Kingston NY to Waterford NY

June 21st and 22nd

We are now in Waterford which means we are now on the entryway to the Erie Canal.  We did our first lock in Troy and then landed on our first FREE dock at the visitors center.  We knew when we left this morning that NautiNell would be here along with several other loop boats.  We will now get ready to start our locking loop adventure on the Erie canal system..  When we arrived there was no room for us on the dock so we are now rafted up with NautiNell.

This is the lighthouse at the entry of Catskill

And this one is in the town of Hudson, I love the Lights on the Hudson River

This beautiful boat is having their masts stepped (taking them down) so they can travel the canal system as there is many low bridges.  Some of the sail boats will lay their mast down across the boat and travel with them, some will ship them to somewhere else to be put back up after they clear the bridges.

This is the first of ALOT of locks we will be going through, this one is in Troy NY it has a 14' lift. You pull into the lock and wrap your line around the pipe  that is built into the wall (mid ship) and hold on to it as the water rushes into the chamber it creates a wave, you can swing a fair amount. as it raises you up.  Be sure you have plenty of fenders on the wall,  we had 2 set at water level and 2 set at the rub rail.

Jim holding the line in the lock as it is lifting us.

Right out of the lock 2 miles on the left is Waterford Welcome Center FREE dock there is 1000' of floating dock and 600' of wall.  Take a right at this sign for the FREE <---(I love this word) dock.

This is SweetPea right in front of the 1st Erie Canal Lock which is actually Lock 2

We will remain here for a couple of days as it is FREE and water and electric included.  Once we head out we will enter the Erie canal, in the next week or so we will travel though 22 locks which will lift us a total of 437'.

Croton to Haverstraw to Kingston NY

Monday June 20th

Today was a later than expected start as we needed to return the rental car, get a pump out and to fuel up.  SO... we traveled over to Haverstraw Marina once everything was done we didn't get off their dock until almost 11am. The trip today perfect travel weather, we just needed to keep a close eye out for wood or sometimes logs coming down stream.

We are now docked at Kingston Marina right in downtown, what a great stop everything you need is right off the dock.  Or you can grab a bus or trolley to the big stores, we would most definitely stop here again to spend sometime.  We will however be leaving here tomorrow morning as we are hoping to catch up with NautiNell and some other loopers to travel west through the many locks in the Erie canal.

West Point

West Point is massive!

 The ruins of Bannermans Castle

 Another cool lighthouse, NY has really interesting lights

Rondout Lighthouse

Kingston NY marina located in downtown what a great stop.

Downtown Kingston

Oh!  Jim says hello

Back on the Hudson after a visit home

We have been at Croton on Hudson marina for a bit more than 2 weeks, well SweetPea has anyway, we went home for a visit and to get some things done there before heading further north into Canada.  Its funny once we walk through the door to the house its like we never left, but we miss the boat. Once we are on the boat its like we never left here.  Its just each place has its own set of priorities.

We did get a chance to catch up a bit with my sister and brother in law, dinner and alot of wine.  But besides that it was just the home reality stuff and spending time with our daughter.  Bob and Denise, sorry we didn't get the chance to get together but time just slipped away.  And Lori Happy Birthday sorry we missed the party.

When we left the boat we figured the boats we had been traveling with would get so far ahead of us, some have and others, we will catch up to in a few days.  NautiNell was here just a couple of days ago, keep looking over your shoulder you two we will catch you in a few.  SpiritDancer, JollyTolly and a couple other loopers are now here so we are not too far back in the pack.  We will have to take a dock walk later and see who else is here.

We are planning on heading out on Monday morning and since we still have the car we will make good use of it until then.  Thats it for today, now its time to put the boat back together and restock the galley.  Until next time......

SweetPea out!

PS......Congratulations to Cindy and Al on your great news,  we wish you a happy and full life together!

Croton on Hudson (Half Moon Bay)

Here are some pictures from Half Moon Bay.....
AGLCA sponsors they offer a .50/ft discount to members, the owners are trying very hard to build up looper business and are very boater friendly.  It is a great stop if you want to visit West Point, the culinary institute or NYC as there is a train station located nearby, an easy walk or bike ride away. There is also a GREAT walking or bike trail that will take you to the beach or along the coast to the park. The town has all the supplies you need CVS, liquor store,  grocery store, ice cream parlor, really good BBQ place, a hardware store, and a nice Pizza place with a complete Italian menu as well.  And if you need a car there is a rental place just outside the gates of the marina.  Nice place if you want to spend a few days and visit the nearby attractions.

sail boarders on the Bay,  this is a popular anchorage voted best on the Hudson.

They certainly have had enough wind for it.  Glad someone can enjoy these windy days.

It is very pretty here surrounded by hills.

Much different landscape for a sunset than what we have gotten use to in Florida.  But feels more like home to me.

Half Moon Bay is located in a condo community, here is some of the complex.

Largest sailboat in the WORLD! NYC and Hudson River

Make sure when you leave the Sandy Hook area its a nice weather day, you are in for an unbelievable experience.  This is a day filled with emotion as you pass the Lady Liberty and enter NYC,  Make sure you have your camera battery fully charged. It will take you about 1 hour 20 mins to get to the NYC Harbour and about the same amount of time to travel under each of the 3 bridges.  There is a stunning change in the scenery after you travel under the George Washington Bridge.  

 Lady Liberty in all her glory

 The Largest sail boat in the world, The Maltese Falcon 305' with 42'.2" beam she has a steel hull and aluminum super structure.  Ever wonder what to do with that $100 million you have sitting around?  Or you can rent her for $600,000 per week.

 George Washington Bridge

Tappan Zee Bridge

The Palisades on the western bank after the George Washington Bridge.  After you round this bend it will open up to the widest point of the hudson 2 miles across it will be very uncomfortable if its windy.

We are now at Half Moon Bay Marina and very happy to be tied to a dock as it was very windy.  Once we rounded the bend at the Palisades the 15-20 kts winds hit 25-30 once in the middle.  

It is very beautiful here its a 1/4 mile to town and a bit less to the train station where you can take a ride into NYC for the day $12 per person and 40 min ride.

Up the NJ shore to Atlantic City and onto Sandy Hook NJ

Great day on the ocean its been 5 months since we had a day of ocean travel, and it couldn't of been much better, here's to hoping for the same tomorrow.  Today we traveled 40 miles, tomorrow is 72 miles to Sandy Hook NJ. 
 
While we were debating as to whether to stay (Atlantic City) or go (Sandy Hook) the weather report wasn't getting any better and the outlook for the next 2 days were dismal so we left Atlantic City and had 3 spots on the NJ coast to jump into if the conditions worsened.  We did end up in Sandy Hook but the last hour and half was terrible,  increase in wind and the cross currents at Sandy Hook was very uncomfortable.  Once in Sandy Hook it was like glass and not so much as a breeze.  This would of been the perfect opportunity to anchor but NOAA was calling a tornado watch for the area so we tied up to a dock.  In the end we got some rain and a bit more wind but we were lucky the powerful storms missed us.

I do not recommend the marina we stayed at Atlantic Highlands Municipal marina (Sandy Hook) see my review on Active Captain.


Date: 2011-06-01

Captain: goodearth, Westport,Ma (280)

Moorings are for blow boats only! Slip is like nothing I have ever seen , back between 2 pilings toss both stern lines then YOU must pick up the slimy line full of bugs and throw it over your cleat. No pilings between slips just ropes and pulleys. Husband was able to get off after climbing over the dinghy up a 2x4 ladder. Getting back on? lucky his butt bounced off the dink into the cockpit. no cable no Internet $122 for the night! I will say that the boat owners are a friendly group. Oh since I had to cook cause I couldn't get off the boat, 30 amp can't run the ac and the range at the same time. 90 degrees . ugh!

It was quite the sight.
 
Tomorrow on to NYC and the Hudson River.

Cape May NJ

An important milestone was reached in the Bicentennial Year of 1976 when Cape May was officially designated a National Historic Landmark City, only one of five in the nation. That designation requires that the community must retain all structures in their original form and design and will insure that Cape May will remain within the architectural guidelines of the Victorian period.

Cape May is a real life picture postcard of the past. In the summer and the rest of the year it is shared by hundreds of thousands of visitors in an atmosphere that can only be found in this southernmost New Jersey community, situated below the Mason-Dixon line.

It is a place to relax, to enjoy the Atlantic Ocean, the city's charming Mall, and most of all, to view the largest collection of authentic Victorian structures in the nation.

Columbia Ave monument the town will be holding a memorial day celebration here on Monday morning, I hope to find out then what the building (church) in the background is.

         
This is what is affectionately known as the mall. The Washington Street Mall. Not what we expect to see at home.

                                           Congress Hall has 106 rooms or units.


Providing hospitality since 1816, Congress Hall has completed a two year top-to-bottom renovation, returning one of Cape May's landmarks to a place of prominence along the strand. Congress Hall is now a haven of relaxed elegance, fun, historic charm and luxury. Its the perfect place to stay in Cape May, at any time of year. Set amid landscaped grounds overlooking Cape May's broad sandy beaches, Congress Hall is just steps from the ocean, in the heart of Cape May's famed historic district.

Some of the beautiful Victorian Homes, most are B&B's and they are lined up one after another. There are more than 30 of them in a relatively small area.

South Jersey shore still haven't seen Snooky.  But it certainly is a great place for people watching.

Beach Cabana's owned by Congress Hall for use by their guests for a fee.  You can order food and beverage on the beach.  If you simply place a flag on a long stick in the sand the beach waitstaff will take your order, it is then cooked up in Congress Hall and served to you on the beach.  How nice!

This is the Queen Victoria Inn charming.

Oh yes,  I forgot to mention nothing is free in Cape May, as a matter of fact, bring extra cash.

This sign states that if you want to go on the beach you need to purchase beach tags. Available for the day, weekend or season.

It was the right time and the right place type thing.  When we got into Cape May I was checking out the happenings for the long weekend and noticed there way a small theater here.  What luck, there was a show going on that sounded like fun, but what are the chances of getting tickets to a show that has seating for 75 people on a long holiday weekend?  As it turned out we were talking to the right person a Trustee of the Cape May Stage, when he got a cancellation on tickets we got a phone call that 2 tickets had become available  to the show for Saturday night.  The show was  "Say Goodnight Gracie" the life of George Burns and Gracie Allen. It was great fun we hadn't see a show since Stuart Fla "Chicago" Its always nice to get dressed up and go to a show every once in  awhile.