At 8:05 AM this morning I paddled under the Verrazano bridge thus completing the Atlantic leg of this trip and beginning the New York canals and rivers portion. It was a day I've been looking forward to for quite a while and one I will never forget. When I stopped by the Statue of Liberty to take pictures I couldn't get over the feeling like it was a dream. I had to say it out loud, "That is really the Statue of Liberty, and I really paddled all the way here."
What a feeling!
Daily stats
Start: 6:00 AM - Sandy Hook, NJ
Finish: 11:00 AM - Pier 40, NYC
Time: 5:00 hours
Daily dist: 16 miles
Total dist: 3600+ miles
Companions: None
Weather: Partly cloudy and windy with SW at 10-15+ temp in 70’s
Notes: The end of the Atlantic leg of the trip and beginning of the NY canals and rivers
Start: 6:00 AM - Sandy Hook, NJ
Finish: 11:00 AM - Pier 40, NYC
Time: 5:00 hours
Daily dist: 16 miles
Total dist: 3600+ miles
Companions: None
Weather: Partly cloudy and windy with SW at 10-15+ temp in 70’s
Notes: The end of the Atlantic leg of the trip and beginning of the NY canals and rivers
Today was an incredible day. Like a kid that cant wait for Christmas morning to come, I was more excited about getting into my boat and paddling across the bay to New York than I’ve been in quite a while. I’m not sure why I was so excited, I guess it was a combination of completing the longest leg of my trip combined with starting a new phase of the trip which will take me through a topography and climate very similar to where I grew up. Most of all, even though I never really cared for big cities, I am excited to be in New York City and to see all of the iconic places I’ve only ever seen on the TV or read about in magazines. This is my very first visit to the city and so far it’s grander than I ever imagined it would be in person… and I just landed.
The last Atlantic Ocean sunrise of the trip revealing great weather for my paddle into New York
After spending the night on Ron’s comfortable couch which (with my excitement combined with worry about my boat sitting alone on the point) only allowed me a couple hours of sleep. Ron got himself up extra early and gave me a ride to the park just as it opened at 5:00 AM. After bidding him farewell and much thanks for getting me out of the rain I jogged the beach back to my kayak where I found it safe and sound tucked up in the dunes. Amazingly, even though the weather predictions had called for clouds, rain, wind, and patchy fog, the skies were partly cloudy and all I had to deal with for the eight mile crossing to the Verrazano bridge was a 10-15 mile per hour tail wind from the southwest (not bad at all).
My original plan for crossing the bay was to head northeast to Coney island then follow the eastern shore up the Hudson into downtown. However, there was a lot of ship traffic on the main channel the original route would have crossed, so I opted to run toward the west side of the Verrazano bridge and come in on the west shore of the Hudson. This route was great because it would not only avoid the shipping lane it would also take me past the Statue of Liberty on my way in. Of course I didn’t realize that it would also take me across several ferry routes which where running full out as rush hour neared which was a bit exciting.
The Verrazano Bridge
By 8:05 after leap frogging across the bay I arrived under the Verrazano Bridge and officially completed the Atlantic leg of this trip which began when I passed under the US 1 bridge way down in Key Largo Florida late last February. At the bridge I called my mom to let her know I’d made it then set my sights on… I could hardly believe it… the Statue of Liberty!
Celebrating the end of the Atlantic Leg and starting something new.
Along the way I was sharing the choppy Upper Bay (Hudson River) waters with numerous tug boats and even more numerous, and much faster moving, passenger ferries. It was an exciting paddle to say the least and even had the opportunity to have to stop to allow the famous Staten Island Ferry pass in front of me.
Waiting for the Staten Island Ferry to pass
Even though it was a short day of paddling my excitement of finally reaching all of the famous places made the time on the water seem to last forever. When I “finally” reached the Statue of Liberty it felt surreal. I took a bunch of pictures and a bit of video just like I have at so many other places along the way. It was when I turned to start paddling on that it hit me… that this was really the Statue of Liberty and that I had really paddled all the way here. What an amazing feeling.
The Statue of Liberty can you believe it.
From the statue I paddled a bit further north past Ellis Island remarking that I wasn’t the first person to arrive there, along way from home, by boat. Then it was across the busy Hudson river to southern tip of Manhattan Island. There, atop the six foot high sea wall, were walking paths through beautiful gardens and trees back dropped by the towering and glimmering sky scrapers that make up Manhattans sky line. While I paddled along I attracted lots of attention from the people above as I bounced around in the 2-3 foot waves that were being created from the non stop boat wake colliding with waves ricocheting off the sea wall. It was a bouncy ride weaving around ferries and ferry docks but I made it safe and sound to Pier 40 and the New York Kayak Company docks that were my final destination for the day. After checking in and giving my host, Steve, a call (who was stuck in traffic). I emptied my boat out on the low dock while I bounced and jerked in the increasingly choppy waves that the building wind was blowing in. I’d made it across the bay just in time.
Simple but well stocked New York Kayak Company on Pier 40
Just as I finished emptying the boat, Steve arrived along with his wife Kirsten and friend Paul. The four of us visited with John in the kayak store for a while where I purchased a new gel seat pad that will hopefully do the trick to relieve my constantly sore rear end. After our visit we made tracks out of the city before rush hour traffic caught us inside. The quick drive through town up to the highway was like driving through a movie set. Along the way we passed by everything you ever see of New York in the movies. Hot dog vendors, China Town, Loads of people standing outside loads of store fronts selling everything under the sun, the Empire State Building…
After a nice lunch with Paul, Steve and Kirsten took me home to their place on Long Island where I’ll be staying for the next week or so. In that time I’ll be planning my run across New York state and the Great Lakes as well as making a few runs into the city on the train to see all the sights close up. My list is growing as we speak; the Googenheim, Central Park, Broadway, a Hot Dog (ok.. a few hot dogs) from a vendors stand, Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, Little Italy, Times Square… I’m not sure I’ll have time to see it all.
After a nice lunch with Paul, Steve and Kirsten took me home to their place on Long Island where I’ll be staying for the next week or so. In that time I’ll be planning my run across New York state and the Great Lakes as well as making a few runs into the city on the train to see all the sights close up. My list is growing as we speak; the Googenheim, Central Park, Broadway, a Hot Dog (ok.. a few hot dogs) from a vendors stand, Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, Little Italy, Times Square… I’m not sure I’ll have time to see it all.
Quite an imposing skyline when viewed from the water below.
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