NEW YORK HARBOR AND THE EAST RIVER

After visiting Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey, we really turned another corner.  No more ICW.  Our next quest would be a visit to several states and cities on Long Island Sound and in New England.  Our plan is to travel to Rhode Island where my aunt Naomi and my cousin Jason and his family live.  They live close to the water in the town of Cranston, Rhode Island, only minutes from Providence.  First, however, we would enter and cross New York Harbor, and then run the East River to Long Island Sound.

As we left our anchorage in Sandy Hook, just off the town of Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey, we could see the Verrazano Bridge which is the gateway to New York Harbor from several directions.

Then, we would pass under this huge bridge.  It's a double decker and has 12 traffic lanes.  It's longest span is 4260 feet.  It opened in November 1964 and is way bigger than the Golden Gate Bridge.  On a daily basis, the bridge accomodates over 190,000 vehicles.

The view of the Battery, or the south end of the Island, Manhattan Island, that is.  If you use your imagination, you can see where the WTC used to be.  It is really something to see.  You can sense the density of the buildings and the millions of people who live and work here.  For my friends in Santa Barbara and Ventura, you have to understand that Manhattan Island is about the same size as either Santa Cruz Island and Catalina Island.  Manhattan is the oldest and most densly populated of the 5 bourroughs.  The Hudson River runs up the west side, and the East River runs up the east side.  The island has a population density of nearly 71,000 people per square mile! 



You can see the Hudson River on the left, the East River on the right.  The small island on the right side of Manhattan, between it and the area known as Brooklyn, is Roosevelt Island.  On the top is the Bronx River.  You can se the split above Roosevelt Island.  That is called Hell's Gate.  You take the right side of the split to enter Long Island Sound.

Entering New York Harbor is not for the feint of heart.  You can very easily get run over by one of these - The Statten Island Ferry.  Note that these vessels have two front ends.  The skipper never has to turn the vessel around when he or she leaves the terminal.  He docks it from one end, then walks to the other end and takes position in the identical wheel house on the other end of the vessel.  These are bigger than they appear in the picture and move very fast.

Clearly, one of the highlights of this cruise was seeing the Statue of Liberty from our own boat.  From the Verrazano Bridge, you can hardly see her.  She is just a small green thing sticking up in the distance.  However, as you get closer, you can see her in fully glory.  She is so much more beautiful than ever before ( I have seen her at least 10 times, but never from this perspective).  It's really something to spend as many months as we have studying the history of this country in terms of early settlement, colonization, and war.  However, to me, this great lady is a symbol of peace, and represents the best parts of this country and its storied heritage; the part of us that believes it is necessary to stand up for those who cannot defend themselves; to preserve and protect liberty and human rights wherever they are threatened; and to give shelter to the poor and those wishing to enjoy the benefits of the way of life so many of us have grown accustomed to and now take for granted.

This is Ellis Island.  At one time, this was THE clearing house for all people coming to America from so many other nations.

And now, we are entering the East River.  The cruising guides suggest that you should reach the mouth of the East River at or near the end of low tide.  In other words, it is suggested that you run the East River on a rising tide.  Boy, if only it were that simple.  I think it is actually best to wait even longer and commence your run up the East River after slack turns to flood above the Battery.  Otherwise, you will have no choice but to dig in and start slugging it up river against the current.  Couple that with the traffic involving ferry boats, barges, tankers, freighters, etc., all in this fairly narrow body of water, and what you have is a very difficult passage. 

Ahhhhh yes, the Brooklyn Bridge.  She is much prettier up close and personal.

Another one of the many bridges on the East River.

 The following several pictures are of the beautiful buildings of Manhattan visible from the East River.

The Empire State Building looks absolutely huge!

This is the final bridge before entering Hells Gate.  By this time, the tide had shifted and we were sizzling along at close to 10 knots as we were heading towards the mouth of Long Island Sound.

Rikers Island.  You do NOT want to go here.

Our anchorage in Manhasset Bay at the end of a long day.

Cruising from New Jersy to Long Island Sound presented a number of challenges including entry and exit from New York Harbor, a transit from the Battery to the mouth of Long Island Sound via the East River, and then the Sound itself.  It was fascinating, challenging, and scenic to all levels and extremes.  It was a goal, and we accomplished it.  In the next blog, I will relate some of the experiences we have had in New England while traveling to and visiting with my east coast family.