Tag Archives: New York Harbor

Travel Theme: Rivers

Posted on May 15, 2014 by | 36 comments

By Vladimir Brezina

Ailsa’s travel-themed photo challenge this week is Rivers.

Kayaking around Manhattan revolves (so to speak) around three rivers: the Hudson River, the East River, and the Harlem River. (Two and a half of them are not really rivers, but we won’t let that distract us here.)

And so, when we fly back to NYC, we always try to sit by the window. It’s such a pleasure to see these rivers spread out below, and to recognize all the bridges and piers, the islands and bays that we’ve come to know so intimately from kayak level.

From the air (click on any image to expand)…

DSC_0557 cropped small 2

… and from kayak level

Typical summertime conditions ;-)

1. East River: Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Williamsburg Bridges

Downtown vista

2. East River: Moody Downtown vista

From the air…

DSC_0552 cropped small 2

… and from kayak level

... as we launch down the Hudson

3. Hudson River: The new World Trade Center ahead

From the air…

DSC_0556 cropped small 2

… and from kayak level

We pass Chelsea Piers

4. Hudson River: Chelsea Piers and the Empire State Building

IMGP4507 cropped small

5. Hudson River: Summertime evening on the river

One of the classic views

6: East River: Midtown Manhattan vista

From the air…

DSC_0563 cropped small 2

… and from kayak level

White mulberries!

7: Harlem River: White mulberries!

IMGP1124 cropped small

8. Harlem River: Under the RFK Bridge in falling snow

Nocturne: the George Washington Bridge

9. Hudson River: George Washington Bridge nocturne

36 Comments

Posted in Kayaking, New York City, Photography

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , ,

First Sandy Hook Paddle of the Year

Posted on May 13, 2014 by | 37 comments

By Vladimir Brezina

This past weekend, it suddenly felt like summer in NYC. How better to celebrate than with one of our favorite paddles? On Sunday, we paddled from Manhattan through the open waters of the Lower Bay

IMGP5409 cropped small

down to Sandy Hook

IMGP5392 cropped small

and back again to Manhattan…

IMGP5516 cropped small

Here is a selection of photos from the trip.

Continue reading →

37 Comments

Posted in Kayaking, New York City

Tagged , , ,

Weekly Photo Challenge: On the Move

Posted on May 9, 2014 by | 31 comments

By Vladimir Brezina

This week’s Photo Challenge is On the Move.

On the move through New York Harbor (click on any photo to start slideshow)—

On the move 1
On the move 2
On the move 3
On the move 4
On the move 5
On the move 6
On the move 7
On the move 8
On the move 9
On the move 10

From last September’s Hidden Harbor Tour.

Another, more ephemeral, take on On the Move is here.

31 Comments

Posted in New York City, Photography, Science and Technology

Tagged , , , , , , ,

Weekly Photo Challenge: Letters, Take Two

Posted on April 29, 2014 by | 26 comments

By Vladimir Brezina

The Columbia “C” is not the only letter in the harbor—

IMGP1051 cropped small 3

The Bronx River, New York City. More photos from the trip are here.

Posted in response to this week’s Photo Challenge, Letters.

26 Comments

Posted in Kayaking, Photography

Tagged , , , , , , , ,

Weekly Photo Challenge: Letters

Posted on April 25, 2014 by | 122 comments

By Vladimir Brezina

This week’s Photo Challenge is Letters.

Now there‘s a letter than makes sure it will be seen—

IMGP5220 cropped small 2

The Columbia “C”, Spuyten Duyvil, New York City.

And this is not the only letter that we encounter kayaking through the harbor…

122 Comments

Posted in Kayaking, Photography

Tagged , , , , , , , ,

Easter Sunday Paddle

Posted on April 21, 2014 by | 44 comments

By Vladimir Brezina

IMGP5070 cropped small

The weather is finally getting warmer, and the days longer. Time for one of our favorite paddles!

In yesterday’s variant of the trip, we paddled up the East River, through Hell Gate, and past Throgs Neck out into Long Island Sound, just in time for lunch at Sugar and Spice on City Island. Then back down the East River to Hell Gate, up the Harlem River, and finally down the Hudson River home.

Here are a few photos…

Continue reading →

44 Comments

Posted in Kayaking, New York City

Tagged , , , , , , ,

Travel Theme: Round

Posted on April 18, 2014 by | 25 comments

By Vladimir Brezina

Ailsa’s travel-themed photo challenge this week is Round.

Round or square—which do you think will last longer through the coming storms?

IMGP0198 cropped

Execution Rocks Light, Long Island Sound

IMGP5331 cropped small

Thacher Island Twin Lights, Cape Ann, Massachusetts

IMGP0116 cropped small

Romer Shoal Light, New York Harbor

There’s a reason why most lighthouses are round.

On the other hand, Old Orchard Shoal Light, a round lighthouse similar to Romer Shoal Light and just a few miles away from it in New York Harbor, was swept away by Hurricane Sandy.

And the square keeper’s house of Execution Rocks Light, which survived Sandy just fine, is being converted to a Bed & Breakfast, which will probably ensure it a long life…

25 Comments

Posted in Architecture, Photography

Tagged , , , , , , ,

The Last Seal of Winter

Posted on April 14, 2014 by | 43 comments

By Vladimir Brezina

We saw plenty of wildlife—dolphins, turtles, sharks, birds—last month in Florida. But no seals.

So yesterday we paddled down to Swinburne Island, where seals have never yet failed us, during the winter months. But spring is now, finally, upon us, with temperatures warming dramatically—time for the seals to return north, to their summer homes in Maine and Canada. We may have left it too late…

We paddled around Swinburne a couple of times, sat and scanned the water, waited expectantly… Nothing.

Then, just as we were about to leave, a lone seal head popped up.

The last seal of winter…

IMGP4746 cropped small

Continue reading →

43 Comments

Posted in Kayaking, New York City

Tagged , , , ,

Travel Theme: Clean

Posted on April 11, 2014 by | 31 comments

By Vladimir Brezina

Ailsa’s travel-themed photo challenge this week is Clean.

Many are incredulous that the waters around Manhattan are clean enough to swim in.

But it’s true.*

MIMS 2012
MIMS 2012
MIMS 2011
IMGP0887 cropped small
MIMS 2013

These are photos from the last three years of the Manhattan Island Marathon Swim, a world-class, 28.5-mile swim around Manhattan, organized by NYC Swim every June or July. (Stories and more photos are here, here, and here.) This year on June 14, June 28, and July 12!

*Of course, you should still probably get your shots first ;-)

31 Comments

Posted in New York City, Photography, Sports

Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,

Travel Theme: Misty

Posted on April 4, 2014 by | 23 comments

By Vladimir Brezina

Ailsa’s travel-themed photo challenge this week is Misty.

I recall a misty paddle through New York Harbor back in April 2010…

IMGP0154 cropped
IMGP0189 cropped
IMGP0196 cropped
IMGP0202 cropped
IMGP0220 cropped
IMGP0226 cropped
IMGP0243 cropped

This was actually a paddle from Manhattan around Staten Island, past the Graveyard of Ships

IMGP0310 cropped
IMG0296 cropped
IMG0319 cropped

and many still-living ships

IMGP0256 cropped

back to Manhattan, still misty in the evening…

IMGP0270 cropped

More photos are here.

23 Comments

Posted in Kayaking, New York City, Photography

Tagged , , , , , , ,