After arriving at Utsch's Marina, we had lunch, went to the grocery, returned to the Lobster House to pick up fresh scallops, and then back to SONATA to assess the weather. All the loopers got together and all wanted to continue to NYC . . . but the winds were to be very stiff starting Friday afternoon. Charlie completed a weather research, talked with the group and two boats decided to travel with us to NYC . . . departing Thursday night at midnight. This picture is sunrise some five hours after our departure from Cape May.
Hours later we arrived off NYC near Coney Island. Continued North to go under the Narrows Bridge.
John "Sax" Saxman and his wife Sherri followed us into the lower New York Harbor aboard their vessel, RED EAGLE, another Grand Banks.
The Saxman's caught SONATA on camera first going toward the Freedom Tower, then turning toward the Statute of Liberty.
Lady Liberty was a most welcoming sight after 16 hours of travel up the coast.We anchored
behind her and beside Liberty Park in strong winds with several sail boats and motor boats.
The winds soon calmed down and we enjoyed a very peaceful evening.
Saturday we were out of Liberty Park, past Ellis Island and a closer look at the Freedom Tower, then North toward the George Washington Bridge and points above NYC.
A former client of mine resides in the Sing Sing New York State Prison, I promised him a picture, it is now included; then we turned into Haverstraw Bay to stop at Croton-on-Hudson. Charlie's brother John joined us for the evening having driven over from Ridgefield, Conn.
SONATA was comfortable in a small slip, 40' for a 42' boat. Half-Moon-Bay's dockmaster, Steve, was a hard worker . . . the marina is a challenge. The Catskill mountains loom in the background.
Back on the Hudson we started with calm waters . . . only to have "catpaws" come down the
river quickly toward us, winds grew to 50 mph with rain and waves were 3 ft and more in a short time.. The light houses on the Hudson are always so interesting to see and we enjoyed them.
The Esopus Meadows Lighthouse was built in 1859, put in service in 1872, and deactivated in 1965.
The Rondout Lighthouse built in 1838 continues in use near the entrance to Kingston, NY.
The Saugerties Lighthouse built in 1836 and was finally deactivated in 1954.
The Hudson/Athens Lighthouse established in 1874 continues in operation today.
Our second day in Catskill we ran upon some "cool-cats".
For a number of years the City of Catskill has sponsored decorative cats on Main Street. Artists purchase them for $500, decorate them and they then become the object of a "Cat's" Ball at the end of the season to raise donations.
Several hours after departing Catskill and taking on almost 200 gallons of fuel, we were caught by a "drone" just hanging there in the sky looking at us. Hovered for a minute and then was off and gone?!?
Passage down the Hudson, passing Albany, New York, we are approaching the first of approximately 125 locks that we will transit during our trip...The Troy "Federal" Lock.
Interesting note about government elitism, the Lock is named "The Troy Lock and Dam" and happens to be operated by the federal government. The other New York Locks, Erie Canal and Champlain Canal, are New York State Locks. The Troy lock would not respond to a radio call until he was addressed as "the federal" lock.
This year the choice is the Champlain Canal . . . we have tried before but floods upstream had marinas under water.
SONATA quickly passed through Lock C1 and proceeded on to Lock C2. There we locked through with a small tug pushing a barge . . . and by the time Bonnie placed SONATA in the South end of the lock the door . . . just would close. She did a splendid job of bringing SONATA carefully into the lock, not hitting the lock walls or the tug or barge in front. A real ship handler!!
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