Canterbury Sails by Chasseur: Hyde Park, NY"

September 7-8, 2012 Friday-Saturday

FDR's home was desired stop for us. The town and marina was Hyde Park, NY. We had to tie up on the wall on the Hudson River. The Dock Master, Keith, was very helpful and informative. As soon as we secured "Chasseur", Keith drove us up to the CIA (Culinary Institute of America), a world renowned culinary arts college. The buildings and surroundings were so beautiful. It was once the Jesuit novitate St. Andrew-on-Hudson. We could not get reservations for any of the restaurants on campus. There are two cafes that you can wait for seating, however. We lucked out with seating available at the Italian restaurant's cafe in 15 minutes. We rushed over to the "Ristorante Caterina de Medici" for lunch. We were seated near the kitchen, which is desireable seating. We could watch the students and instructors working and were allowed to photograph. It was great fun watching the interactions. The Italian instructors were yelling about this and that...."organize your work space" in heavy Italian accent. But they would stop and smile for the camera. The cafe had a limited menu. We had pizza and salad that tasted like none we never have had before. We went to the "Apple Pie Bakery Cafe", another campus restaurant, for tasty French chocolate desserts.
Food was the theme for this visit. Keith the Dock Master invited us to the marina customer appreciation dinner that night. This was not an ordinary customer appreciation. The marina owners also own 5 restaurants, and one of the family members attended the CIA. The food was incredible, with a huge variety of gourmet dishes, beer and wine. We "rolled" back to our boat after dinner.
Saturday we jumped in Keith's car again for a lift to FDR's home and library. We had a short visit there due to severe weather approaching. 2 tornadoes touched down in NYC (less than 60 miles away). We were under a warning for severe thunderstorms, large hail and high winds. We got back to "Chasseur" in time to remove all her canvas, double her dock lines, fenders, then, we boarded her up, and abandoned ship! Russ and Donna Avery (only sailors in the marina) whisked us off to their home to be safe from the storm. We sat watching radar on the TV waiting for the storm to pass. Things cleared by 1830 hrs. Russ and Donna took us to dinner at one of the marina owner's restaurant. They called it our "sendoff" dinner. They have done this with other voyaging sailors. Russ gave Terry a gift, a portable chart desk and chart for NYC and surrounding area. He said he would not be using anymore.
"Chasseur" survived the storm damage, no damage and bone dry.

"If more of us valued food and cheer above hoarded gold, it would be a much merrier world."

J.R.R. Tolkien