Heading North from New York City
After stopping at the Statue of Liberty for the mandatory photo shoot we said goodbye to our buddy boat as they headed for Maine and we proceeded up the Hudson River. We timed the travel so that we went with the incoming tide which gave us a little help as opposed to us fighting it. This marks the point where we go from salt water coastal travel to fresh water rivers and lakes.
We marveled at the immensity of Manhattan as we passed by but we were also surprised by the lack of traffic on the river. We had been warned to expect it to be very busy but that just was not the case. Made our travel much easier but a bit eerie all the same.
Peter used to work in Manhattan, several years ago, and he was amazed at the visible changes, not the least of which was seeing the Freedom Tower which has replaced the WTCs.
Past New York City, we were amazed at the beauty of the Hudson River. The entire length we traveled was lush green hillsides, rocky cliffs and these charming lighthouses. Further north, another looper graciously took photos of our boat and sent to us. There is an app called NEBO that allows us to identify one another as well as finding the current location of friends.
Day 342 – 347, June 17 – 22, Croton-on-Hudson, NY
Our first stop on the Hudson was Half Moon Bay Marina at Croton-on-Hudson. We extended our stay there for a few days waiting for mail, some spare parts, and weather. There were several other loopers there and we enjoyed the usual docktails with them.
Two of Yvonne’s friends, Dolores and Dori, traveled by train from New York City to visit so some quality time was spent catching up with news and exploring the boat. Meeting them at the train station we saw this gorgeous mosaic mural depicting a nearby dam.
We took the opportunity to put the dinghy in the water, a task which can be quite daunting although each time we do it it seems less so. We enjoyed puttering about on the water and did some exploring.
Day 348, June 23, Poughkeepsie, NY
Next stop Poughkeepsie and Shadows Marina. A very nice facility right on the river with a great view and a first class restaurant on site. We treated ourselves to a wonderful meal to give Yvonne a break from her galley duties 🤣 and provide a belated birthday celebration.
The trip up the Hudson is getting prettier and prettier the further north we go. The pictures really do not do it justice. Very different from any of our cruising thus far.
Still very little traffic on the river.
On the way to Poughkeepsie, we passed by West Point and the Culinary Institute of America. Peter’s son-in-law, Peter Maffei, is a graduate of the CIA and we had hoped for a meal there but reservations are booked months in advance.
Day 349 – 352, June 24 – 27, New Baltimore, NY
After another delightful day on the Hudson we arrived at Donovan’s Shady Harbor Marina. For once a marina with working wifi and a courtesy car, two amenities we have learned to greatly appreciate. We took advantage of the car for some grocery shopping and some sightseeing in Troy. In Troy, they had a wonderful Farmer’s Market which we enjoyed. The owners of this marina are boaters themselves and have created quite a special place for a stop.
We caught up with our friends on Magic, well, we caught up with Magic. Terry and Dorothy had left for a trip home while Magic had some repairs done.
Day 353 – 354, June 28 – 29, Waterford, NY
After an enjoyable few days at Shady Harbor we cruised north through Albany and Troy, through our first lock on this leg, and docked at Waterford. Waterford is the point where we make a left turn off the Hudson River into the Erie Canal. Like so many small cities in this part of the country, Waterford is filled with history and charm while working to transition from its heights during the age of industry here. Being near the capital city of Albany makes work for the state and local governments the primary employers.
One of Yvonne’s friends from many years back, Cindy Pinnsonault, visited us and graciously took us on a tour of Troy including dinner at a superb Indian restaurant. After so many waterfront eateries, it was a special treat to have ethnic food (a favorite of ours) in a place only a local would know. Another friend of a friend took us out for lunch the next day and gave us a tour of a different area of Troy where one of the highlights was seeing the grave of the original “Uncle Sam”. Legend says that Samuel Wilson worked supplying meat packed in barrels for the troops during the War of 1812. He was well-known and well-liked in the area and the locals called him Uncle Sam. He stamped the barrels “US” which he meant as United States but the locals thought he was indicating the shipments were coming from Uncle Sam. Thus the personification began.
The cemeteries in the area go back to the founding of the country and are fascinating to visit. We saw the grave of the man legend says was the original Uncle Sam.
We found lots of interesting sights as we strolled the streets.
We walked up to the first lock, chatted with the lockmaster, and took a look. There were repairs being done further up the canal so it was shut down for half of the day and no traffic at that time. Not so intimidating when you see it from land. We had done lock #1 coming through Troy on the Hudson the day before. We had also done two in New Orleans as we crossed the Mississippi River so we were not overly concerned about our ability to handle these. Some boaters get a bit stressed and some locks are more challenging than others as we were to discover. More on all of that in our next chapter as we begin our westward journey on the Erie Canal.