Why we do this...

Alot of the people we've met in Hoboken have been asking, "Why is this free?  Why are you doing this?"

My  name is Sandy.  I've been trying to organize this group of kayaking volunteers.  I have lived in Hoboken along time now.... over 20 years.  I truly enjoy Hoboken-but I have always thought-no one knows-- there is a really beautiful river out there!...They basically use it as a tool for commuting...
Whenever I'm in Hoboken too long---I miss nature.  And...That's how I ended up paddling the Hudson River, every summer.

I've watched Hoboken get more and more crowded, more dense with development and people, over these many years. I have witnessed the crazed zeal of many  greedy developers. It's like-- they are on a mission with cement. They have been very busy gobbling up as much land as they can-and cementing it over. They even use the river-just-- as a highway... To escape the city scene-most of the days in the warmer months- I kayak to get my nature fix. I paddle the Hudson River, because I find it to be such a great  way to enjoy nature.  It is--really---instant heaven for me...

I'm constantly explaining to folks how beautiful the river is now.  It is a great. clean, beautiful,
strong river... And. I feel like very few people really appreciate it.  Unfortunately, there are some misconceptions about the Hudson River out there. I find alot of people don't know--(even if the live pretty near to the river here)-just how incredible it is.  It is, very clean now--and is, a very powerful force....  It is constantly changing-hour to hour...day to day....an inspiring river, with much rich, deep history.  I believe, many people, need to learn more about the Hudson River to truly appreciate what they have... right on their own very own shores.

   One day a few years ago-while paddling-I found myself searching for spots.... Spots that I could go back to- on foot...Spots to put my feet in the water-with or without my boat. And...I actually found many small embayments, many gradual beach-like shoreline spots- from Jersey City to Edgewater.
And then... I paddled into The Cove. I felt instantly blanketed from the wind... It was so quiet...very peaceful. The Cove felt like a very private jewel on the river-something that should be protected and shared. I immediately thought.... save it from over-development...save it from cement!

It was mostly surrounded by trees. I felt it was a very special place to be...maybe because of it's natural protective boundaries.... maybe... because it was so serene, so quiet...maybe it just still had a kind of beauty- still-from it's past... But --once I entered The Cove- I  felt immediately- it should be protected. I felt it should remain peaceful..but not exclusive.  I felt there was a goal to share the precious spot with the community..a community that needed nature so dearly.. I wanted others to experience that blissful moment on a kayak-that I just had...

    ... that's how I fell in love with the Cove...
   
Sandy