Still Pond Raft '09

Bodkin Creek George said:
Hey guys,
Give us an early heads up and we will try to make it. Never been there. We live on Bodkin Creek. Do you overnight?
George&C.J





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George-
We do overnight. There are no facilities, so bring enough food/beverage and have boat with an icemaker or a good cooler. And Larry, we are still shooting for the July 18th weekend starting on whichever date is the Friday... We are definitely going to need an overflow raft in the Still Pond proper, so we will need volunteers to anchor that raft as well. With my regular crew, Larry and Stan (those who have volunteered for friday) we will likely fill the Coast Guard lagoon quickly...
 
Tim, I'm still looking pretty good for this. My plan is to head to the boat Thursday night (16 July) with everything we'll need. Then Friday, get up, buy a bunch of ice, and head North.

Since I'm not at all familiar with Still Pond, does it make sense for me to follow you in, and if so, where/when would you like to rendezvous? How about I call you when I'm around the Bay Bridge and we can meet up outside Rock Hall? If you let me know what time you're planning on getting going, I can time my departure to be around Rock Hall, then.

Not sure what Stan's plans are, but he might want to do the same thing. He's probably been to Still Pond, though, so he may not need help.
 
CHANGE OF PLANS....

The aforementioned "Coast Guard Spit" is yet again cordoned off with "NO TRESPASSING" signs. Sooooo, given the 'palooza-ness of this weekend, shall we consider another weekend and/or location? There are other places in Still Pond that we could hang out.

I'm there quite a bit from mid-July on. I am flexible. But the "party on the spit" concept which I had envisioned for this seems to be not working out.

Larry... let's talk.
 
I have to be in Herrington Harbor on July 16th and give a business talk... I'm thinking of taking my boat to get there and then spend the weekend somewhere up north further... Maybe I'll crash your party.
 
festivus44 said:
CHANGE OF PLANS....

The aforementioned "Coast Guard Spit" is yet again cordoned off with "NO TRESPASSING" signs. Sooooo, given the 'palooza-ness of this weekend, shall we consider another weekend and/or location? There are other places in Still Pond that we could hang out.

I'm there quite a bit from mid-July on. I am flexible. But the "party on the spit" concept which I had envisioned for this seems to be not working out.

Larry... let's talk.
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What about on the outside at the far end on the beach and around the sandbar ??
 
hack4alivin said:
What about on the outside at the far end on the beach and around the sandbar ??
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That would be the backup plan. Given that this is 'palooza weekend, should we pick another time? I'm open to suggestions, I'm not a big 'palooza guy.

And if Gary ends up coming maybe we could go "inside" so he can have the thrill of turning to starboard when the branch touches his bridge.
 
festivus44 said:
That would be the backup plan. Given that this is 'palooza weekend, should we pick another time? I'm open to suggestions, I'm not a big 'palooza guy.

And if Gary ends up coming maybe we could go "inside" so he can have the thrill of turning to starboard when the branch touches his bridge.
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I say we stick with the plan....Just no beach bash?! There will be plenty of boats and dinks we can just raft up with Tim's professional raft/anchoring skills and have a great time with or without the beach. Inside is protected and we can dink over to the other beach during the day for a day party? Just my 2 cents? Either way we have been looking forward to it....
 
I'm with Josh. Let's stick to the original date and just raft out and dinghy around. Since we're not going to claim the beach, are we now just looking at an overnight raftup?
 
OK. I'm good with the original date. We will need to establish a presence at the sandbar on the "outside." I will be happy to spearhead this. We can put a virtually unlimited number of boats there, but this is an at-risk location vis-a-vis the normal path/direction of thunderstorms. We can anchor in 7-8' of water and still be within wading distance of the sandbar. I will set up volley ball and umbrella(s) on the sandbar. We should also have an overflow presence on the "inside" which, as discussed, is much more protected and can serve as a bailout spot for those manly enough to anchor at the sand bar. Someone needs to volunteer to anchor this raft. We can use dinghies to shuttle back and forth.

To be clear: I have spent the night "outside" many, many times. I find it to be the far preferable location based upon the beach, the sandbar, the riptide through the spit and the proximity to the excellent skiing/tubing in Churn Creek. BUT, I have also bailed out to the inside a time or two based on the weather. If you're willing to play-it-by-ear, come on up!
 
Ed-
There is no limit to the amount of boats we can cram in to Stillpond. After spending the afternoon "outside" last weekend, we went "inside" for the first time in a while. This is the view of the entrance. You literally hang a right at the tree:
3692455300_5e527f5057.jpg


So now my crew is loving the inside again. That which is old is new. I think we may want to establish two locations. Inside for the dinghy, skiing crew, and outside for the sandbar, beach crew. We also began to slowly work our way back onto the Coast Guard spit again...

So, all are welcome. Lots to do for everyone.

Gary, you coming?
 
What day is it? I'm booked out for the next two weeks...

Maybe I'll find a boat to rent down here in Clearwater... I can get a pontoon boat somewhere... show up those Atlantic City dorks...
 
Tim - thanks - looking forward to it. We'll see you there. Thanks for the entrance photo - have heard of that before but now there's a picture!
 
Man decisions decisions... My wife wanted to go to Rock Hall that weekend as we invited (?) a couple down for that weekend. I would love to come up to Still Pond for this event. Oh and there is aquapoolza happening at Hart Miller island that day.

I am torn... We are raft-up virgins so I don't know if this is the event to get our feet wet so to speak... Overnight, no shore power.... We have a genny. My one and ONLY concern is hot water for a shower for the wife that one is a non-negotiable point.. We shall have a full boat that weekend. Any other selling points I may be missing?
 
The best of boating is hanging with a group as the sun sets slowly, then again, breakfast on the aft deck, morning coffee afloat is great as well, and the afternoons goofing off and relaxing can't be beat too. Rafting in Still Pond is a treasure that only we few Upper Chesapeake boaters have to enjoy, and I can only reccomend that you give it a try. Rafting out with this group should ease any of your worries, and you can always make hot water with the genny. I hope to arrive on Friday afternoon, and make a long weekend, the begining of my vacation. Can't think of a better way to bridge the work world with the best world.


dellis2628
Dave Ellis
340 DA
 
Looking forward to the Still Pond raft-up the weekend of the 18th. We'll be leaving central Indiana this coming weekend for a week on the Bay, culminating in the Still Pond affair next weekend. I have a couple questions for Festivus and those others involved in the planning since we have to pack in the next few days:

What do we need to bring food-wise to this deal? After seeing the Atlantic City pics with the "Table Of The Gods", I'm not sure what to think! We'll have to stock up in Annapolis, where we'll be on Thursday. I'm planning on bringing a few brews, a few wine coolers, and whatever food is recommended.

We're planning on arriving early Friday afternoon. Will there already be others there to help out a couple of raft-up newbies? From what I'm reading there will be boats both inside and outside of the spit.

Since our internet access will be spotty at best next week, I figured I had better get my questions answered this week! After reading about all of the fun everybody has had at the earlier events, I'm really looking forward to this! :thumbsup:
 
kpetry said:
Looking forward to the Still Pond raft-up the weekend of the 18th. We'll be leaving central Indiana this coming weekend for a week on the Bay, culminating in the Still Pond affair next weekend. I have a couple questions for Festivus and those others involved in the planning since we have to pack in the next few days:

What do we need to bring food-wise to this deal? After seeing the Atlantic City pics with the "Table Of The Gods", I'm not sure what to think! We'll have to stock up in Annapolis, where we'll be on Thursday. I'm planning on bringing a few brews, a few wine coolers, and whatever food is recommended.

We're planning on arriving early Friday afternoon. Will there already be others there to help out a couple of raft-up newbies? From what I'm reading there will be boats both inside and outside of the spit.

Since our internet access will be spotty at best next week, I figured I had better get my questions answered this week! After reading about all of the fun everybody has had at the earlier events, I'm really looking forward to this! :thumbsup:
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Kpetry-
First of all, I went to IU, so I assume you're on Lake Monroe? Awesome that you're coming east and will be able to join us. I do plan to be there on Friday. I know a few others have metioned Friday arrivals as well. I should be there by early Friday afternoon.

As far as food goes, we will not have the facilities to set up a "table of the Gods". This is a pure raft-up (i.e. we will eat on the boats). However, on the outside, there is a beach we can use, but I don't envision us setting up tables on the beach. Also, there are absolutely NO facilities within five miles. No food, no services, no pump out stattions, no fuel, no water, not even an ice cube. So be sure to bring whatever you need to live on for two days unplugged. So think grilling and sandwiches. In my experience, ICE is usually the one that will get you. Bring extra!

The trick to a good raft is in putting the biggest boats in the middle. Big boats that I think are coming are Ryan (52DB), Mike (56DB), Stan (48DA), Larry (44DB), Ed (44DB) and Josh (36DB). What we will need to sort out in the coming days and weeks is who wants to go "inside" and who wants to go "outside".

As a reminder, here's the chart:
2611206028_8a792ac1f1_o.jpg


"Inside" is marked by the red dot and "outside" is marked by the blue dot. Inside is more protected from wind and waves, outside has a sandbar and beach. Inside is more "nature oriented" (plan to see Bald Eagles). Outside is more "human-nature" oriented (plan to see performance boats rafted up playing loud music while their surgically-enhanced women dance like strippers... OK that may not happen ALL the time, but it sure did last weekend). Inside is more serene, outside is more of a scene. Both are good!

To get to the inside you need to navigate the channel which literally comes with the instructions to "turn right at the tree" as shown here:
3692455300_5e527f5057.jpg


The incoming channel before this is a little goofy, they have moved some markers around to keep up with the shoaling, but if you follow the conventions (Red Right Returning--- and entering Still Pond is obviously considered "returning") you'll be fine. There is plenty of water up until the turn at the tree. Once you hang the right, you follow the shoreline, it will get a ittle shallow (maybe 6') after the turn but it will quickly retun to 8'. You will see a mooring field to port. Once past the first few docks on the inside, head for any where in the open water past the mooring field.

On the outside, the approach is easy, there is deep water right up to the sandbar which protects the mouth of churn creek. The local knowledge part of this is knowing where the sandbar begins so you can get as close as possible to it while still having your wheels above ground! The convention along the sandbar is always two anchors. People will come in, turn the boat around back toward the north, drop a front hook, back down and drop a stern hook positioning the aft facing the dandbar and the mouth of Churn creek.

Depending on who wants to go where, I'd like us to try to get a couple of anchor (bigger) boats to the rafts established early. Breaking up a raft to sneak a big boat into the middle is no fun and not advised. Depending on who's coming when, we may need multiple rafts.

Lastly, there is a weather component to this... any wind direction invlolving an "N" will make the outside less comfortable. Any threat of a thunderstorm makes the outside quite dangerous. Inside is a safe a place as one could be during a storm (other than high and dry). It looks and acts like a small lake with that small and protected opening.

So, bottom line is (this applies to ALL coming, not just kpetry):
- Bring enough food, drink and ice for yourselves, we will probably eat communally on the raft at some point (sat evening probably) so bring an appetizer or something to share.
- If you get there early, anchor on the outside if you like.
- I will be on VHF 16 during the day on Friday (Festivus)
- Please let me know if you have a preference for inside or outside.
 
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Four Suns said:
What day is it? I'm booked out for the next two weeks...

Maybe I'll find a boat to rent down here in Clearwater... I can get a pontoon boat somewhere... show up those Atlantic City dorks...
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July 17th & 18th. I thought you were going to be at Herrington harbor on the 16th. Short run from there (for you anyway). I'll even drive your boat past the tree if you want me to!
 
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