NYCkayaker Harbor Month, 5-Boro Tour

[rob buchanan]

I like the idea of a 5 boro tour but that last leg to staten island might be
unmanageable--it's a long way and if the wind comes up it could be hard for
a big group to get all the way down there and back. Plus not much time for a
festive meal at the midpoint.

How about trying a four-boro east river tour in early september? I could see
starting at the new barretto park in the bronx, a great photo op with hell
gate and towers of manhattan in distance, plus an easy launch and really
nice beach there that we could stage on (removing the annoying 'no boating'
sign could be another fun photo op). Then south on the ebb to the top of
randalls and through the bronx kill to the harlem. I've never been in there,
not even sure how navigable it is esp. for a gig, but I think it would be a
good way to stake a claim on that northwest corner of randalls where they
want to put the water park. Then down to hell gate on the harlem--not sure
about tide there, seems to me it's going the other way but maybe not too
seriously. Down the west side of the east with stops at south tip of
roosevelt, u thant island off of the un, stuvesant cove, and brooklyn bridge
beach (manhattan side). Then on to governors island (could just touch at the
little low tide beach there, rather than screw around with the dock) and
finally valentino pier as our lunch spot/turnaround. Gowanus dredgers could
canoe over and join in; catering by red hook boaters. After lunch back north
on the flood to dumbo cove, the little beach north of the navy yard,
williamsburg beach in the new state park there (they'll love that idea),
bushwick inlet to set the stage for future boating there, newtown creek (at
least that little landing spot near the budweiser plant), anable basin,
halletts cove, around the corner to astoria park beach, and then back to
barretto with an optional stop on north brother for bird lovers. A big day
but certainly doable, with numerous spots for people to join in/jump out.

Henry, you know about the Bronx kill--how practical would it be to cut
through there on an ebb tide?

 



On 3/13/07 7:09 PM, "Erik Baard" <erik at baard.com> wrote:

> Hi All,
> 
> This is a really exciting time, but one that is full of challenges.
> While the NYC Dept of Parks and Recreation is essentially
> institutionalizing the somewhat scattershot harbor revival with a
> comprehensive NYC Water Trail, we're also seeing water access threatened
> along the Hudson and disregarded in many new waterfront developments.
> 
> Let's really hammer home harbor awareness with a month of activities,
> much like the bike month of May, with the highlight being a five-boro
> paddling and rowing tour. I recommend starting with June, 2008, which
> might be when a the NYC Water Trail map is fresh.
> 
> I put "Harbor Month" in this subject heading, but we'll need something
> more apt -- there are too many industrial and other issues outside our
> scope, and there are passive uses that don't capture our in-water
> spirit.
> 
> But I'm agnostic on the month: I also like September because it's a
> warm-water month and the students are in town. Maybe we could have an
> event in September of this year, giving us time to organize, and then
> switch to June from 2008 forward?
> 
> I know I have pushed this idea before, but it seems more appropriate
> than ever.
> 
> Ditto for the tour I've proposed for years. We can start with our
> friends at Brook Park and the NYRP's Sharp Boathouse, visit Hallets
> Cove, and then Valentino Park in Red Hook, and finally paddle down to
> Staten Island (I love Snug Harbor, but something closer might prove more
> popular).
> 
> The tour would highlight these waterfront groups, could include a
> Governors Island stop. Manhattan's midtown and downtown districts are
> tougher to include: no landings as the South Street Seaport and while
> landings are tolerated at Stuyvesant Cove, such a big event might
> stretch that grace.
> 
> The Hudson route is tricky: it would cut out Queens and make a Brooklyn
> landing difficult. One option might be to take the Hudson River down
> from the Bronx (or Yonkers?) and cross over from Staten Island to Coney
> Island and finally Rockaways?
> 
> This tour would potentially generate more media attention than any other
> paddling event. Naturally, it could be billed as a race too, though I
> personally welcome lollygaggers.    :)
> 
> Rowers should absolutely be welcomed -- should be central, in fact --
> and maybe small sailboats could be accommodated. I'm simply ignorant on
> that front. And... THERE SHOULD BE SWIMMING! Maybe only an elite few
> should swim this event, but we should have recreational swim stops along
> the way!
> 
> Any thoughts?
> 
> Warm regards,
> 
> Erik
> 
> Erik Baard
> 
> http://www.licboathouse.org
> http://www.naturecalendar.com
> 
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