NYCkayaker 2007 Poker Run Saturday June 16th

[Tracy E Bunting-Early]

Hi All
I rarely post on this list and have had to move away from the NYC area. I
love to read about trips people take to other regions and keep up with the
positive influence you all have in the area. I grew up in S FL, where my
nearly 70 yo dad now lives and takes solo 5 day trips in the everglades via
kayak, every year. I introduced him to kayaking and learned a lot about the
dangers and about safe boating from you all. I just have to chime in. I
always get upset when I hear things being presented as black and white where
there is no gray area. We are really too sophisticated for that.

I am a kayaker. I have a perception sonoma aerlite (sp?). We recently got a
tandem and have taken our 17mo daughter out on a small lake for a short
trip. We now live in Delaware and kayak around the northern chesapeake.
While living in JCity I would kayak only occasionally in the Hudson
(carefully) and once got the cruise ship to ³honk² like a truck driver.

I am a swimmer; swimming competitively since early childhood. I participated
in several of the Hudson swims. Really proud of my top 3 finish in my age
group on one of them. I also participated in the NYC triathlon a couple
times and the Liberty State Park Tri a couple times (when they had that
one). So I am aware of the smell of fumes and wakes and tides. It¹s much
more noticeable when swimming, btw.

And get this, my husband and I own an older ³go fast² boat (cigarette being
only a brand name). We use it as a camper and sleep on it at our marina
during weekends (rather than driving back and forth). Once a year we go to
inner harbor Baltimore and stay at a marina there. Before our current boat,
we had a much shorter one and frequently had to travel behind a friend to
avoid choppy rough water. The go-fasts do NOT produce more smell or more
wake than other boats. They are louder which is extremely annoying
especially if you are just hanging out at a pier and someone decides to
start one and rev it.
Poker runs are annoying too. Participating in one before, I was annoyed the
whole time. It IS nice to have calm water and travel fast from time to time.
But mostly we travel to some flats and throw the anchor and hang with
friends. These boats are built for hanging out since they have a sundeck and
swim platform on the back. Point is: not all ³go fast² boaters are jerks who
trash the environment. I used to commute to 52nd and broadway by bicycle
from Jersey City. I didn¹t see many other people joining me even if they
didn¹t have go-fast boat.

So, I am trying to give a picture of how these 3 activities and the people
who participate in them are not all contradictory.
BUT I am shocked that any swim and boat race should be held at the same time
in the same water. Someone screwed up there. BIG time. Are there permits for
these activities? Who issues them and why didn¹t they alert the 2
organizers. Both activities are planned many months in advance. I can¹t
imagine the two organizers haven¹t since discussed how things are going to
play out safely.

For those people who are obsessed with eliminating boat races on the Hudson.
Please try to focus your energy on the happy things in your life. Leave town
when you hear there¹s one coming up. I hate them too but see the right of
those people to have their kind of fun once in a while. Different people
like different things. If you don¹t think sarcasm is funny (even when it is
honest) stop reading here and happy kayaking....
I can¹t for the life of me understand why bell peppers exist. They are
everywhere and trash every dish they are in. If I could have them banned
completely and force everyone to stop eating them I would. I am disgusted
when they are slipped into my food... I really hate them. So my choice is...
I don¹t buy them. I don¹t grow them in my garden. I alter recipes that call
for them. When I mistakenly get one served to me, I treat myself to dessert.
Tracy

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