Six-pack Dan
New member
Last Saturday, Carmel and I drove down to Marion Harbor in my trusty old Subaru station wagon to do a three hour paddle. As we unloading all our gear (and beer) down on the beach next to the town wharf, I began to feel a terrible suspicion that I overlooked something. Yes, that's right. I had left my paddle back in Westport. While Carmel sat on the beach, guarding our gear and working on her tan, I headed back up the road in search of a paddle. Not feeling like driving all the way home, I went a mile up the road to West Marine and bought a servicable paddle for 25 bucks.
At high noon we launched our boats. We manouvered our way around the many sailboats moored in front of Beverly yacht club and headed South. A brisk southwesterly wind and some serious waves kept the paddle challenging as we passed some of the spectacular homes on Ram Island in the center of the Harbor. As we made our way past Butler's Point on the East side, we could see our destination: Bird Island and its lighthouse. The beach on the the North side of the Island provided an easy landing area. We ate lunch, had a few cold Busch Lites, and admired the beautiful clear water and the many yachts sailing in the distance. I told Carmel that after enjoying my own private island, I was too spoiled to go to a public beach ever again.
After I took a quick swim I reluctantly packed up my gear. The 3.5 mile trip back to the town wharf was fast with the wind at our backs, but we had to keep a sharp eye out for breaking surf. All in all, a great time. (See photos below) For more details about paddling in Marion, MA check out trip #38 in the AMC guidebook "Sea Kayaking Coastal Massachusetts" by Lisa Gollin Evans.
At high noon we launched our boats. We manouvered our way around the many sailboats moored in front of Beverly yacht club and headed South. A brisk southwesterly wind and some serious waves kept the paddle challenging as we passed some of the spectacular homes on Ram Island in the center of the Harbor. As we made our way past Butler's Point on the East side, we could see our destination: Bird Island and its lighthouse. The beach on the the North side of the Island provided an easy landing area. We ate lunch, had a few cold Busch Lites, and admired the beautiful clear water and the many yachts sailing in the distance. I told Carmel that after enjoying my own private island, I was too spoiled to go to a public beach ever again.
After I took a quick swim I reluctantly packed up my gear. The 3.5 mile trip back to the town wharf was fast with the wind at our backs, but we had to keep a sharp eye out for breaking surf. All in all, a great time. (See photos below) For more details about paddling in Marion, MA check out trip #38 in the AMC guidebook "Sea Kayaking Coastal Massachusetts" by Lisa Gollin Evans.
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