Today was one of the hottest October 2s on record in this area. But since October 2 usually is cold, it turned out sort of comfortable up on the flybridge when we took off for our last stretch of the Down East Circle.
The Throgs Neck Bridge marked the entrance to the East River.
Two things. First, Throgs Neck just sounds cool. Throgs Neck. Second, the East River has no source, because it’s a tidal estuary and not a river at all. Although it acts like a river.
Among the sights along the river that’s not a river is Rikers Island, home of the notorious New York City prison.
Lots of famous folk served time or awaited trial here. Son of Sam. That crazy dude who shot John Lennon. Plaxico Burress. Lil Wayne, before he got the man crush on Lane Kiffin and then started polluting Neyland Stadium with that stupid third-down pump-up song that NEVER worked.
Just past Rikers is North Brother Island, where Typhoid Mary was quarantined before she was released and started infecting other people and then was quarantined again and died here.
Know why typhoid isn’t a thing in the U.S. any more? Vaccines.
Where the East River which isn’t a river meets the Harlem River which also isn’t a river, the two non-rivers collide at a point called Hell Gate. This is at least the third Hell or Hell’s Gate we’ve encountered. This one might’ve been the most aggressive, as we hit almost fourteen knots even at reduced rpms, and the rapids were worthy of rafting.
At the end of Roosevelt Island sits the ruins of another abandoned hospital, this one for smallpox patients. Know why smallpox isn’t a thing in the U.S. any more? Vaccines.
There’s other stuff on Roosevelt Island, and a bridge to get people there. The cable car, however, would be way more fun than taking an Uber.
Back when the U.S. had the respect of allies and the moral authority to effect positive change, the United Nations complex was an important place in the world.
Now it’s about as useless as a smallpox hospital, except if people stop vaccinating their kids the hospital may become important again.
Dana’s favorite buildings along the shoreline are part of a new apartment development.
Anybody want to buy the Brooklyn Bridge?
Just after the bridge, we popped back out into the Hudson north of the big statue we last saw on June 24.
That’s it. We crossed our wake for the second time. One of eight boats to finish the Down East Circle this year.
Then past the 9/11 memorial and into Liberty Landing.
Hell of a view from the pilothouse tonight.
Tomorrow we’re making the short trip backwards to Port Washington, leaving Misty Pearl, renting a van, and driving south. We moved aboard on March 12, 2018, but we bought her in 2017. That’s 216 blog posts since The start of it all. Nearly 9,000 miles. Hundreds of locks. Hundreds of stops.
The point is, we’ve not spent more than a few days sleeping on a stable bed in a loooong time. No time for stuff like dentists and doctors and vets and daily pickleball. Important stuff.
Now that we’ve closed the loops we started, Misty Pearl is going into hibernation. We’ll pick her up again next April or May—after the snow and ice melts—and spend at least the summer cruising somewhere. Maybe we’ll go north again. Maybe we’ll go south again.
We’ll keep the website activated and add new maps and pins as we go, but 126,480 words are enough. (Yes, WordPress keeps a word count.) If anyone cares to keep up, when we start cruising again we’ll try to post more photos on the Instagram account our more-hip kids set up. We’re @douganddanaandaboat there as well.
All we know is that exploring by boat now is in our blood. Sort of like the late great Chris LeDoux with his horse. “As long as there’s a sunset, we’ll keep riding for the brand. You just can’t see us from the road.”
The End.
Congratulations, Misty Pearl! It has been such a pleasure to follow your journey and even join in on a few occasions. Thanks for the vivid descriptions, beautiful photographs, and unique commentary. Best wishes and continued safe travels.
Thanks Robin! We enjoyed your blog as well. Maybe we’ll find Crossroads again someplace down the water.
Heartiest congratulations! We hope to see you in Arizona and on the water next year!
Thanks No Drama! We’ll see you and Ann soon.
Congrats on the 2nd loop!!! Thanks for the blog.
Paul
KK Manatee “Oma”
Chicago
Thanks Paul! Hopefully Oma is about ready for her own Loop.
It’s been fun following you! Thank you to Doug for believing in Gary and starting us on our “journey for justice”! We’re grateful for all you’ve done for us! Happy travels, wherever they may take you.
Cathy Jantzen
Thanks Cathy! We hope all is well with you and Gary and the kids and the grandkids.
I have enjoyed following your adventures this summer. I look forward to following you again when you start up once more. Enjoy regaining your land-legs and more happy travels to you both
Thanks Judge Becky! Never say never, but right now we’re thinking more Instagram
photos but no more blog.
I’ve enjoyed following your adventures, too, and I will miss them. (I think I have read every single post.) I hope you’ll resume blogging whenever you start traveling again next spring!
Kathy
Thanks Kathy! As of now we think we’re done as bloggers.
Congratulations on your second loop. We will miss your blog posts but wish you all the best in your next adventure.
Thanks so much!
congrats! I so enjoyed reading about your adventures. Brought many laughs and smiles to my face. If you make it to AZ please contact us would enjoy catching up with you both:)
Thanks Laura! We hope all is well with you and Jeff and the fam.
Dana and Doug,
I so enjoyed your blog and photos. Dana, you’re an artist with a lens, and Doug, you’re hilarious with a pen.
Karla Roberts (formerly of G&K)
Thanks Karla! We’ve had a blast.
Congratulations! What an awesome trip! Denise and I think it would be great to meet y’all for dinner when you are in Chattanooga next, if you have time. We can come visit or boy at UTC and meet you guys to boot, can’t think of a better reason for us to visit. By the way, I found out today that a patient of mine wants to do the loop in a year or so. I’ve known this guy for a bit and had no idea, I was so excited for him. I told him that he needed to do two things, join the AGLCA, and read douganddanaandaboat start to finish. Again, congratulations and thanks so much for sharing your journey!
Greg D
We’ll be in Chattanooga the last two weeks of November. Pick an evening the week of the 18th.
We have truly enjoyed MOST of your 123,945 words expressed Over the many months of your adventures. We’ll miss your humor and candidness. Congrats on the completion of your latest trip.
Mostly Thanks!
Congrats to you both. I didn’t start following until a couple months ago, but have enjoyed the time since. Yours is a fun read. We begin our Loop next month on a two year general plan. You can follow us on Searching for Salt at www://Jeglic.net. Hope to see you out there!
Woo Hoo! Safe travels. You’ll love the Loop.
Congrats on crossing your wake a second time! What a trip. We would love to talk with you about it sometime.
Let us know how your trip to New Bern goes. Have fun in NC.
Hi Change of Pace! For sure let’s get together. You guys would love the Down East Circle.
Thank you both for sharing your adventures on the water! Your excellent writing, wit, stories, and pictures are worthy of recognition in the archives of the Jedi Order (at least the AGLCA anyway). But seriously, as a hopeful future looper I’ve read many a great loop blog and yours is easily the tops. Entertaining and informative it also reinforced the likely benefits of drone training before heading out on the loop. Best wishes on your next adventure!
Thanks for the kind words. Two things: First, do whatever’s necessary to make your Loop dream a reality. It’s life-changing. Second, one of us views a drone as a critical piece of Loop equipment, second only to a boat. The need for training in advance, however, is entirely a function of how willing you are to buy multiple drones.
Saw misty pearl listed for sale?? Bigger boat or no boat???
Wow that was quick. Actually neither of those. We’re probably done living aboard full time so hope to find something about the same length that will go a bit faster. You got an MJM 43z you want to sell cheap?
Doug and Dana, I devoured your excellent blog yesterday. I’m retired and enjoying lots of coastal miles between Maine and FL on a 31’ “Downeaster”, but I’m thinking seriously (maybe obsessively) about moving up to a Selene or Nordhavn. My wife’s planning to retire from her college gig (painting, drawing, often now virtual). I was never keen on “looping”, I lean more toward the Bahamas, but you have made it look more attractive. Love your droll style and the aerial shots! Happy to hear that MP is all but sold now, (not surprised that she did well in survey), but I wish it were showing a year later…
Hi John. Thanks for the kind words. We’ve almost closed the deal but already have sellers’ remorse, if that’s a thing. We’re actually considering postponing our Alaska plans and getting another Loop boat. If you want to experience something new every day, it’s a great way to do it.