Nice end-of-season, (Columbus Day Weekend) kayak from Pavilion Beach Parking lot on Great Neck - meet Sunday 10/9/11 @ 9 AM. This time of year, most of the power boats and people that quash the spectacular beauty of this area are gone! For example, without crowds, one can really appreciate the angle of the sun against the grasses in the tidal marshes and against the sand, the configuration of the water and the land, the tip of Plum Island at low tide, and the confluence of several rivers - just spectacular! If you have Tamsin Venn's "Sea Kayaking Along the New England Coast", just go to the Plum Island and Ipswich Bay pages to see just how many options we have to paddle - amazing.   There is quiet water, current that must be crossed, and breaking surf on sand bars too. No sit on top kayaks and, because of the waves, a spray skirt and the ability to do a wet exit with spray skirt fastened is required.  Of course, big surf and bad weather cancels.  Bring lunch, water, warm clothing for paddling, dry bag for back-up gear etc., wind breaker, NO COTTON CLOTHING ON THE WATER, and probably a dry suit top if you want to swim - the water will be in the low 50's. Be prepared for everything from wind, cold air and water, and clouds all the way to calm, warmish air but still cold water, and sun.  All of these conditions can happen in one day.  Tide Chart Link:   http://www.boatma.com/tides/print/Oct/Plum-Island-Sound-(south-end).html: 

 Our put-in, take-out, and meeting place is @ 9 AM on Pavilion Beach @ Great Neck in Ipswich (a 20 minute drive and 10.7 miles from exit 54 off I 95 in Newbury).  Take exit 54 and follow Route 133 East across Route 1 to the end of 133 where you will be at a stop sign and confusing intersection facing a Prime Gas station.  Go straight through the stop sign (the Prime Station stays on your right as you pass it) and you will be on East Street and another stop sign soon - where you will proceed diagonally to your left past Spring St. in order to stay on East Street - where it soon turns into Jeffrey's Neck road at a left hand curve.  Just keep following the double yellow line on Jeffrey's Neck - it will turn into Little Neck Road and take you right to our Pavilion Beach put-in/parking area.