NYC and beyond!

 We are now on a mooring ball at Port Washington, NY on Long Island Sound.  We left Cape May, NJ as planned on a fair weather day, almost.  The 100 mile trek in the Atlantic started out flat calm, and stayed that way until we were off Atlantic City.  Unexpectedly, the waves kicked up to 4-5'  on the nose, and we took major spray the rest of the trip to Sandy Hook.  Had to lock down the galley as things started flying.  The admiral was not happy....   One looper who was travelling on the same day lost his solar panels in the rough water.  The only issue we had, besides the unhappy part, was discovering a few leaking portholes, due to the constant spray.  Nothing goop won't fix......

When we entered the protection of New York Harbor, it was near sundown, so we anchored behind Coney Island, and crashed.  The next morning we traversed New York City via the East River between Manhattan and Brookland.  The current rips through there and a portion is known as Hell's Gate.  I had to pour on the engines to combat a four knot current.  We made it to Port Washington, which has a city mooring field in a calm bay.  The mooring ball fee is only $30 a night, and they have a water taxi that will ferry you to town.  The average price for a marina here is between $6-$9 a foot a night (we are 60'), very expensive.  These mooring fields are the way to go!  Here are some pics:

The Admiral is happy on the water taxi to Port Washington.

Our taxi captain is a college student on summer break.  She is a finance major at Tampa University, and Port Washington is her home town.  A neat summer job! 

Louie's at Port Washington, and the Admiral samples the local concoction and is now very happy.  

Scenes from Port Washington. 

About a five foot tide range, and here the tide is out (or ebbing as they say here).  

Perfect Fit on the mooring.  

These are scenes from NYC.  I believe this is the UN building.  When in session, this part of the river is closed for security reasons.  

The Brooklyn Bridge. 

Ferry boat.  They are everywhere, and have the right of way (in their mind) so we had to dodge them.  

Sunset at Coney Island.  The bridge is over the "Narrows" the entrance to New York Harbor.