Sailing down America’s famous Hudson River from Poughkeepsie in a private yacht, whilst passing iconic sites gracing ancient shores, until pulling in to dazzling New York, is just incredible!
Promises of a pleasant and quiet cruise down the Hudson River, is enough to draw any hardened backpacker away, from spending months enduring arduous treks and perpetual bus trips in South America.
With an invitation to join intrepid friends that are currently circumnavigating the world on their yacht – to sail down the Hudson River – who would be crazy enough to pass up this fabulous opportunity?
The voyage: Poughkeepsie to New York
After flying from Lima, Peru and spending a couple of nights in Brooklyn, today we meet friends at the Poughkeepsie train station. And, off to the boat to settle in for a week of relaxation and wonderful catching up.
Friends have been sailing down from Lake Champlain through the many locks, until reaching Poughkeepsie.
With the mast only raised recently and the sails not re-installed yet, we won’t be doing any sailing.
Motoring is fine by me for a river way, as we won’t need to tack our way down.
The Hudson River
At this point, I’d like to offer a little background on the Hudson River, which flows for over 500 kilometres north to south in the US, before finally emptying out through New York’s harbour into the Atlantic Ocean.
Named back in 1609 by the English sailor Henry Hudson, the Italian explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano previously sailed down this river in 1524 and is the first European to navigate the river.
With this history in mind, we motor down the Hudson dodging sporadic debris, left over from hurricane Irene’s destructive visit last month.
Stunning mansions perched close to the riverbank on expansive grounds with private jetties, are a commonplace sight along the Hudson.
West Point
Having heard so much about prestigious West Point over the years, especially in the news, today we’re finally passing this grand US military academy.
With its fortifications designed back in 1778 by one of Saratoga’s heroes: Thaddeus Kosciuszko, this commanding complex resembles a massive impenetrable fortress.
As a college for the military elite, this institution’s alumni included George Patton, Douglas MacArthur, Dwight Eisenhower, and Edgar Allan Poe passing through its doors.
Bear Mountain State Park
Cruising down the west side of the Hudson, we anchor up near Bear Mountain Bridge for the night, but also to stretch our legs and do a little hike in the Bear Mountain State Park.
Stretching across 5,205-square-acres of natural bush land and only just over 80 kilometres from New York city, this peaceful park seems strangely devoid of visitors today.
I’m sure during different seasons the park sees more people as there are around 50 official trails, hiking, cross-country running, swimming, picnicking, skiing, ski jumping, Perkins Memorial Tower, a merry-go-round, the Bear Mountain Inn, Trailside Museum and Zoo, and a skating rink, amongst some of the activities offered at this park – something for everyone.
No, we didn’t see any grizzly brown bears today.
Sing Sing Correctional Facilities
Gracing the eastern side of Hudson’s bank, we slide along the ominous Sing Sing prison, which spans 130 acres. A nearby marble quarry provided prisoners with the required marble they excavated for the cellblocks in 1825, and finally moving into cells in 1828.
Sing Sing was made infamous through its electric chair executions of high profile criminals, such as Mafia’s crime boss: Louis “Lepke” Buchalter.
Nyack
Stopping again for the evening but this time in Nyack, decide to venture out for some Thai food. Following a mediocre meal – spoilt for Asian food living in Australia and so close to SE Asia – stroll back to the boat.
The night is deathly still and icy.
Anchoring just across from the eerie village of Sleepy Hollow, made famous in Washington Irving’s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow classic novel, this village is now considered “one of the most haunted places on earth”. But, also due to its folklore roots and infamous early American history.
Hoping that the headless horseman isn’t about this evening…
Manhattan Island
Today is another short motoring day with our final destination: New York. Shame it’s such a grey day, but it’s still great for black and white photography.
Slipping past the New Jersey borough Fort Lee, sees us also passing Manhattan Island’s skyline – dramatic even during the day.
Strange to know that here we are cruising along without a care in the world, whilst millions of commuters are on the island going about their busy daily lives and work.
From the river, it’s almost like watching frames of a distant mini-movie gliding along…until we’re confronted with the majestic Lady!
More on Manhattan frivolity in a separate post.
Statue of Liberty
Although I’ve seen The Liberty Lady previously, there’s nothing like drifting slowly through New York’s Upper Bay waters, whilst passing one of America’s most iconic sites.
This imposing and colossal 93-metre-high statue is always an incredible sight, and never grows old – a testament to time, since its inception in the late 1800s.
The history that envelopes the monument and Ellis Island, includes welcoming over 12 million migrants during a 60-year period from 1892 until 1954.
The only problem with being on a boat whilst passing the statue or other sites is that photos are not always the best, but I persist anyway.
Coney Island Creek
As the hunger pangs increase, we decide to take a little break for lunch, so continue to nudge the boat slowly into Coney Island Creek. And nudge we did, until touching mud.
Turning quickly around and anchoring out a little further, we stop.
Surveying our surrounds during lunch leaves an uneasy felling of maybe not choosing the correct spot to anchor. Close to shore, there seems to be too many undesirables too keen to cast an uncomfortable eye over the boat.
Everyone decides not to venture on shore to stretch our legs and explore whilst leaving the boat unattended, but to continue to the marina after lunch.
I guess the large Australian flag waving proudly in the gentle breeze in the boat’s cockpit doesn’t help.
Staten Island
With an easy cruise to the Nichols Great Kills Marina, there’s still time to absorb more of New York Harbour.
The helpful marina guy greets us in his dinghy. Picking up an available mooring, we settle in for a couple of days.
Sometimes, I need to pinch myself to make sure I’m not dreaming this trip and the past wonderful week!
After non-existent wi-fi these past days, the only signal is outside the marina’s office, so here we sit in the freezing cold, catching up on emails and news.
Off to New Jersey
The rough plan is after a wonderful week on the boat enjoying the Hudson River and playing around Staten Island, it’s time to move off the boat and stay in New Jersey for a couple of days. Other guests are booked to arrive on the boat for the long weekend, so not enough room for everyone.
Newport Yacht Club & Marina
Returning on the boat after getting our land legs back for just a couple of days, here we sit at Newport Marina with a breathtaking opposing view of Manhattan Island.
Although the marina is expensive, facilities are great and it’s an excellent location if you want to explore Manhattan.
Where to next?
After the incredible boat trip and exploring Manhattan, it’s time to go on yet another little side-trip. This time it’s to beautiful Boston for some culture and to also watch the NFL game at the Gillette Stadium, between the Patriots and Dallas Cowboys.
Visit Nilla’s Photography for more images. More posts on USA at Image Earth Travel.
Oh so pretty photos, Nilla. I haven’t been to New York but it’s on my bucket list. So one day. I’ll refer to this blog when I will be in the planning process. By the way, when you had this amazing adventure, is this during summer? Lastly, it is nice to know you like Asian food. Xx
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Hi Lyn, many thanks for leaving me your thoughts.
The sailing started in last few couple of September and into October, as the US side-trip lasted a month before returning to Peru.
You may also enjoy my other posts on USA of the same time. 🙂 x
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Hello, I read your blogs regularly. Your story-telling style is awesome, keep doing what you’re doing!
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Thank you for the feedback and happy that you enjoy my travel posts.
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great post …..beautiful photo’s
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Thank you and glad you enjoyed this post. 🙂
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I love this! i enjoy this Hudson Valley a lot! I’m glad you got to enjoy so much of it!
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Thanks Aixa – this was a wonderful trip and I’m so lucky to have been able to experience the Hudson in this way.
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goodness you covered a lot – the boat alone was gorgeous! did you know there’s a statue of liberty in Paris?
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We did indeed but what great fun.
Yes I did but I didn’t get to see the statue when I was in Paris back in 1985 – need to visit again. Is it as tall or grand as the one in New York?
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I haven’t seen it — only in a movie I loved called ‘Lost in Paris’ – there it looks same size-ish, but it’s low to the ground
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Ah right, I’ve heard of ‘Lost in Paris’ but haven’t seen it yet – think it’s an old movie.
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only a few years old, I think – there might be more than one movie with same name
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Ah right, thanks for letting me know.
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Nice trip/pics. I need to find some friends like you have…
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Ha, ha, thanks Dave.
Well we’ve been good friends since the early ’90s as I also lived on a boat for 21 years. The boating community is very different than the ‘land’ community. 😉
I was invited to Madagascar and South Africa late last year, but as the renewal of my Italian visa took 7 months and couldn’t leave Italy, I missed the boat (no pun intended) and they’re now sailing to Brazil.
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Your pics are fab Nilla 🙂 xx
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Thank you Gill – you would have enjoyed this trip. Hope all is well with you… 🙂 x
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How delightful to just drift along. I always put my camera on sports mode if I’m trying to take photos from a moving vehicle. Perhaps that would also work on a boat.
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At the pace we were going, it was definitely delightful. Great idea but I always forget to do this! 😉
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Such an incredibly journey. I would say it’s a shame you didn’t see any grizzlies in the Bear State National Park but that’s probably a good thing. You have such amazing photos. I love the skyline of buildings at night, that’s stunningly beautiful.x
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It was an incredible journey and I’m fortunate to have such an opportunity with great friends.
Many thanks for your kind feedback about my work. 🙂 x
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Such a wonderful trip you have had Nilla. Certainly the views from the boat offer a different perspective, and your photos are great, as always😊
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Thank you Christie – it was wonderful. It’s not easy taking photos whilst on a boat as you know, but I managed to get a few. 😉
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Fantastic! and such great pictures!
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Thank you and glad you enjoyed this post. Many thanks for your feedback and support, as always. 🙂
Have a great week, Nilla
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And you Nila!
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Wow, how fun was that? That looks like a really memorable time! So glad you got to do it!
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Thanks Valerie and it was loads of fun – would love to do it all over again, especially catching up with friends.
I was invited to Madagascar last year with these same friends. As my visa for Italy took 7 months to arrive (just received it last Friday) and so, I couldn’t technically leave Italy, I missed the opportunity. They’re now in South Africa ready to head for Brazil.
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That’s a great cruise – I’ve driven along that stretch of the river, visiting history sites and colleges, but fantastic to see it from the water. The Hudson Valley is really packed with interest.
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It was and amazing cruise Robert and always a very different perspective from the water. I’d like to do this again one day, but the boat is in South Africa right now getting ready to cross the South Atlantic Ocean to Brazil. 🙂
Many thanks for your comment Robert.
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Wow. Beautiful skyline of Manhattan! Being on a boat hasn’t made your photos any less impressive 😊 lots of history
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Thank you but Manhattan holds an impressive and beautiful skyline as you guys know.
Great feedback – much appreciated!
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