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Saturday, June 12, 2004
Paddle with Pride recap
27 miles on the Hudson: from Nyack to Pier 63
Ok, so let's cut to the chase--Dad and I were pretty much rock stars.
After starting our day at 3:45 A.M., we battled 4 to 5 foot swells,
ripping currents, water taxis, the Coast Guard, and the Circle Line
to complete 27 miles in just less than 5 hours.
The event was clearly intended for rafts and kayaks--not canoes.
In fact, during the shuttle ride up to Nyack, we asked one of the guides
from the Manhattan Kayak Company what the river would be like in a canoe.
Not realizing that we would be canoeing, she answered, "Anyone out there
in a canoe is in big trouble."
Five minutes after we launched, while the kayaks were bobbing easily along,
we were fighting for our lives. In the bow, I would look down to see the
water drop away, as we plummeted down into a trough and then back up the
other side, the water smacking the bow or breaking over it. We literally
surfed through the pylons under the Tappan Zee Bridge. Dad and I agreed to
think of the event like a ride on a mechanical bull: we'd just try to stay
on as long as we could, knowing that we'd probably be bucked off before long.
We prepared to complete the journey aboard the 120ft support boat that kept
pace in the distance.
However, 2 hours later, we were still afloat and in calmer waters. For the
next hour we were able to enjoy a gorgeous clear morning, with stunning views
of the cliffs of the Palisades, beautiful houses overlooking the river, and
a distant view of the George Washington Bridge and the City beyond.
At 11:30, we were struggling to cross to the east side of the Hudson under the
G.W. Bridge, and again, the waters turned treacherous. The support boat had
announced that the tide had begun to turn against us. Broad standing waves
announced a rising river, and growing boat traffic created unpredictable
wakes and chop. After four hours of paddling, we knew we'd have to dig deep
in order to beat the tide.
The 79th Street Boat Basin, the skyscrapers of midtown, the ever present
Empire State Building, and the Statue of Liberty made a thrilling backdrop
to our final push. We inched our way past a giant Carnival Cruise ship and
the colossal USS Intrepid, while a Coast Guard patrol boat circled our canoe.
We finally turned in at Pier 63 to the cheers of friends and supporters.
(Special thanks to Eddie and Jamie!) Exhausted and exhilarated, we celebrated
on the pier until mid-afternoon when Dad headed for home and I headed for bed!
With nearly $3,000 in pledges, we were among the top fundraisers. Again I want
to say how proud I am of Dad for undertaking this adventure with me and how
grateful I am to have such an amazingly loving and supportive group of friends
and family behind us. Thanks to all who donated or wished us well!
Much Love & Thanks,
Daniel
P.S. It was a year ago to the day that I experienced complications to my
tonsillectomy resulting in a terrifying ordeal and emergency surgery. I
am thrilled to be able to mark the anniversary with such a positive, healthy
and celebratory experience.
Contact us at TeamCoynePWP@aol.com
The Center is a truly amazing hub of services and activities for the LGBT community, and has been an important resource in my own life. When I arrived in New York, I walked timidly into the Center looking for a safe place to learn about the gay scene in New York and how to connect with other people. Since then, I have taken advantage of the Center for everything from health information and counseling, to art classes, movie screenings, and dances. Hardly a week goes by that I don’t find myself there for some sort of activity. It’s open 7-days a week, is home to more than 300 groups, and receives an estimated 6,000 visitors each week!
To say that the Center is a vibrant and essential institution is an understatement. To learn more about the Center and its many programs, call 212.620.7310 or visit www.gaycenter.org.
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