Oct 7, Upper Nyack, NY

No fog this morning and we have a big day ahead so we leave the dock about 8:15, one of our earliest mornings out. Today we go west on the Long Island Sound, then South on the East River around the foot of Manhattan Island and Battery Park, then up the Hudson river. In short, all around Manhattan.

We start by heading out into the Long Island Sound, then go west past City Island (where we stayed after New York City on the way east). We have now motored 3070 miles since we left Stuart last April 30. We go west past a large rock pile in the middle of the channel called Stepping Stones Rocks.

Stepping Stones Rocks with Throgs Neck Bridge

Bronx-Whitestone Bridge

RR/Subway bridge

Triborough Bridge

It is a pretty day with some haze but mild (75 degrees) and almost no wind or sea conditions. As we motor along toward the East River we go under four large fixed bridges, the Throgs Neck, the Whitestone, an un-named subway bridge and the Triborough Bridge, then pass through "Hells Gate". Hells Gate is the spot where the Long Island Sound meets the Harlem River and the East River.

Whirlpool in the area of "Hells Gate".

In this area the running tide can be very strong (4 knots) and the river is deep (100 feet) and narrow (100 yards) and the combination of the above can create exciting conditions for boaters (sometimes including whirlpools - we saw a small one today) as the water swirls through and the boats are swept along. We got through without incident along with several other small boats and then we started seeing the Manhattan skyline as well as bridge after bridge after bridge.

Queensborough Bridge

United Nations Building

Chrysler Building

Empire State Building

Williamsburg Bridge

Manhattan Bridge

Brooklyn Bridge

South Street Seaport

Lower Mangattan from the East River; 60 Wall Tower in the background where Owen worked for Merrill Lynch on 1964-1965

Cruise Ship now docked in Brooklyn

Really beautiful. Almost too much to take in as we cruise along idling at 13 knots because of the 4 knot current caused by the incoming tide going in the same direction we are going.

Governor's Island

Statute of Liberty

Lower Manhattan from the Hudson River

We rounded the bottom of Manhattan and headed up the Hudson and found a 3 knot current now against us. Now we are going 6 knots against the outgoing tide as we cruise along the Hudson River side of Manhattan Island and really enjoy looking at the sights. WOW!!!

We stopped at Lincoln Harbor Marina in New Jersey (where we stayed before while we were visiting NYC) and filled up with diesel. This location is on the New Jersey side opposite the Empire State Building of mid-town Manhattan. It turned out to be an easy stop and fuel was $3.09 gallon. Much cheaper than the $3.50-$3.90 quoted in the marina's on Long Island.

Private yacht INDIAN PRINCESS docked at Lincoln Harbor as we get fuel

We looked up INDIAN PRINCESS on the internet and found she is 181 feet, sleeps 12 guests plus crew and charters for $231,000 per week. The internet shows she is beautiful inside. search: indian princess yachts

Norwegian Cruise Lines ship docked on the West Side of Manhattan

79th Street Marina in Manhattan

West Side residences overlook the park and the river

George Washington Bridge

We continued up the Hudson River another 20 miles to just past the George Washington Bridge, and the New Jersey Palisades to the Tappan Zee Bridge. Our marina tonight is the Julius Peterson Boatyard in Upper Nyack, New York.

New Jersey Palisades

Entrance to the Harlem River from the Hudson to go around the north end of Manhattan Island

Tappan Zee Bridge as we approach Nyack

We met David and Lee Fiekens and their children Julie and Jack who live in West Nyack who came down to the marina to reconnect with us after not seeing each other for 5 years or so. They took us for a tour of their town. Very attractive area here with big trees, rolling hills, beautiful homes and a charming walkable business district.

Lee, Julie and David Fiekens with Linda in front of their 1854 home in West Nyack

Julie and Jack Fiekens

We had the full tour including the Fiekens 1854 home recently purchased. Then out to dinner together. Great to see everyone. Julie and Jack are getting soooo much bigger since we saw them in Florida 5 years ago.