June 10-16 Kingston NY

Up at 5:30 and after a light breakfast, away from the dock at 6:30 sharp for a wonderful run of 58 miles (7.5 hours) up the river. We went under 5 large bridges, past West Point, very tall rock cliffs, The Culinary Institute of America, a barge hauling long bridge beams, and a couple of great old lighthouses. But perhaps most interesting were 12 swimmers racing from Albany to NY City. They race 20 miles each day and each swimmer is accompanied by a kayak. There were 3 roving motorboats, a jet-ski, and a large trawler that served as the mother ship. Seems impossible, especially if the tide is against you - and there is a 4' tide all the way to Albany.

We stopped at Rondout Creek Yacht Basin. Had to wait 30 minutes for space to open up at the pump-out station as there was only space for one boat and it was occupied. Took all my patience to keep R Island in position against the current, tide and wind - success. Judie says we are getting much better at this sort of thing. The marina is older, as many are, but they are trying to keep up. Docks were a little unstable, and loaded with duck poop every morning - both of which made walking a little tenuous, Nice picnic tables and several lawn games and a pool. Had dinner with Brian and Ellen of Pearl, a Nordic Tug 39 that we had met in COH and had also made the trip today.

Paddle wheeler giving tours

The second bridge is old RR bridge converted to pedestrian bridge.

Elevator up to the pedestrian bridge

Culinary Institute

Barge carrying bridge beams that are blue and much longer then the barge

Esopus Meadows Lighthouse

Rondout Creek Lighthouse.

Day 2: Slept in till 8:00 and after a leisurely breakfast, all 4 of us loaded into the rental car to drive back to COH to  get Mike and Lois's car - a silver Honda CRV by the way. The Hudson River Valley is full of CRVs and Subaru Foresters! I guess because they are small, get good gas mileage, and come in 4-wheel drive. We took the scenic way back and stopped in Poughkeepsie at 5 Guys for lunch. Boat chores in the afternoon and dinner on the boat.

Day3: A goofy day! Spent most of the day planning, measuring, and shopping for needed supplies to lower our mast and Inch-N-Along's Radar Arch in order to clear bridges on the canals. Both boats need to do this and neither of us had seen another boat like ours to see exactly what it takes. We both got what we think we need and in a week or so, when we are closer to the Erie and Champlain canals, will make the changes. Just a day when you get lot's done and nothing accomplished!

Day4: Toured Kingston and the surrounding area. It is an older city surviving on the recreational boating industry - which has not been too great lately. Lots of folks from the NYC north suburbs and the surrounding area keep boats here and it is also popular with transiting folks like us as there is good shopping close by and the marinas are right in the downtown area. Many restaurants and some small shops. Toured the local Mariner's Museum and learned about the C&D Canal that ran from Pennsylvania to Kingston to haul coal to NYC. It was 108 miles and, coincidentally, had 108 locks. It was built in the early 1800's and was abandoned in 1896 thanks to the year-round reliability of trains and tracks that ran right into the city.

Ice-boat used on the Hudson 

Gerry and Mike looking  inside at engine room of old tugboat. (Make up your own caption)

Downtown Kingston Marina

Day 5: Time to check out the NY wines! We drove the hilly, tree-covered, countryside and followed our little map from the local Chamber of Commerce to the local wineries. The are is in the foothills of the Catskill Mountains and covered with small towns and trees, trees and more trees (as our children used to say when we traveled on some of our vacations long ago). Some good wine and a few bottles of reds found their way back to the boat. Also stopped at High Falls NY to see remnants of the old Canal.

Car club at the winery

Hotel and offices for the old C&D canal

This lock was 14 feet wide, 12 foot deep and 60 feet long.

Day 6: Across the Hudson to Hyde Park and a tour of the rich and famous. First stop was the home of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and his Presidential Library. The home, though large, felt like a home anyone could have lived in. It felt real and you could imagine FDR and his family/friends being there. His mother Sara "ruled the roost" and never let FDR or his wife Eleanor be involved in running the house or any part of the estate. The estate included dairy farms, grain farms, orchards, stables, and a train stop for getting back to NYC (Sara had her own personal train car). Sara's control was so overwhelming that FDR built a "small" cottage on the far side of the estate for his retreat and Eleanor built a house for herself, near his cottage, after FDR's death. The Presidential Library, the first one to be built, was actually started by FDR while in office and while Mom was traveling in Europe as she was generally opposed to the idea. It gives a great history of FDR from birth to his legacy and through the videos and exhibits gives a better understanding of the man, his family, and what was happening in the world at the time. A person could easily spend a couple long day if you read all the information at the displays. We gave it about 5 hours and agreed that we need to visit some of the other Libraries of other Presidents.

FDR and Eleanor

Their Living Room

"Sara's House"

Gravesite, FDR and Eleanor are beneath the little  flower patches in front of the monument stone.

From the flower garden

FDR and Churchill in front of pieces of Berlin Wall in FDR and Eleanor outline.

The "Third Whitehouse" actually built into the Library. Site of many fireside chats.

FDR's car modified with hand controls. He put 19,000 miles on it.

Next, and just the opposite, was the house of Franklin and Louise Vanderbilt. Built for use for 4-5 months each year, half in the spring and half in the fall, the limestone building is extremely formal. Franklin, grandson of "Commodore" Vanderbilt  who made most of the money, and his wife considered themselves royalty and lived life that way. Louise Vanderbilt loved France and had her bedroom copied from the Queen's, including a railing (looks like a catholic communion rail) where spectators would stand during a birth to verify the child presented as heir to the thrown was the one that was actually born that day! Spooky! It was a beautiful home, a smaller "Downton Abbey", but more museum than home: hard to imagine people living there. I guess we were born too late for "The Gilded Age".

The House

The Parlor

Ceiling in Ladies sitting room

Louise's bedroom and the "rail".

Fountain in the formal gardens

Flowers!

Day 7: You guessed it - laundry, grocery shopping, and get ready to cruise the next day.

June 3-9, 2015 Croton On Hudson, NY

We've been in Jersey City, just across the Hudson River from Manhattan, for a week and had a great time visiting NY City; but it's time to move on to a simpler and quieter way of life. Today we head for Croton On Hudson (COH) NY, about 40 miles north along the Hudson River.


It was overcast when we awoke, but no fog or rain with a light wind out of the north. We eased out of our slip and down the canal into the Hudson - felt like the little frog in the old video game "Frogger" just trying to stay alive on the freeway! Ferry boats from every direction and a couple of large ships thrown in for good measure. Waves from all directions and our key to survival was patience and anticipation. The ferry boats move at least 5-6 times faster than we do, so you have to anticipate where they are going and when to be out of their way. Both of us were at the upper helm station and Judie just called out every boat she saw and where it was coming from. Then Ger could plan on how to avoid it. Hugging an imaginary line just outside and parallel to the main channel seemed to work well except at ferry docks when we moved farther away from shore.

One World Trade as we left the Marina

George Washington Bridge

Palisades on the western shore as we traveled north.

Anyway, after about an hour and a half of this, all got quiet and we cruised peacefully past rock cliffs/palisades, under the Geo. Washington and Tappan Zee Bridges and into suburban NY. The river is still pretty wide, seems like 3/4 of a mile, and very little boat traffic as few ferry boats don't come this far north and the ships are big enough to easily keep track of. Half Moon Bay Marina at Croton On Hudson (COH) was still repairing ice damage from the extra cold winter and half of the slips were empty. Understaffed but helpful dock master did all he could to help in any way.

Day 2: Mike and Ger rented a car and drove back to Delaware City to retrieve Mike's car- a little over 3.5 hours each way. Went to a great little Italian place for diner and brought half our food home. In Judie's case she had ordered a personal pizza - and they brought a large one - she had leftovers for both of us for 2 meals!


Day 3: We left early to see the Rockefeller estate north of Tarrytown; but, with no advance purchase tickets in hand, would have had to wait 3 hours for a tour. Lesson learned. We crossed the river and headed north to West Point - the Army Military Academy. Easy to get a tour here and we were on the next bus for 2 hours of education. The building are all made from a medium gray stone and most of them look like old castles (especially from the water when we cruised past 5 days later). The terrain in hilly and it splits up the place and makes it difficult to get a sense of the entire campus. Still, very impressive and makes you proud that it is there and for you to be there!

Ft. Putnam - erected to stop the British from sailing down the river to NY City

The Chapel

Overlooking the Hudson

Firsties planning for plebes

From the river

Day 5: It's Sunday and we slept in a little, had a light breakfast and Judie joined Mike and Lois for a visit to the COH Street Fair. Mostly geared to smaller children but they browsed and had lunch. The hotdogs they got at the local church were "pencil thin" but tasted good. Chocolate brownies for desert saved the day. Ger was not feeling great and stayed at the boat for a nap - that was a miracle - must have been tired. Had a nice steak dinner aboard Inch-N-Along.

Day 6: One last trip back into NY City. We caught the early train to Grand Central Terminal, stopped for coffee and caught a cab to the American Museum of Natural History. Went straight to the top floor and the dinosaurs exhibit! Lots of skeletons, too many species to mention and many unusual ones including turtles, large fish, and many wooly types. Had lunch on site and after a 3-D movie on small creatures (partly about a small scorpion mouse in the Sonoran dessert - made us home sick) made our way to the "Hall of Human Origins". Here, for the first time, Ger finally understood the development of the species and the timing. How few years we have really been here. Nothing compared to the Dino's and the plants and rocks! Just getting started if we don't go extinct like many species before us. Anyway - great day! Back in the cab, onto the train, and into the car for a trip back to the Italian restaurant!

Big dude!

Turtle (never saw one displayed like this before)

Just ugly

"Bulwinkle" the Moose

I am glad he is extinct!

Day 7: The usual day-before-departure  routine. Laundry, check engines and other equipment, a little housekeeping and back to the Italian restaurant.




May 26 - June 2, 2015 New York, NY

Day 1: A pleasant cruise up the South Bay and under the Verrazano Narrows Bridge and into the North Bay. We cruised past the Stanton Island Ferry Terminal, The Statue of Liberty, and Ellis Island before turning in at Jersey City and Liberty Landing Marina - just across the Hudson River from Lower Manhattan. Backed into our slip, got a waste pump-out, and then had a late lunch of "Fish and Chips" at the local restaurant. Then Ger gave the boat a great washing while Judie did laundry. Basically, got our work behind us. It was beautiful to see NY as it got dark and all the lights came on!

The Stanton Island Ferry

The front of the Statue of Liberty

View of "One World Trade Center" from the boat.

Day 2: We got up early and caught the first ferry, which left from a dock next to our marina, to Ellis Island to walk the same route Ger's dad had taken at age 3 when he and his family came to the US in 1915 from Belgium. Since we got there before the crowds, we were able to see most of it with very few noisy children on school tours. We had an audio tour system to listen to and saw lots of displays about tests/procedures the immigrants had to go thru. Most passed easily, but if the doctors had any concerns, more tests followed, and often, hospitalization or quarantine until healthy. Two percent of the immigrants were rejected and sent home; steamships were required to provide free return trips. A tragic thought. Those that passed were either met by family or friends, or like Ger's family, walked across a bridge and next door to the train station to head for points west.
We then caught the next ferry to the Statue of Liberty. We had tried to visit here with the kids back in about 1986, but missed the last ferry and had to settle for a view of her back from the very same terminal our ferry left from today. After a quick lunch, we picked up our next audio tour equipment and toured the base and walked around the exterior so Judie could get pictures of the front. We were a little low on energy and decided not to get a tour up the pedestal of into the statue itself - we were just happy to be on the island and appreciating the front side. She is amazing and beautiful.

The Train Station

Main Hall at Ellis Island

Sleeping rooms for overnight stays

The original torch.

Even the same color scheme!

Exterior of Ellis Island

Day 3: World Trade Center Museum and 9-11 Monument (Ground Zero). Another sunny day and we caught a ferry from our marina across the Hudson to Lower Manhattan - 12 minutes and $5.50/each. A short walk of 4 blocks and we were at the 9-11 memorial. The two fountains into the footprint of the buildings was impressive and very overwhelming. It is hard to imagine all the destruction of buildings and life that took place there and the beautiful park and memorial to the people. All of their names are carved into granite around the fountains and it becomes very personal and real.  We then proceeded into the Museum, again with first-in-line tickets, and spent the next 4 hours viewing the salvaged pieces of the building, learning the stories of the victims and the survivors, and gaining a better understanding of what happened that fateful day and in the months/years that followed. If you ever get close to NY city, you have to set aside time for this. Very few areas in the museum allow pictures, sorry.
Afterwards we bought multi-day Gray Line tour bus tickets and toured north to China Town, the seaport, Little Italy, Carnegie Hall, Empire State building, The Waldorf and Plaza Hotels, Seagram's Building, and much more. Got off the bus and had Pizza near Times Square at a great little place Mike knew before catching a cab back to the ferry and R Island.

Tower 2 fountain

Tower 1 fountain with lower part of new tower

Last column signed by rescue crews

Part of tower 1 antenna

Cab of Ladder Co 3 destroyed when the tower  collapsed

The way it was.

Day 4: We were back on the ferry to Manhattan and caught the Gray Line back to the Theater District and bought tickets for the play "Jersey Boys" the following day. Had hotdogs for lunch from a street cart, and then took a tour of Radio City Music Hall. What a beautiful old building all done in Art-Deco and very well restored and preserved. Met a Rockett, but chose not get our picture taken with her. We then walked thru Rockefeller Center, Times Square and took the rest of the Gray Line tour we had started the day before. We met up with Mike and Lois for dinner. It was in a shopping mall type setting and the meat counter let you pick out your own meat from the case and after you pay for it, for an additional $8.00 they would cook it and provide a salad and backed potato. We split a nice rib eye steak and added crème-brulee' and a couple of glasses of wine. Very enjoyable! Back on the ferry and into bed!

After a drink in Fraunce's tavern where Geo. Washington celebrated first inauguration.

Rockefeller Plaza

Info center for Garment Dist.

Dinner at the meat market.

United Nations

"The Plaza" Hotel

Central Park

Times Square

Day 5: Our 45th Wedding Anniversary! May 30, 1970 - also a Saturday.. We had a lazy morning, then caught the ferry and a cab to the theater for "Jersey Boys" the story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. We were in the first row of the first (and only) balcony - center seats. Great  performance, great music, great crowd, and a standing ovation from the entire audience. We returned to the boat and ordered Chinese food for dinner.

Day 6: We were just about worn out - so slept in and actually took the noon ferry across and went to a movie - The Avengers - Rise of Ultron. Action packed mindless entertainment and just what the doctor ordered. Left-over Chinese for dinner.

Day 7: This is our second day of rain and, along with Mike and Lois, took the ferry (yes we know the entire crew by first name) and a cab to the Tenement Museum on the lower east side of Manhattan. An old building that was built in 1863 and housed over 7,000 renters in 22 apartments until it was closed in 1935. The German Beer Hall in the lower level and 2 apartments were restored to their original condition from pictures from the relatives of those tenants. Very interesting to learn of how changes took place and the different ethnic groups that lived there changed as the immigration laws changed. Again - very worth the effort. Judie bought a cook book that actually has the recipe for an old Belgian one-pot dish Ger's dad used to cook - "Etsaput" ( that's the way the book spells it!). Again, no pictures allowed inside - except we took pictures of pictures in the museum store.

Partially restored building

Kitchen area of 325 SF apartment just before building closed.

Day8: We are supposed to move on today, but it's raining pretty hard and so Judie is doing some odd jobs and I am working on this blog!