We were up early this morning, but not early enough. We left an anchorage in Haverstraw Bay after a 60NM trip yesterday. It turns out that the Hudson is closed today at Tappan Zee Bridge. They are putting up a new bridge and they need to close the bridge to boat traffic, today being the first time, the closures will continue through 2016 and 2017. From their website “Approximately 70 closures are anticipated through the end of 2017” Anyone heading south this fall or heading north in the spring should check the New NY Bridge website for closures.
This information was filed in all the legally required locations, however, this was on page 31 of a 49 page Notice to Mariners As with most bureaucracies, NY State and the USCG dropped the ball on telling boaters. This is not unusual, Douglas Adams put it best:
““But the plans were on display…”
“On display? I eventually had to go down to the cellar to find them.”
“That’s the display department.”
“With a flashlight.”
“Ah, well, the lights had probably gone.”
“So had the stairs.”
“But look, you found the notice, didn’t you?”
“Yes,” said Arthur, “yes I did. It was on display in the bottom of a locked filing cabinet stuck in a disused lavatory with a sign on the door saying ‘Beware of the Leopard.””
We found out about the closure when we approached the bridge this morning at 08:10 following the closure at 08:00. The email notification of the closure arrived about 11:00 as we walked back from a nice patisserie in Nyack.
Thankfully, Nyack is a nice town and we enjoyed the walk around town. Nyack Boat Club have been generous hosts to a few boats today.
Hey there! Finally getting caught up on your blog. Sounds like fun! Great pics ! A lot of work to take that mast down. Take care and keep in touch.
Liz and Mark