SATURDAY AUGUST 4, 2001 MONTAUK WHALE WATCH

LEADER(S):  Lori Schulman and Lanny Wexler

WEATHER:  Mostly Cloudy 75 to 80 degrees

ATTENDEES:  Co-Leaders: Lori Schulman  and Lanny Wexler (M) Joyce Adler, Ed Goldman, Marlenr Cooper, Cheryl Silverman, Bill Sugarman, Ruth Gitto, Barbara Rothstein, Paul Lauer, Randi Schlesinger and (NM) Peter Kahn

TRIP DESCRIPTION:   People awoke early for the long two to three hour ride out to Montauk. Some drove and some came by the Hampton Jitney from Manhattan, arising at 4 am to catch a 5:30 am bus for what would turn out to be exciting and special day. The day did not begin that auspisciously as we gathered at Montauk's Gosman's Dock under gray skies,on a comfortably cool, moist morning. We boarded our vessel, the Viking Star that featured a dinky cabin with grasy food and an upper deck where the fresh air could be enjoyed. Most of us opted for the upper deck.

We set out from Lake Montauk and almost immediately entered Block Island Sound. Within 20 minutes we had passed the famous Montauk Point Lighthouse and were heading well out to sea on a seven hour voyage. Our guide, a marine biologist laid down the ground rules and told us right off the bat not to expect to see whales. Whale sightings in the 2001 season were way down from the previous year.

We headed further out under a fairly good swell, with some of us getting a bit queasy to our stomach despite the Dramamine. Well we pushed on but no whales. In the mean time standing near the bow I could hear the naturalist recite all the various statistic's about the world's whales; including the most common whales off Long Island such as the minke, humpback and fin whale. Occasionally we saw birds flying by such as the Wilson's storm petrel which was up north to escape the Antarctic winter.

Then ealy afternoon came, we were reaching a furthest point out for the day, some 25 miles out from Montauk, when all of a suden we heard the guide say he had seen a whale spout at 11 o'clock. We came closer and closer, some people said they saw a whale arc out of the water. Still I could not see it yet but our guide identified a finback whale, which is the second largest whale spevies on the planet, some 65 feet in length.

All of a sudden I could see it to. Over the next hour or so we followed the fin back whale as it came out of the water in a series of graceful arcs and spouting water asit cleared the carbon dioxide from its lungs. It would stay up a minute or two and then do what is called a terminal dive where it makes one last impressive arc before diving down to the bottom, some 200 feet below to feed on its food supply.

We continued to follow it as it would stay down only 5 to 7 minutes before it had to come up for air again and repeat the cycle. Later we found this whale was not alone. We spotted its 6 month old calf which was swimming close by. The people on the boat just stood in awe as we were transfixed by these majestic beasts of the sea.

Well, we finally had to turn around and make towards shore and send a reluctant goodbye to these beautiful marine mammals. According to our guide we were very lucky being the first boat of the season, since whale watching cruises began in early June to see a fin whale and only the second boat of the season to see any whale at all. On the way back we did spot a Monke Whale, somewhat smaller than the Fin Whale being only 30 feet in length.

The day was not over when we got to port. While a few of us said goodbye as some people wished to attend the Fire island walk the next day, the balance of the group enjoyed a delicious seafood dinner at Gosman's Dock restaurant.    While we ate we could see fishing boats coming in and out of port. After a pina colada for an appetizer, I enjoyed scrod, corn on the cob, anf lime pie for dessert.

Well fed, well relaxed and pleasant conversation from a friendly group we set back for the drive home with pleant memories of a special day on the sea.

THURSDAY JULY 26, 2001   - WEST SIDE WALK ON THE ROUTE 9A BICYCLE/PEDESTRIAN
PATH

LEADER:    Nestor Danyluk/Ira Haironson

WEATHER:    Clearing 70s

TRIP LEADERS:    Nestor Danyluk & Ira Haironson

TRIP DESCRIPTION:    Nineteen people attended this evenings event despite heavy
rains and gloomy conditions earlier in the day. This was the third in a
series of after work walks given by Ira and Nestor this month. this time we
met at the Customs House,, bear Battery Park in lower Manhattan. Nestor as
always filled us in on New York City's rich early history dating back to the
Dutch. Nestor related a story that the Dutch purchased Manhattan from the
Dutch from the Canarsie Indians who lived in Brooklyn. In retrospect people
were under the impression that the Dutch ripped off the Indians by giving
them the equivalent of $24. When in fact, the Dutch paid the Canarsie
Indians money for land that did not even live on! So who is laughing now!

We then went into the lovely Bowling Green Post office which use to be the
Cunard Lines shipping office. We crossed Battery Place and walked over to
castle Clinton where Nestor explained that this was the major entry point
for immigrants coming into the United States before the immigration faciluty
moved to Ellis Island. Afterwards Castle Clinton was converted to the New
York Aquarium before the Aquarium moved on to Coney Island.

We began walking north, past the Museum of Jewish Heritage, Battery Park
City and stopping briefly at the Winter Garden at the World Financial
Center. The pace then picked up as we briskly walked north. We pased piers
that had been restored.People were dancing,playing miniature golf and so
on.Ira pointed out Monica Lewinsky's digs as we strode past the West
Village, Chelsea Piers and on to the Intrepid Museum. A few people
temporarily broke off for bagels at  H & H.

We strode briskly north in the gathering dusk as the city lights gradually
winked on. The last part of the walk was in the shadow of the Henry Hudson
Parkway, near the site of Trump's West Side development. At 72nd Stree, ira
said enough and we clambered up the steps to W. 72nd street where some of us
had a simple dinner of pizza or falafel.

SUNDAY JULY 15, 2001  CYCLE THE CONNECTICUT COAST

LEADER:   Mark Sochard

WEATHER:   Sunny 80s

ATTENDEES:    Mark Sochard (L), (M) Lanny Wexler, Ken King, Sam Mayer, Bruce
Stephens, Elena Lechinsky, Joe Cohen,           (NM) David Steinmetz

TRIP DESCRIPTION:  Bright sunshine, blue skies and low humidity greeted the
eight cyclists as they gathered at the Westport Train Station on Sunday
morning. The ride began at a leisurely pace as the riders set out to trace
the shore line through Westport, Green Farms and Southport. The ride pased
seven beaches along the way. The first stop was at Sherwood Island State
Park we're people took a short break and bathroom stop. We cycled east
heading inland to Nyala Farms and then back to the shore for a second stop
at Burying Hill Beach. The ride took us past beautiful multi million dollar
homes where it is reputed the likes of Don Imus and Howard Stern live.

We stopped to purchase sandwiches at a deli in the quaint village of
Southport. We then cycled a few blocks to a boat basin where we enjoyed a
leisurely lunch as we lounged in the warm sunshine. The last part of the
ride was the most challenging with a few stiff hills before we coasted down
to Compo Beach in Westport.

We spent an hour or so at Compo where one of the riders immersed themselves
in the waters of Long Island Sound. The green hills of the North Shore of
Long island were clearly visible from the beach. Some of the group bought
ice cream before pedaling back a short distance to Westport Train Station
with the ride ending about 4 pm.

WEATHER: Cloudy, cool

ATTENDEES: (L)Hannah Abolitz Benesch, (M)Linda Neiman, Marlene Cooper, Ed Goldman, Marshall Rubin, Yakov Karpishpan, Arthur Zingher, (NM)Julie Schwarz