Wednesday, June 17 - Branford, CT to Connecticut River - Old Lyme, CT (Old Lyme Marina)

Our weather apps reported high winds 15-20knots in the early morning, dying way down by 11:00am.  So we took it easy in the morning and headed out right after 11:00 - we followed several other boats out who must have been reading the same weather conditions.

The run to Old Lyme was only 3 or 4 hours.  We were still in the Long Island Sound but we would turn up into the Connecticut River at Old Saybrook Point.   As we turned at Old Saybrook Point Harry identified the beloved house of Katharine Hepburn that was right on the water.  I read that she had a place in NY but she claims she spent less than 10 weekends there her entire life.  This was the house she grew up in.  It went on to say she swam every morning, even in the winter and the Sound was rough water. 

Old Saybrook Point Lighthouse

Coming up the Connecticut River, Old Saybrook is on the left and Old Lyme is further up on the right. 

After we got settled, we took our first dinghy ride on this trip across the river to have a late lunch in Old Saybrook.  I love a good dinghy ride - most cities have a town dock where you can tie up.  But this town dock is very far from the downtown - so we just had lunch and headed back - we would tour the city when we had more energy.    But on a side note about energy - Harry Martens has more of it than anybody i know.  he is wearing me out!!!  I can barely keep up.  

We headed to dinner at the suggestion of the dock master at a place up the hill and a few blocks away.  The walk was not bad and the dinner was fine - i think i ordered something crazy like wild boar spring rolls ? what the heck? and Harry undoubtedly ordered some queasy bottom dweller.  Harry keeps claiming that by the time we leave New England i will be a seafood lover.  now, who do you think is going to win that one?  

The sunset was gorgeous!

Tuesday, June 16 - Stamford, CT to Branford, CT (Brewer Bruce & Johnson’s Marina)

Cruise was as calm as could be - so i guess Poseidon was watching over me on this day.  (Thanks Jan)  

The long island sound is another huge body of water so not many action shots during the cruise.  Just lots and lots of water (CALM waters today). I read my book, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks - a fascinatingly, true book.  Arrived fairly early in Branford and as we approached the marina Harry showed me the house he and his friend Vinnie lived in together years and years ago, he showed me the rocks way out in the sound that they held onto when their sailboat capsized, and he spoke of the boat rides they’d take across the sound AT NIGHT!  

Upon arrival we walked around the marina and who do we run smack dab into?  Mike!  of the Mike and Karen we had met in Portsmouth, VA - you know, the kind people that stopped to assist the sailors who had gone aground and in doing so caused $5000 worth of damage to their own boat?  Well that kind assist continued to backfire (an additional $10,000 worth of damage) on these kind people and they had to have their boat towed into the Branford Marina Boat Yard.  For those interested - here’s what i was told happened…(or something close to this happened) the initial damage to the rudder post had broken off into the manifold of one of the engines.  Therefore the other engine started sucking in the exhaust from the ruptured manifold and filled the entire cabin with black smoke.  Literally, Mike and Karen had a black cloud over their heads.  They did not live far away and he wold come in periodically to check the worker’s progress.  Running into Mike was a synchronistic meeting - we were walking by as he was driving by…..life is special that way. 

Jerry i thought of you when i saw all the grills and picnic tables.  oh we would have fun here.  I imagined all of us sitting around sipping wine watching you grill our dinner!!  and look they had both types - charcoal and propane (and we know which you’d choose.) 

Dinner was not grilled by Jerry but there was a sweet little place steps away from the dock.  Harry was thrilled because they many of his favorites - little neck clams (gross!) and  steamers (so gross they come with a cleaning sauce!) and carrot cake (not gross at all!).

looking at boats and acting silly

steamers

Monday, June 15 - NYC to Stamford, CT (Seaview Harbor Marina)

Short cruise day, so we left after we walked into town and found a BJ’s and a liquor store - so we’re good to go!!   I didn’t want to leave in fog and rain but we did.

Lots to look at as we headed up the East River toward Stamford, CT.  I could see street signs that were telling me where we were in the city and i imagined the streets where Betty Ann and Cindy lived 28th, 33rd, Empire and Chrysler Bldgs., Tudor City….

The Empire and Chrysler Bldgs, i think.

rough weather sets in

The east river dumps itself (or the other way around) into the Long Island Sound…and the waters got nastier instead of better. I don’t believe i was a happy camper upon entering the marina (thus, no pictures)….getting a bit tired of feeling anxious and nauseous, but knowing we have a two weeks reprieve soon in Old Lyme helps.  

Sunday, June 14 - Cape May, NJ to New York City (Newport Yacht Club and Marina) (actually in Jersey)

Cape May to New  York City was a long haul but the weather/wind apps reported very calm seas and since this would be the first time i’d be in the ocean waters all day long we decided to make a run for it; with the caveat that if it did turn really rough, we’d stop in Atlantic City. 

The cruise in the Atlantic Ocean was amazingly calm - a bit boring since the Captain wanted to stay pretty far off shore.  But often we’d come in close enough to see what was going on on the Jersey Shore.  It appeared to me that everyone in New Jersey was at the beach - for miles and miles little specks of people on the beaches. 

Then all of a sudden Atlantic City appears, looking like a large space station.

The thrill of the day came when we neared the New York Harbor.  Such a damn amazing city and to be able to be on the water and imagine what my ancestors may have felt as they turned off the Atlantic into New Your Harbor and saw Lady Liberty welcoming them in….

New York Harbor

bad shots of Lady Liberty and Ellis Island

The harbor was a buzz with activity - ferries, tour boats, sailboats, barges, and us.  The first part of manhattan that you see is lower manhattan, the financial district and the new world trade center, known as One World Trade Center and also knowns as the Freedom Tower.   It is the tallest building in the U.S. 

Our marina was up the Hudson River on the Jersey side so we could view Manhattan.  We had such a great view that we decided to order carry out and eat in - ahhh, a big city that has such - what a treat.  I ordered Indian and Harry ordered Chinese.  I walked into town to pick it up.  It felt exciting to be in the mix of a lot of people; while it wasn’t manhattan it did have a big city feel.  we were actually in Newport, New Jersey, very nice marina and nice area. 

Saturday, June 13 Cape May

Ann Leslie - did we ever visit Cape May while staying in Rehobeth?  You'd like this place....

LOVE this look inside the lobby of the Congress Hall 

I set up shop today to use the Congress Hall internet. 

Friday, June 12 - Chesapeake City, DE (C&D Canal) to Cape May, NJ (Lutsch's Marina)

This morning the canal is calm (headed into a strong strong current-but no biggie).  i really like the canal, it reminds me of the ICW and i feel safer than in those big waters.

I’m going to say right now before we are dumped into the ‘big waters’ of the Delaware Bay (much like the Chesapeake Bay) that from all the weather apps i’ve studied for today, i’m on the fence as to whether we should have pulled out or not.  wind knots of 10-15-17 expected in the bay.  i just don't have enough experience right now to be able to know what they feel like and what wave height that speed of wind produces.  so….i’m gambling.  i hope i lose and Harry is right, that the waters will be tolerable.

Disclosure - sorry about going back and forth in my sentence ‘tenses’ - when i write as we go, of course it’s present and then when i go back a few days later to post - i change to past tense and surely miss so much.  so please excuse that.

We made it to Cape May….and glad to report Harry won the bet!!!  Waters were fine! i was never scared and could even read a bit.  and this was big water - Delaware Bay.  They were a bit more choppy than the calm previous days but it did not bother me a bit.

As soon as we got in front of the marina the waters got really shallow and the winds really, really whipped up, (not a good combo) and we were in the cape may harbor!  the entrance was a tiny opening and then no one was around to lead us to our slip and so we went passed it. Harry had to turn around in this tiny marina (I think 60 ft was the largest boat length they take!) to return to our slip.  it was very scary, especially for him.  but he did great and we finally got in with a lot of help from dock hands - the wind was amazing how quickly it whipped up.  The marina guys said there was a fishing tournament going on and could only imagine how those guys on the ‘outside’ were faring in these gust winds.  thank goodness we were in - timing is amazing - if winds are going to whip up they usually do it in the afternoon.

The marina is not in downtown Cape May but out a bit but there are two restaurants nearby that seem good.  Highly recommend this marina - family owned and people go out of their way to help you.  They gave us a gift bag upon registering.  Cranberry wine, Cape May soap, biscotti, newspaper, Cape May map and restaurant guide.  very nice.  i figure the wine will make good salad dressing.  

We plan to stay over and see what’s up with Cape May.

Thursday, June 11 - Annapolis, MD to C & D (Chesapeake and Delaware) to Chesapeake City, DE (Schafer’s Canal House and Marina) 

Another wonderfully calm day on the Chesapeake Bay!!!! This was a long day for us.  Once out of the Chesapeake Bay, we headed northeast into the C&D canal, initially dug out in 1822 by more than 2600 men with shovels and pickaxes to provide a boon in the shipping industry.  Took them seven years and it was 10 ft deep and only 66 feet wide.  Of course, several expansion have occurred since then bringing it to a depth of 35 feet and an impressive 400 ft wide.  Small cities (tankers) move up and down this canal day and night.

down below, reading and writing while cruising - my little walkie talkie is for Harry to call me when he needs me...

The marina was right outside a restaurant so we were in everyone faces - kinda strange and kinda neat…they had live entertainment and so we ordered dinner and they brought it to the boat.  Several peeps came over to admire the boat and Harry, with martini in hand, was more than pleased to talk (to anyone else but me) about his beloved boat.  I often think he may be starved for conversation.  

Sorry Schafer’s - but i do not recommend this marina….you’re simply tied up on the side of the canal without any protection.  several wakes awoke us during the night.  once i thought our lines had snapped.  and did i get up? No.  i just laid there and imagined us floating quietly down the canal until we hit shore….sweet dreams.