Pandimonium.....New York City

     We left at exactly 8:30 and idled out to face the Throgs Neck Bridge which we had timed to pass through at 9:25 so we could hit Hell's Gate at 10:25....and it worked! We passed through Hell's Gate with nary a ripple as we caught it at slack tide.  The last time we came through here I compared the currents to "Old Sow", the whirlpool between Eastport, Maine and Deer Island, New Brunswick which produces the exact boat motion that Beth does not like.  She and Danny relaxed. The air was clear, the sun shining, and the water reasonably smooth for New York Harbor.  Once again, preparing properly paid off.

                                                                         

                                       
                                                              New York City!
                                                                 
                                                                               

                                                          
                                                             Danny in NYC                                                                                                                            
     This was the first time Danny had been to NYC and he was impressed as we passed by things that he had heard about or seen on TV.  Pandemonium was in the air.  Airplanes were taking off just over head as we passed La Guardia. The curled barbed wire fence around the  prison at Riker's Island was gleaming in the sun and we marvelled at the same fencing on top of the barge that held the overflow from Riker's.
                                                                             

                                                                       
                                                              Rikers Overflow
                                                                                  

                                                             Rikers

      Beth and Sophie huddled on the front sun seat as we  glided by hospitals, parks and a gazillion cars creeping along the river roads. Gondolas filled with people passed overhead near one of the bridges and we passed under familiar bridges such as Brooklyn Bridge.  As we passed the ferry terminals we were impressed at the number of people cued up waiting for their turn to embark to other terminals and Staten Island.  Helicopters were buzzing like giant Dragon Flies from a waterside helicopter terminal, three and four in the air at one time. They kept out of the way of the sea planes taking off and landing in the middle of the river. We dodged the ferries, the pleasure boats, the sail boats and cursed the sports fishermen and testosterone laden Sea Ray wackos that waked everyone in their path.

                                                                                   

                                                                                     

                                                                                

                                                                           

Queensboro Bridge- also known as the 59th Street Bridge because its Manhatton end is located between 59th and 60th Streets

                                                                           

                                                                                

                                                                   East River
                                                                               

                                                                                 

  

                         Float plane taking off on the East River from 23rd Street Seaplane Base

                                                                                   

The new One World Trade Center (Freedom Tower). They were just starting above  ground construction when we were there June 2012. It is a 104 story super structure  that is the 4th tallest in the world.



     Slowly we approached the Statue of Liberty and got our pictures of Danny and his first impression of the stately lady. Even the dogs sat up in the chairs on the upper deck and seem to marvel at the grandiosity of the structure.

                                                                             

                                                         Danny and Lady Liberty

      We then pointed Doc's Holiday toward the Verrazano Narrows Bridge and Sandy Hook.  Our destination, Atlantic Highlands Marina where we would re-supply (think Beer) and prepare for our trip down the outside of New Jersey.