We pulled up anchor and didn’t really know how far we would go. For once I was comfortable with the idea. There wasn’t any wind, hardly any traffic, especially for a Sunday. We just motored along. Going slowly here is a good thing, especially after a storm. Logs, branches and pieces of lumber, floating in the river. We are amazed at how fast so may of the boats go with so much junk floating in our paths.

Kelley called Dan Carter, our neighbor and friend, as we were coming up to West Point. Dan and Joan were there last week. Dan is a graduate of the academy. We were surprised at how large the grounds are for it. It seemed to go on and on. We were disappointed that there isn’t a spot to tie up and visit.

We spent the night at the Poughkeepsie Yacht Club. It is not a recipricol club. The people were so nice to us. Bill, the officer of the day, came over and ended his day sharing a class of wine with us. He expained how the docks have to be taken out at the end of the season and put back in when it starts. This club is a working club. Members must donate 50 hours a year. They don’t do parties every weekend; with the setting that they have it would be fun to have gatherings there.

The Lakers! They did it! It was a rocky night. Being on the river we could feel every swell. We were rocked to sleep.

We left Tarrytown at 11:30. We had decided not to go very far and that we would anchor. There was to be a little wind and we knew rain and thunderstorms, but we figured we had all afternoon to make sure that the anchor was holding us. We expected to have some traffic as it was Saturday, but there was very little. Is it that it is too early in the season for New York or that the fuel prices are holding people back from enjoying their boats?

Ossining! Originally known as Sing Sing. But, apparently, when there was a boycott of prison-made goods, the people of this town needed to make sure their buyers knew that they were not prison made. They changed the name of their town. So, there we were, anchored off Croton Point with Sing Sing on the hill. How frustrating to be in that prison – a view of the Hudson River with all of the ships and boats going by and the commuter train tooting its horn. Confined and continually reminded that life is truly passing in front of you.

Well, we were not disappointed. Our day was pleasant. Gentle rain came in the evening and with it came the lightening and thunder. Not one storm, but several. Kelley and I ate a delicious barbecued steak dinner with potato and salad. The rain poured. We held our ground and slept like babies.

A short ride to Tarrytown….we left just before noon. I am still surprised at how rocky the harbor is. Ferries shooting from one side to the other of the river, tour boats shooting either towards the Statue of Liberty or away from her. One lady we met from the marina said that she thinks if you can learn to sail in New York Harbor, you can sail just about anywhere. I think that I agree with her.

Once you get beyond Manhattan the river calms down considerably. The buildings become shorter, the landscape greener. We come to the Adirondack Mountains and now have New York on both sides of us. Good bye New Jersey.

We are staying at the Tarrytown Marina. They are a member of the recpricol clubs, but Kelley had to talk the dockmaster into accpeting us as a recpriacol club. All he had to do was go to the website and check. He said that none of their members would go to California and Kelley asked why not and pointing out that we were here. He gave us free night. The cost here is $3 a foot and there isn’t any electricity! It appears that Tarrytown is the spot that many people take the train into the city so it is a popular place for people for the weekend.

The town is darling! There were many restaurants, antique stores and “Flying Fingers” a yarn shop. But, there was Chinese and we chose take out!

Wednesday, June 11th and Thursday, the 12th

Kelley is an expert captain. We glided into NYC Harbor. The harbor is so busy with boats and ferries going what ever speed they want that the water is choppy, like being in the ocean on a windy day. But, we passed Miss Liberty and made our way to our marina.

We made a reservation at Liberty Landing Marina, NJ. When we came in the reservation could not be found – finally we were assigned a slip. We had the name of the person who had taken our reservation and our credit card number to hold it. Michelle. A magic name, indeed. She is the new dock-master. There is a shuttle that leaves the Landing and takes you across the river to the Financial District, Lady Liberty.

Walked around for about 4 hours through the Financial District and towards SoHo. Finally we got a map and we were able to make sense of it all.

Thursday morning when I got up Kelley has already mapped out the day. We would take the subway to Central Park. We wanted to walk around Central Park, hit West Marine on 37th, see Times Square and Rockefeller Center. I was hoping that we could meet up with my email friend, Natascha but the day flew by and we couldn’t figure out where we would be next. After 6 hours of walking around we both had had enough. We took the subway back to the Financial District and I had one more shop I HAD to get to. Yes, Seaport Yarn. I bought lots of sock yarn, making socks is my new passion.

And it was then time to leave. Did we want to stay another day? No, we enjoyed our visit, but New York is too busy for us. People walk by without seeing each other. They are listening to their iPods or talking on their cell phones. We watched 6 police cars race down the street and taxis barely moved, when the cars had to stop, people walked between them because the cars were in the crosswalks. Rushing all of the time. My heart races just thinking about it. But, their parks are filled. Young mothers (nannies?) with children playing, pool tables and checker games going on outside in the community centers – basketball, soccer. Citizens using their city.

I am glad we visited. I am glad we are moving on tomorrow. Natascha, I am sorry we didn’t get to meet.