PROVINCETOWN, MA. TO ISLES OF SHOALS, MAINE

DAY #13 - SATURDAY, JULY 24TH, 2009



Now that the wind had finally relaxed a bit we set out north on Massachusetts Bay for Isles of Shoals. They are a group of nine islands six miles off of Portsmouth. Four of the islands are in New Hampshire and five are in Maine. We set are anchor in New Hampshire but the boat ended up on the Maine side of the line. Once a resort, the community on Star Island is now owned by the Unitarian Church.

On the way to Isles of Shoals, we saw several whales but it always seems to be impossible to get pictures of them.



It was a pleasure to be back among the colorful lobster boats.





This boat is not far from the place it was named after (Boston Whaler).





One often has the opportunity to see wonderful sunsets from this harbor. The icing on the cake was being able to once again listen to one of our favorite radio shows, Thistle and Shamrock, as the sun set.

66.5 NM

PROVINCETOWN (CAPE COD)

DAY #12 - FRIDAY, JULY 24TH, 2009



As you probably know, residents and visitors of "P Town" enjoy a freedom of expression which is not always appreciated or allowed in other places.



Once the main stay of the community, commercial fishing is declining due to dwindling seafood populations, increasingly restrictive regulations, and out of sight real estate prices. Consequently, most fishermen are finding new occupations, and new places to live.



The Pilgrim Monument is the tallest structure in the U.S. which is built solely of granite. It was built to commemorate the first landing of the Pilgrims. However, they finally moved on to Plymouth due to a lack of good soil in Provincetown.

ONSET, MA. TO PROVINCETOWN, MA. (CAPE COD)

DAY #11 - THURSDAY, JULY 23RD, 2009



As the sun was rising we caught the flooding current and motored north through the Cape Cod Canal. We passed under several bridges, such as the railroad lift bridge pictured here.



After crossing Cape Cod Bay we entered the hook shaped harbor of Provincetown at the tip of Cape Cod.



We ended up taking a mooring (which is rather unusual for us) because a gale was predicted that night. It turned out to be a wild night even though we were on a mooring.

34.4 NM

FISHER'S ISLAND, N. Y. TO ONSET, MA.

DAY #10 - WEDNESDAY, JULY 22ND, 2009



With favorable weather, we set out along the south shores of Connecticut and Rhode Island while making our way east to Buzzard's Bay where we turned north again.



We have found that this year we need to always be on the lookout for logs and large pieces of wood.

We stopped for a short night in the harbor of Onset, MA., which is just before the Cape Cod Canal.

71.9 NM

FISHERS ISLAND, N. Y.

DAY #9 - TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2009

We stayed at anchor due to weather.



The "Spirit Of South Carolina" anchored nearby. She was launched in 2007. She is a Sail Training Vessel which was built according to the traditional Pilot Schooner designs.

OYSTER BAY, N. Y. TO FISHERS ISLAND, N.Y.

DAY #8 - MONDAY, JULY 20TH, 2009

We got up with the sun and headed east on Long Island Sound.

We got lucky and rode the current as we approached the Race at the east end of the Sound and arrived at Fishers Island where we anchored for the night.



Fishers Island: In 1664, the Duke of York gave the island to New York under a land grant, but the Winthrops were allowed to remain on the island with their small farms. Later in 1863, Robert Fox purchased the island for $55,000 and restored farming here. During the Prohibition-era 1920s, rum running was prevalent. Also in the 1920s, a summer colony was planned and the farmland was turned into estates with large homes, many of which can be seen from the waterside.

76.2 NM

ATLANTIC HIGHLAND, N. J. TO OYSTER BAY, N. Y. (NORTH SHORE LONG ISLAND)

DAY 7 - SUNDAY, JULY 19TH, 2009

After fueling up we set out so that we would be at the Battery in New York at two hours after low water. This is done so that you ride the fast currents through the East River and Hells Gate at a favorable yet relatively slow and controlled rate.



The Statue Of Liberty was a gift from France in 1886.







It was Sunday and I think that everyone in the city was out on the water in every imaginable sort of craft. We even saw sailboats doing man-over-board drills right in the middle of New York Harbor with the ferries, etc going by. The only thing lacking in the picture was the usual police and coast guard boats every quarter mile - I think they must have all had the weekend off. The power boaters could not have been more rude and inconsiderate in the operation of their boats. Apparently there is nothing worse than and New Yorker behind the wheel of a power boat. They were downright dangerous. We will never go through New York on a weekend again.





Fortification at the entrance to the East River.



Let's have dinner on the water.



Every bridge on the East River is constructed in a different way.





We followed a double wide barge and tug into the East River.




This is Hells Gate. As you can tell from the photo we got there only a half hour too late and I bet those folks in the row boat wish they were somewhere else. As we passed them the barge was right behind us blowing its horn like mad to warn them to get out of the way. We took this photo just after getting a wave over the bow which was large enough to soak us in the cockpit.



We were only 1/2 hour late and yet the current was pushing us at 11.1 + knots (normal cruising speed is 6 knots).



This is the abandoned Riverside Hospital on North Brother Island (1885 - 1938). It was a quarantine facility and Typhoid Mary died here.



Leaving New York in the distance as we enter the west end of Long Island Sound.



Sunset at Oyster Bay.



A lobster man heading home with the sun.

We stopped for the night at Oyster Bay.

52.7 NM

CAPE MAY, N.J. TO ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS, N. J.

DAY #6 - JULY 18TH, 2009

We headed out relatively early for Atlantic City. After charging the batteries (by running the engine) we had a wonderful sail to Atlantic City. In fact we got there so early (noon), and the sailing was so nice, that we decided to pass right by it and continue on to Atlantic Highlands. Well, wouldn't you know it that shortly thereafter the wind became variable and we had to motor the rest of the way. Got in at 02:30am.



We thought these condos (?) at Sandy Hook were rather interesting because they were constructed in such a way as to match with the back ground colors.



Jelly fish in the sky.

116.7 NM

VEASEY COVE, MARYLAND TO CAPE MAY, NEW JERSEY

DAY #5 - JULY 17TH, 2009

In order to pass through the C & D Canal (the canal between the upper Chesapeake and Delaware Bays) one must time his passage so that he arrives at Chesapeake City (a very small town on the canal) at low water. That way passage through the canal and down the Delaware Bay is with favorable currents.

Today we set out as the sun was rising.



The barges are constantly on the move regardless of the time of day.



Even larger classic sailing vessels, such as "Frietha" were on the move, with the current, in the canal.



A nuclear power plant, on the shore of the Delaware Bay, was passed along the way.



After riding the tide down the Delaware we passed through Cape May Canal and anchored in front of the Coast Guard Station (one of their main training facilities)at Cape May.

71.4 NM

VEASEY COVE, BOHEMIA RIVER (N. CHESAPEAKE EASTERN SHORE)

DAY #4 - JULY 16TH, 2009

Today we stayed at Veasey Cove since the winds were coming straight up the Delaware Bay (which is the next leg of our voyage).



The swimming was great in the nearly fresh water of the upper Chesapeake Bay and the day was finished off by a great sunset.

MAGOTHY RIVER TO VEASEY COVE IN BOHEMIA RIVER

WEDNESDAY - JULY 15TH, 2009

This fellow not only has his own island to live on, but he also has his own light house.



We had a very nice sail north in the Bay to Veasey Cove, which is where we hang out to wait for the appropriate time to pass through the C & D Canal and down the Delaware Bay.

38.8 NM

HUDSON CREEK TO DOBBINS ISLAND, MAGOTHY RIVER

TUESDAY, JULY 14, 2009



Yes Sir - you definitely have the right of way.



We headed north in the Bay, past Sandy Point Shoal Light, and turned into the Magothy River, and found a very nice anchorage just north of Dobbins Island.



41.6 NM

SOLOMONS, MARYLAND TO HUDSON CREEK, LITTLE CHOPTANK

MONDAY, JULY 13TH, 2009

Finally after 2.5 days of organizing the boat we finally set out on our grand voyage. The boat was still a disaster zone but we just could not stay in the marina another night.



So we followed the Vikings from the Maritime Museum out of the harbor, and rounded the point, and headed north past our first lighthouse.





Once we were out on the Chesapeake we were reminded of the assortment of vessels that were joining us in our travels.



We started late but we were able to get to one of our favorite remote anchorages away from .....

23.9 NM

SUMMER 2009 SAILING TRIP TO MAINE

THURSDAY, JULY 9TH, 2009

We understand that it is time to get out of the "mere" when the buzzards start gathering on the local hanging tree.



So, tomorrow we will begin our summer adventure by hitting the road and traveling north to Solomons, Maryland (where we keep our Cape Dory Cutter).

We have already been off work for 16 days while preparing for this trip. The list which goes on and on includes: hurricane proofing the house; mending the farm fences; pushing back the jungle; buying 4 months of provisions; paying 5 months of bills in advance; preparing boat gear; packing gear and clothes; etc., etc.. We have been going nonstop from sun up to past sunset --- but now we are calling it done and will tear up the remaining lists.

This summer we aim to spend a relatively relaxed time sailing, exploring, and hiking the coast of Maine. Last summer we were always on the run, in our effort to sail north to Canada and back. We returned home last fall feeling that we had done too little actual sailing and exploring ashore. So this year we hope to compensate for those things.

We hope to see our sailing friends during our travels, and as usual all friends are invited to join us at any time providing they are willing to catch up with us whereever we are and are willing to rough it a little.

For the rest of you, feel free to follow along with us via this blog. You can always click on the SPOT link to see where we are each day, since we are not always able to keep the blog up to date.

Also, remember that the latest posts are first and that you can click on all photos to enlarge them.