Re: [Paddlewise] Memorial Weekend paddles

I have to add my comments - first of all, I took pictues all thre days,
though I make no guarantees for quality.  No matter, I will post them -
but they're still in the camera.  I'll finish the roll today or tomorrow,
& bring them in, so I should have them by the weekend.

All three paddles were wonderful in and of themselves, and the variety
made for a truly memorable weekend.  I've paddled to the Statue several
tiems, but never from the Downtown Boathouse, which was a much better
trip than the usual route that I've taken (from Liberty State Park in New
Jesey) - great views, some interesting water (when you could see the
paddle in front of you one minute & not the next) & the chance to get
knocked over by members of a local sailing school (didn't happen this
trip, but one of the participants said it had happened to him last year!)

Sunday we paddled in my local waters, so it was familiar territory.  But
it was such a good group of people!  We stopped near a spot that Bob & I
knew from hiking it last winter, & a number of us got out of our boats &
took a short hike.  When we got to Popolopen Creek, our destination, it
was still to early to go back, so we went a bit further south, into
Doodletown Marsh (I didn't make up that name!) & just hung out.  That's
where Ralph found the flowers.  Most of the group came back to our house
for a barbecue afterwards, & Ralph & Bill stayed over, so we even
extended our good times through breakfast.

Monday we had a small group and some pretty good winds.  That was really
a fun paddle - not really difficult, but you had to work.  Then after
lunch we figured we'd have a bit more wind before getting into the
shelter of Glen Island for the rest of the trip home, but the wind seemed
to have died down completely,  it was pretty much dead calm.  So the trip
back was just a leisurely meander, with plenty of chatting.  We followed
the paddle with a seafood dinner on City Island.  We got stuck in parade
traffic trying to get onto the island, & Bill bailed at that point, since
he still had a long trip home.  Hopefully next time we do something like
this, he can stick around.

I would really encourage other groups to get together -small groups,
large groups, it doesn't matter.    Perhaps NY wasn't the optimum place
to have a get together - it might be too far for many people, and then
some people just don't like NY (it doesn't make them bad people).  And
maybe a holiday weekend was too hard for a lot of people - they might
have family commitments, etc.  But I'd like to see more get togethers,
all over the country.  It would be really cool to have a national
convention,  but that'll never happen.  If anyone wanted to get a group
together anywhere within travelling distance, I know we would come.

Anyhow, we thought of all of you, and especially Jackie, lots during the
weekend.  I hope you all had great weekends, too.

Joan


> > Hi Ralph!
> > 
> > How did your Memorial weekend get-together go?  Will you or someone
> > be doing a write-up for PaddleWise?  Take any pictures? :-)
> > 
> > abrazos,
> > 
> > Jackie
> ve brains :-).
> 
> There are photos that the Volins, Leonhardts and Bill took including 
> of
> our festive dinner at City Island near where we paddled the last 
> day.  I
> think they will put them on the list.
> 
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