Day 388 Thursday, July 13, 2023
Half Moon Bay, Croton-On-Hudson to Poughkeepsie, NY
Just a short trip to the service dock at 6:20am, today started out with a trip to the pumpout. The pumpout at many marinas along the way have been self-service. All of them should be; most of the time all the dock hand did was hand poor Jerry the hose, making him responsible for the dirty job. Twenty minutes later we were on our way. We were grateful that the engine alarm was gone and all was good.
Sunrise at the dock.
We spent the morning dodging a debris field from the flooding. We were reminded that we were still on the Hudson River when we met a barge and the freighter, Nicole Reinauer. Lots to see along the way including the Stony Point Lighthouse, a nuclear power plant, and lots of trains. Passenger trains travel on the eastern shore while cargo trains travel the west. The tracks seemed to be repaired from all of the flooding.
We continued to weave our way around flotsam while we enjoyed the scenery. At Bear Mountain Bridge -- the Hudson is 153 feet deep here!
West Point from the Hudson River
"Beat Air Force" is painted on the gymnasium roof.
On Pollepel Island you can see Bannerman Castle. Bannerman Castle was built by a New York City businessman. He used the property as a summer home and warehouse for the army surplus munitions he sold. The castle has deteriorated due to time, weather and a fire but efforts are underway to restore it. Tours, dinners and theater performances can be reserved.
We arrived at Shadows Marina at 11:25. Captain Keith, dockmaster, caught our lines and quickly had us tied to the dock. The docks are open to the tidal current and significant wakes from passing boat traffic. We wondered how rough our stay was going to be....
Sharon and Grant rented a car and invited us to join them to tour West Point. The flooding had cancelled our tour plans on Monday. We had a great tour guide with only 6 people on the tour! Very well done.
West Point
One of several chapels.
Links from the chain that was stretched across the river to stop invading ships headed North during the Revolutionary War.
We hit Hannaford's (back in NYS!) and then back to the marina. It was SO rough that the docks were rocking. You could see the current moving through them.
Tomorrow we move on to Donovan's Shady Harbor, New Baltimore, NY
Day 389 Friday, July 14, 2023
Our goal today was AGLCA sponsor, Donovan's Shady Harbor Marina, about 5 hours way. Once Grant returned the rental car we were on our way. Thankfully our night was more comfortable than we expected. The current/tide and boat traffic really calmed down and we were able to get a good night's sleep. You know the current is significant -- we experienced a tidal push, traveling 9.9mph (8.7knots)! Great way to conserve fuel. We traveled across the 42nd parallel -- only 2 more to go and we'll be home.
Sharon was injured pulling in the dock lines. Water chestnuts are invasive. They had attached their "horns" to lines dangling in the water and hitched a ride. Sharon stepped on a line and got a nasty puncture wound.
The Hudson River scenery didn't disappoint.
The many lighthouses on the Hudson are unlike others we've seen on our Loop. Boaters can actually see them up close and most include homes.
Esopus Meadows Lighthouse
Rondout Creek Lighthouse
Kingston Rhinecliff Bridge
Saugerties Lighthouse
Hudson City Lighthouse
Plans were for a 2 day stay at Donovan's but a call to New York State Canal System confirmed the canal was closed due to high water and debris. Once the canal opens we will have to worry about the debris that was trapped in the canal "flushing" out. We may need to wait for some of the debris to clear.
Donovan's was recovering from a microburst that hit them a week earlier. The storm whipped through damaging their docks and boats. Our friends on Awelon Mor were there when it happened. Luckily they survived with only some cosmetic damage from the broken docks.
Dinner at the marina restaurant, Boathouse Grille. The Friday night special Prime Rib was cooked perfectly.
Day 389 Saturday, July 15, 2023
Man is it ever HOT! It was laundry day but no air conditioning so I found a spot outside in the shade. Laundry done we borrowed the courtesy car and drove to church at The Church of St. Patrick. Fr. Frank O'Connor, the Chaplain at Shrine Church of Our Lady of Americas Mission Church of Blessed Sacrament in Albany (Father joked that the name is a mouthful), was covering for the pastor. In his 80's, he was a great story teller, sharing his admiration for Saint Kateri Tekakwitha.
We shared Blue Lagoons, the signature margarita on Eric's Inheritance, with Call Me Curly and then finished our prime rib leftovers. They were just as good the second time around.
Day 390 Sunday, July 16, 2023
Pancakes and bacon for breakfast while we watched the debris float by. The Champlain Canal reopened yesterday. The high water levels were washing lots of junk into and through the waterways. This is the big reason we spent an extra day at Donovan's Shady Harbor.
Freighters passing the marina went very slowly, unlike recreational boaters we've see in other areas.
We spent the evening playing Wizards with Sharon and Grant. Jerry won both games -- Grant was no longer "The Great".
Tomorrow we head to Waterford Welcome Center, the official beginning of the Erie Canal.
1 comment:
Wonderful photos and depiction of the area. cj
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