By Vladimir Brezina
A Manhattan circumnavigation is the classic trip of New York City kayaking. No two Manhattan circumnavigations are the same. After having done a couple of hundred of them, probably, I can safely say that. And last Saturday’s was one of the best. It had it all—perfect summer weather, a variety of marine traffic to liven things up, a few exciting waves, a secret cove with ripe mulberries, and as a finale, a spectacular sunset…
Here are the photos. (Click on any photo to start a slideshow.)
A beautiful summer day at Pier 40
The Downtown Boathouse’s free kayaking season is in full swing
Johna launches
We set off
Past North Cove with its super-yachts
Summertime traffic
In the East River, more traffic
Johna focuses
Fun With Ferries begins
Typical summertime conditions ;-)
In the hole
Shark
Manhattan Bridge vista
Yet more traffic
The Williamsburg Bridge and the Domino Sugar Factory
In the Manhattan-side channel past Roosevelt Island, with the Queensboro Bridge ahead
Mill Rock, defended by birds
In the secret cove, a remnant of Little Hell Gate
White mulberries!
Vlad picks the low-hanging fruit (photo by Johna)
More mulberries!
These are red
And some are already ripe
A fast dip underwater
… and a roll to cool off
Almost out in the Hudson, where huge ships pass…
Sunlight over the Palisades
Under the George Washington Bridge
Manhattan vista
Johna practices sculling for support
We continue toward Midtown
The sun’s spotlight plays on Midtown
Midtown reflections
Plenty of other kayakers are out
A beautiful summer evening on the water
Saturday evening crowd
The classic view
Home in sight
Two suns over New Jersey
Back in the Pier 40 embayment…
… we watch the sunset
Last minutes of the day
Freedom Tower in the dusk
.
These and other photos from the trip are here.
Vladimir Brezina
Johna Till Johnson
