Gov. David Paterson spent the weekend rafting in the Adirondacks, and it's not his first time, either.
Paterson went rafting on the Hudson River with Beaver Brook Outfitters, based in the North Creek area, led by company founder Pete Burns and several of his staff.
Burns said Paterson has paddled that section of the Hudson a few times before, including when he was lieutenant governor.
"It was kind of cool that he'd just come up and do a raft trip," Burns said.
This time, Paterson had about 10 family members and friends with him, plus some security.
"It was kind of just like an ordinary trip," Burns said. "They were having a good time. They were just chilling and shooting the breeze and just enjoying being away."
Tupper Laker T.J. King, who is a guide for Hudson River Rafting Company, said he and his boat passed the governor Saturday without knowing. When they floated by Sunday, though, they recognized him right away.
"Super-nice guy," King said. "If we would have gotten close enough, I'm sure he would have shook our hands. ... He was having a great time, had a smile on his face the whole time."
King said Paterson isn't the first visually impaired person he's seen raft the river.
"We get them quite often, actually," King said.
According to the outfitters' website, the trip consists of 17 miles of class III to IV rapids.
"He was definitely having fun and participating and paddling," Burns said. "He did remarkably well. I don't think it changes a whole lot for him, to be honest with you. He was no different from anybody else on the trip."
Burns said Paterson seemed like he had a harder time negotiating the ground on foot than he did when he was paddling in the raft.
King said rafters usually put in at about 10 a.m. Saturday, camp somewhere for the night, then get off the river Sunday afternoon.
Paterson's group nibbled on appetizers of cheese, crackers, vegetables and dip, with homemade guacamole made by one of the guides, then ate chicken and salmon grilled on the fire for dinner. One of Paterson's friends was celebrating a birthday that weekend, so the group had a desert of cupcakes as well. Then for breakfast they ate bacon, sausage and French toast.
"I eat better on the rafting trips than I do at home," Burns said.
He said Paterson and his friends and family kept the conversation light and chatty, but the governor did mention that he was relieved to be away from telephones for the weekend.
Both rafters said it was nice to see Paterson recreating in the Adirondacks.
"It's kind of neat that he does like to spend time up here," Burns said.
"Good to see him out there doing real-life stuff, not just being a politician," King said. "It was gratifying ... that being my trade now, to see a high-ranking official out there."
