Meditations R

R . . . rare sights in this fascinating place called the sixth boro and its surrounding waters.  First rare foto comes thanks to Jed:  clearly it’s a Staten Island ferry, but the question is where.  Answer below.

Next . . . of course it’s the Samuel S. Coursen aka Governor’s Island ferry.  But . . . are they now transporting animals onto the island to graze there?  After millions spent in studies, a conclusion has been reached that Sheep Meadow in Central Park is no longer adequate for the City’s population, and Governor’s Island will assume the new pasture role?

R could be for rust, rust busting, and restoration, but don’t

offend this tug in Newburgh, or it might just give chase.  This SUV barely escaped being shifted into the river.  Anyone know the story of this tug, just south of where the retired DEP sludge yacht awaits its own fate?  I was told this is the location of the former Marvel Shipyard.  Anyone confirm?

Here’s a rare sight just north of Poughkeepsie yesterday:  rowers from Cleveland on their way to . . . Key West, raising $$ for Habitat for Humanity.  Don’t believe me:  check this out.  Go Tom and Jon.  They even have a blog.

Patty Nolan was the mystery tug a week or so ago.  I’d like to see this 1931 tug up closer, but I had no idea she had a figurehead . . . er . . . headless figurehead . . . er . . .er . . . figure!    That’s even more fantastic than when seen from afar.

Put a sign like this on the side of your vessel in mid-sixth boro, look up a lot, and you’ll generate some excitement, I’m sure!

Rarities are not so uncommon as you think.  I believe I’m a particularly wide-eyed gallivanter, but seeing the rare and unusual right around you generates a thirst to discover more.  As wonderful as it is to travel to exotic and uncommon places–one of my dream destinations is Timbuktu–rare gems pass before us every day, wonders catch our rye and jostle us to get that last seat of the E train . . . sights and people to treasure, tantalizing and then slipping out the door.   Summer . . . it’s the time to savor those moments, make eternal memories, hear the music of the spheres, listen for echoes of songs long ago sung . . .  To modify the title of a book I like:  Everywhere lies magic.

All fotos but Jed’s by Will Van Dorp;  all taken this Friday.

Oh . . . that Staten Island ferry . . . made a wrong turn and ended up high and dry in Virginia, Norfolk, Colonna’s.

Ouch!

In my short tenure in the harbor, I’ve never heard a name other than “Governors Island ferry” for the vessel below, but according to this Albany Times-Union article, it’s Coursen, as in Samuel S. Coursen, after a Medal of Honor winner who died in Korea at age 24.  Queen Elizabeth rode Coursen, as did Mikhail Gorbachev.

A plan saw Coursen‘s labor complemented by  Islander purchased in 2007  for $500,000.  In this March 2008 article from the NYTimes, it seemed Islander had a future of carrying up to nearly 800 passengers at once to Governors Island.

Oh what a difference a year brings.  As happened to Wall Street and lots of folks “savings”, so has transpired with Islander, sold late February to the winning bidder on EBay for less than $24,000, a paltry ( . . . criminal?)  five percent of outlay two years ago.   Whose money was lost there?!   Am I missing some detail?  Is there an argument supporting this turn of events, or has a travesty been wrought with the $476,000?  I’m wondering about the quality of the survey Governors Island Preservation & Education Corp did prior to the 2007 sale.

Coursen . . . glad to know your name and namesake, but you’re left on your own.

Meanwhile, if anyone sees Islander dead ship on a tow, take a foto for me.

Images, WVD.