East River- Short and Sweet

Having noticed that there is a launch site on the East River  in  Queens, I ventured there this morning. I have always avoided even thinking about paddling on the East River, as we lived very close to it for a year when we first arrived in NY. That section of the river, on the upper East-side, was always a roiling mass of currents. I had never considered that the other side of Roosevelt Island might not be  the same . I got there early and drove past the entrance to the launch area twice, as the entrance to the a beach was not obvious to the eye (although the sign I saw a little later , "Hallet's Cove Beach" should have been a clue- doh ).

  There was a pair of gates which were locked, and a local told me they usually opened around 9:00. I was there at  at eight,  but I figured I could easily lift the boat over the fence, so I was able to put in straight away. The water was calm, but  it was two hours into the rising tide and the current was fairly strong.  The city views were great, but the further I paddled downriver, the stronger the current became.

Eventually I was making very little progress, which shortly after turned into negative progress; I was paddling hard, but was going backwards. I had not even made it to the Queensboro Bridge. I turned around and headed back, and realized I had traveled almost no distance at all.

 I had  a poke around the cove and the projects that sit out on the northern point of the cove, saw some large metal sculptures (aside from those in the Socrates Sculpture Park) , got barked at by 3 ferocious guard dogs and finally pulled out .

 Total paddling time 50 minutes. Not exactly the three hours I had planned .

Nevertheless, it was fun, and I took the chance to check out the Long Island City Community Boathouse. while I was in the area. I thought it may be a place to launch,. There is a dock there but it was locked up tight when I was there this morning. Sometime though I might try and check it out again.
Only two weeks to go and we will be off out west for some serious wilderness paddling.