INDEPENDENCE CHRONICLES

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New York, NY

New York never fails to impress. The most amazing city has the most amazing harbor. You enter and this city bowls you over with her beautiful Lady Liberty and the most breathtaking of skylines. Especially when you arrive on a boat that you have been on for over a month dreaming of this day…I can’t even imagine what our relatives must have felt entering this harbor so long ago and from so far away. I will say that this day was one of the most special I have ever had. The weather was perfect, our passage north was easy, our company the sweetest and the historical past was not lost on me. We enjoyed our slow passage up to Liberty Island and the Manhattan skyline. We took a million pictures and video. We ate lunch in front of the Manhattan waterfront and toured the Hudson River. After we had our fill of sightseeing, we turned up the East River and continued our journey to Kings Point. Our friend and fellow crew mate Owen Doherty graduated from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy a ways back and was kind enough to arrange a slip for us. We thank the men and women at Kings Point for their service to our country and for their unflagging hospitality. Great Neck is a perfect jumping point to play tourist in NYC. We spent the following day visiting ‘The Vessel’ at Hudson Yards followed by a walk on the High Line to the Hudson River and of course to the 911 Memorial and Central Park. If the trip stopped right here I would be content. I have a hard time believing that there is so much more to come. We depart New York on Monday and as the waters north of us recede, it looks like the next adventure awaits. The Erie canal is on the horizon and we are looking forward to the locks and beyond.

I still have a hard time believing this happened…what a day! Photo credit Maggie Doherty

The crew approaching the Manhattan skyline and waterfront

I love this view…this city can’t be any prettier.

A lunch to remember

East River views of Roosevelt Island, the Chrysler building and the Empire State building

The Queensboro Bridge

Robert F. Kennedy Bridge and Hell Gate Bridge

Kings Point Chapel, grounds and view of the East River

Kings Point Wiley Hall

The James Harvey Tomb, the bell at Powell Oval and Flag Pole from the 1939 World’s Fair

The James Harvey Tomb

Thank you Owen for your service. Proud alumnus of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy

The Vessel at Hudson Yards

Feeling very ‘M.C. Escher’

The Vessel as seen from the High Line

A little info on the High Line and its origins

The strange ‘birds’ of the High Line

Art of the High Line

Restroom etiquette of the High Line

A place to remember and never forget…

Central Park was so crowded but so beautiful.