Paddling Long Island and New York City. Kevin Stiegelmaier

      ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

      Writing a paddling guidebook is a monumental task that simply cannot be accomplished without the help of others. To the many people who lent me a hand throughout the process, providing assistance, company, or advice whenever it was needed, I owe you all a huge debt of gratitude.

      First, I’d like to thank Molly Merkle for giving me the opportunity to write this book and Bob Sehlinger, Ritchey Halphen, and the other editors at Menasha Ridge Press for helping put it together. I must also give thanks to Scott McGrew for creating such amazing maps, and to Susan Haynes, who shared my vision of this book and played a huge part in bringing that vision to fruition.

      When you’re researching a book about sea kayaking, having a great boat to paddle is a must. Fortunately, Jim Koehler from the Dinghy Shop provided me with just such a boat and saw that it remained in excellent condition. Knowing where to paddle that boat is yet another requirement. For that expertise I can thank Ray Clarkson, who shared with me his list of favorite kayaking places; Bonnie Aldinger and the crew from the Sebago Canoe Club, for taking a day to show me around Jamaica Bay; and Raymond Howell of the Gowanus Dredgers, who not only provided me a wealth of information about the Gowanus Canal but also opened a fire hydrant so I could rinse off my boat after paddling on it. Thanks also to Margaret Falk and Travis Beck from the New York Botanical Garden, who escorted me through the construction zone I stumbled into while paddling the Bronx River and gave me an impromptu guided tour of the gardens.

      As I was writing the descriptions of the many places I paddled, dozens of questions arose. To find the answers I needed, I often turned to the members of my local paddling club, Long Island Paddlers (lipaddlers.org). In particular, Steve Berner offered much advice and, together with Mike Matty, created the system I’ve used to rate the difficulty of every paddle in this book. Ken Fink, Chris Scalisi, and Nick DeNezzo worked with me during the club’s skills days, helping (or at least trying to) make me a better kayaker. And Fred Hosage gave selflessly of his free time to come paddle with me, even though it was getting dark, the tide was dropping quickly, and we would have a current to fight on the way back to our cars. I thank you all for your help, advice, and companionship.

      I must also give special thanks to my amazing family for all of their encouragement, generosity, and love throughout the writing of this book. My sister Randy and her husband, Jim, gave up a day on the water to keep me well fed in Montauk, while my niece Caitlin and nephew, Cameron, helped tie up my boat and showed me around a bit of Lake Montauk. My sister Allison, along with my nieces Sophia and Delaney, helped occupy my own children while I spent many a weekend paddling. And Allison’s husband, Eric, provided me with much-needed gear, information, and solutions to problems. All kayakers need someone responsible on land to know their whereabouts and itinerary in case an emergency occurs. Thankfully, Eric became this person for me, and because of him I felt safer and more secure on the water. And my parents, Sue and Doug, continued to do what they do best: encourage, give, guide, and love. They also helped watch my children when I was out kayaking, kept track of where I was paddling, and made sure I was safe. They also fed me whenever I was hungry (and even sometimes when I wasn’t). I hope you know how much it all meant to me.

      A few family members even trusted me enough to accompany me on some of my trips, making the paddles much more enjoyable in the process. Eric, Allison, Laura Stiegelmaier, and my father tagged along as I paddled everywhere from East Hampton to Staten Island. Remarkably, they never complained when they got muddy, tired, hot, lost, or caught in a thunderstorm. Thank you all for giving of yourselves and your time, and for sharing these experiences with me.

      Finally, I have to acknowledge my two children, AnnaGrace and William, whom I love more than anything else in the world. Thank you for your unlimited hugs and kisses, for your love and support, and for always making me smile.

      —Kevin Stiegelmaier