Release Date 11/22/2008

I released the message in Jamaica Bay while kayaking.

It was a bitterly cold day, below freezing with 25kt wind. Originally we were going to paddle from Plumb Beach to a party for the new Gateway Bike and Boathouse East of the Riis Beach in Rockaway, but we modified the plans due to the high winds.

We first went to the new Boathouse site on Rockaway, but we couldn't agree to launch there, so we launched in a more protected area under the Marine Park Bridge.

It was really unpleasant to paddle with gloves and poggies, but it was so cold that I had to, and even then my hands got cold.

We paddled along the Floyd Bennett Field for an hour or so, then turned around as we got cold and drove to the party.

It is great to see that a new Boathouse is starting-up for the Rockaways, and it was fun to meet them, as well as some old friends:

Truth:
Sometimes you have to change your plans.

Release Date 11/9/2008

Message released in the Hudson River off of Hoboken. I was testing my kayak after patching a LOT of holes in it. The repairs were fairly successful, (it still seems to leak almost everywhere, but it is a lot better)


There was a big Navy ship at the cruise ship terminal, so I had to cross to Jersey and then paddled South against an fairly strong current. I found some cool stuff: 1) A life jacket for the DTBH.

(What's up with name of a ship of "stag hound", Is it owned by bimbos???) 2) A 5 gal industrial gas tank, partially full of gas that I "donated" to Stevens Institute. 3) Some nice lobster floats for my collection. It got dark in Jersey City, and I had a quick trip back. Truth: It gets dark fast in the winter.

release Date 11/2/2008

I released this message on the Hudson River near the marina in Alpine NJ. We had paddled up there to check out the leaves and enjoy a really nice November day. It was warm high 50's low 60's and I was only a little hot in trilaminate wetsuit.

We had a good ride up on the current and a slowly building current for the return trip. I left Pier 96 at 11:00, and we arrived in Alpine around 13:45, and left around 14:45, returned to pier 96 around 17:00.

I then towed a double that was left at Pier 96 during the Mayor's cup back to Pier 66, and finally returned our "Pirates of the Hudson" kayak from Halloween to Pier 40, and paddled back against the current in the dark.

Truth: You can get away with a lot when you dress-up like a pirate.