Daily Archives: July 3, 2013

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

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These and other photos from the trip are here.