Welcome Guests!

For sea kayakers, possibilities include a trip with stops around Mark, White Bull, and Ragged Islands; trips to Hermit Island for the beaches; or a  challenging trip around Cape Small to the Kennebec or Sequin ...  If fog develops, trips will be to the Basin or Small Point Harbor.   In any case one can just walk around, swim, read, enjoy the views ... and perhaps have the best trip of all.  The most important reason for an overnight trip is to have the chance of a spectacular sunset or sunrise ... no promises, of course, but the possibility is there.

#1 Rule:  "The Weather Rules ! " … if the weather is expected to be poor, we cancel; we only go to the island on decent days (but who knows what we come back in ...).  Check with Steve about concerns and questionable weather.

The Island:  This is a rugged island:  no store, no dock, no boardwalk, no hot water, no drinking water, but lots of wind / sun? / rocks / bushes / brambles / bugs / salt water, some poison ivy.  Be prepared for weather changes, the sun and/or wind beating on you and mosquitoes (especially at dusk).  And new this year courtesy of the deer that swim out here are some ticks.  Have long pants and shirt, hat, swimsuit, sturdy boots, rainwear, windbreaker, warm stuff, and bug repellant.  The view can warm your soul, but that may not be sufficient for your body.  Steve has a shack on the island, but it is only 8 ft x 12 ft and used primarily for storage so does not have room for people.  There is deck space for sitting, a table, and the brightly colored sun/rain cabana tent. There is enough cistern water to wash dishes and body parts.  There is a  gasoline stove and lantern, paper towels, napkins, and toilet paper in the Shack.   There are some scattered tent spots but none are ideal -- Steve will point out the possibilities.  Toilet facilities are primitive (the bushes with shovel as necessary and the special chair).   However, there is a store only about a 3/4 mile paddle away if you want ice cream.
Keep in mind that there are 4 other partners that share ownership of this island so be considerate of others that are around. 

Trip Parameters:
Tides:               High                Low
August 23      8:37 AM         2:24 PM        
August 24      9:29 AM         3:16 PM
height           ~ 7.5 feet            1.3 feet
or if this is not current use this link for South Harpswell tides:  
Tide Chart Index Southern Maine and Casco Bay

Distance from West Point to Wood Island =1/2 -  3/4 miles by water.
Distance from Foster Point, West Bath to Wood Island = 8.5 miles.
Island Size: about 39 acres.  A hike all around it with stops and some explorations takes about 2+ hours.

Your responsibilities:
Bring:  a gallon of fresh water (or whatever you need to drink, cook, brush teeth), camping stuff (you will be camping out), anything you really want.  Also, you need to bring your share of the group food / special treats / appetizers, your own  lunches, drinks, and something to share.  You are expected to do your share of cooking / cleanup unless you can hire a substitute.  Food coordination for the group supper will be attempted in due course before the trip ... 

Getting there:  You can go out to the island by canoe or kayak from West Point in Phippsburg -- only 3/4 mile (but there is limited parking so try to carpool and talk to Steve for directions and to confirm that there is room for your car  ...  (map to Cat's Cove in West Point -- this is zoomable) (topo map).
Also ... there is an option of a pretty paddle of about 8.5 miles down the New Meadows River to Wood Island ... talk to me if you are interested in this option.

If Steve is going out in a power boat, there will be that possibility for transport of bodies or baggage.

 

One can land at a little beach (high tide) at the NE end of the island -- this is the nearest point on the Island to West Point, a path leads to the Shack (minimum baggage carry distance).  Alternatively one can paddle to the Harbor on the West Side (a little more exposed).   Click on the little overhead picture for a larger version.  Click on the little chart for a larger version.: Link for another overhead photo of Wood Island or any other place in the US (you can zoom and pan) Link for Casco Bay chart (Wood Island is all the way to the right and about half way down the chart) Link for Other Marine charts of Casco Bay (click on chart title)

Questions:  ask Steve:   443-9634    swinter@blazenetme.net 

Things to bring list:

CRITICAL:  
BUG SPRAY !!! ...   DEET (n-n-dimethyl meta toluamide) works very well and has been approved for kids as young as 2 months old by the FDA ... a spray that is at least 20% is better ... e.g. OFF - Deep Woods,
SUNSCREEN !!!
Other:  
clothes:  rainwear, long pants, long sleeve shirt, hat, some warm clothes, swimwear, towel
(if you wear only shorts and sandals, the briars will kill you in about 30 minutes)
sturdy shoes
camping:  tent with fly, sleeping bag, ground pad
water
food:  your lunches and breakfasts, group stuff for Sat night 
good spirits (that is in your soul, not necessarily in liquid form)