NYC - Free Kayaking

“I found out about this yesturday while helping run a festival...

For anyone in the NYC area who is interested in learning how to kayak, going on extended kayaking day tours, or learning how to roll, be sure to check out this site!

More free stuff to do in the city!

Anyone interested?

Downtown Boathouse Link”

“How's the water around NY city? Every time I'm in NY, the city stinks (no offense to the locals)...actually on the highway leading to the city (10 miles away)..you can smell the stink and see a haze over the city.”

“That's Jersey, Stanlee! And yeas, Maple and I have both kayaked int he Hudson. It was really cool. Actually, the truth is that the rivers along New York City have been cleaned up considerably since the 1980's, thanks to new legislation and an abundance of volunteer groups who care. There is an abundance of marine life in the waters around the city that were dwindling not long ago. The Hudson is not the cleanest body of water in the country, but tolerable enough to go kayaking in. I mean, I wasn't glowing when I came out or anything...”

“And don't forget Treebeard - the secret to your amazing tender spare ribs is to soak them in the Hudson first. They were really yummmmmmmy!”

“Ha! Creek Dancer, you are giving away my cooking secrets. Now, they will be ining up at the river... lol”

“opps! hehe”

“Hey, at least it ain't the Ganges!
Now that's a sewer!

Cleaning up the Hudson, huh?
Must be some of that "over regulation" on businesses that used the Hudson for a toilet.”

“It all started with Pete Seeger, the folk singer who represented such a potent threat to national security that they blacklisted him.”

“Oh, he's a bastard alright!

I went to a physical therapist in '96 who had worked with Pete Seeger on a Hudson River boat.
They did some of that clean-up and teaching environmental awareness up and down the valley.
She named her son, born in '96, John Henry because of her work with the old "radical".”

“Pete Seager's group is called - I believe - Clearwater on the Hudson.

They have an annual music/environmental concert - I went to it this year and the music was great!

Clearwater Link

The water is okay to kayak on - but I would not eat anything caught in it nor would I want to swim in it anywhere below Albany!”

“There is a free class this Wednesday at 6pm”

“This is awesome. Thanks for the info. I think I'll check this out tommorrow if it's the downtown location which I am still trying to find out. I'd love to take the rolling class but it's way up on roosevelt island.”

“It's down near Chambers Street, WB. A little north actually...”

“Hey Wolfman - if its not raining tomm. evening - I too was planning on taking the class.

Let me know if you're going - it would be fun to meet another backpacker in the city...except not backpacking!”

“there are 2 loctions
1 in downtown and the other is uptown (not sure of the location)

they kayaks they let you use are the sit on top kind”

“They also have the sit-in ones that you are allowed to use once you have gained experience.

I am sure they do not want people drowning because they don't know how to roll, panic when it tips over, and fail to kick out of the kayak.

Anyway, I think its cool. Just remember, its all free due to the work and donations of volunteers.”

“the one uptown is near the 79th St boat basin...”

“it would be best to go if it were raining b/c less people will show up. I'd rather not use the sit on top kind if possible. I'm no expert but I've been taken a whitewater kayak 2 day clininc before and can swim like a fish if need be. haha.”

“i don't know if they offer the course in the rain - should probably call and find out”

“I just called and they said as long as the weather holds up they will go out on the water. Either way the class is still on @ 6pm.”

“oh cool. i will be in the water tonight but in another part of ny.
have fun guys.
maybe i will join you in the next class next wed”

“I forgot my bikini....I have yoga cloths in my bag instead....dang”

“you will get wet!!!”

“where is it?”

“Ok,...I get it...don't flip your kayak in N.Y rivers.”

“I was there yesterday. Was looking for you TT's but didn't see anyone that looked like you(from your pic from past backpacking trips). It was pretty good. About 15 people but very hard to hear the instructor although what I picked up was very informative. It was kind of cool seeing the city and the statue of liberty from the water. The water was far from calm - a lot of waves. I know the Hudson has been cleaned up a lot but I still felt a little sketchy - something smelled a little off but it may have been my lifejacket. People were swimming and practicing rolling and they didn't seem to mind. It was free so I guess you can't beat that.”

“I was there around 5:00pm but I was at Pier 40. it is a,little further down from where you were.
If I had time i was goin gto walk down. lets meet up next Wed.
sound good?

the water was very very choppy.
I went after the storm and I was thinking that Man that water is rough.
glad you had fun.”

“I don't know about Wed. yet as I'm leaving for N'awlins for a wedding on Thurs. I was thinking about trying rolling which they have on Mon. though. Can't beat free instruction. I've seen rolling clinics offered for $200 in Mass.”

“Sorry, I chickened out.

1 - I had no "swim' clothes with me
2 - When it rains as much as it has been in this city, the sewage overflow thingy dumps sewage into the rivers (yuck)!
3 - there's always the next time

Glad you went and had fun. If the weather is nice this weekend I will be down at the boathouse.”

“twinks, at the club i joined they have extra boats for the public. want me to ask about them?

you can launch right at the clubhouse and paddle to Jamaica BAy”

“Uh huh, and scoop up water for treebeard's next gastronomical delight I suppose?”

“that would be fun”

“Tomm. the Dowtown Boathouse is having a "kayak to kayak rescue" session. Sounds interesting.”