Day 268, Depart Big Apple,

Departing Manhattan heading up the Hudson River






The Bear Mountain Bridge over the Hudson River







Passing West Point today on the Hudson River, absolutely beautiful. Makes you proud of America and the freedom that we enjoy.






More of West Point





A view of our anchorage tonight on the Hudson River, MM 96.5. South of Poughkeepsie, NY







Pollepel Island, jsut a few yards north of our anchorage on the Hudson River




Out visit to the Big Apple was nothing less than spectacular. What a magnificent city. Our short visit did not do it justice; however we did pack a lot of touring in a short period of time. There is so much to do and we wish we could have spent more time there. One year to complete this loop is really not adequate time.

We left the rocking and rolling of Newport Marina around 9:00 am. The current was against us going up the Hudson River but Tom decided that would be better than being tossed around like a cork in a bathtub, than to endure the discomfort in our slip at Newport Marina. I’m not sure there is a marina in NY that doesn’t endure some waves caused by the many ferries going back and forth. At one point I counted 7 zipping in front, beside and behind us. They have the right of way and you better not get in the way! It seemed like the Manhattan skyline went for miles. No complaints because it was beautiful to see.

The Hudson River reminds us very much of the upper Mississippi (North of Dubuque to the Twin Cities or St Croix River) with many gorgeous homes on high green bluffs. We traveled by West Point but did not stop because you must have permission to dock and a call to them went unanswered. You cannot do a tour on your own; it has to be a scheduled guided tour.

We passed by Sing Sing prison in the town of Ossining. Though the original structure still stands, it does not and never will house prisoners again. Plans are presently underway to convert the huge structure into a museum, an idea which may soon become a reality. Many Hollywood movies used Sing Sing as a backdrop for their stories. Films like The Big House (1930), Angels With Dirty Faces (1938) and 20,000 Years at Sing Sing. 1901, to prevent confusion of goods made in the village of Sing Sing with Sing Sing prison-made items, the town changed the name to Ossining.
South of the Bear Mountain Bridge is the Bear Mtn State Park which looks like a tricky anchorage but you can dinghy to shore, walk through the tunnel that passes under the RR tracks, follow the path up the mountain and snap a picture of your boat anchored below. Sounds interesting but we didn’t do it. It happened to be too windy to launch the dinghy.

We anchored at mile 96.5 below Pollepel Island. In the early 1900, Frank Bannerman, a munitions dealer, built a replica of a medieval castle as a summer resort and storehouse. In 1967 the state obtained the property and conducted tours until the castle burned in 1969. Today because of the deteriorating condition of the building, you can no longer visit the island. Nice quiet area with not much boat traffic of any kind. Firing up the grille, and later maybe plug in a movie. Tomorrow pull anchor and head to Hyde Park Marina with a scheduled visit to the Culinary Institute and reservations for dinner.