June 9 update

May 28, 29, 30, 31

Ah, the joys of cruising. Grocery store is .8 of a mile. This is a small downtown store that carry’s most of what you need, at 30% more than Food Lion. Food Lion is 3 miles. Load the pull cart and start for home. Alice see’s Tee Shirts on sale so she goes to look while you stand on sidewalk with cart. Does not matter the shirts are for  me.

We next diagnose a repair for the boat and I set off to fix it for now. Real fix will require more work but my temporary should carry us for the rest of the cruise.

The weather for the next 2 days will keep us close with highs of 60.

Rain day, high of 58, and reverse cycle air/heat feels pretty good. Robert got the pump and is bringing it. At the next stop I will determine how to best install this new type pump for the air/heat system.

Spent the day comparing outside (ocean) versus inside passage to New York. Down loaded a new Program called Active Captain where comments on anchoring, marinas, and routes by cruising sailors is posted to the U.S. marine map where after you join you can go to that area and read what is available.

Like how is the intracoastal from Atlantic City to Manasquan? This is a really GREAT program and if you are reading this blog and you cruise, you will want this program. Besides it is free. The program comments lead us to check this am with Tow Boat US to see if we can run inside or not. The first 10 miles is the worst, but at Manasquan people are talking about a closure from Sandy that has not been repaired.

Lewes, De. Is a nice town set up for the tourist trade and weekend fishermen. Lots of good places to eat, clothing stores, and etc. 1800,s history is the attraction particularly the war of 1812. Big disadvantage for a cruiser is lack of hardware and grocery stores in the downtown area.

Canal entrance is 10 foot deep with the canal averaging 13 foot at low water. Biggest distraction is the 4-6 knot current in the canal with the tides. We waited to go out until slack current this time, a good 1.5 hours after high tide.

June 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

We moved to Cape May for a retina specialist appointment that I have Wednesday morning. This was a planned stop to see Friends and relatives who live in this area. We have someone coming everyday.

The weather may hold us here until Friday before we can move up the coast.

We stayed at Utsch’s Marina. Nice facilities for boats drawing 5 feet or less. Check your tides.

June 6

Left Cape May for a 5 hour run to Atlantic City. We anchored in a spot shown to us by Dick Greenwood and used Active Captain to guide ourselves in. We were 3 hours prior to high tide and saw 6 feet a couple of times. This run in is doable but is not for the faint of heart. If no markers are available stay 10 foot off the grass.

June 7

We left for Sandy Hook at 5:30 a.m. We averaged 8.2 knots for the trip and arrived in Sandy Hook at 4 pm. We had a really nice trip with waves less than 2 feet. I cannot say the same for Sandy Hook on a weekend. The marinas are still hurting from Sandy, and those that are open are costly.

We are sitting in an open anchorage waiting for the weekenders to quite running so we can have dinner. And get some sleep.

Hard to describe the New York Skyline as you approach off the Atlantic. Tried to take a picture but it does not  do what we saw justice. The last time I went through New York Harbor was at night with Bill Kirsch when he helped me deliver the Freedom to its new owner in Rhode Island. That was a sight to remember.

We will head up the Hudson in the a.m.to an anchorage that hopefully is better than this.

June 8

It was a terrible night at anchorage. It read like a weather report from NOAA with waves 1-2 foot and wind from any direction but the one they predicted. So we are off at 5:30 am to have less current against us up the Hudson. A really quite ride through NY harbor with no real traffic to contend with.

Stopped at Tarrytown to fill with diesel and pay New York prices, 4.50 per gallon.

We are way too early to anchor and besides the whole state of New York is anchored in this spot, so we move on to Newburgh for the night.

June 9

Now we face 2 days at 40 miles each or one big day at 80 miles and one lock at the end the Troy Federal lock. We opt for a long day besides it is raining and the further north we go the less likelihood of rain. The forecast held and by noon we were out of the rain. We tied up at the Waterford Visitors center free dock.  They provide internet, bathrooms, and water, electric costs $5 per day. You can spend 2 days, to provision your boat etc. We are here and will stay the 2 days.