Down the Hudson - through NYC

Left Haverstraw Bay this morning, and cruised through NYC in the afternoon.
Susan was out on deck snapping photos of the new / revised skyline. 

New World trade Center Building

Empire State Building

Statue of Liberty

New World Trade Building

Short Time Left at Hop-O-Nose Marina

We're now about a day away from starting south on the next adventure, on Autumn Borne.
It's been a wild summer here; running out to the Hudson to anchor, and weather storms (Hurricane/TS Irene, and the remnants from Hurricane Lee); and then being pinned to the docks for two other creek events.

Most of our projects have been completed, or are in the final throws.  The 6 year old Gel-Cell batteries have been replaced with AGM units, doubling the battery capacity of the AB.  The SSB transmitter, which had a slight corrosion, and static hit on the IC transmitter section is being repaired, and the watermaker will now have a new membrane.  

A week ago we constructed a second jerry can rail along the port side of the vessel. (The starboard rail holds the scuba tanks, and diesel, and now the water can be separated and moved to the port side (where the water fill fitting is located). 

We're trying a new blog layout too...  So... this should be interesting.  :)  

Flash Flood Warnings for Greene County - AGAIN !

WELL... it's morning... it's been raining all night... and the TV just issued flash flood warnings for Greene County...(which by the way... is where we ARE located)... GREAT !!!!    ;(

BUT... that being said... the creek (Catskill) is higher than normal, but doing OK... Considering the sheer volumn of water.. The docks with their new connections seem to be holding... (fingers crossed as I type this statement... making typing very difficult).

We're still "pinned" to the dock... with partially flattened fenders... but we trying not to panic and escape to the Hudson (again !!!)..

I may go out, in a short bit, and put a line back to the main dock finger, from a starboard side winch, at a 45 degree angle, to ease the strain on our dock finger...
 

On some positive notes: The battery connection cables showed up yesterday by FED-EX, ... so I installed them last night during the prime-time TV hours. SO, today I could complete the chnage-over to the AGM batteries (800 Ah). BUT, I hate to disconnect the starting/house batteries of the boat... at this time... when we might have to extricate ourselves from this dock at a moments notice....

The other positive point that happened yesterday...concerned the water heater for AB. I delayed calling Defender until 10AM so I could check the availablity at our "local" west Marine... The chances that West Marine would have the exact model that we needed seemed pretty remote...BUT....They DID!!!! Exactly... and in-STOCK.... Wow.

So...we went to Latham, NY and got the Water Heater, AND they matched the Defender Price...   West Marine still "sucks" at stocking the correct plumbing fittings.... but...at least they had the BIG thing.... yeah!!

Time to look out and see how things are doing...   It's STILL raining... in fact the 24/7 weather channel is now showing a big "RED" area above Catskill, NY... That is NOT GOOD... by the way.

Rebuilding the HON Marina after IRENE

It's now about two weeks after the hurricane / tropical storm Irene.  We're back at a dock at Hop-O-Nose. 

Element full of muddy water!

Our Honda Element was totaled in the flooding associated with IRENE... We turned in the plates this week.  
In the week after the hurricane (aka TS), we assisted Sean, other boaters, and the marina workers in rebuilding the docks, and opening the restaurant.

Dean and Mike after decking dock section

We got fairly good at re-decking the new docks... We got it down to about 22 minutes per dock (Good Teamwork)

Chair cleaning detail

In five days the restaurant was up and running, with the help many of the boaters, and friends.

Dean and Tim with impromptu Tug Boat - moving docks

Docks being pulled for repair after storm

Dean and Joe Reh assembling new dock sections.

Sue Stanley in new home - Worcester MA

dean and Rodney in Worcester MA -

Hurricane IRENE - Anchored in Hudson River

We weathered hurricane IRENE while anchored in the Hudson River.  There won't be many photos of this event because it's tough to take pictures when the rain is horizontal,and the winds a buffeting the boat at gale force velocities.

We left Hop-O-Nose (HON) Marina before the hurricane approached.  We left on Saturday around noon.  The major winds started about 0330 on Sunday morning.  It's still blowing now on Sunday night, as we post this... 20 to 25 knot gusts... but no rain now.

Creek rising over 8 feet; now above dining patio. Soon
six feet higher than you see it here!

It's a good thing we left the marina, because it's basically gone now... and our cars are literally floating in the parking lot.    Here we set, at anchor, near Athens, NY, in the Hudson River,  hearing all this news about the devastation at Catskill Creek (with water 10 to 12 feet above normal... flooding the parking lot, the restaurant, the office... and washing away the docks that was our summer "home").  Surreal...

Waterline at roofline of our Honda Element - Totalled!

We'll have to leave the AB in the Hudson River... and dinghy into HON to see how we can replace the cars...and whether or not we'll ever be able to return there. 
Not good thoughts.... any of them...  BUT the important thing is we're safe, and insurance will hopefully cover all the losses of cars...etc.

Boats that were on Jack stands floating on dining patio.

Fuel tank floated out of saddles and tipped over... crane
putting it back in place.

Dean cleaning tables inside Creekside Restaurant -
Water was five feet deep inside restaurant.

Friends power boats leaning against new flagpole 
Props bent - Rudders OK.

Marina Swimming POOL filled with muddy water,
and debris... YUCK!

UnKnown boat stuck under dock - All dock fingers -GONE!

Large Tree debris - stuck on our anchor chain in Hudson River.

Group of three trees stuck on anchor chain.
hit during the night.  - moved us 800 feet down river.

about three feet in diameter - BIG TREE !!!!!

more later.

Food Shelving (Starboard) Finished

The food storage shelving for the starboard midship area is finished! Yeah!
See PHOTO.  
I'm working on the next project now...battery box (new); and aft berth storage areas.

Food Shelving finished and stored! 

Summer 2011 Vacation in WNY

Our vacation at Lake Erie in Western NY is over, and we're back at the AB.  We rented a house with a pool, and a fenced yard... (photo).  We had lots of company, and lots of time for music.  The Herd (friends from our youth, and college years) came at various times to play music and catch up "on the things we've tried to do".

Cottage on Lake Erie - 2011

Vickie and Mike (fellow cruisers)

The HERD getting a NEWS fix!

The guests seemed to come linearly.... in that we never had more guests than beds... Neat! We had grandkids, nieces, and nephews, and all sorts of guests.  Susan worked as 'teacher' for some (math, algebra, etc.)

grandkids watching TV

We had phenomenal weather while we were there, and lots of beach time.  The pool in the back yard was great for the kids, and to cool off the adults before bed-time as well...

Grandkids listening to music

cottage ladies

Ruth (our daughter) came with her dog, Savannah...and as per usual was on her way to somewhere (this time Toronto for an international rugby tournament).   :)

BUT.... there was time for RELAXATION