Simple phone conversations with family and friends in NY that began with, "We're supposed to have some snow flurries..." persuaded us to linger on our trek north this spring. Instead of the 48 hours from Norfolk, VA to New York City on the ocean we went up the Chesapeake Bay. There are thousands of rivers, creeks, villages to explore.
Here's our sunset view from a typical anchorage, this one on Goldsborough Creek off the Tred Avon River, behind a marsh, up a creek, osprey soar above, local waterman on work boats setting lines to catch blue crab.
A peaceful place. :
Just around the corner is Oxford, MD where we met up with my parents and their Richardson Boat Owners group. The club had picked Oxford for their spring rendezvous (via car). We enjoyed our time together.
Karen, Nancy (aka Mom), Don (aka Dad) at the Hinckley Boat Yard.
Persephone anchored just off the town.
Next....up the Chesapeake, down the Delaware to Cape May, NJ and onto NYC.
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| Sailing downwind on the Delaware Bay to Cape May, NJ |
We've arrived in NY City and transited the Hudson River too many times to count. Yet it's always a thrill. To be so close to the city. Buildings, lights, people, cars, trains, planes, ferries - the evident pace amplified from our point of view.
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| Coney Island |
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| Verazzano Bridge with freighters anchored |
The scenery of the Hudson, breathtaking. We take our time, moving with the current on the flood tide and stopping to anchor when the ebb begins to flow against us. Here we are just north of West Point at Pollepol Island.
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| The arsenal at Pollepol Island |
We hoped to be able to visit Pollepol Island with Bannerman's castle remains and arsenal from the early 1900s. But, NY now owns the island - the crew on the dock declared the island too dangerous for us to visit, unless we came over on a tour boat from Newburgh for a guided tour. $30 per person. So, over to the mainland where we tie the dinghy to shore, climb up the rocks, walk down the railroad tracks to the highway. Exercise and new sights is what we were looking for. Just a half mile walk up the highway we find hiking trails and climb Breakneck Ridge. Much safer. Ha!
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| I take a shot of Jerry as he climbs up from below. |
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| Persephone at anchor below with Pollepol Island and Bannerman arsenal remains. |
Here I am with a commanding view of the Hudson Valley below. Everything so green. Dogwood in full bloom. Feels like spring.
Today we arrived in Kingston, NY where we will take the mast down and head to the Erie Canal. We just received word that the canal, which has been closed due to flooding, may open this weekend. We'll let you know.
Happy Spring!
Karen and Jerry
