The Hudson River

What a Transition. We have spent the last three months, and 2000 miles, exploring and bumping around the Atlantic Ocean. Everything up to this point has been coastal waters, and then you find the Hudson River. If you have been to northern Italy, Lake Como, then this is our Catskills rival. It is simply a beautiful river. That is why the Vanderbilts, the Rockefellers, the Roosevelts, and of course our own government built some of the most incredible mansions, hideaways, and one beautiful Military Academy....West Point.

Shana and the kids got in a cab for Newark airport on Wednesday morning 7/6. We had a ball for 10 days with the kids. But it was time for us to get movin. Shelley and I steered Rock Chalk out of the marina by the Statue, and headed north up the Hudson River. From the Statute of Liberty, the river takes you by one of the world's most impressive skylines. The rebuilding of the World Trade Center made me sad. What if we had been on the boat that fateful morning when that 767 roared over Liberty Landing Marina at full throttle and impaled itself into the second tower. What would that be like? But the new buildings are taking shape and it will be a beautiful campus.

Downtown soon passes and the high rises of midtown rise above the river and the USS Intrepid, an aircraft carrier not to dissimiliar than the Yorktown we toured in Charleston. In the slip right next to the Intrepid is the Queen Mary II getting ready for another crossing to London...a beautiful ship. Then you look up the river and think about that US Air Airbus 320 silently heading for your boat in the middle of the river. Yikes!!!! What would you do?

You pass by Columbia University on the Upper West side with its grand towers. Brother Scott lived and studied there for oh so many years, and enjoyed the view of the Hudson River. No wonder he is so smart. Then there is the George Washington Bridge crossing 18 miles up the river from the Verrazano Straits bridge at the very mouth of New York harbor. 18 more miles and you find the Tappan Zee Bridge, and 18 more is the Bear Mountain Bridge (attached in these photos), and so on until you get to Albany. Something about the Army wanted bridges every 18 miles.

We glided through Albany this morning in the fog. Ugly town...sorry. Ugliest capital building I have ever seen. And people say bad things about Topeka. At least Kansans and Texans know how to build a capital building.

Then out of the fog came a road sign. (See the photo) Honestly the first road sign for boaters, I have seen in over 2000 miles. In Troy New York you have to make a decision. Straight ahead the Hudson River carries you further north to Lake Champlain, and the St. Lawrence River in Canada. Turn right (as we did) and Lock #1 faces you 200 yrds up the Mohawk River as you start into the 329 mile long Erie Canal on your way to Buffalo New York and Lake Erie. Or you can turn in the Oswego Canal and drop into Lake Ontario and get to Canada that way. That is our route.

Tomorrow morning at 7:00 we will enter the first lock, which is a series of 5 actually. It is the highest gain in elevation in the shortest distance in the world. 5 locks, each ascending the boat 34 feet, each about 500 yds apart. The trip up the Hudson was beautiful with temperatures in the mid 80's. It is even nicer here in Troy, which I know is very annoying to all our friends in Kansas and Texas as you all endure the 100's and no rain. Come visit Rock Chalk. She likes cool weather. Canada here we come.... What a way to see the world. Marc