We really got started on this trip several months ago as I began to assimilate all the information about the Canals, St. Lawrence River, Thousand Islands and Lake Champlain but it wasn’t until the week of June 13th the reality of our venture hit. Bill's work wasn’t completed and ‘Interim’ wasn’t available to me until Monday the 14th. I took inventory of the food stores that were left over from our Bahama trip and made a little dent in stowing stuff. Fortunately Bill was considerate and didn’t force me to agree to his internal date of departure.
Therefore, we finally left Mamaroneck Harbor on Friday, June 18. Our first stop was Port Washington where Anne came on board for the first 2 legs of the trip. We had a good night sleep with the alarm going off at 4:45 am Saturday morning to take advantage of the fair tides going through Hell Gate in the East River and up the Hudson. Anne and I decided to take photos of all the bridges on this trip. I didn’t think much of it but photo after photo after photo of bridges became somewhat of an obsession and I continued even after she left us.
The trip up the Hudson was benign and quite lovely with changing scenery on both shores. Summer homes, West Point, fishing camps to farms and industry carried us all the way to our first anchorage - Croton on the Hudson. This part of the trip took 10 hours. We stopped there to have dinner on Al and Gloria Shapiro’s catamaran (a couple we met in the Bahamas). It was a lovely evening sharing stories. On shore was a concert in support of the continuing efforts to improve the Hudson . Both the 'Clearwater' and 'Mystic Whaler' were present.
The next morning the alarm once again rang at 4:45 for our run to Kingston, New York where we were going to have our masts removed. The weather has been fine but this morning was quite hazy. We kept hearing forecastgs for occasional T-Storms on the radio but hope they are wrong.
One of the bridges in Kingston harbor we needed to go under was 56’ above the water line. . Our mast with aerials and antennae, according to Bill, will just barely make it. . We held our collective breath as we motored through and Bill thinks we made it by inches. When we arrived at the Certified Marina the staff was ready to greet us. This is a family owned business and we met many of the family the first day - from Grandfather down to the newest member, baby Kastin. Today was also the first day that Bill turned on the AC. We truly needed it - hot, hot and humid.
After lunch on Sunday Bill and Anne started preparations for the masts to be removed on Monday. We took a break for lunch with friends Deb and Dan (again friends from the Bahamas) who live in Kingston. We went to a wonderful restaurant (Dan had a 10 oz burger!!!), and ate outdoors near the riverside park (the staff at the marina was working on the boat so we brought Simon along for lunch). Dan and Deb knew this area well and offered lots of suggestions for our trip. They even gave me a lift to the market for a few groceries. I was beginning to feel more comfortable about this new adventure but still had butterflies in my stomach.
Back at the marina we were getting to know the players well. Sharon and Bill were brother and sister. Bill worked the crane and Sharon handled all the business. But the two who were most crucial for us were Nick and Dustin. Both are quite young but have amazing skills working in and around boats. First, the mizzen mast was prepped. All the stays and shrouds were removed and the crane was hooked up. It was a very, very hot day but Dustin went up to the top of the mast to hook up the crane and although it was somewhat top heavy (the radar was still on) they successfully raised it up and lowered it to the ground. Next they tried to lift the Main Mast up. They tried a variety of different procedures but the darned thing wouldn’t let go. It moved a little from side to side but not at all up. It was getting late so they called it a day.
Bill and Anne continued to work on installing a small mast for a horn and a light and a place to run up our flags. However, Anne and I did get to swim and I tried to clean the bottom of the Whaler. Again the AC ran most of the day.
Tuesday - slept well last night even though we were under a railroad bridge with freight trains going through. Some of the trains had what seemed like 50 or more cars but the sound did not interfere with our rest. It was another scorching hot day. The staff started working on the mast in the morning but they still couldn’t budge it. Dustin and Nick (both in their late 20’s) were incredible. They never lost their patience and were willing to discuss all possibilities. Of course, they were frustrated (especially Dustin who was convinced he could get this done - even consulting with his grandfather and another marina operator from a neighboring marina) but it was a never give up situation.
We all were part of a team and we even discussed stopping if it wasn’t going to work. At this time Bill, Anne and I decided to take a dinghy ride up the creek to alleviate some of the stress. The staff encouraged us to do so. The ride was lovely and ended up at a dam that was part of the first canal built in the area to bring blue stone from Philadelphia (the stone used to build New York City streets). As we headed back we strained to look to see if the mast was still up. Bill (one of the few times he ever exhibited pessimism) said it was but Anne and I disagreed. We were right and the mast was on shore. Deb and Dan had been by while we were up the creek!!! and left a bottle of champagne. We celebrated with the staff who were so very kind and so very hard working. We look forward to seeing them all when we return to put the masts back in the boat.
In the meantime, a rigger is going to check on all the parts and pieces. It seems the corrosion made by having the boat in salt water for 36 years welded the mast to the step. The yard will get the work done before we return. Surprise: we had Chinese Food delivered to the boat for dinner. A very happy Bill.
Wednesday - Anne is returning home to Port Washington (after a traditional chocolate chip and blueberry pancake breakfast). We can’t thank her enough for her help, humor, knowledge, and steadfast disposition. I was having a great deal of difficulty in the heat and I don’t know how this would have gotten done without her. We look forward to having her back in August. Again, Dan and Deb kindly picked Anne up and deposited her at the nearest Amtrak Station for her trip home. We also feel so grateful to have their support as well.
We said our goodbyes, dropped the docking lines and headed north.
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