continued from Part 1

Leaving Manhattan we tunneled to Brooklyn (another $4) and then took the Verrazano Narrows Bridge to Staten Island (a whopping $8 this time – how do New Yorkers afford to go anywhere??). First stop on Staten Island was Fort Wadsworth. The gate guard told us the best view was from the overlook, so off we headed. The view from there is great. You look out over Battery Weed with the neat little lighthouse located on top.

To the right is the Verrazano Bridge, across from you is Brooklyn,

to the left is Manhattan.

We stopped at the visitor center on our way out, and got to meet Joe Espisito (he led the restoration effort for the light and was keeper at the Staten Island Rear Range for a number of years.) Joe has constructed a couple of fantastic models of lighthouses that are on display – the one of Fort Tompkins is incredibly detailed.


We had decided to add in a ride on the free ferry to Manhattan. You can ride over and simply stay on the ferry for the immediate return. After missing the ramp to parking we had a real challenge trying to get turned around to get back to where we wanted to be. Eventually we found parking and took the hike into the ferry terminal, which is undergoing renovation. Of course we just missed the 2 o’clock ferry, but this gave us time to have overpriced food from the Golden Arches outlet there (not what we really wanted, but sometimes you have to make sacrifices for the cause . . . .). The ride over to Manhattan gave us a great view of the Robbins Reef light (you can also see the pier the original light sat on just north of the current light).

You also have a wonderful view of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.

We moved to the end of the ferry for the trip back to Staten Island so that we could get pictures of the Lightship Nantucket, which is berthed at the new Lighthouse Museum.

What a great ferry boat ride we enjoyed, with wonderful views of the city and the monuments. I can’t begin to imagine how crowded the ferries must be on weekdays when people are going to/from work!

finishes in Part 3

We saw a Nantucket lightship 2 weeks ago in Nantucket Harbor. Are there 2 of them?

Carol,

That would make at least 3 since the lightship berthed in New Bedford also carries the Nantucket name. Popular station, eh?

Dave

Hi Dave,

Carol & I just got home yesterday and topped out at 87 lighthouses photographed during the slightly over 2 weeks we were on the road. Will try and post some photos after I get a chance to go through them.

Thanks for all your efforts in organizing some of the lighthousing on Long Island and giving us the opportunity to get the full tour of Eaton's Neck Coast Guard Station.

Had a great time and it was fun.

Great pictures ... the Staten Island ferry ride was a really fine ride. The price was right too!!

See Ya, Dan