Some days on the water are calm and peaceful. And some days start with a seaplane crash.
Fortunately, this one came with a happy ending. As we left Connecticut and headed toward the East River, the radio announced that a seaplane had gone down — no injuries, and a civilian boat had already scooped up the passengers like seasoned pros. A little farther along, we even saw the plane being towed back to its hangar, looking like a wet dog being escorted home after misbehaving.
🌀 Surviving the East River (Again)
Miraculously, we made it through the East River without hitting anything with our props this time — a milestone worth framing. Vikki tried to drop me off at Rikers Island and Sing Sing, but I told her I wasn’t dressed for prison life.
Once we reached the Hudson, the Tappan Zee Bridge greeted us like a postcard. Say what you want about New York traffic — the bridges are gorgeous from the water.
⚓ Docktails & New Friends at Half Moon Bay
We settled into Half Moon Bay Marina for a few days, and the highlight was a Docktail party with 17 other Loopers. Great stories, lots of laughs, and enough snacks to qualify as a floating buffet. We made a ton of new friends — Loopers are good people.
🚗 Road‑Tripping the Hudson Valley
With the boat snug in its slip, we rented a car and headed out to explore.
🏰 West Point: History, Honor & One Very Large Chain
Our first stop was West Point. The most meaningful moment was visiting the graves of my cousin Jane and her husband Richard — a quiet, important pause in the middle of our travels.
We also saw part of the massive iron chain that once stretched across the Hudson to keep British ships from sailing upriver. It looks like something Poseidon would use to lock up his bike.
And yes, West Point is impressive from the water… But Annapolis still wins. I’m a Marine — loyalty is part of the deal.
📚 The FDR Presidential Library
Next up was the FDR Library, our sixth presidential library. At this point, we’re basically on the Presidential Library World Tour. FDR’s was excellent — thoughtful, well‑designed, and full of history that still feels relevant.
🏛️ The Vanderbilt Mansion
We wrapped up with the Vanderbilt Mansion in Hyde Park. Beautiful, elegant, and — by Vanderbilt standards — practically a cozy little starter home. Still worth the visit.
🌅 Wrapping Up This Leg of the Loop
This stretch had everything: Adventure. History. Humor. New friends. And a seaplane cameo we definitely didn’t see coming.
Traveling by water gives you a front‑row seat to the world — and sometimes the world puts on quite a show.