Kayaking the Witches

[jrc]

After a lifetime of trying to avoid the Witches, this weekend I purposely explored them in a kayak.

I'm now sure my fear of them was justified, I was amazed by the size and extent of the boulders. I took a few picture with my cell phone but they were crap. I need to get a waterproof camera.

I was surprized that I couldn't find a shallow spot to stand, I really wanted to say I stood there. But it's pretty much all rocks, no sand or other stucture. The birds were not too happy about my visit. I wasn't about to get in the water near them, after I scared the ship out of them.

Anyone else try this. or am I just nuts?

http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=43.601504163131935~-71.40090709271261&lvl=17&dir=0&sty=h&form=LMLTCC

[Rangervx]

i would like to explore there too, like you...thought a sea-doo would be cool...if i had one!!!!

[Rattlesnake Gal]

But the birds and their poo keeps me away.

[NoBozo]

But the birds and their poo keeps me away.

YUP: Hazardous Waste. :D BUT: Didn't they use it for fertilizer back in the day...? :look:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guano

[jrc]

The birds and their mess are confined to a very small section, the boulders start over 1000' south of their perch.

The amount of area where I could clearly see mounds of boulders was incredible. I don't have a depth finder on my kayak and I often underestimate depth from the seat. But I was sure glad I didn't have a propeller hanging down.

The bird rocks are just the tip of a huge iceberg.

[upthesaukee]

...we used to snorkle and scuba the witches. Friend had a small Boston Whaler and we would go over there and snorkle looking for anchors. Most we found could be released without any pry bar, just free dive down and pull it back. Some needed a pry bar to release and others were there for the ages. If the water was a little deeper, we would locate the anchors, mark them with styrofoam blocks attached to fishing weights, and then go down with the scuba gear to get them out. Took them home, brushed them with a wire brush to get of some or all of the rust, paint them with aluminum spray paint and sell them for $5-10. Paid for gas money and air refills for the tanks.

For us kids, it was a cool place to snorkle and scuba. :)

[JTA]

You guys were lucky. I always thought that there was an ugly hand and arm that would grab you if you went too close to The Witches.

[garysanfran]

I didn't realize how common this fear was!

When I was very young I would have various nightmares about The Witches and the frightening looking pterodactyl like cormorants sitting on the rocks with their wings extended.

Diving for anchors? What a great childhood memory!