The Summer of 2004 Cruise

 For kicks I have uploaded the server with the Garmin data in Google Earth format of our trip up the Erie Canal to the Thousand Islands.
 It's under the http://home.roadrunner.com/~danmapes/Summer04.kmz heading. The boundary markings and a route I had plotted may confuse the display a bit but you "get the drift".

A day in Lower Manhattan

 While it's not exactly what many would think is a great hike, it certainly is interesting. What we decided to do was drive down to Jersey City and then take the water taxi over to Manhattan for a walk. This all worked out quite well. As it turned out the parking was reasonably priced and there was plenty of it for a week day. All one has to do is follow the signs to Liberty Park. The ferry is a short walk and it runs every 30 minutes. At 14 bucks round trip it might seem a bit on the expensive side but if the weather is good the view will make it worth while.

 The weather could not have been better for a walk in the city given the temperature was not predicted to exceed 75 degrees. About the only thing wrong with the view is the lack of the WTC but progress is being made. There are many cranes sweeping across the sky helping to raise up what was torn down. I can recall standing in front of the towers as a child with dad as they were going up. We looked up and almost fell backwards in amazement. And now we look up again while new towers are being built. All around lower Manhattan we see how the times have changed. Barricades are everywhere and pop up road blocks appear out of the side walk to prevent unwanted entrance into buildings with cars. I wonder what it would be like to be standing on atop one when they are raised. Not too fast I would assume. 

 Anyway we worked our way over to China town and it is every bit as busy as it was when I drove a taxi in Manhattan during the college days. All sorts of wares spill out into the sidewalks on shaky stands where passersby can examine them for purchase.  

 Once past China town and on Mulberry street, in the center of Little Italy the restaurant hawkers flash Menes at us and attempt to convince us into their establishment for lunch, but we know where we are going. And that is Pelligrino's. Over the years we came to know this place for good calamari and veal and they didn't let us down this time either. 

 After a large lunch the walked back to the West side a bit slower than we did on the way over but we managed. The rough part was leaving the city behind on the water taxi and then driving back North.  

Cruisin' Cremes

 Every Friday here in Port Ewen the ice cream place Cruising Cremes hosts a hotrod show. If the weather is good we can count on a good turn out representing many eras of facination with the American Auto. There is always a diverse mix of cars to review but without question Chevrolet is well represented. If one takes the time to walk around and pause at all of the open hoods one will be rewarded and amazed to see flat head Fords, and Ofenhauser intakes as well as full on blown big blocks. 

 Not only are they there, but they sparkle. It's amazing to see how well cared for these cars are! If we didn't have a couple of Detroit 6-71TIs in Freedom I'm thinking a small block Chevy would be the target of our attention. While the first photo is a Mopar, check out the detail and cleanliness.

 Then there are the Rats. This one blew by us as we walked up to the lot where all the cars were. It sounded good and the stealth black look was cool. Upon taking in a closer look we found it had "see through" valve covers. This certainly would have been fun to take in while the engine was running.

 All of this harkened us back to Emily. We really were attached to her and had a great time with her while she was parked in our spot. But without a garage to keep her in we had to let her go back in the Fall of '08 when we started the adventure with Freedom. It sure would be great to have her with us in the Summer but she'd take a beating from the weather without a garage. So we'll live with our new car. A Hyundai Tuscon. Geeze do I feel old now.

Highfalls NY

 Trying to get some exercise these days we've taken to walking. Deb found the canal trail for the D & H canal online so off we went. The museum is located just off Rte 213 in Highfalls NY but it is only open on weekends from what we have read. http://www.canalmuseum.org/

 Before I get into the path this area is somewhat familiar to me because we used to travel up from NYC on weekends and fish here. There was also a certain amount of swimming that went on as well. The canal actually traveled over the Rondout Creek via an Aqeduct and there are still ruins of that structure. That's where we used to get a running jump into the water below.

 It wasn't a jump to take too lightly because one has to clear the lower ledge. All totaled I'm thinking it was about a 20 or 25 foot jump and about 6 feet or so out to clear the lower ledge. So back up a bit while counting your steps and take a running leap off the edge. Make sure you clear the point in the lower ledge as you go, and while you are thinking about that during the run, don't trip over the rocks at the edge.

  

  Any way, jump we did and many times at that. I think the last time I lept off this was back in 1981 or '82. But no more! After taking in the familiar areas at the aqueduct and dam (yes we jumped that also) where the hydro plant is, we walked along the canal on the other side of Rte 213. 

 Looking at the canal and how narrow it is, I wondered how such a narrow canal could fuel the Industrial Revolution down in NYC. Going over one of the bridges supplied by the society I paced it off at about 13 feet at the widest point. Since Freedom needs about 14 feet I'm thinking we couldn't help fuel the Irevolution. 

 Maybe we can find someone like Bill Gates to chuck a ton of money at this and get it all operational again (ya right).

 All along the path we were greated by the large Pileated Woodpeckers with their chattering and bright colors. There were plenty of mosquitos as well so if you decide to take this pleasant trail make sure you have some bug spray and apply it liberally. 

I have to admit I was skeptical

 About the walkway over the Hudson when the idea was first floated. It seemed as though it was a waste of money. But it's here and without question it was a great idea.
 The cost of 38.8 million and 16 months of effort to transform it seems high but given the amount of people that were walking along the bridge I'd say it was worth it. Especially given it would have cost much more to tear it down.

 The views walking the Battery in lower Manhattan are different and include many historic landmarks like the Statue of Liberty but these views taken in their context, are all the equal and more. On a clear day it seems one can see many many miles. Having lived in the valley these last 30 years, being up on the walkway lent an insight to the lay of the land and buildings that one cannot enjoy unless being in an airplane. Speaking of flight it was different to have a seagull fly past and continue on below the walkway for what seemed forever.   

 The panoramic views from the walkway are nothing less than spectacular on a clear day. It makes for an excellent place to get a little exercise while enjoying the fresh air and view!

That's it, it's a wrap.

 Our 2009/2010 season has ended. Freedom is up on the hard and will stay that way for the Summer into next Fall.

 She 'dun us proud' again this year, taking us around the Bahamas more than in the prior year but at least she didn't have to run the ICW this year. With that it was just about exactly 100 hours on the engines to run from West Palm to Lucaya, up the canal and around to the Abacos, back around the bank and down to the Berry Islands, to Bimini and back to the U.S.
 But the years are adding up on her and as a result we have some work to do once the Summer is over and the next boating season approaches.
 I have to admit she's in pretty good hands now. The folks that hauled her out were the first people to put a level on her swim platform to check their blocking. As a result, when the doors are opened up now they swing aft and point exactly aft. This is something that has never happened in the 10 years we've had Freedom stored on the hard.
 That and the shrink wrapping is second to none. It comes just about all the way down to the boot stripe. Given that we are much more confident we won't have to worry about critters getting into the vents etc.. And they have this covering all the way over the dink and pulled tight!
 So once again it's a wrap.

I thought I'd heard it all....

 

 Or,

 How many ways can your significant other freak?

 We are in the throws of prepping Freedom for life on the hard. That means all sorts of cleaning and sorting. What stays, what goes home. What needs to be cleaned and when does it have to happen so the boat is as clean as it can be when we leave it. We're moving around quickly and actually quite lucky that we have a parking spot for the van right by the boat. That means my path up to the van is short and the unloading process goes easily.

 Up to the freak point.

 A serious freaking occured. One that transcended sharks in the Sea of Abaco or surfing into Norwalk with Freedom.

 Al came into town.

 You know Al. Al E. Gator? It sort of just slid by the boat the way aligators do. Real quiet like. Until Deb went to pour a bucket of water over the side and it was right under the bucket.

 Women make strange noises some times. The peacefulness of the day was interrupted by panic.

 I thought it was cool. Actually we both did but it took a while for that realization to set in.