Asquith Island

10/30/14

So cool to follow our AquaMap track out of Dun Cove this morning. Easy Peasy.

We got started a little late for our intended stop at Asquith Island. We lose the hour to get out of Dun and back to the main channel of the Chesapeake and another to get up into Asquith. But we really liked Dun, it was worth it. Would our next stop be so nice? We were to find out. 

Asquith is wide open. Not really a good place in a blow but just fine for Thursday night. The tall trees and low land felt like we were on Safari. Lovely in it's own way. Not the least bit quaint. And the water is shallow like being in a sea of 9 ft or less. So you drop hook pretty far out. Just different from what we've experienced so far.

(Anchorage at 56):

Dun Cove , Tilghman Island

IWesnesday night was very peaceful tucked In behind Tilghman Island in Dun Cove. 

Lot's of shallow water but there is a channel offering 8-12 ft depths. We anchored in7.5 ft.

The wind was whipping on our way in which was nice heading south but on the nose once we made the turn for the hour it took us to get up to Dun.

Great to follow our path out this morning as seen on AquaMap tracking. 

Dun Cove anchorage at 48:

Started sailing this morning but have now switched to motor- sailing. Saw our first pelicans of the trip. I had no idea the'd be this far north.

And more of the Northern Gannet. Cool white large bird with black primary wing feathers (the "hand").

Making our way to Asquith island if all goes according to plan.

Safe at Reedville

We'll hang out here in Cockels Creek as the impending Nor'easter heads on in and out over the weekend. An amazing town. 

Spa Creek, Back Creek

Nice nice place for either a hook or a mooring ball. Easy dinghy rise in for walking about town too. Very picturesque! We loved this spot in Spa Creek, Annapolis. (42 on map).

Back Creek (near 44 on map below) is closer to amenities like hdw and groceries and offers great holding. The quieter part of this busy creek is as far back in the creek as one can go. 

Heading out of Annapolis, one passes lovely Thomas Point Light House. The Christmas Shop models of this light do not do it justice :-).

Lighthouses of the Chesapeake

Thomas Pt Shoal Light; beautiful..

Sharing the Chesapeake

10/30/14

Every sail on this schooner has been struck. It doesn't get more beautiful than this!

Her name is Lynx and is 23 meters long and 8 meters wide.

Sailing out of Annapolis

We've left Annapolis and the Wind gods have provided beautiful direction and speed for Chesapeake sailors. We're warm today and heading south. 

We see forecasts for cold and high winds as the weekend approaches so we're enjoying this delightful day for all it's giving us,

Back Creek in annapolis

We spent yesterday afternoon after Barclay left on a re provisioning trip to the Giant Food store and of course we had a list for the chandlery. Fawcets in Annapolis is a great store with super selection. Few things here and there .....nothing serious to buy. Thankfully.....
We anchored way back up in Back Creek. Active Captain has been very very helpful with good tips and lots of reviews of various locations. We are also having great success with Aqua Map, a charting app that was recommended by Jeff at Active Captain. This app is well done, great graphics and super customer service from its Italian writer georgio. I highly recommend it.

Things to be thankful for this morning.....

......the anchor held, the wind has backed to just west of north. Now this may not be earthshaking to some people but when you're sitting on a boat waiting for this darn low pressure system to freakin leave, it's monumental...😀

Annapolis

On to Annapolis and through the draw bridge at Spa Creek:

Up the Delaware, C and D, and on to Chesapeake

IStaying behind Reedy Island ( near 31 on provided map) was really cool. And coming in behind the jetty after dark, when the jetty was mostly under water have us a lot of confidence. We did it well. It completely wiped our slate clean after our after dark trouncing at Haverstraw Bay.

C and D Canal, Chesapeake and Delaware, our entry at the eastern end at 34. 

The next memorable section of the trip was up in the northern portion of the Chesapeake. Lovely day weather wise but a little light on breeze. Great views. The night's anchorage was our favorite up in the Sassafras. Ducks making a funny racket over on the opposite shore. The sound like they're laughing hysterically one minute and arguing the next. 

Light house on the Delaware:

And one on the Chesapeake:

One thing I love about transporting the boat is going under bridges. The geometric pattern of
bridge's are cool anyway but to add your spar into the mix is even better.

Chesapeake Bay Bridge:

On to Annapolis we went. Hope to stay an extra day just to enjoy the area. This little city has a good vibe to it.

The best time to come to Annapolis

....... Is  mid October. Quite, not to many people and lots of moorings. We'll stay here for a couple of days to re provision, give IE a bath and chill. 

Heading for Annapolis

After a remarkably wonderful evening on the sassafras river, we're up and running for Annapolis this morning. Smooth motoring is appreciated after yesterday's slog into the NW winds and 2 ft seas coming down from the cd canal. A really beautiful morning!

Barclay catching up on work stuff. 

31.5 hours....

From Atlantic Highlands to Reedy Island at the entrance to the CD canal.  An epic sail down the jersey coast.....wind over the starboard beam, no waves and clear night skies. Unnnnnbelievable weather window opened for us. We'll continue through the CD canal today and make our way to Annapolis to drop off our crew mate and best buddy Barclay. 

Keeping it fun

It's so nice to have a third person on-board!! Thank you Barclay. 

Down from Atlantic Highlands NJ

We had a pretty bumpy stay at Atlantic Highlands until the hour we were to leave. The winds settled right down and we were off. 

We each took 2 hours on-watch, One person on standby, And the third person off-watch resting. I really liked the standby concept because there was additional insight into what was being seen on charts, input into decisions, help sail handling, and just plain good company for the over nighter sail down to Cape May and up Delaware Bay. The rotation worked well.

Glorious sail that night With full main and full jib. Not sure about our SOG but knot meter was up at 8 - 9.2 knots. Winds were building but driving without auto-pilot was such a treat in the darkness of the night,there was no way I was giving it up. Then the breezes fell off and full sails were needed anyway. The fellas had to dump them during my off- watch. What a beautiful night. And Orion on the horizon then rising up overhead was icing on the cake.

Reedy island

Left Reedy Island in Delaware Bay this morning. Very choppy where the Delaware River and the CandD Canal come together. 

Bald eagle seen on a piece of the jetty. Always nice to see such a majestic bird.

Have made the turn into the C and D now. Onward to Chesapeake.

Off at 1527 on Friday.

Quite a hectic day getting ready for sea but we' re now away from Atlantic Higjlands. Next stop cape may. 

Sandy Hook sunset

10/21/14

Sandy Hook at sunset is lovely tonight:

 

Safely behind Atlantic highlands breakwater

After a fairly comfortable night out at the end of sandy hook, we looked at the wind forecast gribs for the next 24-36 hours. With the backing wind to the NW, the protection would become less so we hightailed it 30 minutes south to a more protected anchorage. Tucked in nicely now. Gale warnings up now so we're sittin it out. 

NYC

Oh gosh how beautiful the City is from the water. But before heading out, we had some boat chores to do, rigging, putting on the main, and the like. Minnie the admiral continued to do her part to help and to supervise.

On to the City--

Omg. The night's anchorage beheld views of the World Trade Tower lit up, the Veranzano Bridge lit up, and the Statue of Liberty, the lady of the harbor's Torch all lit up . Absolutely amazing!

Alone at sandy hook.....

......at least at this point in time this afternoon.  I just checked outside now after dinner and it appears that we've been joined by a couple of other sailboats now anchored further out than us. 

We'll wait out here for a NW breeze to carry us down to Cape May maybe Thursday??? 

Down the Hudson

10/20/14

I love the views on the Hudson River. But I'm torn about whether I like the closeness of the canal, where you feel like you're in the game, or the larger expanse of the Hudson, which has views but one feels like being in the audience..both are great. Best of both worlds.

Sharing the water with ships-

Cliffs just north of West Point-

River lighthouses needing repair-

The Esopus Island Light-

Beautiful fall colors everywhere- 

At the end of day, we were in Haverstraw Bay making a way too exciting after dark entrance at Half Moon Marina. The light being out at the end of their breakwater was the beginning of the excitement.

Friend Barclay joined after taking train from PBurgh down to Croton NY. Great to have him aboard. Minnie is happy too that her uncle is here. All is well.

Changing out the old head

10/18/14

Another reason for staying at Riverview an extra day was to receive the drop shipment of a toilet. The old head was rebuilt in the past 3 times by Ernie and we have now given it up. The crapper crapped out. We waited for the UPS man to arrive and then Ernie went to work on it.

Have to admit that the end of day was about 8 pm before he could wrap it up.

But it's done; the new throne is in. He who does the install gets to christen it. Anything else I say is too much information...

Minnie at Sea

Some cats have an exciting life. Minnie living it up in NYC.

Real time blog

NYC World Trade Center

When is better good enough

There's an interesting discussion on Attainable Adventure Cruising about seeking perfection in projects or making improvements that are good enough. I like to say that 'better' is good enough if one wants to go sailing. That's the discussion: in seeking perfection does everything cost too much, take too long to plan and get parts for, let alone install?

So if we all want to get out for adventure and fun, isn't good enough good enough? We vote yes. 

So on my icebox blog, did I rip off the counter and pull out all the old material?

And end up with a monstrously huge reefer/freezer? No, I made it better by adding insulation, and making the space smaller inside so it's less volume to cool.

And I added the bubble wrap because I had it. It's now better than the old icebox. And I moved on to other projects 

and the adventure of heading down the Hudson...Better is better.

Friday morning sunrise

10/17/14

Early morning sunrise was beautiful and warm:

And the boat rested happily at Riverview. We await shipments of a couple key items we need. 

A tale of an icebox- or at least it used to hold ice to keep things cool. One of Bette's projects was to create refrig and freezer and add insulation. I added a seamless moisture barrier and insulation and put in new interior walls connected with fiberglass. Had to test glass adhesion and corner angles but once that was done I was ready to lay in some fiberglass strips. I crawled up inside the box ( before the separation wall was put in) in order to get at all the seams. Glad no one came along and shut the door. 

Now there's a Frigaboat plate in each box and a compressor to cool them. One for each ( makes one the spare if things go wrong). And here's the rest of the story-- the freezer is full to the brim .

And bubble wrap over that

And more bubble wrap inside a washable 

fabric sleeve over the top countertop even though I insulated the ceiling of the icebox. 

Of course the icing on the cake was the wonderful meal we had last night from the freezer--Thai red curry sauce with chicken and vege's. Plus a salad. Just wonderful!

Underway

Coming up on east Kingston.  Tides on the nose for another half hour then a nice bump from behind. Sunny and cool with NW wind in our favor. 

Mast up - we're a sailboat!

10/16/14

We made it to River View Marine Services on Thursday. 

Mast went up a couple of hours after our arrival. Everything pretty much went like clock-work. But the clean-up does take awhile. Mast cradle added to the pile of returnees. Seeing familiar boat names in the pile: like Antares, and Alchemy (sailingwithkids is their blog). 

Light house by Hudson NY:

We were exhausted at the end of another long day. No one felt like cooking so we enjoyed a meal out. And then crashed as the sand man had cometh.

Long day today

10/15/14

We had a long day but we found ourselves a quiet spot behind Coxsackie Island, NY. H Active Captain likes this spot too. We had been making over 6 knots until 45 minutes ago when the current changed to flooding and added to the speed loss we had from breeze on the nose. Now making 5 knots so we called it done for the day. 

The locks are all behind us. You know, some are so easy and some, like lock3, are not. The cross wind was strong; without mention from the lock master, only 1 door opened; the incoming northbound barge was right in front of the door; another barge was right behind it but on the opposite side from the first barge. No input or info offered up from the man in charge of this lock. For the most part, the lock masters are a friendly and congenial lot. And they offered a fair amount of useful information when we called ahead to each of them asking for special instructions. But 1 was not so helpful to put it mildly. A minority, but the situation dampened the experience of the day. 

Two big bald eagles showed us their colors today- how cool is that. Mag up on the white spot on the rightmost shore, that's one. The other is above in the tree and impossible to see in this photo:

Selfies are a funny thing and over-used. Here's one anyway:

Enough for today . It's time for dinner.