July 8 – Port Washington, NY

Port Washington Mooring Field

The Constitution only guarantees the American people the right to purse happiness. You have to catch it yourself. —Benjamin Franklin 

The sun comes up early over here...very early. I woke up to the sun streaming in the hatch and thought I'd slept in…only to find out it was 5:45. Oh but what a beautiful morning it was. Since we were up early we got moving so we could catch the tide going through the East River.

We decided to skip NYC this time, although we love spending time here. The forecast calls for rain the next few days and we don't want to get stuck at an expensive marina unable to enjoy the sights. We'll make plans to visit on our way south in the fall. 

New York Harbor can be a VERY busy place, but this morning we only had a few water taxis and ferries to deal with...much calmer this morning than other trips through the harbor. Seeing New York from the water is amazing, especially on such a beautiful morning. No matter how many times we’ve cruised by the Statue of Liberty or lower Manhattan, the excitement is still there. It’s just a spectacular sight to see. I'll let the pictures tell the rest of the story.

Good morning New York City

Miss Liberty

Lower Manhattan 

The Empire State Building 

The Chrysler Building 

The Old Seaport 

The Brooklyn Bridge 

Looking back at Manhattan from the East River (The Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges)

We spotted this "cottages" the first time we passed through here...still one of my favorite sights

East side of Manhattan

Looking back at Hell Gate and NYC (Robert F. Kennedy and a railroad bridge)

The water in the East River, especially around Hell Gate can get a little wild. The current can give you a 3-4 knot push.

These waves are from the current rushing up the river...we definitely want to go with the current not against it in our slow boat.