Hudson River 1

Seemed appropriate for this segment!

This chapter should really be called "Good News, Bad News".  Unfortunately we must start with
BAD NEWS:
Leaving Manesquan, NJ, a moment of inattention + strong currents + a large boat protruding from its dock space = crunch!  Not a good sound.  Poor Raydiance was attacked midships by an anchor!
GOOD NEWS:
The "wound" is above the rub-rail and thus non-threatening.  It managed to hit between the windows without breaking any.  The other boat was not damaged.  And no one's limbs were involved, so no human damage other than pride.
As you have read we traveled to New York City and had a wonderful time with Rich and family.  Raydiance was sporting gray duct tape on her port side, but she didn't whimper (I did, though!)  After the eRays left, we headed up the Hudson to a marina that was going to do the repair.  They could not work us in until Tuesday, so we went only as far a Croton-on-Hudson and spent Friday-Sunday there. On Saturday we caught the train to NYC (only $6 one way and 45 minutes), met Haley for a tour of mid-town and took in the play, "Memphis", on Broadway.

Grand Central Station 

How fun! A Broadway musical.  Can you
see the excitement on Tom's face?

Rockefeller Center

Haley and Tom at Times Square

Haley and Tom
across from Central Park

Waiting at the Croton train station
with fellow loopers.

Street fair in midtown.

The train ride had been a breeze, so we decided to do it again on Sunday.  This time we headed to Citi Field to watch the Cardinals-Mets game.  Unfortunately, the Cardinals lost.  But it was fun to see the stadium and the Mets fans around us were pleasant.

Citi Field

The score never did get better!

On Monday we headed 30 miles north to the repair facility.  Had a wild time getting on their dock in a strong opposing current and wind.  The next day, BAD NEWS,  we were informed the repair would take two weeks and require pulling the "fake" window.  Since we did not have two weeks, we decided to find white duct tape and just have it done this winter.  But now we were 70 miles up the Hudson.  What to do?  We both agreed to go back to NYC to meet John and Sue Ray on Saturday night rather than have them take the train to meet us.  So we turned around and headed back to Croton for the night.  GOOD NEWS:  This meant we were headed back down the Hudson River on Wednesday when the space shuttle, Enterprise, was being delivered to the aircraft carrier,  Intrepid.

NYC fire boat accompanying shuttle

Enterprise near
Intrepid

Great fun to be a part of this!

After watching this with many other boats, we headed back upriver about 5 miles because Tom wanted to take the Harlem River to the East River.  He thought it was great.  I thought it was industrial!

Coast Guard presence on  Harlem River

Swing bridge at entrance to Harlem River
from the Hudson River

BAD NEWS:  We hit Hell's Gate (a narrow passage on the East River) at exactly the wrong current  and went from 8 mph to 2.5 mph.  GOOD NEWS:  We can go fast if needed, so we put the throttle down and blasted into Long Island Sound.  The Sound is large and very pretty with gorgeous homes lining the shores and cool lighthouses.  We anchored one night in Manhassat Bay, spent one night at Stamford Marina (CT), and hooked to a mooring in Oyster Bay for a night that threatened storms.  Saturday morning as we were having breakfast, we watched Billy Joel's helicopter land at his estate.  My trusty binoculars tried to make out the people, but I can only say I saw a man and a blond woman getting into the helicopter--but I KNOW it was Billy Joel, even though he didn't sing me a song!

Billy Joel's estate

Beautiful landscaping by this home

sunset at anchor

Watermen raking oysters in Oyster Bay

Saturday we returned down the East River on full ebb tide which gave us a swift ride picking up 5 mph on the return trip into NY harbor.  Even though we had been this way before, the scenery was still breathtaking.  Don't think I would ever tire of seeing the Statue of Liberty welcoming us.

NYC, here we come again!

Huge Norwegian cruise ship passing
the Statue of Liberty.