bkfrogma:
8:45 AM at Valentino Pier in Red Hook, Brooklyn - prepping for a 9 am launch for our big Manhattan circumnavigation - my first since I moved my boats to Canarsie in 2006! Woohoo!
bkfrogma:
Hoshi the dog, Laurie B's husband John T (in jeans) and their daughter Allie came to see us off.
bkfrogma:
TQ and Phil G preparing to launch. Valentino is home to the Red Hook Boaters, that's one of them already in, here independently of us.
bkfrogma:
And we're off! North up the Buttermilk Channel, between Governor's Island and Brooklyn. Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges in the distance, towers of downtown Manhattan past Gov's I.
bkfrogma:
TQ approaching the Mary A. Whalen, the retired tanker that is the home base of PortSide NewYork. Hey, I think I see Carolina, founder of PortSide, up on deck!
bkfrogma:
Yep, she was having her morning coffee on deck. Our crew had left the gate at a pretty good clip & I didn't have time to chat but I did hail her & she came running out to the end of the pier to see what we were up to and wish us safe travels.
bkfrogma:
Derek M. and Pete P. passing lower Manhattan. South Street Seaport across the way, you can see the Peking and the Wavertree behind Derek (in front in the all-red boat).
bkfrogma:
Approaching the Brooklyn Bridge - that's Ellie S. in the yellow boat giving me a nice smile.
bkfrogma:
Eric K. and TQ passing beneath the Manhattan Bridge. We've got a nice current, TQ couldn't resist zipping through the eddy around the base!
bkfrogma:
The Domino Sugar Refinery on the waterfront in Williamsburg. Interesting old landmark, parts date back to the late 1800's, they stopped making sugar there in 2004 and of course the plan is to turn it into luxury condos.
bkfrogma:
Domino Sugar Factory and Manhattan Bridge. Whooshing north even while I'm taking pictures, good strong current here.
bkfrogma:
Heading north - 23rd St. marina & seaplane port at the left margin (fortunately no seaplanes to dodge on weekends) . Notable buildings - Empire State, Chrysler, and the United Nations (green glass slab behind the cluster of 3 kayaks in front).
bkfrogma:
Closer view of the 59th St. Bridge. Roosevelt Island in the background. Current's especially strong in here because Roosevelt squeezes the river down into two narrow channels.
bkfrogma:
Approaching our first break at the Socrates Sculpture Garden at Hallett's Cove, just before Hell Gate. This was neat, it was here back when I was guiding Manhattan circumnavigations on a regular basis but we never stopped here - not sure why!
bkfrogma:
"Scarecrow", a work by Žilvinas Kempinas at the sculpture park. Silver poles & mylar ribbons, like a space-age pavilion.
bkfrogma:
Inside the Queen Mother - a shelter. They've blocked off the space inside her head but I think the artist may have meant for you to go up there and sit in that chair.
