By Vladimir Brezina
On Sunday, we were joined on our regular Sandy Hook paddle by our friend Julie, aka Kayak Cowgirl.
This was her first time to Sandy Hook!
Her writeup begins: “Every girl knows her first time should be special. The weather should be beautiful, rose petals should line the way, and someone more experienced should take her hand.”
And it gets better from there. Go and read her story!
We can’t possibly improve on it. So here, simply, are some photos:
(click on any photo to start slideshow)
In the Pier 40 embayment
The new World Trade Center tower rises high
We paddle down the Hudson
… toward the tip of Manhattan
It’s a cool, calm morning
Sludge boat
Jersey City across the Hudson
Brooklyn in the morning sunshine
Staten Island Ferry
… curves toward Whitehall
Quiet city
Kayak Cowgirl
Bay Ridge Anchorage
Hey, I know that barge!
… or at least a very similar one: https://picasaweb.google.com/110602906780956554666/SeaKayakTripThroughTheGowanusCanal#5573711704610771410
Tugs and barges
… for the moment at rest
Blue morning
We continue on to the Narrows
The Verrazano-Narrows Bridge ahead
… and Manhattan behind
Last look
Almost at the Narrows
Under the Bridge
Green and yellow
For a couple of miles, we are joined by our fellow WaterTribers Jim (KonkererOfTheUseless) and Rico
Friendly chat
Those buoys are BIG when you pass close
Off Norton Point
Jim and Rico peel off on their paddle along Coney Island to Dead Horse Bay
… while we continue south
… out into the Lower Bay
Good current!
Open water
Calm seas
Fishing
We pass to the east of Romer Shoal Light
… and continue south past the tip of Sandy Hook
Small on the ocean
Whales were reported here yesterday… we look around hopefully
Range markers
Summertime fishing fleet off the Hook
We weave through
Tableau
Manhattan on the horizon
We make our way back north to the tip of Sandy Hook
The Hook really is Sandy!
Off the tip
Our favorite osprey nest
Fish trap
… with cookie-cutter government housing behind
For a moment, it looks like we are approaching a tropical island :-)
We land
… at our favorite spot on Sandy Hook: https://windagainstcurrent.com/2011/10/12/where-we-like-to-land-on-sandy-hook/
Emergence
We leave the boats on the beach
… and climb the ruins
Overgrown tumbling blocks
… with a great view
Lunch
… then a spot of photography
The view south, toward Highlands, NJ
The view north, to the tip of Sandy Hook and Staten Island beyond
Beach roses
… with a visitor
Field of holes
… all occupied
Fiddler crabs
After lunch, it’s time to paddle back
Range marker with a prospect of Manhattan
Cormorant hotel is a little empty today
We paddle on to Romer Shoal Light
… and pass close by
Lonely
We cross Ambrose Channel
… just ahead of a series of container ships
… heading, like us…
… for the Narrows
A cruise ship is coming in the opposite direction
Meeting in the channel
We surf following seas
In Gravesend Bay
Late afternoon sunshine
Passing under the bridge
Rafted up for a brief refreshment
Into the Upper Bay
Manhattan ahead!
Crossing traffic
Barges in the anchorage
Silver sea
Having fun on the home stretch
Manhattan grows bigger
We give way to a tug and barge
… and an insistent sailboat
The final crossing to the Battery
Almost there!
Into the Hudson
Finale
Vladimir Brezina (RIP) 
Johna Till Johnson
Wind Against Current 
Vlad it looks like another brilliant day out. Can you tell me about the markings on the Fiddler crabs. It looks as though an artist had a paintbrush at work. :)
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Hi Sue,
Some were pink, as in the photo, and some were teal/aqua. Not every crab had them, mostly because the crab coloring seemed to conform to the size: the very little ones (smaller than the tip of your little finger) are dark-gray to black. The bigger ones are this combination of white and tan, with the splashes of color. And, some are “lefties” and some are “righties”–those that have big claws (the males), that is.
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Thanks Johna for the explanation. I had no idea about the differences. Makes me smile just seeing the photos.
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In her post, Julie talks about how watching the crabs is “addictive”. It really is, and I can’t explain why!
You’re just standing there looking at empty holes.. then a motion captures your eye… something’s waving… what’s that!?!? It’s a crab, slowly, slowly emerging from the hole.
Then you see the claw and you can’t move, you stay perfectly still, practically trying not to breathe, and lean closer to get a better look…
I didn’t realize until I saw the photos that they have eyes on stalks. I could see something glistening in their faces, but I didn’t realize the eyeballs were on stalks.
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I did read her post and yes I loved how she used the word addictive. Thank heavens I don’t have my eyeballs hanging out like that :)
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Reblogged this on Locating Frankenstein's Brain.
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Thanks!
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Thanks for the ride. We’ve been down the Hudson, Around Manhattan, past Sandy Hook quite a number of times, mostly back a while from Haverstraw to Forked River – in a power boat however! It’s always wonderful, but I like the perspective from the Kayaks. A special way to spend a day!
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It is! And it would have been even more special if we’d managed to see the whales that were reported in the area :-)
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Thanks for taking more and better photos – though your write-ups are always fun too. It was a grand day for it. I doubt I would have found the crabs myself. The rose petals are still officially a mystery!
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At first we thought a wedding, but there were huge numbers of rose petals, all over the Lower Bay. So the D-Day commemoration idea seems more plausible…
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Not a mystery any longer: One million rose petals dropped onto the Statue of Liberty during commemoration ceremony on June 6th.
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What you all do takes hard work, and you deserve the pure joy that you must get out of your adventures. Cheers!
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Thank you so much! Cheers!! :-)
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Very cool. I am jealous.
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:-) Thank you, Elizabeth!
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Great shots… I particularly like the first bridge shot. It really is a different journey from the view of a kayak… I still need to make plans to try kayaking this summer- definitely on my to do list.
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Go for it! It really does provide a different perspective, on many things :-)
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Wonderful photos, Vlad. Those Fiddler Crabs are so pretty. :)
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They are! And quite easy to photograph, once you’ve figured out how to approach them without scaring them back into their holes…
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great photo blog as always!!
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Thank you!! :-)
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Wonderful! Love the photo series and how the show the day unfold, weather and all. Manhattan looks glorious on approach.
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I am so glad you liked it—thank you!! :-)
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Fabulous gallery of the day :)
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Thanks!!
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It was great paddling with your guys for a short while on your trip to Sandy Hook. Dead Horse Bay was a very interesting destination – even more interesting was the odd beach comber Jim and I met while there. He claims to have have found gold coins and more in the many years he has been searching the littered shores of this beach. Hope to share some more paddling time in the future.
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Likewise, Rico! All too short this time, but hopefully longer next time! :-)
We’ve been to, or past, Dead Horse Bay many times, but have never done much beachcombing there. I know it’s a favorite spot for that. We’ll have to paddle there specifically to do that at some point, as you did.
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These are such brilliant photos. They make a really nice homage to NYC from a unique vantage point.
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:-) Thanks, Jann!!
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Lovely pictures… I’m originally from Jersey and we use to take the boat out to Sandy Hook… Makes me home sick…
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It’s still there, bigger than ever (literally)… :-)
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Pingback: Where Are the Whales? | Wind Against Current
I am partial to clouds so particularly loved the various formations as you shared your kayaking journey. Looks as though it was quite an enjoyable experience and the weather cooperated as well (great for a girl’s first time) :-)
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Looking at clouds (and the sea) is what it’s about on a long kayak trip! Another trip with amazing, ever-changing clouds was here :-)
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Wünsche einen schönen Sonntag <3
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Likewise!!
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