Daily Archives: March 4, 2013

By Vladimir Brezina and Johna Till Johnson

Four months is a long time.

And  it’s been just over four months since we’ve been out on NYC waterways—since our trip to the Gowanus Canal right before Hurricane Sandy, in fact.

A variety of factors kept us off the water: Sandy cleanup, boat issues, and a couple of Florida trips that provided the option of paddling in balmier waves.

But we’re back—and delighted to make our first NYC area trip of 2013, a short but satisfying jaunt up the Hudson to the George Washington Bridge.

(Click on any photo to start a slideshow.)

After a tasty lunch rafted up in the lee of a rocky embankment, we leave the George Washington Bridge behind…

… and head back down the Hudson

What’s this on the right? The wreck of the Binghamton

The Binghamton was so dilapidated before Sandy that Sandy doesn’t seem to have done all that much more damage

The Hudson River vista stretches out before us…

… and the blue sky, dotted with soft white clouds, above

Vlad takes photos (photo by Johna)

The West Side of Manhattan is lit up by the low afternoon sun

Vlad is happy to be out on the water again (photo by Johna)

Sunset approaches

We cross the river to the Manhattan side

The rays of the setting sun reflect off the glass and steel of Manhattan

We paddle past Midtown Manhattan

Our destination is in sight

The colors take on that soft intensity of dusk…

Last light over New Jersey

Almost home!

We turn into the Pier 40 embayment

The lights of the new World Trade Center tower shine out brightly in the twilight

The individual photos are here.