Mattituck to Montauk

We left the Mattituck anchorage at 5:30 am on June 13 in order to get to Shelter Island before the storm was expected.  We decided it was prudent to tie up at a marina instead of taking a mooring ball.  Fortunately, instead of $4 per foot, we were charged the pre-season price of $2 per foot.  The weather got bad and we had to constantly watch our lines on the fixed docks with the tides.  In between downpours the laundry got done and more soup was made.  The following day we took a long walk.  Peaceful and quiet.

 

 

 



View of the marina from land

Eggs for sale at the side of the road.  Eggs were inside this cooler.  Payment was on the honor system.

Typical house.

Gorgeous shrub with white flowers seen over and over. It remains a mystery.

Greenport

After two days at Coecles, we motored about 1.5 hours to Greenport.  There was a complimentary tie-up in town.  We put out all our fenders and even put fenders on the fixed pier pilings, just to make sure the boat would be safe from wakes.  After a delicious breakfast at a local café, we strolled the streets.

Collectibles nailed to garage.  Something we saw from time to time in this area.

Good sized anchor as lawn ornament

Rusty went back to the boat while I did the groceries.  When we docked in the early morning, the ferries had not yet started.  When they did, (while we were out on the town) the wakes were so bad, the boat rocked side to side and the caprail  caught a bolt on the piling.  About two feet was affected.  We covered it up with duck tape until we could figure out how to deal with it.  It looks ok which is a bad thing, because there is not that incentive to get it fixed right away.

 

The damage

We decided Greenport was not the place to stay overnight so we headed for a cove nearby and dropped anchor among party boats (they left early evening).  We could not put out much chain initially so we reset just before it got dark and we slept well. 

 

 

 

Sag Harbor

The following day we arrived in Sag Harbor and anchored in the cove.  The guidebooks and charts were unclear how to get into the cove, so we sounded our way in, dropped anchor and dinghied ashore, enjoyed some bagels, strolled the streets and when we got back to the boat, it had dragged about one hundred feet.  So up came the anchor and we tried again in a bit deeper water (12 feet),   When we pulled anchor to reset it, the anchor roller looked lopsided.  One of the bolts was missing. Rusty did not have an exact replacement so we fitted a longer one in with washers.  The next day we were able to find the right ones in town.

 

We had steady 15-25 MPH winds in the afternoon and felt comfortable with 130 feet of chain out. 

Sag Harbor was a great place to visit and accommodating to boaters.

Jury-rigged anchor roller

 

Historical Society is run by an elderly group (accordingly to the lady at the visitor's center) and they open whenever someone is able to do so. Sigh...we are getting to that point, too.

Historical Society

Whaling museum

Gorgeous home next to the Custom House

Montauk

On the other hand Montauk is not accommodating.  We left Sag Harbor June 18 at about 9 and four hours later we were anchored in Lake Montauk, just as we were socked in with a pea soup fog.  So what to do?

 

Kentucky fried knock-off chicken

Finished the lap blanket

 

Lots of fishing boats

Looking for a place to get ashore

We had to beach the dinghy, climb over rocks to visit the town that was just so-so. Nevertheless, Montauk was critical for us as a stop before heading to Block Island.



Canadians get around.

 

Next stop:  Block Island

Next challenge:  the starting and house batteries do not seem to be charging properly.

to June 12 - Mattituck, NY

After 30 hours on the boat at anchor in Oyster Bay, we were ready to move on.  As we left the anchorage we spotted this beautiful wooden sailboat.

 

***

Northport, NY

We arrived at about 11 am and tied up at the complimentary town dock (only during daytime).  It was a fixed dock with a 7 ft. tide.  Stepping onto the dock at high tide was no problem.  A farmer's market was underway and we now have four different pasta meals in the fridge/freezer.  The laundromat was within walking distance so that was the next order.  And in between the water tanks were filled and holding tanks were pumped out.  By the time the laundry was dry, the tide had dropped about five feet and we had a heck of time getting everything and everyone back on board. 

 

 

 

 

Street view in Northport

 

Harbor view in Northport

 

 

We anchored at the mouth of the Northport inlet with a number of other boats and had a pleasant evening with one exception.

Crunch, crunch, crack, said the crown in my mouth.

 

The anchorage.

 

***

Port Jefferson, NY

After doing numerous google searches for a dentist, we decided that going to Port Jefferson, NY, our next stop anyway, was the best best.  We coughed up the money for a town mooring ball.  Port Jefferson does not allow dinghy landing at the town dock but they do provide a launch service.

 

There was a dog festival at the waterfront so Gigi was able to getin some socializing. In town was an amazing cheese shop/café and a boulangerie/patisserie.  Rusty said the baguette was the real thing.

 

We lucked out with the dentist.  She was a practical gal and bonded a filling to the remaining crown.  In and out within 45 minutes.  $254.

 

It rained on and off the entire two days we were in Port Jefferson.  The total accumulation for the first 11 days in June was over 6 inches of rain.  When it rains, it is really important to close the windows on the boat.

 



 

View from land

 

Another view

 Gigi was entertained by the swan.

 Gigi tried to make friends.

 

Hmmm...

 

Double hmmm....

 

Beautiful church with stained glass windows.

 

The view from our boat - the ferry to CT.

 

***

Mattituck, NY

On Tuesday morning, we made the run to Mattituck, considered an emergency stop-over in the guidebook.  The currents and timing for a longer run to Plum Gut were not in our favor.  On the way we put the seats from the flybridge out to dry. We need a checklist.

 

 

 

 And then came the fog.  We had to get out the manual to figure out how to activate the foghorn.  The last time we used the foghorn was in 2011.  The inlet to Mattituck was narrow and winding but calm and pleasant.  There was no one in the designated anchorage at the end of creek.  Thank goodness because the winds picked up that night and we need the room.

 

We went ashore at the town dinghy dock for pet relief and to buy some groceries.  In the hour we were on shore, it began to rain again and we kicked ourselves we had not taken our umbrellas.   We need a checklist.

 

 

 Streetview in Mattituck

 

 



 View from the dinghy.

 

 

 

 View from the boat

 

 

 

Shortly after midnight, the anchor alarm sounded.  We stumbled out of bed, surveyed, and set the alarm to go off at 100 ft.  I couldn't sleep.  The wind was howling.  29 MPH is not the worst we have encountered at anchorage but this anchorage was small and if the boat dragged there would not be a lot of time to react.  We talked about the steps: turn on the windlass, remove the anchor line and snubber (me), turn on the engine and hold the boat (Rusty).

 

At 3:50, the anchor alarm went off again and from then on we took turns monitoring.  Finally, at daybreak, Rusty made the decision to reset the anchor and we let out more chain.  So far, it is holding great.  The wind and wave reports for our next leg (only 22 miles) is not good for today so we will stay put.

 

As a treat, Rusty made cheese omelets, and we defrosted a croissant and pain au chocolat from that great Port Jefferson bakery. 

 



to June 6 - Oyster Bay, Ny

Continuing the trip down the Hudson.

Haverstraw Cove entrance - nice cove but no way to get to shore except to beach the dinghy, and climb the rocks.  There is a nice park with a beautiful dock in the cove.  Said I to the ranger:  May we tie up at the dock?  Said he: No.  Asked I:  Why is there a dock?  Responded he: For fishing.  When we walked into town we understood.  We thought we were in a Central American country, and in fact, many of the townspeople had come from places like Guatemala.  The stores catered to that demographic.  The last thing on the minds of the town was to get boaters into town, but a place to fish was something the residents would enjoy.

What a sight as we entered our anchorage.

 

 

The afternoon was beautiful so we took the time to do some work on the boat.  My job was to polish the stainless steel with "never dull"

 

The next morning, an unoccupied sailboat at the same anchorage dragged and lodged against the wall, scraping its side.  We happened to be on shore and asked a fisherman to retrieve a rope with his fishing pole and hook, and then secured it, before notifying the park police.

We had to wait for a slack current at Hell's Gate in the East River so Rusty spent his time troubleshooting the AIS.

As we began our trip across the New York Harbor, we couldn't help but be moved by the position of the Statue of Liberty and the rebuilding of the beautiful multi-faceted World Trade Center. 

The famous Staten Island Ferry in NY harbor.

 New York skyline in the harbor, approaching the East River on the right.

The UN building on the East River

There is a gondola in the center left at one of the bridges connecting Roosevelt Island and the Mainland. 

 

***

 

The East River passage took about 2.5 hours, we hit the currents just right, and ended up in Port Washington on Long Island Sound, on a mooring ball provided by the town.

 

 

Bringing back the groceries in our dinghy.

 Same groceries, different view.

Port Washington is comprised of a few hamlets within walking steps of each other.  This is a typical street view.  Hispanic, Italian, French & Mediterranean flavors.

Pretty little pond and park with a "no dog" policy.

 

And now for a little walk in the outdoor Art Park:

 

Port Washington - home of the first transatlantic air flight.

 

 Port Washington brought in laborers from Europe to work the sand mines.  Can you recognize the spelling for "sand"

Mosaic of the waterfront.

 Metal art depicting birds (probably Canada geese?)

 

***

 

After three days in Port Washington, it was time to move on to Cold Spring Harbor where we visited the Whaling Museum. Cute little town with $24 pies, $20 dollar skeins of yearn, and great lattes.

Street view

 Harbor view

 

Heading back to the boat in the dinghy the engine stopped.  We looked at each other and burst out laughing. Bet Rusty won't forget the gas next time...

 

***

 

The next day we went around the bend and anchored in Oyster Bay where we will sit until the stormy weather passes.  Cozy in our boat.  Eating the last of the split pea soup.  Watching NCIS episodes.  Sleeping.  Blogging. Reading. Knitting.