We had a nice visit with Tom’s family in Ocean City,
Maryland. His mother lives 15 minutes
away from the marina and we spent all but two nights sleeping off the boat at
her home. All three of us luxuriated in
baths almost every night and really slept soundly in her beds. We played cards
or other games each night and it was like we had never left. She had a small list of things to do mostly
in her kitchen area that was being updated.
Most items were completed quickly and we were happy to help out. We also did some other little items and some
cleaning but brother Jeff has been doing most of this work for the past six
years.
Maryland. His mother lives 15 minutes
away from the marina and we spent all but two nights sleeping off the boat at
her home. All three of us luxuriated in
baths almost every night and really slept soundly in her beds. We played cards
or other games each night and it was like we had never left. She had a small list of things to do mostly
in her kitchen area that was being updated.
Most items were completed quickly and we were happy to help out. We also did some other little items and some
cleaning but brother Jeff has been doing most of this work for the past six
years.
While we visited, a local mechanic sorted out problems with
a generator (new raw water and coolant pumps) and lugger transmission (reverse
plates missing and damaged seals from Africa repair). The work was more expensive than we have
grown used to but the work seemed to be done right and higher prices, I fear,
are going to be the norm from here on.
a generator (new raw water and coolant pumps) and lugger transmission (reverse
plates missing and damaged seals from Africa repair). The work was more expensive than we have
grown used to but the work seemed to be done right and higher prices, I fear,
are going to be the norm from here on.
As a bonus, Tom got to see his brother Mike working on the
kitchen and brother Jeff and sister-in-law Peggy and two of their 6 kids. Emily really enjoyed playing with Brian who
had latched on to her and never tired of playing games. We enjoyed being
paraded around to my mother’s bingo and AARP clubs and we even got interviewed
by Ocean City Today for an article about the circumnavigation.
kitchen and brother Jeff and sister-in-law Peggy and two of their 6 kids. Emily really enjoyed playing with Brian who
had latched on to her and never tired of playing games. We enjoyed being
paraded around to my mother’s bingo and AARP clubs and we even got interviewed
by Ocean City Today for an article about the circumnavigation.
After two weeks, we headed out to sea and after two quick
stops in Atlantic City and Sandy Hook, we found ourselves anchored just off
Liberty Park in New Jersey just across from New York City. We still cannot believe that there is a free,
protected anchorage near this city where most marinas charge about $200 per
night for dockage. The half-broken dingy dock that was here in 2008 is now gone
and we now have to dingy right under the Statue of Liberty torch and by Ellis
Island to leave the dingy at the expensive marina. From here we can take a $7 ferry right to the
World Trade center in Manhattan.
stops in Atlantic City and Sandy Hook, we found ourselves anchored just off
Liberty Park in New Jersey just across from New York City. We still cannot believe that there is a free,
protected anchorage near this city where most marinas charge about $200 per
night for dockage. The half-broken dingy dock that was here in 2008 is now gone
and we now have to dingy right under the Statue of Liberty torch and by Ellis
Island to leave the dingy at the expensive marina. From here we can take a $7 ferry right to the
World Trade center in Manhattan.
We stayed here for 5 nights exploring the city for two days.
On our first day, we saw the 911 memorial that was quite moving and the new
World Trade Center building (Freedom Tower) that was built while we were
traveling.
On our first day, we saw the 911 memorial that was quite moving and the new
World Trade Center building (Freedom Tower) that was built while we were
traveling.
We then took the subway
uptown to spend the day in the Museum of Natural History. We spent a full day
exploring the museum and barely scratched the surface. The pterosaur exhibit and the exhibit on
poisons were particularly well done.
One exhibit worked by standing on a special pad and flapping
your arms, you could control a live video of a flying and hunting
pterosaur. Emily understood that all the
information was being transmitted though her feet to the computer. The foot pads could detect arms flapping by
the fluctuating changes in foot pressure.
Pressure on the toes would cause the bird to dive for fish and pressure
on the heels would make him soar higher.
Left and right turns would be directed by the differences in pressure
caused by leaning…very well done.
your arms, you could control a live video of a flying and hunting
pterosaur. Emily understood that all the
information was being transmitted though her feet to the computer. The foot pads could detect arms flapping by
the fluctuating changes in foot pressure.
Pressure on the toes would cause the bird to dive for fish and pressure
on the heels would make him soar higher.
Left and right turns would be directed by the differences in pressure
caused by leaning…very well done.
Emily found it interesting that many of the poisons like the
tarantula, manchineel tree and
poison dart frogs had been seen (and handled) first hand! We also saw the Mysteries of the Unseen World in
their IMAX theatre.
tarantula, manchineel tree and
poison dart frogs had been seen (and handled) first hand! We also saw the Mysteries of the Unseen World in
their IMAX theatre.
Day two kept us closer to the boat and we spent the day
inside the Liberty Science Center which was about a 10 minute walk from our
anchorage. Although many of the exhibits
and interactive displays were geared toward kids younger than Emily, there was
still plenty to keep us amused all day.
A high cool factor was given to the 3D simulator that required remote
operation of two robotic arms to do delicate tasks like moving and transferring
small objects. Emily was much better at
this than Dad.
inside the Liberty Science Center which was about a 10 minute walk from our
anchorage. Although many of the exhibits
and interactive displays were geared toward kids younger than Emily, there was
still plenty to keep us amused all day.
A high cool factor was given to the 3D simulator that required remote
operation of two robotic arms to do delicate tasks like moving and transferring
small objects. Emily was much better at
this than Dad.
We also saw
two movies (Great White Shark and Island of Lemurs: Madagascar) in the nation’s largest IMAX dome theater. The domed screen is 88 feet in diameter and
seats 400 which is just a tad bigger than the 17” screen on Emily Grace.
After a quiet Sunday aboard doing homeschool and a few boat
repairs, we headed back to the city. Although the subway was crowded with morning rush hour
traffic, we did not experience 105 dB music, smell any stinkfruit (durian) or
see anyone carrying live goats or chickens.
repairs, we headed back to the city. Although the subway was crowded with morning rush hour
traffic, we did not experience 105 dB music, smell any stinkfruit (durian) or
see anyone carrying live goats or chickens.
The first stop was FAO Swartz (toy store) uptown near central park. Emily experienced culture shock with 3 floors
of toys. We next wandered around central
park seeing the Handsome cabs and did some people watching around the pond. We
found authentic Maine lobster rolls for lunch at Luke’s Lobster in the Plaza
food center.
of toys. We next wandered around central
park seeing the Handsome cabs and did some people watching around the pond. We
found authentic Maine lobster rolls for lunch at Luke’s Lobster in the Plaza
food center.
We strolled down 5th avenue enjoying the
elaborate window displays. St Patricks’
Cathedral was covered with scaffolding for renovations and Rockefeller center
was converted into a restaurant, so things were less impressive than we
remembered. Not discouraged though, we
rounded the corner a turned into a LEGO store.
Emily has not tired of LEGO and we even found a couple of bargains. She hand built 3 mini-figures and filled a
container with all the special pieces she could fit in a special cup.
elaborate window displays. St Patricks’
Cathedral was covered with scaffolding for renovations and Rockefeller center
was converted into a restaurant, so things were less impressive than we
remembered. Not discouraged though, we
rounded the corner a turned into a LEGO store.
Emily has not tired of LEGO and we even found a couple of bargains. She hand built 3 mini-figures and filled a
container with all the special pieces she could fit in a special cup.
We were back on the boat by late afternoon and slept good
again in the Liberty Park anchorage.
Tomorrow we will ride the 3-4 knot current up the East River through
Hell’s Gate and into Long Island sound.
Our plan is to slowly work our way back towards Groton and our old yacht
club in Pine Island by early July. Our
old car is still being revived after sitting for 6 years and we are uncertain
where we will find dockage while we unpack the boat. Any Readers with dockage in the area are
encouraged to let us know.
again in the Liberty Park anchorage.
Tomorrow we will ride the 3-4 knot current up the East River through
Hell’s Gate and into Long Island sound.
Our plan is to slowly work our way back towards Groton and our old yacht
club in Pine Island by early July. Our
old car is still being revived after sitting for 6 years and we are uncertain
where we will find dockage while we unpack the boat. Any Readers with dockage in the area are
encouraged to let us know.
Tom
