Last night we anchored off a nice beach at Croton on the Hudson.  Day 6 we continued up river towards Kingston.   Tried to stop at West Point but you can not enter by water there anymore since 9/11.  One mile from Kingston and the entrance to Roundout Creek, we encountered a severe flash thunderstorm.  Suddenly, we hit 60+ mph winds, severe rain and lightning.  At the same time we lost the steering on the fly bridge.   We had our windshield cover on down below so we couldn’t steer from there.  We should have known something was up when all the barges dropped anchor, all of a sudden, in the middle of the river.  Tom got us to the side of the river via autopilot , dropped the anchor and we held riding out the storm.  We are now safely tucked up at Roundout Creek having more than one well deserved cocktail.

We learned that we should also be listening to the marine weather while cruising instead of just Rock & Roll.
On the open seas you can see a storm coming from a long way off and make the appropriate escape. On rivers with steep sides the storms are on you before you know it’s happening. MB

10.5 hr cruise from Hamburg Cove to NYC.  1-2′ seas, haze with cool 10 kt wind
Cruising on the CT river is a lot like the upper Hudson.

It was a long run today roughly 80 miles.
This is a shot leaving the CT river.
We anchored off half moon beach at Manhasset harbor in LI sound.  This is my old stomping ground.   When I was just a teen I used to spend hours boating, swimming and fishing this area.

Up at first light to swells of tugs pushing barges trying to go with the flow. We hoisted the anchor and went off to Hammond Cove Marina next to the locust point yacht club, our stop for the day while we reprovision and spend time with my brother  Brian and his wife Pat.  Gotta get our fill of NY pizza today and stock the freezer with specialties like NY kinishes.

We will be up early to catch the slack tide at Hells gate and the tidal push up the Harlem river.  We have to wait for the Spyten Dievel bridge to open at 10am  so our plan is to drop the hook near the Columbia University football field and have a nice breakfast.   Next stop is Croton on the Hudson. More at the next WiFi.  TB

Made the run from Block Island to Hamburg cove on the CT river.  On the way over we passed this monster.

Hooked up with fellow boaters and loopers Jay and Debbie from the Attitude adjustment for some afternoon “attitude adjustments”.   First company of the trip showed up.  Keith Bennett and Mike Bond showed up with a few provisions we either forgot or needed.

One major thing was a new stereo for the flybridge.  It worked last week but I guess salt air took it’s toll.

Good cocktails, stories, friends and jerk shrimp on the barbie.

I tried to upload a couple of times from my iphone but it does not seem to work right.   Will keep trying when we get WiFi coverage. 

Day one,

Fathers day finally here.  Ok let’s get a move on.  We shoved off at 9 am from Fairhaven shipyard and marina only to stop in five minutes to top off the  tanks.   We only needed 43 gallons to top off but at the lowest price in a while $3.53 diesel, it was a no brainer to get it now.

Six hours later after relatively calm seas we arrived in great salt pond on Block island.   Safely at anchor for our first night.

I have to figure a better way to post and add pics here.  This post was done off my iPhone which does not seem too compatible.  Off towards Hamburg cove soon.

TB