The long range weather forecast predicted some weather in a few days and we were hoping to get to Cape May before then, so off we went early Monday morning. A fuel stop at Harrington Harbor South slowed us down a bit and then the current kept us in check for the rest of the day. It was tiring and we anchored by 4 pm. It was rolly overnight mainly from the wake of boats passing in the main channel.
Tuesday morning we were with the current to Chesapeake City and lucked out to find space on the town dock. There was time to bike to the local beauty shop and get a haircut, pedicure and brow wax. I felt like a million bucks. When I got back to the boat Rusty had vacuumed and defrosted the fridge. Guess who pulled in behind us: Harry and Sharon. We had drinks together and traded stories.
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| Chesapeake City: General store is now a gift shop |
Wednesday morning we waited for the tides and then off we went making very good progress almost the whole way down Delaware Bay to Cape May. Patti and Eric (Merluza) contacted us by email that they were going to be at Utsch's in Cape May and would we like to join them for margueritas and lobster rolls. It was so thoroughly enjoyable spending time with these two sailors.
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| Patti, Rusty, Eric |
The next morning Patti made me a latte. Yummy! There is a difference between a real expresso machine and Nexpresso. Then off they went and I went shopping by bicycle. It was fifteen minutes of dodging traffic and broken sidewalks each way. Rusty and I decided Cape May may be a pearl but not within walking distance.
The Atlantic Ocean from Cape May to Atlantic City was projected to be calm and and it was. Fellow Monk owners, Gayle and John Wix, had been following our same path and had emailed us their anchorage destination in Atlantic City. That afternoon we had a delightful time on their boat over cocktails.
Friday, June 22, looked like it would be another great day. While some thunderstorms were predicted it was a low probability. The radar showed nothing but clear skies. Off we went enjoying the day. After a few hours we notice there was a subtle change in temperature, with a slight increase in wave size. NOAA cautioned that boaters should seek a safe harbor. We tried to get into Barnegat Bay but winds and waves had picked up considerably and we could get no assurances from the local SeaTown company that it was safe to transit the inlet. Visions of being blown onto the rock jetties were in our mind and so we headed offshore away from the direction of the storm. We could see the storm front visually and on the radar. It seemed that it would be past us in less than an hour. It took four or five hours of dodging here and then there. We kept aiming for the clear sky which only took us out further. When it was all said and done we had moved almost ten miles off shore. We saw a break in the weather and burned some fuel to get to Manasquan Inlet. We made it. There was a lovely anchorage and who should be there but Gayle and John Wix. John had kept in email contact while we were out on the ocean and had provided valuable information on access to this anchorage.
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| Yellow line marks our attempt to get out of storm's path |
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| Passing through tiny lift bridge from Glimmer Glass anchorage |
On Saturday, June 23rd we had an uneventful trip up around Sandy Hook and down to Atlantic Highlands, NJ. Another anchorage and a rather long dinghy ride to town. Our reward: fresh bagels, lox, and deli meats to take back to the boat!
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| Replica of wooden submarine |
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| Pretty building in Atlantic Highlands |
Sunday, June 24th we tried to anchor at the 79th Street Basin with thoughts of going to Zabars. It was so bouncy from other boats that we continued up the Hudson to Croton on Hudson, an anchorage we knew from last year. There must have been fifty other boats anchored, mostly families enjoying a lazy Sunday afternoon. By the time it was dark, there were three boats left. We had a good nights rest.
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| Statue of Liberty as we entered Hudson River |
Early the next morning I was writing an email to the Wix's and letting them know our plans. I glanced up and saw some rain hitting the windows. As I went to the stateroom to close the windows, the anchor alarm on the Iphone went off. 50ft, 75ft, 100 ft, 130 ft, 150 ft. We were dragging. Rusty ran to the flybridge and turned on the engine. I turned on the instruments and went to the bow of the boat to remove the snubber. We let out more chain and the boat held. The storm blew over in less than an hour and then we were on our way. Well sort of. The engine would not turn over. We went through the list of possibilities. After about an hour and thinking this cannot be happening, Rusty noticed the shifter thing was not in neutral. Phew!
Early afternoon another summer storm hit us with about ten minutes notice. We headed for the weather side of the Hudson River, anchored just in time, and comforted Gigi through the lightening and wind.. The storm was over in less than 45 minutes. By 6 pm we arrived at our destination and made a decision to take a mooring ball instead of anchoring. By the time we were secure, the winds had picked up again and we had some more rain.
On Tuesday, June 26 we did a short 3 hr. run to Kingston, NJ where we visited the Maratime Museum and had a great dinner at Ship to Shore.
We had a revelation that day. There are three water tanks on the boat. Two under the bed and a reserve tank in the rear portside. We use a lot of water so the main tanks are filled frequently. We had been listing to the portside for most of our trip. We went as far as moving our wine from the port to the starboard thinking that would help. Rusty opened the line from the reserve tank and voila, we don't list.
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| Lighthouse on Hudson River |
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| Lighthouse on Hudson River |
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| Lighthouse on Hudson River |
Wednesday, June 27 was another short run mainly because the currents were against us and it was slow going. We docked at the new aluminum Athens, NY town dock. We had an enjoyable time walking through the town. A couple restaurants, a waterfront park and a laundry were the offerings. So laundry it was. I used Gigi's stroller to carry the laundry to and from the boat. A light breeze was blowing when I got back to the boat. As I lifted the clean clothes to Rusty who was on the boat, he reached out his hand and said, "Watch the...." I followed the hand and my eyes rested on two towels that seemed to be blowing away. But no, Rusty meant the stroller. I glanced over to where the stroller was and it was no more. It had been blown along the aluminum dock and into the water. I ran to the end of the dock, lay down and grabbed a wheel just as it was about to go under. The clean bed sheets fell out of the stroller and floated long enough for me to grab them. Alas the pillowcases are history.
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| House with a tower and a 360 degree view |
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| Athens, NY: crypt |
Thursday morning we headed for Waterford, NY, a popular junction where the decision needs to be made either to head north or east.
I think I only bruised my ribs. Ibuprofen is doing its job. As we approched the Waterford dock, there was no one to help us so I threw the spring line over a cleat and drew it in through the howser. It was too short to secure properly so I ran and threw the stern line to the dock and jumped on the dock. As I jumped I pushed the boat moved away and I lost my balance. With one foot on the dock and the opposite arm around the railing I knew the next direction I would go was in the water. Just at that moment Rusty put the bow thruster in gear and brought the boat and me back to the dock. That was a dumb move on my part.
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