[Paddlewise] The urban paddler

----- Original Message -----
From: <rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com>

> And anyway, I get a kick out of seeing lots of people on the water.  It
> is one of the reasons I like being down at the Downtown Boathouse where
> we put some 6,000 people on the water last year and are probably headed
> to 7,000 or so in 1999.  Nothing compares to the delight on people's
> faces when they experience that first half hour of watery movement at
> the city's edge in a boat propelled by their own muscle power bobbing
> over wakes in a harbor and river in renewal.  Some of those 6,000 get
> the bug, buy their own kayaks and join the ranks of local paddlers who
> can never crowd the thousands of miles of paddleable water within a hour
> of the Big Apple.  Most don't but the memory they take with them is
> priceless and leaves them in kinship with us in support of recapturing
> our waterfronts and waters.
> ralph diaz


I don't have the time, inclination, resources or life-style to make long
trips to the pristine wilderness.  I paddle in the middle of a built-up
urban area on the East side of San Francisco Bay.  I consider myself blessed
to be here.  The weather allows paddling year-round.  The scenery is always
interesting  and changing.  The water is cleaner than it was 20 years ago.
The powers-that-be are beginning to strike  a nice "development" balance
that allows a busy port; public access; retail shops and restaurants to
co-exist.  There are protected areas for wildlife as well.  Every time I go
out I'm fascinated by the activities and feel renewed when I get home.  When
I'm off the water for a week, I feel otherwise.

within a 10 mile radius I can think of more than 6 places to put in. One is
a regional park that charges a nominal fee.  The rest are free. 5 have
picnic facilities.  None are ever full of people.  I'd like to see MORE
people enjoying the underused facilities that are already here.  I'm not
sure how to do that.  We have lots of separate entities, commercial and
non-profit, that promote paddling, but no real co-ordination that I'm aware
of.

Any suggestions?






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