[Paddlewise] Paddlewise Mingle in NYC--Memorial Day Weekend

We have been discussing this backchannel and it is now time to lay out
the schedule of the plan for that weekend's mingle of interested
PaddleWise subscribers.  This is seen as a weekend in which people who
are on the list and wish to paddle together can do so.

As you can see the schedule moves us nicely from one geographic area
to the other and takes care of boat storage and parking and lets us try
out each other's boats, do show and tell etc. 

Several things to bear in mind when considering the schedule below:

1. This is an informal get-together and not anything official of
PaddleWise which is just a list existing in ether and email.  Some of us
who happen to be on PaddleWise are planning to paddle that weekend and
are inviting our fellow PaddleWisers to join in.  It is a Mingle not an
Event or anything formal; it is a chance to see the face behind the
email address and to enjoy each other's company as we seem to do
regularly via the PaddleWise listserver.  All that we ask is that you be
of the same good cheer and flexibility that is the hallmark of
PaddleWise participants.

2. You can join in for all three days of paddling in the three different
venues or you can come for one or two of them.  Whatever the case, you
should let us know (I'll list contact points below).

3.  We can accomodate and, indeed, welcome, PaddleWisers from
out-of-town who will need some place to stay in order to participate. 
Obviously we definitely need to hear from you if you plan to come and
need housing.

4)  There is no charge but we would like to have people pitch in for any
food and drink we might have in common in barbeques etc.  As one of the
events takes place at the Downtown Boathouse, which serves the paddling
community and the cause of public water access in a big way, I would
suggest that a donation be made to the place to help further its
efforts...but no pressure to contribute...it is free access afterall
that the Boathouse promotes.

5.  This is all at basic skills level, not involving advanced paddling
skills.  If conditions are dicey on the days of the paddles, we will do
something else.  Cold water clothing is not necessary in late May in NYC
(likely to be around 58-60 F) unless you are intending to practice lots
of rolls and rescues, in which case you might want something.

Below is the tentative schedule and after that the contact points and
other logistical details:

----------------
MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND MINGLE OF LIKE-MINDED PADDLEWISERS

Well, it looks like the following schedule is the likely one.  I base it
on what the currents will be doing on the dates.  The currents will at
the weaker end of their cycle because of a half moon and apogee occuring
around those dates.  But still I prefer paddling with the flow.

SATURDAY:

A Paddle From The Downtown Boathouse To the Statue and Back (about 6
miles roundtrip).

The flood starts at around 1-1:30 pm.  So we should absolutely be on the
water no later than noon; I would prefer 11 am because this allows us to
paddle further 2 miles southward to Port Liberte, a community of
townhouses and apartments with a canal running through it.  

We would be back at the DTBH by 3:30.

(If anyone is interested in a longer paddle they can continue on back
past the DTBH and ride the flood current up to the Intrepid and on to
the 79th St. Boat Basin and take out there (about an additional 5
miles).  There are choices for those individuals who do that including
leaving their boats there in a locked area; we would pick them up the
next morning for the Sunday scheduled things).  Or you could paddle back
down with the next ebb, albeit latish at around 6 pm.

We can gather at the DTBH for the rest of the afternoon (after getting
back from the Statue) to chat, do show and tell, try out each other's
boats etc.  Then an early evening barbeque at the DTBH, followed by a
night paddle for those with real good lights and lots of nerve.  If some
one is leaving a boat at the 79th St. Boat Basin and wish to paddle
in the evening, there are boats to borrow at the DTBH.

Then the out-of-towners can come to my place to tent or sleep indoors. 
I have put up indoors quite comfortably about 6 people; uncomfortably
more.  The rooftop tenting means an army can stay up there on my
neighbors' roof terraces.  These are brownstones in the middle of
Manhattan and so a unique experience if tenting out ... and high above
the muggers for you worry-worts.

SUNDAY:

A Paddle In the Hudson Highlands out of West Point (located 40 miles
north of NYC)

The way the currents break a trip to Bannermann Is. won't work out
too well, lamentably.  The ebb starts at 10 am or so that day and the
flood around 5 pm.  So the more desirable course is to head southward
toward Bear Mtn Bridge.

What would be fun is to meet at West Point where there are bathrooms and
picnic tables and places to barbeque.  Have a lunch barbeque or just
hang out; this would allow a lot of socializing before we paddle down to
Polopen Falls (roundtrip is about 10 miles).  It is about 3 hrs. max
to get to the Falls going at a leisurely pace.  So we don't have to be
on the water until 2.  There will be lots of motorboat traffic
but not as much as later in the summer.

Then we can head to the Volins for an evening barbeque.  The
out-of-towners can stay with them.

MONDAY:

A Paddle on Long Island Sound off of City Island (any distance we want,
but likely to be about a 10 mile trip)

If we are all still speaking to each other and continuing to get along,
then a change of venue to paddle on Long Island Sound near
City Island.  This is at the northern border of the city and therefore
an easier trip for the Volins and the people staying with them.  We can
paddle around the various islands there and out to Execution Rocks
Lighthouse or any thing we want.  Land on David's Island, etc.

My thought is to put in at Orchard Beach in the Bronx.  Plenty of
parking and bathrooms.  If we put in in late morning, the tides would
work well for us.  There are picnic tables there too.  Afterward,
out-of-towners are just minutes away from I-95 to head back to New
England or southward or westward.   Or we can dine at any of the many
good seafood restaurants on City Island.

------------------

You should contact me or Joan Volin regarding whether you want to come
or need a place to stay while here.  My email address is below, but I
have a problem in that I will be effectively away for some three weeks
prior to the weekend (the BASK get-together and a Barcelona/Spain
vacation) and will not be in a position to answer questions then (May
3-23).  Joan Volin is at volinjo_at_juno.com.  We do have a list of people
who were generally interested that Wes Boyd kindly compiled but I rather
work with fresh contacts now that people know the specific plans of the
Mingle in NYC of Likeminded PaddleWisers.

This is a great opportunity to meet each other.  Over the past weekend I
finally met Joan Spinner at the Jersey Paddler Paddlesports show in NJ
as well as seen the Ricci's again.  Throughout the Paddlesports show I
kept having people come up to me to shake my hand feeling as if they
knew me from my babbling on Paddlewise and other lists.  While the
Internet may appear to be a virtual reality, the listservers have weaved
a very real community in which we all are learning from each other.  The
Mingle on Memorial Day Weekend will enrich that spirit of sharing.

ralph diaz



 
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Ralph Diaz . . . Folding Kayaker newsletter
PO Box 0754, New York, NY 10024
Tel: 212-724-5069; E-mail: rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com
"Where's your sea kayak?"----"It's in the bag."
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