Going Up The Hudson

Linda says "Good-bye" to The Big Apple!

 . . . . . . at least for a while.

 

 

 

 

 Leaving our anchorage behind Lady Liberty during the morning "rush-hour" in New York Harbor means the ride will NOT be smooth for a while!  Do you recognize the Staten Island ferry?

 

 

 

 

 Imagine how excited the immigrants felt as they prepared to step on American soil at Ellis Island!

 

 

 

 

 

Spiritus cruises by World Trade 1

 

 

 

 

 

My telephone rings . . . . . .

"Where are you?" asks our Looper friend Cindy from Aurora.

 

 How fun to see her and Mike standing on the pier we were passing on our way up the Hudson!

 

 

 

 

  

 

Seeing the famous "Little Red Lighthouse" underneath the George Washington Bridge . . . . . .

 

 

. . . . . . pretty much means that New York City lies behind us . . . . . .

 

. . . . . . and the grandeur of the Hudson River Valley lies before us!

 

 

 

 

 

On the east bank of the river a train, bound for The City, speeds by.

 

 

 

 

 

Five hours after leaving our anchorage behind Lady Liberty, we arrived at Half Moon Bay Marina.

The marina is located in the charming, picturesque town of Croton-on-Hudson.

 

 

 

 

 

But before we can "play", the Captain has to do another oil change!

Wish I could find a marine Jiffy Lube!

 

 

 

 

 

 

A short 50 minute train ride from Croton-on-Hudson . . . . . .

 

 

. . . . . . brings us to Grand Central Station in New York City . . . . . .

 

. . . . . . to meet Linda's brother, Rich, and his wife, Maggie!

 

 

 

 

 

 

A view of the East River & Manhattan from The Promenade in Brooklyn.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"The Ball" at Times Square!

 

 

 

 

 

"The Elvis" at Times Square!

 

 

 

 

 

Enjoying sunset "docktails" on the flybridge at Half Moon Bay Marina.

 

 

 

 

 

We spent a day touring the nearby countryside with our friend Jeff, captain of Knot So Fast.

 

 

 

 

 

First stop, the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

 

 

 

 

 

One of the officer's quarters at West Point, overlooking the river.

 

 

 

 

 

Where there's LOTS of cannon, there's LOTS of history!

  

 

 

 

"Wouldn't one of these look KEWL on the bow of our boats?"

 

 

 

 

Franklin D. Roosevelt's home, Springwood, in Hyde Park, New York.

The President was born here and called it home throughout his entire life.

 

 

 

 

Winston Churchill and the King & Queen of England were just a few of the dignitaries to visit the Roosevelt home.

 

 

 

 

 

 As we continue our journey up the river, it becomes very evident why the Hudson River Valley is considered one of the most scenic areas of the country.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A water view of "West Point" from Spiritus.

 

 

 

 

 

This "castle" was built in the early 1900's by a man who wanted a place to store his private stock of Civil War & Spanish-American War surplus.

He died before it was completed. In 1969 all the buildings burned, leaving just the castle rock remnants.

 

 

 

 

 

 



The town of Kingston, NY was a fabulous port of call; no cannon, but still lots of history!

In 1777, Kingston was declared the first capital of New York & hosted the Senate, Assembly & Constitutional Convention.

In October 1777, British troops torched the entire town.

 

 

 

 

In Kingston, Spiritus is tied alongside a dock on Rondout Creek, literally just steps away from numerous downtown cafes, shops, and restaurants.

 

 

 

 

 

And just down the same dock, behind Spiritus, is the Hudson River Maritime Museum . . . . . .

 

. . . . . . where Eddy can pretend he is the Captain of an 1800's riverboat!

 

 

 

 

The Looper First Mates share smiles and "docktails" at Kingston.

The girls were toasting to Linda's parents' 64th Wedding Anniversary!

 

 

 

 

 

Sometimes grabbing a spoon and eating your favorite ice cream right from the carton is the perfect way to enjoy it!