Tivoli Bays, in autumn light..

A beautiful sunset paddle in Tivoli Bays.

I will not ruin the mood by saying too much, but what a gift to see such a beautiful sight.

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Dragonfly..

A dragonfly hangs onto the rigging of my kayak.

Sorry that it has been a while since the last post. We have been cranking this summer and I have to admit, if it is a choice between blogging or paddling, well you get the idea.

It has been a great summer, perfect weather, warm water and lots of sun.  I for one am not ready to say it is over yet. It is true that the days are indeed getting shorter, but I am holding on like the dragonfly above is holding on to my boat. We are hoping to paddle well into October, so don’t give up yet.

See you on the water!

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A great way to cool down..

Piles of driftwood line the eastern shore of the Hudson River.

After a hot day in the office, mowing the lawn, or whatever has you heated up, there is no better way to cool off than taking an evening paddle on the Hudson River. There is cool breeze that comes off the water that is refeshing after the hot humid winds from earlier in the day. You can dip your arms in the water, even take a swim if you like. Mmm, it’s so soothing.

There is always so much to see. Last night just as the sun set below the Catskill Mountains, I was sitting in a small cove when I spied an otter playing in the water. At first I thought it was a large eel, but sure enough the curious animal turned out to be an otter. What a treat.

A couple of things to keep in mind when going out in the evening: Be particularly aware of the motor boat traffic; make sure you bring a white stern light in case you get caught out after dark; stay close to shore where powerboats can’t go after the sun goes down, you’re much safer there. Oh, and always, have fun!

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Weekend tours…

We have a tour leaving Tivoli Bays at 2pm on Sunday and have two more spots open. It’s going to be a B-A-U-tiful day!!! Oh, did I mention the wild yellow Iris are in bloom?

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What would you do?

Clouds reflect off the surface of a lake in Maine

If you had a day off, without any commitments, what would you do? Where would you go?

I have passed along our thoughts, now we want to hear from you.

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Good friends..

Sunrise in the bayou, Louisianna. (photo by Matt Nussbaum)

I love it when a friend sends me a photo. I do have to admit, I miss the days of getting a print in the mail. You know, something to hang on the refridgerator. I still keep boxes of old prints and have a great time exploring them on a rainy afternoon.

The photo above was taken by my friend Matt. We actually met on a photo shoot. For some reason, we hit it off immediately. I think it was because we are just generally nice guys.

Matt used to live in the area, I know he misses the water up here, we talk about it when we catch up on the phone. These days he is exploring the waters near New Orleans. We visit each other from time to time. It’s great to get together and do some kayaking.

We have been talking a little about taking a trip, doing a little exploring. Costa Rica is on our list.

If you have a photo you would like to share and is water related, pass it along and maybe we can get it up on the blog. Or better yet, maybe it will find its way to the fridge.

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Enjoying a spring evening..

Edie paddles north on the Hudson River.

Rattle, rattle, crack, it’s open. “Smile.    Smile and it will keep you young”

Fortune cookies are one of my favorite parts of eating Chinese food. Not only do you have a great dessert, but you get to find out the real meaning of life, glimpse into the future and learn a new language. Do you believe them? Do you save them? Well, I have to admit, I save the really good ones. Some of them really hit home.

I feel so fortunate to live in Rhinecliff. We have the China Rose and The Rhinecliff Hotel sitting right there on the Hudson River. If you are not out on the river catching the sunset while paddling, I think they offer “almost” the same amazing views to watch the sun slowly set over the Catskill Mountains.

We have the luxury of rolling our kayaks down to the river, and tonight, just in time to catch the fading light over the mountains. We paddled for a bit. Talked about how the ice changed the coastline of the river. Looked around for our feathered friends in the sky, the Bald Eagles and made our way north. Up to a quiet cove to relax a bit. Then we headed back to the Rhinecliff Waterfrond Park. What a great way to spend the evening.

Oh, and we smiled.  A lot!

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Are you ready..

The leaves are turning green and the water is warming up.

The weather has taken that turn, you know, when there are more sunny days than gray rainy ones. It is once again time to get back out on the water. We are gearing up for another wonderful season with our friends who share our love for the water. We also look forward to introducing the water-soothing experience with many new people in the upcoming season. If you are looking for a fun, safe experience, drop us a line. We can get you there.

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Happy New Year!

Paddling on the Altamaha River.

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November paddle..

Paddling in the Hudson River on a mild November morning.

It has been just over a week since my dad passed away.

This morning was the first time I have gotten out on the Hudson River since the funeral on Monday. My mind has been sorting through so many emotions.  I would like to say the river spoke to me. I certainly was listening. But in the end, I was out there alone finding strength on my own. Sometimes floating in the current, other times paddling as hard as I could.

Being outside has always grounded me. Today was no exception, the fresh air, the water. My dad introduced me to the wilderness. Maybe that’s why I feel at home out there, and now.. why I feel the closest to him in the outdoors.

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