Atlantic City NJ to New York Harbor

Colorado Cat going under Verrazzano Bridge

Leaving AC behind us, we headed to Beach Haven on Long Beach Island NJ, 14 mi north of AC, for fuel. We had had a very relaxing and enjoyable stay in AC but it was time to move on! Steve had replaced the alternator, holiday traffic had dissipated and the weather gods had given us a good day to travel "outside" up to NY Harbor. It was May 30th and we were all eagerly anticipating our trip to the NY harbor as it would mark the real beginning of our Great Loop Adventure. Steve and I had traveled to NY and up the East River to CT in years past but we had never stayed in NY harbor nor ventured north on the Hudson River so this was to be all new for us.

It had been a very long day as we had left AC at 6 a.m. and didn't arrive at our anchorage until 6:30 p.m. Thankfully, there was still plenty of daylight left.

Going through the harbor area was quite an adventure in itself as there are ocean-going ships, ferries going at mach 1 from all which ways, tows moving barges loaded with who knows what and plenty of other boats and ships plying the harbor waters all making the waters choppy and uncomfortable.

After dodging so many I quit counting, we found the entrance to the Liberty Landing anchorage but finding the actual anchorage was another story. We idled into the channel avoiding ferries moving people from the Liberty Landing Park while trying to figure out where we were to anchor. After several attempts to figure out the directions from the guide books, a sailboat called us via VHF and gave us a heads-up as to how to proceed. Thankfully as the channel is quite deceiving heading right towards a breakwater and then a sharp left and another sharp right before you see the anchorage. For someone who hasn't been there before, it does take a guide to get in. But, once there, it was lovely. A nice park to walk Sidney, a small dock to leave the dinghy while walking him, and plenty of quiet after the madness of the harbor.

The "Steve's" returning to boat after walking Sidney

The first order of business was walking the dog. As soon as the dinghy is down, Sid is right there on the swim platform waiting to board. He has been on board for so many years now that he knows the drill! And, nothing can get done until he has done his "job". Poor thing, he waits for so long and does it so patiently...which one of us could go 12 hours before heading to the bathroom?

Then, of course, it is toddy time. This tradition dates back to our first days of boat ownership...as soon as we drop anchor and take care of the dog, we pour our drinks and thank our God for allowing us to arrive safely at our next destination and to pray for safe arrival at our next.

Our plans were to visit our dock mates from Miami in Manhattan but we had to get across the river first. There was a ferry station about a mile walk from the anchorage so we called Sophie and George to arrange lunch. Unfortunately, George was otherwise engaged for lunch and we didn't want to leave the boat and get back after dark if we went in for dinner so we declined with thoughts of stopping in Tarrytown, up north, and taking the train back into Manhattan.

The "Steve's" and Joan Liberty Landing State Park

We'd heard, via our neighbors anchored with us, that there was a great diner just a block up the street from the dock landing. Since our other plans were cancelled, we headed up to the diner for lunch and were not disappointed. A NJ diner with the best waitress anyone could ask for!! At lunch, we decided that since our dinner plans didn't work out and we weren't planning on going into Manhattan for anything else, we may as well head north to our first Great Loop stop. Back to the boat, up anchor, and off we went! Weather was great, daylight lasted well into the evening, and we were biting at the bit to get started. So....

Lady Liberty in NY Harbor

With Lady Liberty in full regalia, we passed through all of NY Harbor from the Battery, past all that is the west side of Manhattan including the 79th St. Marina very near where Becky used to live. It was busy again with all manner of ships, ferries and boats moving up and down the Hudson River; some crisscrossing, some not knowing what they were doing! By the time we reached the upper edges of Manhattan and crossed under the George Washington Bridge, the busyness had evaporated and we had the river nearly to ourselves. Even better, the weather was wonderful with one of our first 90 degree days. Wind was lite out of the south: couldn't have been more perfect!

We were on our way!!