Welcome to America!!!!

The Statue of Liberty has become synonymous with the phrase "Welcome to America" due to her prominent location in the New York Harbor.  According to Google, Lady Liberty served as a symbol of hope and opportunity for millions of immigrants arriving between 1886 and 1924. 

We got to experience this for ourselves and see her grow larger and larger as we passed through New York Harbor towards the Hudson River early Saturday morning.  A once in a lifetime experience and certainly one of the highlights of America's Great Loop adventure!  Although it was a little on the chilly side, we uncovered the bridge and drove outside on the bridge for the first time in weeks to have the best views as we passed through the city.

Selfie with Lady Liberty in the background.
A highlight of America's Great Loop!

Fortunately the harbor was relatively calm.  Our Captain only had to take action to avert the high speed ferry's a couple times and did so well in advance so no safety concerns.  The ferry's, ocean freighters, tugs/tows all throw big wakes creating an uncomfortable rolling on the beam but all was manageable.  We passed more than one freighter bound for sea in the New York Harbor and countless tugs/tows as we proceeded up the Hudson River.

Manhattan Skyline

Freighter headed to the Atlantic Ocean

As we entered the Hudson River, there were a few interesting art pieces on the Jersey side, across from Manhattan.

Water's Soul

Sculpture depicts a woman with closed eyes holding a finger to her lips
 in a state of silent contemplation and self-reflection.

The Colgate Clock

4th largest clock in the world @ 50' in diameter
Built in 1924 to replace the original built in 1906
Original is now in Clarksville, IN

Another gem we got to see from the river was the Little Red Lighthouse at the base of the George Washington Bridge.  The Little Red Lighthouse, officially named Jeffrey's Hook Lighthouse was built in 1880 at Sandy Hook, New Jersey.  It was decommissioned in 1917 and relocated to its current location in 1921.

There is a children's book, the Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Gray Bridge, written in 1942 as a literary cry to save the lighthouse.  In 1979, the lighthouse became a spot on the national Registry of Historic Places.  It is the only standing lighthouse in Manhattan and has 48 cast iron spiral steps leading to the top.

The Little Red Lighthouse

As we moved up the Hudson River and NYC grew smaller behind us, the landscape changed from flat to mountainous.  We both agree the Hudson River has been some of the best cruising we have experienced in all of our Great Loop travels.  Pictures don't do the landscape and scenic views justice.

View of western shore of the Hudson River, north of NYC

View from the Hudson River
In the distance is the Bear Mountain Bridge
Built in 1924 and at the time, the world's largest suspension bridge.
Part of the Maine-to-Georgia Appalachian Trail

There is so much to see on this part of the trip.  On Sunday, we passed West Point as well as Bannerman Island which is home of the deteriorating medieval castle built between 1900 and 1918 by Frank Bannerman, a munitions dealer, as a summer home.

West Point Military Academy
circa 1802

Remnants of the deteriorating Bannerman's medieval castle.

Over the past couple days, we've traveled 75 nautical miles and are docked in Marlboro, NY.  About 30 yards from us, right next to the docks, is a well traveled train track.  At least once an hour a freight train goes by, including blowing the horn in advance of the next crossing.  They are long freight trains, stretching at least a mile.  On the opposite bank the high speed passenger commuter trains are constant.  The river itself, has a continual string of tugs/tows going up and down the Hudson  We have an exposed side tie on the edge of the Hudson at the Marlboro Yacht Club so each tug/tow and small recreational boat that goes by also brings the eventual wake on our beam so we are having a rocking/rolling stay.  

We are two days travel from Albany, NY.  Once we arrive, we will keep Make Me Smile there for a week.  We are right on track to arrive at the beginning of the Erie Canal for the 2025 season opening on May 16th at 7:00am.  This is the 200th anniversary of the Erie Canal.  More on that segment of the Loop to come in a future post.