Kayaking in My Back Yard

-January 14 Hoffman/Swinburne Seal paddle with North Brooklyn and Sebago Canoe Club.

After my 12 miles run, I get home to pack up my kayaking gears for a paddle I have been meaning to do for the longest time and just never figure out the how and where.   Bonnie put out an email looking for kayaking to join her and Quinn for a seal watch paddle to Hoffman and Swinburne Island, launching near Coney Island on Friday and I quick jump at the chance. I only have vague idea of where the launch site is but I know it will be close to my apartment.

Coney Island Creek

I thought I would have more then enough time to get ready after my run but end up rushing to get everything ready and drive to Sebago to pick up my boat.  We were to meet at 11:30 AM, I manage to be less the 10 minutes late.  Bonnie and Quinn were late anyway so I don't feel too bad.   There were three other Sebago members also coming with us so we have nice small continue of Sebagonites joining a unknow numbers of North Brooklyn kayakers for this paddle.

The launch site is on Coney Island Creek Park instead of the new boat launch further up the creek on Calvert Vaux Park, picture below.  We launch on the other side where this camera is pointing.

Photo from Nathan Kensinger take from http://ny.curbed.com/2014/11/20/10019708/coney-islands-untamed-creek-caught-between-past-future

The North Brooklyn kayakers peoples were already there and ready to launch when we get there.  I find parking a bit further back from the group because parking is  very limited in the area and have to carry my kayak for some distance to join the rest of the kayaks.   Luckily for me I get help half way down.

Margaret (a former Sebago member) come by as I get ready and asked if I have a spare PFD.   I told her no.   Apparently, someone miscount and they were short on PFD.   It was decided that one person would drive to pick up a PFD (I think Sebago but not sure), and three North Brooklyn Kayakers will wait while the rest of us get on the water.  We properly launch a bit after 1 PM and head up the creek to explore.  I see the mystical "yellow" submarine for the very first time in real life.  It is biggerr then I thought.  Last pictures I see only show the conning tower.   I also see a couple of cattle/railroal barges rotting away as well as a couple of wooden skeletons of what much have been magnificent boats when in their prime.  After wandering around and seeing the new ramp, we headed back out to open water.

It was foggy and starting to snow as we left Coney Island Creek.    Current is still going out when we pass Norton Point. We head in a South Westerly heading.  I was fighting my kayak a bit to keep it from going too far down current.  We manage to hit the Northern tip of Swinburne Island after interesting cross of the boat channel in 1-2 miles visibility with heavy snow falling.  It is surreal to watched gigantic multi-stories containers ship appear out of the fog and just as quickly disappear into the fog as it pass in front of us.

   I did not see the seals we get to Swinburne Island, just a couple of very large splashes.   After we float around silently for a while I see first one, then four, then at least half a dozen heads stick out of the water to watch us, then quick back down again.   I don't realized there were so many seals in New York Harbor.   One seal get brave and pop his/her head u p less then 50 feet away from our kayaks.   We hang around in our kayaks for 30 minutes admiring the seals before heading to Hoffman Island.  We kayaked to the east side of the island to see the sandbar nearby.  After everyone catch up, we head back East on our way home. When we get back to Norton Point, we catches sight of  the four kayaks that stay behind for the PFD.

General tracks for 1-15-17 Seal watch paddle. 

We landed a bit after 4:30 PM.  There is still a bit of light out but since it was snow all day that do not help much.   Derrick O. help me carry my boat half way up the beach and I helped him carry his boat up.   His boat was at least 10 time heavier then mine, and most other kayak in our group.  I don't know what he carry!  I excuse myself from helping any further and go change.   My figures were freezing when I get back on land.  I have to figure how to change in my car without pulling a muscle.

By the time I manage to get out of my kayak clothing and set up my roof rack for my kayak, the other kayakers have all get off the beach and brought my kayak up into the sidewalk.  I was mystify for a moment when I went back down to the beach and don't see my kayak.

Instead of driving to Sebago Canoe Club and drop off my boat I decided to drive home and drop my boat off at the club on Sunday on my way to the pool in Flushing or on my way back.  I end up dropping it off on my way back from the pool session.  I was lucky to find a couple working on their kayaks on the club's lawn when I pull in.   The guy help me unload my boat and put it in my container.  All in all a very good trip.

Photo taken by Bonnie