Nano from Argentina (Argentinian coastline), Biff Wruszek (Tierra de la Fuego 2010), Margaret Mann (Iceland 2009) and I circumnavigated Manhattan on Friday. It was a beautiful sunny day, not too hot and good winds. Just ideal conditions for a kayak tourist!

This is the same route the Mayor’s Cup on August 14th is taking, so I’d be having at least an idea where to go if I’d go joining the race: >”The course is a full circumnavigation of Manhattan Island starting on the Hudson River. The combination of 28 miles (45 km) in distance, very unpredictable sea states and extremely busy commercial traffic lends itself to one of the toughest courses in North America.”<

Manhattan is an island, surrounded by the Hudson River, Harlem River and East River.

Here are just some pictures along the route:

Norwegian epic?

A scandinavian epic kayaks apartment house along the way?

Yes, a floating one…

One of the many bridges to pass on Hudson River, the red dot on the bottom is…

…a real size traditional style lighthouse! Still about 20 m high, just the dimensions of the bridge are gigantic.

Lunch break on a tiny island before the Hell’s Gate: Biff, Margaret and I, Nano taking the picture.

The beautiful Pier 17 on the East River

Probably the most expensive harbour site in New York City…

A golf course driving range on one of the Piers on Hudson River, protected by high wire nets – sporting space is everywhere!

more skyscrapers and bridges…

artwork

Hudson River

Safely back “home”, not run over by a ferry to Staten Islands or a tourist boat to the Statue of Liberty (All these big boat wakes make at least some good surfing waves…): Approaching the boathouse of the Manhattan Kayak Company 

Eric Stiller, co-owner of the Manhattan Kayak Company and new proud owner of an epic 18x, was paddling up to our group to mid-East River, but had to leave us in his wake heading quickly back to “work”.

Eric himself attempted to paddle around Australia in 1992, together with Tony Brown in a double Klepper folding kayak, equipped with a sail. He wrote an exciting report about his attempt (Sydney to Darwin, including crossing the Gulf of Carpentaria) in a book named “Keep Australia on your left” – well worth a read! It was part of my own preparations.

Now, 17 years later, a bit more grey and a bit more wise, he owns eventually himself one of those world famous epic kayaks and now liked to check out how the “real” (dummy…) kayak around the whole OZ feels inside, outfitted for long distance paddling with a Skwoosh gel seat pad and a free floating Snapdragon backrest. He felt quite cozy! 🙂 

Eric has German teutonic roots…

…to my honor, he put on a shirt from the German national soccer team.

He is an honorable member of the German national soccer team since his 50th birthday! 🙂