New York and the Fourth of July!!!!

Somehow did two shots of Rylee, but that is such a good photo, thought I would leave it Wow, what a week. Our daughter Shana, and her three children, Max (11), Leo (7), and Rylee (3) spent the last 10 days with us from Annapolis, Maryland to New York. We had a great time and the kids did great. They experienced the Chesapeake, Delaware Bay, the open Atlantic Ocean, and New York. We saw many of the sites of New York over the 4 days we were there. We were able to visit the New York Museum of Natural History, the Empire State building, Central Park, The Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, the World Trade Center (as it rebuilds....very impressive), Soho, Columbus Avenue, Grand Central Station, and enough of the New York City subway system to make Max and Leo experts and getting around.

For me, the best part was taking Rock Chalk up into New York harbour, under the Verrizano Straits Bridge, and touring all of New York City by water in our own boat. We went by the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, then up the East River. We passed under the Brooklyn Bridge (so cool), the Manhattan Bridge, and up to the United Nations (the building looks like it is falling down....just a political comment, but it looks horrible). Then back down the East river and around the battery and up the Hudson. We saw the lower end of Manhattan with Ground Zero so apparent and the rebuilding of the new buildings. Then over to the New Jersey shore to Liberty Landing Marina, our home for 4 days.

We get so caloused as adults. Sometimes you have to be 7 again and see the world through Leo's eyes, and it is amazing. He is an amazing kid, as are all the Wurth children. Leo understands it all and was in awe. He loved the Empire State building, and the Statue of Liberty. The museums were great, and he loved New York from a very simple viewpoint. Lots of people, hot subways, too much walking, but yet he thought it was all neat. I hope that Rylee remembers some of this trip, but I really think it made a great impression on Max as well. These kids constantly bring us adults back to what is important, and this week was full of much of that.

We put Shana and the three kids in a cab back to Austin this morning, and Shelley and I took Rock Chalk up the Hudson River past more of New York. We saw the Navy aircraft carrier, Intrepid, which is a great visit, much like the Yorktown in Charleston. Right next to it, is the Queen Mary 2 getting ready for a return voyage to London. You have to admit, that New York has it all.

The Hudson River is beautiful north of the city. The 500 ft. high cliffs above the river on the west side are breath taking. We are still in salt water even though we are 5o miles north of the ocean. We will still be in salt water until we go through the first lock in the river 100 miles further north. All in all, it is incredible to see this part of the world from the ocean and river. Now we head north to the Erie Canal, and Lake Ontario by next weekend. This will be fun. Marc