After Smokey helped us with laundry, we decided to take a last visit to Block Island. We managed to hit it over the Labor Day weekend... Boats were tied up at the docks three deep, mooring balls were impossible, and anchoring was difficult. But Luke did well and we managed to find an anchorage, as far away from town as possible! We did make it to town for a walk around the area and a quick stop at the one grocery store on the island. Yes, groceries have to be brought in, but the prices were HIGH. We picked up a few essentials and headed back, past this beautiful little pond.
I could NOT resist this....I am sure they meant well...
A scoot back across the to the coastal side of the Atlantic to Mystic Seaport. Such a beautiful place! We anchor about 2 miles out of town and take the dinghy in, through the bridge in town that has huge concrete blocks that balance the drawbridge.
A little further and you are in Old Mystic Seaport, past the old lighthouse.
Mystic Seaport has several renovated beautiful ships, such as the old whaling ship, the Charles Morgan..Here is a great link to her history https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_W._Morgan_(ship)
The old village is also reconstructed, with shops and workshops to visit.
From Mystic we headed up Long Island Sound, first stop Point Jefferson. It was still hot and Smokey soon figured out that the breeze on Latitudes side was the best option.
Along the way, we passed island owned by the inventor of the segway. the insulin pump, the portable dialysis machine, an all terrain wheelchair, a water purifier for developing countries, and a compressed air device that would launch a human into the air in order to quickly lift teams or other emergency workers to the roofs of tall, inaccessible buildings. Worth a mere $500M, he can afford his island, complete with a miniature Stonehenge (right side of the island) A link to Dean Kamen https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dean_Kamen
Yes, it's hazy hot. The haze finally broke (but not the heat) as we arrived at Port Jefferson. The blue water and green grasses were beautiful as we approached.
Look at the shore - a deer is grazing in the grasses.
Best of all, at Port Washington we caught up with Luke's friend Andy, his old friend from his 20's and Andy's girlfriend Kristi! It was great for Luke to remember old times and for me to finally meet them.
Then onward to one of my favorite stretches, NYC! Past the lighthouse
And here comes NYC, past the infamous Hell's Gate!
One of the new, eclectic buildings with the iconic Empire State Building in the background.
And Lady Liberty! I never tire of seeing her.
We stay to the far side of the channel, allowing the large ships to pass us in the center of the channel. HUGE cruise ships and cargo ships.
We finally left NYC behind and found an anchorage behind Sandy Hook. It was STILL hot. Smoke, ever a smart cat, found the best way to take advantage of the fan.
We waited out a strong storm that fortunately ran around us. It seemed to be a precursor of storms to come. We left Sandy Hook early and tried to make it down the Atlantic as far as Cape May. Nope, couldn't do it - storms swarmed southward of us and we gave up and went into Atlantic City.
Not the best idea. The weather turned progressively worse and hurricane Florence threatened us. Fellow boaters NORTHWARD in Barnegat invited us to come back north and wait Florence out in their hurricane safe dock. We hated to go back north by another full day but gratefully did so. Fog set in before we left Atlantic City and stayed. We FINALLY made it in, through the rough waters of the inlet but the fog just got worse. We pride ourselves in being able to use our GPS and equipment to navigate but about half way from the inlet to our friends home we were hopelessly fogged in. No matter where we turned, the water was shallow and we could not find the channel out. Our friend recommended his good friend Len, a Coast Guard Auxiliary boater. Len and a buddy braved the fog, found us, and guided us the rest of the way! That is Len's boat in front of us and Smokey on the bow, enjoying the slow, cool ride.
After 7 fun days of good friendship, good food, shopping, groceries, and laundry, we left, again trying to make it to the Chesapeake. The sky was clear!
Barnegat Light is the tallest lighthouse along this section of the Atlantic coast.
This time we made it past Cape May and up the Delaware. In the haze, we passed the Delaware coast of Cape May, a freighter with "Shale gas for Europe", and the Ship John Shoal lighthouse.
Finally, into the C&D Canal, approaching her many bridges.
About half way through the canal, we stopped for a few days at Chesapeake City. Old narrow streets hold small old buildings full of new shops.
And, so much fun, a much missed Bahamas-style cruisers party!
A quick stop in Georgetown took us to Wind Song, Luke's first sailboat and now Alex's sailboat. He has refinished her beautifully and has awesome plans to sail her to Maine. It was great to see her again.
A gray day to Annapolis. We passed this beautiful 3 masted ship.
The Annapolis waterfront was flooded from heavy rains. The ducks along Ego Alley loved it.
Old Annapolis has narrow streets.
But the Governors Manson has plenty of room!
From Annapolis we battled choppy waters, cold weather, and wind to Reedville, about a day's sail to our original destination Deltaville. As we anchored in the chop, we decided that another day was just one more day too much and Reedville would be just fine for her winter home and probably for next summer. So, we scooted to a recommended marina the next day, made arrangements, and are home for the winter.
Reedville has a nice Fisherman's Monument next to the menhaden processing plant. The blue ship is one of the menhaden ships.
The menhaden ships all have smaller boats aboard that they take out with them. The smaller boats deploy the fishing nets.
And here is most of the plant
Best of all? There is an eagle nest at the top of the Fisherman's Monument!
A couple of days to get Latitudes' ready and she was hauled and put on stands in the yard for the winter.
Now, 3 1/2 months later, we are still trying to leave in the RV to go south for the winter. She sits, ready, in our driveway, blocking all views!
3 campgrounds have been canceled due to the government shutdown, then rain, and now high winds. These have all contributed to keeping us here longer than we thought. Maybe tomorrow....At least that will be the next blog!
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