I woke up to the roar of my brother-in-law's Bronco starting up. 4:20 am, off to the breakfast shift. I tossed and turned on the 35 year old mattresses in the childhood room of the babe of all time, before giving up and heading out. I grabbed the 6:48 LIRR train into Penn Station. Even at that early holiday weekend hour, Penn was busy. I passed on a pizza breakfast in favor of a couple of Krispy Kreme doughnuts and grabbed the subway down to Tribeca. I turned toward home (west), walked toward the Hudson, and took a left. I had seen the twin World Trade Towers many times, but for the first time appreciated their audacity. You may build them higher, you other metropolis wanna-bes, but will you build two? I found the New York Downtown Boathouse at pier 26 in the shadow of the towering Smith Barney building, the financial district creeping up on the lofts of Tribeca. It was 7:50 am, and a small group had formed a line, hoping to snag a place on that morning's tour to the Statute of Liberty. I pushed away from the dock and lowered my hands in the water. I thought of Henry Hudson, who had his hands in this water while out exploring in the summer of 1609. A year and half later his mutinous crew lowered him into the ship's dingy in that large cold bay to the north that also bears his name, and that crew just sailed away. Despite their fearsome reputation, these New Yorkers were showing signs of treating me a whole lot better. Before heading across the Hudson I stopped to pull out the camera and take a couple of pictures of mid-town, lying only a couple of miles away. The Empire State Building stood out, but there was only a hazy hint of the more northerly midtown towers. We headed out to cross the Hudson about 9 am. We podded close together to make the crossing to the Jersey side, thankful that at this hour Donald Trump and his fellow Captains of Industry were not yet out in their ships seeking pleasure. The water was calm and shimmering in the early morning heat, and we headed for Hoboken. On the Jersey Shore, we swung into an inlet and up to a waterside restaurant with a low dock, were several people popped out of their boats to use the facilities and score a few Snapples. Guess when you live in Manhatten you're use to having amenities close at hand. We came out the inlet and headed for the open Atlantic, thankfully still a long way off. We swung around the back side of Ellis Island (the Angel Island of the East) where the boat traffic was less, and where we could pod up for crossing the last channel to the Statute. As we rounded Ellis Island Liberty Island and the Statute came into view. We paddled across, and around to the front of the Statute. where we bobbed around in the chop from the pleasure fleet now out in holiday weekend force. We whooped it up, rafted up, took a few bobbing around pictures, and spent some time in silent contemplation. The flood tide had started, and it was time head back. The crossing back over the Hudson was more interesting this time, the Captains of Industry were out, and while we paddlers were numerous and close together, there wasn't a no wake policy in effect. When we got back, the Boathouse was in full summer glory. People were paddling about, people were hanging out, people were wondering why anyone would want to be in the Hamptons. I watched a guy walk by with his young son, pick out a lady with a clip board who he judged to be in charge, and ask how much. He got his answer and I mouthed right along with his amazed reaction. FREE? I want to applaud the Downtown Boathouse for providing these opportunities to the public, and I want to thank Ralph Diaz, Tim Gamble, Eric Baard, and email for providing this memorable opportunity to me. The downtown Boathouse, run by volunteers, is a great resource to New York paddlers, and a must visit when you are in the world's second best city. Casey Walker San Francisco, California *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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