This was a good Memorial Day weekend for the city’s Inner Harbor. There was lots to do and lots see. I was particularly impressed by the latest watercraft draws. It was the first chance that I had to visit the BFLO Harbor Kayak (and canoe and bike) rental facilities. As I WALKED my bike over the boardwalk I could see a bright yellow kayak at the edge of the water. A bunch of bikes flanked it and a canoe was perched right out in front. It was quite an interesting selection of equipment.
Operator Jason Schwinger is still awaiting the arrival of another solo kayak, as well as a tandem. My girlfriend and I are holding out until then, though we may just try the canoe next time we head down. Rental rates are $20 an hour for the solo kayak and $30 an hour for the tandem kayak or canoe (Jason is anticipating the arrival of four sit-on-top solo kayaks and one sit-on-top tandem kayak next weekend). GO! Buffalo bike rentals are $15 an hour.
I was also happy to see the Spirit of Buffalo nestled inside the Erie Canal walls. The crew could not have found a better place to showcase the schooner. The first private charter went out last week, and it couldn’t have been christened by a better organization – AmeriCorps. This evening marked the first public charter (6pm) – it costs $28/adult & $18/kids under 12 to embark on a two-hour sail. Not a bad price to sail around Lake Erie on such a beautiful ship. The public ‘voyages’ run fairly regularly (in the evening) throughout the week. The best thing to do is to stop on down to the slip and pick up one of the Buffalo Urban Outdoor Education Foundation pamphlets.
Now, how ’bout getting Bass Pro down there so we can rent some day-trip motor boats?