Take A "Spare Seat" On A Kayak Expedition Across New York State

While we're on the topic of grassroots expeditions today, here is another one that caught my eye over the past few days. Yesterday, paddler Richard Harpham and photographer Glenn Charles set out on a 500 mile (804 km) long kayak expedition that began at Niagara Falls in the Erie Canal Harbor in Buffalo and will eventually end at the Statue of Liberty in a few weeks time. Best of all, the two adventurers are inviting members of the public and media to join them along the way and take part in their exploration of the state of New York along its waterways.

Harpham and Charles have dubbed their project the New York State's Spare Seat Kayak Expedition. The name stems from the fact that both men are paddling tandem kayaks and thus they each have a spare seat on their boats. Those who would like to join them out on the water can fill out a registration form online and if chosen they'll be able to ride along for a leg of the journey.

The duo hopes to paddle about 30 miles per day and has scheduled in a few rests days along the way as well. With that schedule in mind, they hope to wrap up the journey by the end of May, but not before they  photograph the varied landscapes they'll find along the Erie Canal and the Hudson River. They'll also be blogging their experiences as well, with updates already being posted on the Spare Seat Blog.

Seems like a fun project and I like that they're allowing the public to join them. If you're in New York and you're looking for a little spring paddle, why not see if you can fill one of the spare seats. I definitely love the concept.