Canada to Key West Paddle – Day 34

August 4^th 2016
Fort Wadesworth
Staten Island, NY

My early start didn’t happen today. Oh, I was up early, but even with the car loaded, time just gets away from you and before we knew it, it was 9am and we were just leaving for Red Hook, Brooklyn.

I selected Red Hook because there was a proper kayak launch there and having to put all my gear back on, I didn’t want to do it someplace where I was not allowed to be. So you can imagine my surprise when I arrived at the Louis Valentino Junior Park to find the street closed and a permit required to launch a kayak.

Yes, somehow I managed to stumble into the movie set for Gotham, but what could have been a problem, turned into a blessing. Because they had control over the street, they let Arlene and I down to launch and we were left alone as we unloaded the car and loaded the kayak. A number of the set crew stopped by and chatted with us as well. The launch went off without a hitch and well behind schedule.

I said Goodbye to Arlen and I paddled out into the Hudson a full two miles behind where I had finished last week. Here I was battling the same boat traffic and the same wind, but now I had the current on my side. I made sure I was staying out of the channel but still running alongside of it and headed straight for the middle of the Hudson and the major shipping channel.

A huge Freighter had been reporting its location on the VHF radio and as I reached a point where I could see under the Verrazano Bridge, I could see it coming in. I would never make it across in time so I needed to change course so I would paddle behind it. Checking up the river, the coast looked clear. I went for it.

It was probably a lot less dramatic or close, but when you’re just a 15’ kayak 12” off the water and playing in traffic with boats 300’ long and almost as high, it’s a bit nerve wracking, at least for me. When I cleared the channel, I breathed a sigh of relief and took some pictures. Now I aimed for the large Navy vessel anchored just up ahead as I knew that if I was close to it, I’d be safe from other commercial vessels. I got very close; close enough to talk to the crew on board.

Now all I had to do was get under that bridge, but the window was right on my nose and strong. Thankfully, the current here is strong too and I was able to make headway, despite the wind. I paddled under the Verrazaon Narrows Bridge without much of an issue at all. Up ahead I saw the beach I had researched online. I made a landing, but soon realized that despite there not being any signs here, I was indeed in a restricted area. I spotted another beach on the other side of the jetty so I paddled over there.

I landed on the beach for Fort Wadesworth. There were a couple of people fishing and a family having a day at the beach. Further down was South Beach and an easy walk. Despite it being early, I decided that I would camp here on the beach for the night, as I could not make Sandy Hook today so I pulled my kayak out of the surf and well up onto the beach and then I took a walk down to South Beach. Along the way I stopped and chatted with people I passed and made some friends. One of them, Lana, directed me to the campground up on the hill and then later she bought me dinner.
Now with a legal camping spot, all I had to do was hide the kayak so I pulled Lex-T-Sea up into the high grass.

Back at the campground, I set up the tent and no sooner had I finished, my dinner showed up. They could not stay, but simply delivered to me and bid me Goodbye. Soon after that I got to meet my neighbors Chris, Victoria and Emi. They were local to the region, having come from just the other side of the Hudson. Victoria and Emi have camped here a lot over the years. They have truly found a little gem in the middle of New York City. This park and campground is amazing.

Though there were three other tents besides ours set up, no one was here. Just after dark, a couple showed up, but they were not tenting no, they were car camping. I introduced myself to Kay and Coco both from Germany and here seeing the East Coast and Canada. We sat and talked about everything under the sun and moon since it was now midnight.

All in all, today went great. I’m a little nervous about tomorrow (now today) but if today (now yesterday) was an indicator, all should be fine and I’ll land on Gunnison Beach in the afternoon.

Day 34 done
Enjoy the pictures

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