Day 18 - Sat. June 27, 2009

The storm last night stopped around 7 pm which gave us the opportunity to walk into town for a delightful dinner. The rest of the evening was uneventful and quiet. This morning we crossed the bay and river to fuel up before heading up river. Two thirds of the trip was great the other third it rained. An hour before we arrived in Kingston the weather cleared for a beautiful dinner in an outside restaurant overlooking the water.

Cruising up the Hudson gave us a different perspective of West Point than going the other direction. The fort was built to intercept and repel the English going up river and the fort is very impressive from the water.

One of the highlights of today was when I looked up river and saw the Half Moon sailing vessel which is a replica of the original ship that discovered the Hudson River 400 years ago was heading our way. I never expected to intercept her in route! I’m attaching pictures I took of her as we passed. I just can’t image that 37 men lived on something that small and sailed across the Atlantic while looking for a route to the Orient!

Tomorrow we will try to get close to Waterford, NY a 60 mile day. Considering we are now cruising at 8.5 mph it makes for a long day. The river is full of floating debris from all the rain, which adds intensity to the trip. With all of the bad weather we somehow find a little sunshine every day to enjoy!

Day 17 - Fri. June 26, 2009

Barb and I are safely in a slip at Half Moon Bay Marina a few miles north of Sing Sing Prison on the Hudson! We no sooner got tied up with the sun shinning when a major storm popped up. At present the weather is thundering and lightening – the wind is blowing from the west with a vengeance! The boat is rocking and bumping the fenders on the dock ---- all hell has broken loose. Looks like we eat on the boat tonight!

This morning around 7 am we left Liberty Landing Marina in a heavy haze almost fog like, that obscured most of the skyline of Manhattan. We turned south and slowly made our way to the Verrazano Straights Bridge through a harbor full of anchored ships and barges. We passed the Statue of Liberty and decided not to cruise behind her due to weather conditions. We passed under the bridge put Moor $tuffs bow into the Atlantic and turned around and headed north.

We passed by Governors Island when the weather started to clear. We turned up the East River under the Brooklyn Bridge past the Brooklyn Navy Yard, Roosevelt Island and UN Building. We then entered Hells Gate a body of very fast moving and swirling water that pushed us up the river an additional 8 mph for about five minutes. For a moment, I thought I was in a water park! From there we entered the Harlem River with some delays due to construction of a new bridge. Once in the Hudson River the sky turned blue, the wind was light and we had a very nice cruise up the river until now!

We continue to have problems with obtaining wireless access. The last marinas wireless supplier didn’t work for three days. When I logged on here every thing worked until the storm hit! When we do get on - there will be a lot to send.

Day 16 - Thurs. June 25, 2009

Finally we had a beautiful summer day with blue skies and a nice breeze. It turned out to complement our day in Manhattan that started with a ferry ride to the World Trade Center landing that we heard so much about during the 9-11evacuation! A few blocks away we took a walking audio tour of the perimeter of the site. If you’re ever in NY City I would recommend the walking tour which originates from the “Tribute WTC Visitors Center”.

From there we jumped on a subway and headed to 50th and 8th Ave. after a short hike on tired legs from yesterday we arrived at the Intrepid CVS-11 a WWII carrier that saw a lot of action and was hit five times by Kamikaze aircraft. In addition to the carrier a Growler Submarine and a Concorde were on display. After climbing around and through all the different displays the museum had to offer we walked over to 42nd and 8th another hike! We had a little dinner - I had a large ice cold beer - we located the subway and made our way back to the ferry dock to return to our boat and collapse! Tomorrow we depart the NY area and begin our trip north towards Vermont then Canada. We made the right choice to come here but it’s time to move on.

Day 15 - Wed. June 24, 2009

It turned out to be another wet day from time to time. Mostly dark and gloomy with brief periods of sunshine to snap a few pictures. While inside the buildings on Ellis Island (on left) the weather didn’t make any difference but waiting outside in line to enter the base of the Statue of Liberty was a different story. I must say that every one we meet and talked with from all over the globe were in a great mood and very pleasant to be with. The weather sure didn’t dampen their enthusiasm.

Barb made all of the arrangements for our time on Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty tour via the internet. When she went on line she was told that all tours into the base of the statue were sold out! When we got into port the afternoon before the date of our reservations, Barb hiked over to the ticket window and some how came back with two tickets to visit inside the Lady! What a treat to have the opportunity to climb the 156 stairs to reach the base of the statue and see all of the iron structure (above right) up inside the statue. We were told that as of July 4th’, 2009 the public will be able to access the crown of the statue again! I was satisfied to climb the 156 stairs that I climbed and not any additional ones! Inside the museum within the base of the Statue is a full size replica of the Statue of Liberty’s foot – looks like Barb is about to give her a pedicure!

Ellis Island was a very moving experience. I can just imagine how my Grandparents must have felt when they immigrated to this country. I can only imagine the fear of rejection that all of the people must have felt prior to some stranger in uniform giving them the ok to enter the country.

Barb and I spent the whole day visiting the two sites. When we were through we were exhausted and pleased we had visited both of them. It was great to get back to the boat and change into some dry clothing, open a bottle of wine and put our feet up!

I took a little time to talk with the security force that patrols the two monuments and they explained how I would be able to circle the Lady in our boat once we were underway and departing the NY Harbor. I’ve circled 2/3 of her already but the last 1/3 could be a challenge! There is nothing on the charts that explain how to do it with out having a visit from the US Coast Guard the NJ and or NY water police! The last thing I want to do is make the national news!

Day 14 - Tues. June 23, 2009

Yes, we saw some blue in the sky and what a treat it was! For the most part the weather supported our arrival into NY harbor and our rendezvous with the Statue of Liberty. What a GRAND sight she is as you cruise by her! Barb and I both get to cross this day off our bucket list! We have actually made it from the Mississippi to the Atlantic in this boat - not a bad accomplishment and were just getting started!

The city skyline is beautiful and very impressive but it can’t compare with the Chicago skyline from the water! The view is breath taking and memorable none the less. The weather is improving every day – a little blue sky, a quieter sea and some warm temperatures -----it all added up to one hell of a grand entrance to meet The Statue of Liberty. Tomorrow we will be tourists and visit the lady then Ellis Island. We will take the ferry to Manhattan get on a subway and visit the aircraft carrier Intrepid CV-11. Barb and I are staying in a very convenient location to do all of the things we have planned. As a side note the marina manager said that the weather in this location has been bad 16 of the last 18 days! Doesn’t look very promising for tomorrow but what the hell were going to go sight seeing one way or the other!

Day 13 - Mon. June 22, 2009

Today was less than perfect! The wind was blowing as you can see in the photo of the flag next to the light house as we were leaving the channel from Kingston. In fact moments before Barb snapped this photo I had a small two masted sail boat that couldn’t strike their sails end up in the rocks on the break wall! For the next six hours we proceeded slowly down the river with over cast skies, white caps and some fairly large debris floating by! We zigged and zagged as we looked for a safe way around and through all of the debris. Again we had another day with very little traffic. This is one big body of deep water that is constantly moving either up or down stream due to the tides. We were told that this is one of the wettest Junes on record and has crippled the boating industry. The marinas are dying for business.

The day wasn’t all glum and doom ---- there were times when the wind died down and we got to see some of the major mansions like the Vanderbilt’s, Franklin D. Roosevelt and others that line this magnificent river. We cruised through the highlands and past West Point. We even saw Bannerman’s Medieval Scottish castle (on right) built in the 1800s. We made port in Haverstraw, NY, fueled up and were safely tied up by 5:30. The forecast isn’t great for tomorrow but we have only 35 miles to travel to our destination for three days while we enjoy New York City!

Day 12 - Sun. June 21, 2009

We decided to stay another day and enjoy this great marina and town. The sun broke out of the clouds today and the rain disappeared. I can’t say enough for the owners and staff that have made our stay here a memorable one. Their recommendations as to where to dine and what to see have been right on. (Picture to left is where we had dinner on Saturday night - Mariner's Harbor in Kingston, NY) They go that extra mile to make your stay fun and enjoyable. We are tied to the wall where many of the locals walk around and enjoy the water front. The local population has been very friendly and gave me the opportunity to swap a few sea stories and BS back and forth with them.

Every port we meet more loopers. For the most part they are full of good information and sound advice. The four topics most discussed on the dock are - where to moor the boat, where to eat, the weather and the price of fuel. We continue to meet new people every day and expect to cross their wake some where in our travels. Tomorrow we will cruise to the Haverstraw Marina, in Haverstraw, NY. From Haverstraw we have another 33 miles to Liberty Landing in NJ, the marina where we will stay at for three days while visiting NY City. Our plan is to depart there on Friday pass under the Verrazano Narrows Bridge then turn north and enter the East river, thru Hells Gate, up the Harlem River to Spuyten Duyvil Creek and back into the Hudson River. After completing that little adventure we will have passed completely around Manhattan Island. We are hoping for some sunshine tomorrow without wind! The river continues to be high due to the record setting rains and presents a few problems to small boats like ours with all of the floating debris.

Day 11 - Sat. June 20, 2009

We continued to move closer to NY City and ducked into the Kingston Municipal Dock in Kingston, NY. (Lighthouse at left is the Hudson Athens)

The rain let up long enough for Barb and I to get into the dock and get every thing squared away for our stay. Even with the heavy rain we knew we were at the right place. The people working the marina were friendly and good natured even in the less than perfect weather. We dined at the closest restaurant to the dock due to the heavy down poor and it was delightful. There was a two hour spell late in the afternoon when Barb and I walked around in our rain gear and took in the Hudson River Maritime Museum. We found it interesting informative and entertaining. The town itself is quaint colorful and full of restaurants. Not sure if we will move on tomorrow or stay an extra day. (Lighthouse to the right is Saugerties and the one to the left is Rondout)

Day 10 - Fri. June 19, 2009

No rain today but very overcast. The clouds over head looked like dirty cotton until after 1 pm. There are now patches of blue and the temperature has risen some 20 degrees since we shoved off from Waterford. The water was flat and smooth to cruise. All in all a great day that got better as the sun broke thru. We have now officially entered the Hudson River when we passed thru the Government lock at Troy just north of Albany, NY. I encountered a current as I departed the lock that I’ll never forget! There is a dam and spillway that pushes the boat side ways as you leave the lock (left photo). I can hardy wait to approach it on the way back north! With the tide pushing us south I encountered the best gas mileage ever. What I need to do on our return north is to time the high tide when the water is flowing in the other direction. As we get closer to NY City the price per foot to rent a slip continues to increase. We started out at 1.00 per foot and have reached 2.50 per foot. We expect to pay over 4.00 per foot close to the Statute of Liberty and all that NY has to offer. Tonight we are in a very quiet marina - Catskill Marina - located on Catskill Creek. (right photo is looking towards the Hudson from our boat)

Day 9 - Thurs. June 18, 2009

The forecast for rain was correct! Some time around 4 am I woke to the steady sound of rain and more rain pelting the deck of Moor $tuff. Hoping for a break in the weather we stayed in port longer than usual but got underway at 9:45 am. The rain continued all day even after we tied up in Waterford, NY. Actually rain without wind makes for flat water and is not all that unpleasant. The ride is smooth and flat - the problem is seeing the channel markers and finding your way. Passing thru the 4 locks is another story as you have to handle lines outside of the cabin and every thing gets wet even with rain gear on!

We didn’t go far just 25 miles to Waterford, NY. The good news is we did get a spot on the wall to stay the night. Barb and I have visited this town the past 2 years so we knew where to get a good meal and have a cold drink! If you are in town I would recommend the Angry Penguin Tavern – good food, good service at a fair price.

The wall where we are tied up is full tonight and we are in the exact spot that we tied up to last year when Dan and Jori visited us.

We had the good fortune to meet a couple that has sailed most of the world in the past 25 years. They have now retired from sailing the four corners of the earth and have started to cruise the loop in their “MV Watermelon”! I didn’t even have the boat tied up when Jeanne invited Barb and me to their boat for a glass/bottle of wine! Peter and Jeanne Pockel had one great story after another to share. The more they talked about their adventures the more I want to keep cruising!

Tomorrow we will start down the Hudson River and pass thru one last lock that separates us from NY City and the Atlantic Ocean! Will the smell of salt water intoxicate Barb? Stay tuned -------------------

Day 8 - Wed. June 17, 2009

We got up and out of bed at up at 0 dark 30 and underway by 06:45! Today was a perfect day to cruise other than a little wind. Our objective was to put miles on the boat while traveling the same waters that we cruised last fall. We encountered some delays due to reducing our speed to idle and waiting when necessary for the dredging crews, barges and other heavy equipment to signal us to pass. There is a major clean up to a 10 mile portion of the Champlain Canal where PCB’s were dumped many years ago. There is over 200 pieces of heavy equipment evolved to facilitate the work which really slows everything to a crawl. Once we got thru the work area we made great time (10 mph) and moved 74 miles closer to NY City. While cruising 12 hours we passed thru 7 locks and only saw 4 other boats that were cruising but moving the other direction! Tonight we are tied up in Schuylerville Yacht Basin in Schuylerville, NY. Tomorrow we hope to reach Waterford the junction where the Erie and Champlain canals join the Hudson River. Rain is forecast and the next stretch of canal can be covered in half a day with four locks to pass. Right now sleep is in order!

Day 7 - Tues. June 16, 2009

The boat’s in the water! We had a slow start today because the travel-lift operator had a doctor’s appointment. Once the commissioning process started every thing went smooth until a small leak was found in a thru hull fitting and a small leak was found in a 4”exhaust hose! The thru hull fitting was easily fixed and the 4” hose was temporary patched until a new one can be delivered. We’ll have it installed on our way back north in a few weeks. Other than that every thing went well. The boat is fueled, provisioned and ready to go first thing in the morning! We are off to get some dinner, go to a laundromat, then return and get some shut eye! Tonight will be our first night in the boat.

Day 6 - Mon. June 15, 2009

Everything that can be done with a boat on dry land has been completed. We finished buffing and waxing the hull to the fly bridge. The marina told us a bad weather front was moving in and we took advantage of the extra time to detail the boat inside and out. About 11 am they moved in the travel lift and positioned it over our boat when the weather turned. With the boat sitting high and dry inside the storage facility and nothing to do - we went food shopping to provision the boat. That was another 20 or so miles to get there. In this part of the world you don’t mind driving because the scenery is so spectacular. The boat needs to get launched for the remainder of the plumbing systems can be checked out and water storage tanks flushed and purged! With luck the boat will get launched by 10 am tomorrow and we will be ready to head for New York City Wednesday morning - early! If we keep to this schedule we will leave here on the date we were planning to leave.

Days 3, 4 & 5 - June 12, 13 & 14, 2009

Nothing but work! The days have been long and quite physical. All systems have been checked. All the items that were removed for winter storage have been replaced. The dinghy has been assembled, inflated and attached to the boat ready to explore some quiet little cove. We had to have the marina’s canvas man make a small repair that worked out great for us. Barb drove into town 45 miles away to have the Halon tank weighed. What should turn on does and what should pump, rotate or make some kind of noise does! At this point in time – we have not experienced any surprises! That’s a surprise in itself! If every thing goes as scheduled we will launch the boat tomorrow!

Day 2 - Thurs. June 11, 2009

Day two was filled with all sorts of surprises. With only three hundred miles to go my chief navigator planned a scenic route by getting off the interstate and experiencing some of the less traveled roads that cut across the Adirondack Mountains. With less than perfect weather –a lot of haze with a splashes of rain and only one road closing we made it to Fort Ticonderoga about thirty miles from our boat. Check in time at our hotel was a few hours off so we took the time to visit the Fort and wind down from the long drive. I started taking pictures inside the fort when the camera battery went dead so back to the car I went to replace the battery. In the process of digging around in the trunk I locked the keys in the trunk! A few minutes later I located Barb to get our backup keys that she carries and found out she had left her set in the car! A quick call to the local gas station and we were back in action in less than 15 minutes! The mechanic apologized for having to charge $30 to get us on our way! I don’t think that would have happened back home in our area!

We found our boat clean and dry inside and rather dirty on the outside. I probably should have covered the winter cover with a sheet of plastic to keep the bird droppings off the canvas. I guess the birds wanted a place to get out of the weather also, All in all a good experience so far. Tomorrow we begin the process of making her clean and sea worthy for we can get under way early next week!

Day 1 - Wed. June 10, 2009

The summer has officially started for Barb and me! We had the good fortune to see four of our grandchildren graduate from 8th grade and high school to clear our calendar for the next three to four months! With that behind us we packed the car and headed to Vermont to retrieve our boat that was stored there last fall at the end of the 2008 boating season.

Day one was totally uneventful just one long 11 hour day of driving. We had a wonderful seafood dinner at Doc’s Lakeside Seafood Restaurant in Canandaigua, New York the town that is also the name of the first of the five Finger Lakes - then called it a day.