It’s been difficult to get back into the swing of things and get caught up. We made ourselves today! It started out smooth and kicked up in the afternoon so we did a one night stay in Mannasquan.
our stop over 
86 miles is a long day for us
We had dinner with Melody in Sea, Dan and Jenny Lynn. His brother joined us so after dinner we took off and they went to the grocery. The next morning we left early for Staten Island where we would waste some time as we were waiting for Joe’s brother, Bill and Mary Jo to come visit.
Lots of this parks along the way. 
Our home for a week 
New York City in the distance
When we were pulling into the bay a whale popped up around our boat. It was pretty cool! We stayed at Great Kills Yacht Club where John is the Harbor Host and Dock Master. What a great guy. He and his wife had done the great Loop prior to her having a stroke. We’d go up to their bar in the afternoon around 4 and get $4 mixed drinks. What a bargain. Jim’s cousin was there almost every afternoon and a member, Johnny Shorts. This place was a throwback.
Entrance to Club house 
After the storm surge 
Prior to storm surge
We walked to dinner in the evening up the street to Cole’s Dock Side. One night with Rev and Sam from Here’s to Us and the next the same restaurants with Denise and Mark from Island Office. I took a taxi cab ride to Frank and Sal’s a few miles up the road. What a nice Italian grocery! We went into the city twice.
Before we left on Kitumba we went to Frank and Sal’s for some hero sandwiches. That grocery is a nice little secret!
Once on Kitumba we had fun taking pics with Dona Pacem and Spirit in front of Lady Liberty.
We helped Kitumba Dock then we headed for Ellis Island and Lady Liberty. A long and moving day then back to Staten Island Island Ferry. The next day we went back to the city and went to the 911 Memorial and Eataly. Back to Great Kills via the ferry. This time instead of walking 2 miles back to the marina, we got n Uber. Thank goodness! We got 15,000 steps each day.
Ellis Island was our first stop this morning. Turns out my great great Simon & Anna Huber and their 8 children migrated from Baden Germany in 1827 via New Orleans. Close to 100 years before Ellis Island Island opened.
First step in getting to the city 
Our Ferry ride
Our last night at Great Kills we went to John’s favorite restaurant. I think it was Cafe Luna. Endorphins Voyager and Avalon joined us. The owner bought us all an after dinner drink. Most of us had port wine. We had a yummy meal!
We left with Endorphin Voyager the next morning and took our turn to take pics in front of Lady Liberty. We took theirs and they took ours.
Traveling on the Hudson River was just beautiful. We cruised on the spot where Sully landed.
Birds catching a ride down river
We went to Half Moon Bay, bad choice.
It rocked and rolled for 2 days. We rented a car and ended up taking a late night ice cream drive with Kitumba and Dona Pacem. It took us awhile to get there and got there just before the Baskin Robbins closed. We had a big docktails the first evening and met more new loopers like Green Eyes. 😉 We took the car and drove to the Falls and park where a few days later a mountain lion was sighted.
New Baltimore and Kingston City Marina was the next place with Brian and Michelle. We had iced tea from the restaurant at the marina, I bought a cute polka dot top then we decided to take a dingy ride up to the “falls” with Kitumba. What a fun ride!
Brian & Michelle 
Docked along the way 
Not much of a waterfall
Captain Crusty Terry/Dorothy on Magic, Nomadic Spirit and Jonathan and Rosea on Salty…Melody in Sea anchored out. We had dinner at the Italian joint. Island Office, joined us for dinner. We only stayed one night….
We were ready to go to Shady Harbor. We arrived and were not on Sin Dock. 🙂 we were docked with Curti-Sea, United 771, Big, TXAU and a few others. There was going to be a Pig Roast here which is why there were so many loopers. On Friday we rented a car and drove to Roosevelt and Vanderbilt Homes but before that we went to the Culinary Institute of America for lunch. Kitumba had rented a car and joined us.
Then we toured the homes of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt…
Then we went to the Vanderbilt Home.
The six of us had a great time! Lots of memories. Joe’s brother, Bill and his wife Mary Jo were joining us the next day. Just in time for the pig roast.