were you in the water when the big tanker came through the gut?
No, we were not in the water yet. The tanker went through at about 9:15. I was the only one that had arrived. We were meeting at 10:00. I had gone for a walk looking for a bathroom. I was probably behind Hull High School when you went by. I'm surprised you didn't recognize my truck with the yellow Kajak Sport on top.
- Finn McCool
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Re: The Graves Lighthouse - May 1, 2010
We weren't that far out on Hull. We have a route that takes us along both shorelines. We sometimes go all the way to the tip...but not Saturday.
It was warm! (Well, the air was anyway.) You guys must have been roasting in those drysuits.
It was warm! (Well, the air was anyway.) You guys must have been roasting in those drysuits.
Alla har rätt till min åsikt!
Re: The Graves Lighthouse - May 1, 2010
Wow great report and pictures Norm. It was a perfect day to go out to The Graves. It wasn't all that hot in the drysuits as sitting 6 inches off of 48 +- degree water kept me from somewhat cool.
Thanks again to Norm and Jordan for initiating the trip.
Thanks again to Norm and Jordan for initiating the trip.
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Re: The Graves Lighthouse - May 1, 2010
Norm,
Sorry we couldn't join you and the guys, but we had to be off the water by 1 and like Jordan we thought that the weather was perfect for a trip out to The Graves. Although, we did catch a glimpse of you guys - you were past Middle Brewster and heading out to The Graves as we were heading home. We managed to get back through the Gut ahead of a returning tanker and its 3 escort tugs. Quite the sight. Hope to paddle with you again soon.
Best,
Jan & Lib
Sorry we couldn't join you and the guys, but we had to be off the water by 1 and like Jordan we thought that the weather was perfect for a trip out to The Graves. Although, we did catch a glimpse of you guys - you were past Middle Brewster and heading out to The Graves as we were heading home. We managed to get back through the Gut ahead of a returning tanker and its 3 escort tugs. Quite the sight. Hope to paddle with you again soon.
Best,
Jan & Lib
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Re: The Graves Lighthouse - May 1, 2010
Great pictures and reading, as usual! I love the flat-calm, early morning picture from shore the best, although the oyster-catcher and cliff-resting seagulls are also great
Like a "football widow", I lose my spouse to kayaking for some part of pretty much every weekend