Our cruise started in familiar water where we knew the anchorages and destination without charts. As we headed east, then north then east again, we sailed into places for the first time. Having never been to any of them, we were rewarded with the experience of viewing them for the first time, to smell the "cedar" of those places we read about for years before. Until one has approached New York City from sea, one really does not get to understand the attraction of that place from the early days of European visits. That place is steeped in history so rich that the sight of the Statue of Liberty or Governor's Island for the first time is truly a dream come true. Mind you, this crew is from the rural "fly over" country and we have no desire to live in such a place. We wonder why anyone would want to be in such a congested city but I am sure they feel the same way about where we live. We only hope they have not forgotten the first time they came and smelled the "cedar" for the first time.