So far, September has been kinda quiet. Except of course for the howling we can hear from folks trying to fill up their cars for an early leaf peeping tour at over $4.50 a gallon for gas (Still happy about that Land Rover’s mileage?). There’s a good reason why the prices are spiking right now. The suppliers are slowing their refining capacity for gasoline and ramping up their heating oil production to meet this winter’s anticipated demand. It’s their annual changeover kids!
Of course what that means to you and me is that we wait for gasoline to be made, sometimes for days. We end up sitting waiting for the product to become available. High demand, low supply….see what’s happening here? It’s not that they don’t have the means to make it, it’s that they aren’t making enough of it. Tugs and barges are lined up like Carter era motorists waiting for their turn at the pump. It’s not some evil plot, the changeover happens every year about this time. The difference is this year the prices are so freakin’ high YOU noticed.
So hang in there kids, the prices will come down. Not as much as you’d like, but they will come down. So, in order to ease the blow I’ve posted some photos of my local hangout here in Bay Ridge Anchorage. I know, not much comfort there but I didn’t tell you to buy that 12mpg SUV did I?
Captain Brucato,
I am a 56 year old woman who has a fascination with tugs. When I was little and we crossed the Walt Whitman Bridge into NJ, I leaned way out of the car (those were the days!!!) to scan for tugboats. When people asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I wanted to be a Tugboat Captain. Now, I am content to read about them – and I collect tugboat artwork.
I have to bring my teenage daughter to NY for medical reasons the first week of October. We will be in Manhattan the night of 10/1 and leave 10/3. Any chance you will be in port and entertain a visitor? Could I bribe you with Savannah Pralines??
I promise, I won’t stow away!
All the best,
Cheri
Cheri, I can appreciate your desire to take a tour and although my crew would love to avail themselves of some home made goodies, we cannot honor any requests for tours or visits. I can however recommend a friend who happens to maintain and show an antique, old time, real live tugboat.
http://www.tugpegasus.org/news.htm
follow this link to see if Captain Pam Hepburn will be available to give you a tour of the Tug Pegasus on the dates you’re going to be in the city.
There are other resources you can subscribe to which include;
http://www.tugboatenthusiastsociety.org/index.htm
http://portsidenewyork.org/
http://www.youtube.com/user/nytugmaster this link will take you to videos I’ve posted as time lapse transit of the ports I frequent on the ATB Nicole L. Reinauer.
In addition to these recommendations there’s always the Circle Line Tours around Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty tours that leave from the Battery Wall. You can also take a gander at the New York Anchorages on the Staten Island Ferry. The ride is free both ways, it’s just that you have to disembark and take a different boat back.
Sorry I couldn’t be of much help, those pralines sounded really good.
Nothing like being in
New York Harbor in the early morning. Unfortunately, I may not do my annual sail this year to the big apple:
http://biankablog.blogspot.com/2012/09/reliability-so-much-for-that.html
Had to scrub my plans while I wait for parts. Nice to your photos though.