As we moved away from the dock, we got a good view of the World War Two veteran aircraft carrier Intrepid.

Heading downriver, we passed the retired, now privately owned fire boat John J. Harvey and the also privately owned lightship Frying Pan. Six years ago I was on a cruise on the tugboat Cornell when we were called on to pull Harvey, then stuck on a mudbank, free. I recorded the incident on video. The large structure behind Frying Pan is the Starrett-Lehigh Building, (Cory & Cory, Yasuo Matsui; 1931), a striking adaptation of some elements of art deco architecture, such as rounded corners, continuous horizontal strip windows, and varying brick colors, to an industrial and warehouse structure.

Continuing down the Hudson, we saw another former government vessel now in private hands, the lightship tender Lilac. Behind her is the Borough of Manhattan Community College and the towers of the Independence Plaza housing complex.

Passing the tip of lower Manhattan we saw a skyline dominated by the new One World Trade Center (David Childs/SOM; completion expected later this year) and the newly opened Four World Trade Center (Fumihiko Maki, 2013). The low, white building on the shoreline below One WTC is City Pier A, built in the 1880s and expanded in 1900 and 1919. It was used at different times for police and fire boats, lay derelict for many years, and is now being rehabilitated as a venue for restaurants.

Looking up the East River, we could see the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges, as the sightseeing boat Robert Fulton went by.

We headed through the Buttermilk Channel, which lies between Brooklyn and Governors Island. The retired harbor tanker Mary A. Whalen, purchased and restored by PortSide New York, is docked at a pier on the Brooklyn side. In the background, above Mary’s wheelhouse, is the Williamsburgh Savings Bank Building (Halsey, McCormack and Helmer, 1929), for many years Brooklyn’s tallest.

A double-crested cormorant was perched atop a buoy.

Heading across the harbor, we passed the ferry terminal on Staten Island and the ferry Spirit of America.

Entering the Kill Van Kull, which lies between Staten Island and Bayonne, New Jersey, we passed the tug Brian Nicholas pushing two barges, one loaded and one empty, lashed side-by-side.

The tanker Skopelos was docked on the Bayonne side. In the background, to the right, is a wind turbine; an effort to reduce the demand for the fossil fuel tankers carry.

King Duncan, another tanker, was berthed just beyond Skopelos.

The World War Two veteran destroyer escort U.S.S. Slater was undergoing maintenance at Caddell Dry Dock and Repair Company, Inc. on the Staten Island side. There’s an article about Slater’s stay at Cadell’s, ending with a photo showing her after completion, sporting her bold camouflage, here. Slater is now back in Albany, where she serves as a floating museum.

A short way past Caddell’s we passed under the Bayonne Bridge, which is being raised to allow the gargantuan container ships now going into service to pass under it. The project is being done in stages, so as to keep the bridge open to traffic except during late night hours. Photo by my wife.

After the bridge, we turned into Newark Bay, and passed the outbound container ship MSC Arushi R., escorted by the tug Miriam Moran.

After MSC Arushir came Don Jon Marine’s Caitlin Ann, pushing an empty barge.

Maersk Pittsburgh was docked at Port Elizabeth.

Another Don Jon tug, Mary Alice, was headed up Newark Bay.

Ital Laguna was docked at Maher Terminals, Port Elizabeth. The First Watchung Mountain can be seen in the distance.

Elizabeth McAllister was also heading up the Bay,

Endurance, docked at Port Newark, is a rarity these days; a large civilian cargo ship flying the U.S. flag. She is a RO-RO (Roll On-Roll Off) ship, and is used to transport equipment and supplies to U.S. forces abroad.

Heading back toward the Kill Van Kull, we passed Ellen McAllister. The tug’s low profile suggests she may sometimes be used on inland waterways with low clearances.

MSC Bruxelles was docked at Port Newark.

As we came alongside Maersk Pittsburgh we saw St. Andrews, the tug that had brought the barge from which Pittsburgh was taking on fuel. Note the scrape marks on the ship’s hull.

Another view of the Bayonne Bridge as we headed back toward the Kill Van Kull.

The tug Houma passed us just before we reached the bridge.

We passed the Moran tug fleet’s Staten Island home port. Laura K. Moran and two other tugs were docked there.

A little farther along was the Reinauer dock, where Dean Reinauer and Kristy Ann Reinauer waited for their next assignments.

Traffic was heavy on the Kill Van Kull as we headed out. Ahead of us was Northstar Marine’s barge Northstar 140, towed by Reliable.

Here’s a better view of Reliable as we overtook the tug and her tow.

With the New York City skyline as a background, Bouchard’s B.No.280, escorted by Charles D. McAllister, headed up the Kill Van Kull.

Power behind B.No.280 was supplied by Ellen S. Bouchard.

Then came Manhasset Bay…

…which was easily overtaking Paul Andrew pushing a barge.

We encountered three tugs in succession towing barges “on the hip”; first Brooklyn, …

…then Sassafras, …

…then Gulf Dawn.

We almost overtook MSC Arushi R., which we had passed earlier as we entered Newark Bay, as she left the Kill Van Kull headed for the Narrows and the Atlantic.

As we left the Kill Van Kull and rounded Constable Hook, we passed the Bayonne Golf Club, with its faux lighthouse club building (2006). The Scottish style links were built atop what previously was a waste disposal landfill. 

The container ship Positano, sitting light with no visible cargo, was docked at Bayonne’s Military Ocean Terminal.

Just past Positano was the U.S. Naval Ship Watkins, undergoing maintenance work at the Bayonne Dry Dock & Repair Corporation’s graving dock.

The cruise ship Explorer of the Seas was moored at the Cape Liberty Cruise Port, Bayonne. The Kirby tug Lincoln Sea and a barge were docked at the end of the pier.

After passing Bayonne, we saw the majestic skyline of … Jersey City, with Lady Liberty in the middle.

Hearing a droning noise overhead, I looked up and saw a World War Two vintage B-17 flying by. 

The Colgate Clock, on the Jersey City shoreline, is a memory from my childhood, when I passed it several times on ships leaving from or arriving at New York. The building on which it once sat has been demolished; fortunately, the clock (Seth Thomas, 1924) has been preserved.  We were right on time; our cruse started at 11:00 a.m. and was scheduled to last two hours.

As we approached our dock, I saw kayaks near Intrepid’s stern.

Source: Self-Absorbed Boomer
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/tzVM/~3/_gwLogl8zyo/photos-from-hidden-harbor-tour.html

When I first started to go wine tasting, you could drive from winery to winery, picking almost at random. You’d go into a barn, or a shack, or just taste on a picnic table out front. While tasting, chances are you’d be talking to the winemaker or at least someone who had worked there for a decade. It’d be a lingering tasting, alternating between joking and learning from your host. You’d make friends with another couple that came in. It wouldn’t be unheard of for the host to open up something special just for fun. After a while, they’d give you a recommendation on where to head next. There’s little better relaxation available than sipping wine in the warm sun looking out over vineyards.

Unfortunately, that experience is largely gone from Napa. There are still places where you can do that (I suggest giving Spring Mountain a try), but by and large the barn has been replaced by million dollar tasting rooms, where you elbow your way to the bar, often so you can hear a memorized script.

Luckily, Sonoma still has plenty of places that offer that relaxed and special feeling. Maybe there aren’t many tastings in barns anymore, but it’s still a casual experience. You will rarely be jockeying for space or feel like you are being rushed along to finish your glass. Quite a few folks will simply sit and chat, and that special bottle still often appears from nowhere.

The other enormous advantage is that Sonoma has variety. This may be cheating a bit, as Sonoma County is simply much larger than Napa with more varied climates, but that’s kind of the point. Here’s where I’d head:

For Pinot Noir Lovers

If you’re into Pinot Noir, head first to Russian River. The valley itself produces spicy and bold Pinots, but most of the wineries there also source grapes from nearby Sonoma Coast, which produces a more tart, light and bright Pinot Noir than most people are used to getting from California. They’ll also often have Anderson Valley and Oregon fruit as well, which means even more styles to sample.

Recommended Stops: Visit Siduri for the best value. Visit Lynmar for great wine, great gardens and views. Visit Littorai for amazing wine and an education in biodynamic winemaking.

Zinfandel Heaven

Want bolder, bigger wine? North of Russian River is Dry Creek Valley. It’s most famous for its Zinfandel, and for good reason. Dry Creek Zin is spicy and juicy, and can be one of the best combinations of both big fruit and complexity out there. But Dry Creek’s climate also does a number of other wines well—Rhone and Italian varietals seem to do especially well here.

Recommended Stops: Visit Bella for caves, a wonderful picnic spot and my favorite Zinfandel (their Lily Hill Estate Zin). Visit Ridge because their Zinfandel is just that good. Seghesio has a number of great Italian wines. including their Omaggio, which goes wonderfully well with my rib recipe. Hit up Unti for the best Italian varietals in Northern California and Frick for some great, affordable Rhone varietals.

Something for everyone

None of those hit the spot for you? That’s alright. There’s more Zin in Rockpile, Chardonnay and more in Chalk Hill, some nice Cabernet in Alexander Valley and just about anything you could want in Sonoma Valley proper.

Have I convinced you yet to abandon your trip to Napa and head on over to Sonoma? Well, the good news is you don’t really have to choose: Sonoma is right next door to Napa. You might just have to extend your trip.

Alan Greene is co-owner of Tipsy, a wine and spirits shop in Brooklyn. Tipsy hosts 3 or more free tasting events every week. Visit us at the corner of Myrtle and Classon or online at www.shoptipsy.com.