NYC during Pride Week

Liberty Landing             Liberty State Park, Jersey City, NJ                June 26-29, 2016

The best & worst part of the Great Loop is you never know what to expect! Today we are waiting to leave because our fellow looper, (who we are traveling with to NYC)... Lone Star is still sitting on the inlet bottom waiting for the tide to rise enough that we can leave… 

Last night we had them, another couple from TX, Wayne and Lynn, & EJ & Charley from St. Simon’s Island, GA. onboard. We were enjoying our docktails and everyone’s appetizers when EJ offered to grill some hotdogs for everyone instead of waiting forever to get a table somewhere…We all agreed, so we enjoyed hotdogs, sauerkraut and a variety of other goodies for dinner. It was perfect! All of us were leaving in the morning…some were going on to Half Moon Bay, so we will catch up with them there over July 4th.

We got underway without too much difficulty, but then our port engine was being contrary. When we got it running, it has this high pitched alarm sound ongoing…Awful! So happy, I can’t hear so well or I would be howling along with the noise! The only way to get it to stop is to shutdown the engine and run on one which we don’t want to do!. According to our gauges, All systems are running normally. As usual, it’s seems to be always on a Sunday when we run into boat issues??? Mom's been searching online boat diesel forums to see if anyone has a clue…

Thankfully, it’s a much calmer day on the ocean, as we run off the NJ coast heading north to NYC. Our biggest navigational issue is trying to get through all these fishing boats, BIG and small who pay NO ATTENTION TO WHERE THEY ARE GOING AND TURN RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU! It’s like playing demolition derby in a boat! Not fun! 

Since Mom and I were sitting on the salon floor coming into Brielle, NJ. We had no idea how much beach area they had along NJ! …Pretty incredible! Thanks to Sandy and numerous other storms, they have to keep dredging the sandy bottom and pumping that sand back onto the beaches to keep them there! After Tony (a USS John King shipmate) and Joan arrived and we had a Moondance tour, Tony drove us down one of the beach roads & told us it was piled up with over 8’ of sand after Sandy! Some of the houses are still being jacked up by these special jacks and rebuilt about 10’ or so off the ground…others are still lying there in ruin. It really reminds you how Mother Nature still rules!

We couldn’t believe how quickly we could see the NYC skyline…So amazing to watch it get bigger and bigger and closer and closer. Mom and I went out on the bow and took photos & to escape the God Awful Alarm Shrieking.UGH! 

Again, getting close to the Statue of Liberty was a trick in itself…between the barges, ferries and a sailboat race…It was truly a feat! 

Getting a photo of your boat in front of the Statue of Liberty is part of the Loop Adventure…so I took photos Lone Star, Kevin & Steve’s boat. Then, Kevin took photos of us…YEAH, we made it! Steve led us into Liberty Landing like a pro! What views!!! It’s expensive but worth it from the location & views!!! We got in with enough time to clean the boat inside & out…before Tarynn, Brian and Addison arrived for dinner. They brought dad’s gifts for Father’s day and his upcoming birthday! We also had shower photos from Katie and Mike which were great to see! Had a wonderful time with them as we ate on the flybridge, enjoyed the weather & views and caught up!!! Addy kept us all entertained!!! She would get especially tickled when mom fed me dinner scraps off their plates! It was sad to see them go, but Addy was wearing down…She really charmed dad when she indicated she want him to carry her to their car! I'm praying Mike and Katie get one this easy going!!!

Had a gorgeous sunset over NJ as M & D enjoyed another drink up on the flybridge.  They talked to Katie & Mike and Bek & Milena. Had to make sure that Milena got her birthday gift & Mike and Katie had a wonderful baby moon in Palm Springs!!! Dad was able to snap a photo of the World Trade Center lit up for Pride Week...so beautiful!!!

Kevin came over first thing this morning to help edit her & mom’s photos and Airdrop them to each other… They got all choked up all over again when they saw their pics!!! She and Steve took off sightseeing while M & D straightened up the boat and waited for Pam & Hersh to arrive. 

Dad & Mom are stuck here today waiting for a repairman to show…Pam & Hersh arrived & got settled in before lunch. After lunch onboard and a quick trip to buy stuff at the little marina store and tickets for Ellis Island/the Statue of Liberty…everyone, but mom joined me for a nap. They plan to leave me and use the small ferry to go into Jersey City for dinner tonight…Boo!

Once again the photos added in random order...Moondance 

Love how they train the little ones

Wayne and Charley

Kevin & Steve

Kevin, Steve, Lynn and EJ

What a shock we are drinking!

Hotdog time!

Didn't know we could feed 8 people on our flybridge?

Couldn't believe how many times this RR bridge went up and down!

This couple reminded us of Ronnie and Bob B when they use to hang out at Put-in- Bay

Joani and Tony, a USS John King shipmate and a retired NYC fireman & B & B owner

Here's one of the trains that kept coming in from NYC to the beaches

I keep spotting Mimi signs everywhere...feel like mom is with us

Love going to these little hole in the walls that have been around forever

Look at the charm!

Picnic tables...keeping it simple

And we thought Cape May's B & B's were bright!

Tony's former B & B

The beaches where they haven't even replaced some of the lost houses

One of the fishing boats...nuts!...I'd be afraid I'd end up with a hook somewhere I don't want it!

The panorama of the NYC skyline coming in...

WE MADE IT!!!

These barges are so intimidating!!!

Lone Star leading the way...

She is so gorgeous and so impressive!

The sight of her really did give me chills once again!

Kevin Photographing Us

Sailboat Race

Eillis Island

Across from Ellis, this gorgeous old NJ Train Station

New Building going up by Colgate Shipping in Jersey City?

Our view down our Canal

Tarynn and Addison

Having Docktails  & drinks first!

Getting to know one another

Love how outgoing she is!!!

Tarynn & Brian Zenk, Addy's folks

Addy was so very good!!!

Sunset over NJ

One World Trade Center