2010 JULY 4-5

We are 2 weeks behind posting. Today is the 18th and this posting is of July 4-5. In our previous post we had just arrived in Manhattan and stayed three nights here at Lincoln Harbor Yacht Club which is directly across the Hudson from the Empire State Building. This was the best location to view the Macy's fireworks. To get a slip here, we had to stay a minimum of three nights. We arrived Saturday and left Tuesday morning. My son, Jason, flew in, and Deb's daughter, Michelle, and her 2 boys, Zach and Justin, drove in for the fireworks. Michelle and the boys stayed with us for a couple of days. I have no still pictures of the fireworks but at the bottom of this post, there is a short video. This is my first attempt to attach video to the blog; hope it works well.



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The fireworks were on Sunday, the 4th and around 6:30-7:00, we started to see activity on the water - Coast Guard and police blocking off the Hudson. The fireworks are shot off from pairs of barges each with their own tug; there were six tugs for a total of 12 barges. In this picture below, these fighters flew down over the Hudson.




One of the tugs and its two barges was directly in front of the marina. Two of these were to the right, one centered on us, and three to the left as we faced the river, spaced about an 8th of a mile apart. They were not anchored. Each set of barges had the same fireworks shells and were shot off by computer control for a simultaneous display.

The fireboats practiced.

Our boat was located in the center of the marina, so to get a better view, most people watched from the 20' wide walkway on the pier that separates the Hudson from the marina.

All the barges were lit up with the Macy's sign.

Good looking couple just before the fireworks.

The entrance into the marina. You can see the pier from which we viewed the fireworks.

Again, a view of the marina looking toward the Hudson and Manhattan in the background.

Did some sightseeing in Manhattan. Here is Times Square. We were able to catch the bus right out front of the marina. There were no other stops between the marina and downtown Manhattan. Once we were on the bus, it only took 10-15 minutes traveling either direction through the Lincoln Tunnel.

Ground Zero sight is very impressive with many tourists. The buildings are just starting to be erected.

Jason was our guide the day before Michelle and the boys showed up.

Just a picture of one of the many buildings.

We didn't do much in Manhattan but walk around and look at all the buildings. It was sooo hot - 100 to 103 degrees - the three days we were there.

Deb, Michelle and the boys went to the top of the Empire State Building. Deb took this pictures.

The view up the side of a building.

We wanted to go to a New York Yankees, but they wanted over $200 for a ticket, so we went to a Mets game. They happened to have fireworks that night.

Michelle, the boys and the two of us left Lincoln Harbor on Tuesday morning, Michelle leaving her vehicle at the marina. Just two miles south of the marina is Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. We didn't visit these; it was so hot, I wanted to move on and find a marina with a pool.

We missed many attractions while at New York City, but Deb and I will be returning through here at some point and we will have an opportunity to see the things we missed.

There are many security zones here on the East Coast. We have to be careful not to get too close to some of these sights.

In this picture below, the Statue of Liberty is just to the left. We are headed to the East River to the right of Manhattan.

Entering the East River at lower Manhattan.

I believe this is the Brooklyn Bridge.

We headed up the East River so that we could travel Long Island Sound instead of heading out into the open waters of the Atlantic. All of our paper charts and Cruising Guides covering our travels ran out at the end of the Hudson. Our stay in New York City was during the holiday weekend and we were unable to purchase more charts. I have all the electronic charts and knew I could get to our next stop. I had researched on the internet for a marina with a pool and a retail outlet where I could purchase paper charts. We were heading for New Rochelle, NY where Post Marine Supply is located. It's a large marine supply retailer. New Rochelle was about 40 miles from Lincoln Harbor marina.

Above we are approaching United Nations Building.

On the north end of Manhattan, toward the end of the East River, we were overtaken by this yacht, Blue Guitar. Michelle researched on her Droid phone and it turns out that it is Eric Clapton's yacht. Apparently, he has a home on Long Island.

Here we are leaving the East River and to our right is the control tower of LaGuardia Airport.

Below is my first attempt at posting a video. It is of the Macy's fireworks - give it a try.