|
|
|
|
|||||
|
||||||
From: Tom O'Meara (no email)
Date: Sat Sep 15 2001 - 17:44:06 EDT
At 01:35 PM 9/15/01 -0400, you wrote:
>Tom:
>Thanks for the directions, I am planning to stop at Atlantic City anyway, to
>pick up a crew person. How did you like New York? I have not yet done the
>canal east of Cayuga Lake, or the Hudson. Any recommendations there?
>Lee
Lee,
We departed NYC on 11 August, exactly one month prior to the terrorists
attack. We have some great pictures of the lower Manhatten skyline, now
altered forever.
As to the end of the canal. We enjoyed our stopover at Waterford,
immediately at the foot of the Waterford "Flight of Five" locks marking the
official end of the Erie Canal. It is clean, free for the first two
nights, and very convenient as a rest stop.
Once on the Hudson, I can HIGHLY recommend getting your mast re-stepped at
Hop-o-Nose Marina. Very professional crew, reasonable prices and a good
restaurant on site.
The Hudson was a different experience for us. Rather disappointing
actually. I guess we had such high expectations that it was our fault for
not enjoying it more.
Two things immediately come to mind:
1. EXTREMELY ignorant powerboaters. Worse than Florida.
2. Anchorages are few and far between. Holding in some is poor. We
watched as the "Clearwater" (environmentalist training/school vessel) drug
her anchor while in the small bay opposite West Point. Damn near drug
right into a mooring field before getting things sorted out.
We most enjoyed our stay at Norrie-Mills State Park Marina. The marina was
inexpensive (considering the prices along the Hudson), quiet, and
serene. From there we visited the Vanderbilt Mansion and Roosevelt's home,
Hyde Park. Highly recommend both tours. Both were only short cab rides
away. However, I REALLY enjoyed the air show at Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome
the weekend we visited. It was the high point of the Hudson trip for
me. It is also just a short cab ride from Norrie Marina. Plan to be there
on Saturday or Sunday for the airshows. On Saturday they highlight the old
barnstormers and on Sunday the show features WWI aircraft, most rebuilt or
replicas with authentic motors. The exhibits are wonderfully entertaining
if you are an aviation buff.
We were planning a stop at West Point to tour the Academy but we were there
in the midst of a killer heat wave and choose not to trek the 3/4 mile "up
the hill" from the dock. Also, even though we had reservations, tying up
there would have been insane because of the wakes from passing river traffic.
Instead, we stayed on the other side of the river at Garrison Yacht
Club. The "Yacht Club" is very loosely organized and the dockmaster is a
fine Irish gentleman named Jim Guinan. He owns the small "country store"
at the head of the dock. We stayed there overnight at no charge. If you
can time arriving there the first Thursday after the full moon each month
(really!), Jim has an Irish "Lawn Party" that sometimes gathers 200 or more
people there to sing and party. Big names sometimes show up. The Governor
has visited. The Clancy Brothers (they stayed so long they damn near
missed the last train into the City) showed up and others in the
entertainment business. Unfortunately, we were not there at the right time
to experience that, but the Harp was cold and Jim's homemade sandwiches are
great. I would give a lot to be there on March 17th. :)
Avoid Tarytown. High prices and limited facilities.
I really don't know what to say about New York at this point, given the
situation there. We stayed at Lincoln Harbor Yacht Club just across from
Manhatten and took the water taxi/ferry over each day. We enjoyed our
brief visit, but again, it was in the midst of the record setting heat wave
this past month. It was 103 degrees the last day we went into the City to
see a Broadway play.
We ran down to Sandy Hook and was anchored there in Horseshoe Cove for two
nights waiting on the weather to clear. Nice and relaxing. Also turned
our toilet into an aquarium. :) At each flush, the rinse water would bring
in a bunch of tiny shrimp. They were probably not too happy about the
rather rude things that happened to them at the end of each of their
'visits', but they stayed around the boat the whole time we were there.
Any specifics I can help with, just let me know. I keep a pretty thorough
log and can refer to my notes to aid my failing memory. :)
Fair Winds,
Tom
Tom & Jackie O'Meara
Searunner 40 Trimaran, "Sea Skate"
___________________________________________________________________________
|| The Live-Aboard List : send a "subscribe" or "unsubscribe" request ||
|| in body of message to: ||
|