Leaving New York

Hi kids!

We spent several days in New York City. We visited with my son who
lives there, went to see an aircraft carrier and walked along the
river in a park. We went shopping for new charts for our boat and
spent time in a Starbucks coffee shop so we could use the Internet.
(Man, are those coffee shop workers ever nervous! They drink WAY too
much coffee!). But now it's time to leave and sail south.

On our way south we sailed past the Statue of Liberty. This is a giant
statue of a lady in a Greek gown with a crown on her head holding a
lamp up over her head and standing on a pedestal. It was a gift from
the people of France 123 years ago. (The astute mathmeticians among
you will deduce that the gift was made in 1886.) The statue is in a
national park. Another part of the same park is Ellis Island, a place
where immigrants were let into America in the old days. Almost all
American people are immigrants or descended from immigrants. There is
a poem at the base of the statue that talks about how America welcomes
immigrants and promises a land of freedom awaits them.

These are great sentiments and they have inspired people for over a
century.

So that's why all good Americans love France and welcome immigrants.
Right, teacher?

Well, kids, our next report will be from place south. We have headed
out of New York, breaking another interstate barrier by sailing for
New Jersey shores. Sandy Hook will be first. Then, who knows, Barnigat
Bay?