Days relaxing seemed to last forever

Seal Bay was good therapy. We spent the 4 days reading, sorting thru clothing and gear to decide what to take off the boat for the winter and what to leave.
D finished a book and started another. This summer has been his most literary one yet!!

We arose with and before the sun on most days and captured the beginning of each new day. Sunrise is totally different here than any place we have sailed. The early morning fog can shroud the sun and prevent the burst of light one experiences in most places. The tall spruce and fir trees silhouetted against the sky are some what mysterious and contemplative.

We listened to a variety of bird calls and watched for seals but saw none.

The days were measured by the tides. One to two foot changes every hour. the granite ledges becoming more and more exposed then more and more engulfed. Rocks and ledges disapeering then reappearing layer in the day. Nothing staying the same. Gentle changes constantly. The star lit skies were deep black and brilliant with light. The half-moon took it's rightful place in the silent night with the water constantly at work.

I wish everyone could have this solitude experience at least once. A Perfect ending to a summer cruise. Reflecting on the days now gone by.

Sailors Retreat at Seal Bay

What a beautiful anchorage! Saturday was sunny and cool and, we met a nice couple named Jim and Mimi. They were dinghying by with a young golden retriever when I waved at them, and they approached. I asked them if it was true that one could circumnavigate the Penobscot Island in a dinghy at high tide. They confirmed the story and said they were just going to dinghy to the end of the anchorage where one can access a road at high tide where their golden, Glori, could run. They asked if we had come all the way from Florida, and we told them yes but this year only from as far as Annapolis. On their return, they invited us for a cocktails on their 53 foot cutterrigged sloop designed by Ladd in Annapolis(if I have all that correct). Ends ip they live and work in Boston and keep their boat at Freeport on a mooring in the summer and haul it out at Plymouth, Mass.in the fall. He is am engineer and her work has been in marketing tho now she is getting a certificate in art from MFA Boston! The boat was so spacious and the wood was a whitewashed maple which reflected alot of light. They bought the boat 5 yrs ago when it 7 yrs old. They had hoped to sail the world but I sensed she had reservations. They cruise Maine most weekends all summer.
Jim and mimi agreed that instead of leaving Seal Bay on Labor Day weekend they would stay put and enjoy the best if places instead of moving to Perry Creek. So at Seal Bay we stayed... For 4 nights!

Sailing to Seal Bay

We dropped off the mooring at Castine after a fun time at the farmers market. D couldn't get a tour of the Maine Maritime Academy ship "State of Maine" because the students were back in session.The lobster pots in the mooring field at Castine were nearly submerged or totally submerged as the tide was running and it was high. We luckily did not snag one as we left the field. We will pay closer attention when leaving at high tide running into or from the
Mouth of the Bagaduce River. We passed an adult seal between S.Wind and the shore as we left Castine.

Seal Bay is adjacent to Penobscot Island and entered from the southeast side of Calderwood neck on the large island called Vinalhaven. The Bennett's tell us this is their favorite so we vow not to miss it and include it in this our last week cruising. We leave under sunny skies with wind at 5 kn from the west- southwest tho wind predicted 5-10 from the east.we started with full sail then reduced to main and engine as the wind shifted. For some silly reason D wanted to tow the dinghy with engine cocked up and still on the dink. This usually slows the boat under sail by a knot.By the time we rounded melodic bell at Green Ledge 2, the wind picked up and we were under full sail with 12 to 14.8 kn of favorable wind from the S-SW and we reached the speed of 6.8 knots SOG while dragging a dink with a motor! Miraculous! This made for one of our best days of sailing tho we eventually encountered lobster pots aplenty northwest of Stonington on Deer Isle. By 4:30 we reached our mark of R 2BC so we dropped the sails and prepared ourselves to enter the tricky passage in and thru Seal Bay. We reread our cruising guide, referred to our chart and reviewed the visual harbor guide we also had purchased. We motored in slowly favoring hen and little hen islands and soon found we were being swept close to the rocks, we apied more throttle and got more centered in the channel. We made it past the unmarked and submerged hazards and anchored in the farthest navigable spot off Burnt Island as 5 other boats had arrived earlier and taken up the other parts of the anchorage. A calm and beautiful night with us safely anchored and surrounded by boulder granite ledges that drop straight to the water and lift up and support tallevergreen pines on
all sides. Time for Sirius jazz and red beans and rice with andouille!

Nature calls us to Castine, Maine

We departed before our Hinkley family: the Warners . Mr Warner had said before he could marry his wife, her Dad required that he get a ham radio license so they could always be in touch. He laughed, but I could tell his father- in- law had alot of power!

Mother nature also has alot of power because both Second Wind and Minicoy (the boat name is the same as the name of an island off Cape Horn that her grandfather used to pass when sailing off So Africa)needed a holding tank pump out, and Bucks Harbor
Marine sold fuel and could provide water and showers and even ice-cream but NO pumpout. Benjamin River Marine and Frenchboro and Somesville offered no services. So our plan was to sail a small bit out of the way to Castine for the pumpout then head south to Seal Bay.
We changed our minds and decided to stay the night at Castine for another supper at Stellas and to go to the farmers market on the town square on Court St.the next day: thursday 9-11. The pan caramelized scallops at Stellas were almost as good as Christine Reddicks! We picked up a yacht club mooring but could not raise anyone by phone. We figured the club attendants may have gone back to school so we spent the mooring fee at Stellas!
We enjoyed browsing earlier that afternoon at the Wilson museum, and D watched a Woodturning demo while I toured the 1763 Perkins House next door. It had been saved in 1968 when declared a fire hazard and disassembled and moved and reassembled in it's present location next to the W. Museum as they were in need of more space for the artifacts/collection. I sampled several food items they prepared in the house kitchen over the course of the summer! When I said the tour was as good as Williamsburg, the guide/and museum director thanked me and said "in Williamsburg, they cook over the open fire but they don't let people taste it- we do!" Tomorrow, on to Seal Bay (Dave and Carol Bennett's favorite Maine anchorage.

Bucks Harbor, Maine

Ashore, we found the store in the tiny house that serves as the BH Marine office and store, clean bathrooms and 2 outdoor showers like you see in coastal living! We hiked up the steep drive that leads to the main road and found an unmanned blackberry stand set up by The Three Sisters! Homemade Blkberry jam and fresh berries with an honor system money jar. We turned left at the top of the marine road and could see BH Store and the Methodist church. Inside the store much to our surprise we found our favorite gluten free frozen bread and pizza crust. So we decided tonight would be Pizza Night! Pepperoni,sauce, black olives would go perfectly with the other things onboard.
We found the Restaurant "bucks" outside and behind the general store. We were told the chef/owner had moved to BH from Blue Hill and was quite accomplished. Maybe next time.

The BH Yacht club had just been locked up when we arrived on foot, but we guessed the famous burgee was the one framed under glass above the fireplace. A member told us the summer clubhouse attendant had left to go back to college. We had a great view from the club porch and the rocking chairs were great.
That night around 7:15 I was preparing the pizza when I heard the sound of chain clanging. I went above to find that the windjammer "Angelique" had just dropped anchor under full sails. We watched the crew slowly lower the sails so the wind helped to set their anchor. There were about 20 people on the 3-4 day cruise on deck watching and anticipating happy hour I am sure.
We said hello to the family on the boat that took the mooring next to us. There were 2 girls and their patents onboard the small Hinckly. We watched them playing cards in the cockpit while their dinner cooked in their oven.
The next morning we got to know the family. The boat was built the same year the mother on board was born and purchased by her grandfather. The boat now is her father's now and she grew up sailing on it and they take the girls for a week long cruise every summer. Mom is trying to keep it interesting so they will keep sailing!
About 9:30 I heard an airplane above. I had not heard such a loud noise in some time. I noticed the dad talking on his handheld radio and soon realized he was communicating with the plane! It turned out to be the mom's father just flying over to check thongs out! The husband confided that his father in law was always in close touch! Soon we all set sail for Castine.

Life after Irene

Ahoy!
 We did arrive into Benjamin River on Friday . We were greeted by Richard Holk who motored out the mouth of the river to meet us and say hello before he took off to play his sax in a local civic band concert in Castine, Me.
Soon we met John Dunbar the owner of the small marine works: Ben River Marine who settled us on a mooring ball, and we began to pack up clothing and secure gear and strip the boat of canvas bimini, enclosure, dodger, etc. By the next morning, we were in high gear preparing to leave the boat with homemade tunafish and black bean and corn salad and our favorite gluten free items. Lulu got excited seeing her red carrier come out of storage.
 After lunch, we dinghied ashore several times to deposit our belongings into Richard's Dodge Ram camper van. We tied our dink behind the boat and stored the motor on the holder on our stern. D dropped our anchor  so it would not interfere with the 2 tethers that extended from our mooring ball to each side of Second Wind on the forward cleats. We checked all ports and hatches and closed the thru hulls and turned off everything but refrigeration and took Richard's "Chick Magnet" of a van to Ellsworth where he had arranged a reservation for us at a new Comfort Inn. It was a nice ride thru the country, and we had a great view from atop Catepillar Mountain. We traveled thru the quaint town of Surray and Blue Hill and on to Ellsworth which has a lovely main street, town hall and quaint shops.
 We dined at Cleonice Bistro both nights and had fabulous meals. The fish was fresh and the vegetables were locally grown. The building has been a cafe for many years and in 1938 beautiful woodtrim and bar were installed. Very quaint with original wall sconces and mirrors.
We watched the storm updates and experienced a bit of rain Saturday late night and on into Sunday morning. Then the day stayed gray and only light rain fell until late afternoon when the wind began to pick up and rain came on again.We spent our time doing the laundry, reading, answering email and lounging while watching the cable tv ! At 4pm, Richard called to say there were 4-8 foot waves in Eggemoggin Reach outside the Benjamin River , but the sandbar was keeping the harbor quiet with only 1 foot chop, and our boat and the others were doing fine! The wind blew well into the night and the most severe of weather came thru, and we heard from our new friends Lorrie and Pat Harris from Wyoming who stayed on the boat that it blew until 3 or 4 am. The next day found that one sailboat had blown ashore and a barge that had been moored broke loose and was on shore. By Monday noon the winds were blowing 15 knots, and the barge had been pulled off shore and people were beginning to return to check out the boats.
We can't thank Richard enough for his generosity and help! And thanks to everyone who said prayers on our behalf. We are grateful for having been in a safe place.
We shared dinner with Lorrie and Pat who had met Jim and Joanne Matthews in Deltaville, N.C. last year. They just bought a boat and sailed to the Bahamas last year then jumped on sailed to Maine this year! Pat is an aircraft mechanic and has taught himself alot in a short amount of time. We enjoyed getting to know them!
This morning we awoke to sunny skies and lighter winds. After a leisurely breakfast, we departed Ben River and sailed 5-7 miles to Bucks Harbor. We took on fuel and water and rented a mooring that comes with a shower from Bucks Harbor Marine. We have just had lunch and now prepare to go ashore to hike the short distance to the general store of South Brroksville and see the Yacht Club and its building constructed in 1912. A burgee hangs there which was the first private burgee to go thru the Panama Canal and also the first to go thru the Cape Cod Canal! Locals say "Change is all around us, but nothing changes here."

Alas, we were not eaten by bears on Mt Desert Island!

NE Harbor

Ahoy Friends!!
As you may have guessed, our 10 day stay in Northeast Harbor on Mt Desert Island was so much fun that I had no time to blog! I will fill you in on those 10 action filled days but first I would like to report that we are aware of Hurricane Irene who is threatening the east coast of the U.S.

We left N.E.Harbor on my birthday, Monday, August 23 and sailed to Sommes Sound which is the only fiord in the U.S. outside of Alaska! It was a beautiful motor sail and we picked up an empty privately owned mooring and stayed for the night. There were quite a few of empty private moorings and the basic cruising policy isas follows: if you see someone on a boat in the mooring field , ask if they know of one you might use . If no one is around and there are plenty, take one and if the owner comes to claim and use it, then jump to another.
We walked into Sommesville to visit the tiny museum, but found the volunteer just closing. As we stood outside reading a plaque about the pretty bridge and garden there, he came around and asked us if we had wanted to see the museum , he could let us take a quick peek.  As he was unlocking the door, he asked us where we were from, and we told him of our sailing trip and homeport of Pensacola. He promptly said "Oh, I heard about you all . You are the ones who stopped in Blue Hill. " It ends up he knows the mother of the chef, Annalisa  that owns the dock grill in Blue Hill where Richard Holk took us to lunch! Annalisa
's parents are both priests ,and they hail and live in Magnolia Springs, Al. where Richard lives! Anyway, The museum fella, AKA as Mr Richardson, had heard thru Annalisa's mother who summers in Southwest Harbor on Mt Desert that we had come and had lunch at Annalisa's new grill!! Holy Smokes! Word gets around with the locals!!!
Once back to the boat , we decided to motor to the next cove to buy some lobster . The tide was high so we could cut thru 2 islands that usually have a bar exposed. We turned the dinghy motor off and tilted it up so we could paddle around and  over the few protruding rocks. I told D that a few years ago we would have dinghied around the island and not have tried to go through! We have become a bit daring!!!Then once far enough, we tilted the motor back down and motored to Abel's Lobster Pound . It is a simply elegant lil Lobster house with candlelight and really the best ones we have had yet cooked by the locals. Some folks over steam them, and they can be tough rather thatn delectable! A great, adventuresome birthday!

Yesterday, Wednesday the 24th we left Sommesville for Frenchboro, Me on  the island named Long Island.
We sailed down the fiord then motored into the wind for the last 8 miles. Our friends on Southern Skies caught a lobster trap on their prop so we circled them in the event they needed our help. They were in 100 ft of water to start and only 1 mile or so from the harbor at Frenchboro when they caught the pot. While the captain dove overboard to try to free the pot, their boat slowly drifted into 200 ft of water. We had been suggesting they drop their 200 feet of chain anchor just to keep from drifting into the rocks but the Capt elected not to and after an hour, they were finally free and they had drifted very close to the rocks. Whew!

We then began to contemplate Hurricane Irene more closely as she appears to be coming further north than expected. Our plan is to leave Frenchboro in the am once the fog has lifted and sail to Benjamin River off Eggemogin Reach .Richard Holk has helped us greatly by securing a mooring for us in the Benjamin River. Then moor or anchor the boat and go ashore and stay in a hotel Sat- Monday. We will send another blog once we are settled. Thank you for your prayers.
Cindra and David

Exploring: Day 1

Lulu woke us early for her sunrise snack and so we prepared for a day of exploration. Hard to know where to begin with so many possibilities. We hopped on the free Islander Explorer propane powered bus that stops right on the NE harbor dock and rode toward Jordan Pond House, Eagle Lake,and got off in Bar Harbor to have Look and talk to the rangers about a day of hiking and biking. We were really impressed with the village and it's sweet village green and waterfront hill park with shade trees where we had a picnic for lunch. We walked the short shore walk and enjoyed a juried art show. We met a young gal who knew all about gluten and she set us up with a pizza place an ice cream shop and another restaurant that serve great food and have gluten free options. Cindra scouted Bar Island for sea glass at low tide which is the only time the bar is high and dry so one can access the Bar Island on foot.
Lobster on the water at the Fish House Grill.
A few food items then a ride on the shuttle that circulates every 30 minutes. A great first day with plans for more fun; tomorrow we dinghy to a dock in view and take a hike thru Thuga gardens and on to Jordan Pond House where we have reservations for lunch after we attend an Episcopal service at St Marys by the Sea here in NE Harbor: a tiny white wooden church that looks like it came from a Christmas Village. Quiet harbor with fresh bed linens that mysteriously appeared on the bed means good sleeping!

A Perfect Day for a trip to Mt Desert Island

After toast and locally ground sausage, we dropped the tether to the free mooring from Crnter Harbor Yacht Club and slowly motored out towards the channel. A clear crisp morning without a cloud in the sky at 0930.
The yacht club already had some 8-10 yr olds sailing small boats thru the mooring field. One kid turned his boat over and yes, "went turtle" as I say. He surfaced and in ainute was up standing on the bottom on the over turned boat. We motored slowly past him and D. Asked "How
Is the water ?" he smiled and said "Okay for Maine; ok for me!"

The water is freezing up here and since the air is cool you don't even have to consider taking a dip!
We started the day with 4.5 knots of wind from the west / northwest . Eventually we carried the jib. As we headed out the final stretch of Eggemoggin Reach, we encountered a sea of lobster pots. Thank goodness it wasn't rough or we would not have seen half of them. It cleared up when we got to Casco Passage but got thick as land mines as we headed thru Western Way which leads to SWest and NEast Harbors. Two regattas were in full swing which really made it a challenge! Picture this: the most beautiful mountains and evergreen trees lining rocky shores and you have piraña surrounding your boat! A bit distracting wouldn't you say? Nevertheless, we made it in safely and took a spot at an inner harbor floating dock at MEast Harbor!
It is hard to believe we have arrived at this our most desired destination! The gal who received our radio call for a spot was like a marketing dream! She made us feel so welcome and answered all our immediate questions. Nice to meet someone who takes pride in their work ! Hot showers, brochures and a walk thru town for a nice dinner! good night!

Land trip to Blue Hill, Me.

My friend, Richard Holk whom I met at EFM at Christ Church a few years ago arranged to shoe us around Brooklin and the surrounding area which took us to the slightly larger town tho still a village of Blue Hill. Blue Hill is a remarkable part of the landscape and I could see it from atop Mt Battie in Camden. It gets it's blue look from the many wild blueberry bushes and pines that cover it.
I clicked pictures the whole way even tho it was quite a cloudy morning: sheep in a field, coves, the rapid current running under the bridge to B. H. Where kids attach a line to the bridge and stand atop their surf boards and surf so to speak while the tide runs! forests, wild flowers, a great sun lit view from Naskeag Point of Mt Cadillac across the Blue Hill Bay on Mt Desert and the yacht club at BH.
The funny thing is the town dock is high and dry every 6 hours at high tide so you have to tie your dink up at the Yacht Club and walk about a mile into town if the tide is not "with you" so to speak.
We stopped at a health food store and the Brooklin Farmers Mkt held just once a week and visited the Wooden Boat School which is called "a cult for men" by Molly the wife of the president of the school whom we met at Islesboro then met again by chance on the dock at the Boat School!
Richard educated us to the names of the different classic small wooden yachts : pea pod, the dory with a tombstone end, the beetle and many others. Richard was a Fine guide, and we hope to meet him in Pensacola in the winter when he is home in Magnolia Springs, Al.
The sun is out and after some maple sausage from the farmers Mkt, we drop off the mooring for Northeast at Acadia Natn'l Park!!!

Center Harbor, Me.

The wind was light in the morning , but filled on as the day went on. We sailed several hours thru west Penobscot Bay to the entrance to Eggemoggin Reach which runs slowly from the northwest to southeast ( that is, from the end where we have chosen to enter) Afterall, direction depends on from where you start. True in most things. Not sure where this stroke of genius came from?!
Eggemoggin Reach is a about 10 miles long and it is generous on size tho narrow as in a pass through. We carried the sails most of the way to Center Harbor which dies not have A town on it's waters edge rather a simply sweet cedar house painted barn red with s gray roof, large weathered porch strewn with old wooden rockers and 2 bikes leaning against the rail out front. Yellow daisies grow waist high on each side of the straight dock leading ashore.
All that is here is the folksy yacht club and moored boats of all sizes.
A college age fellow had told us on the phone earlier that they did not reserve their guest mooring : first come, first serve and no charge.

We arrived first so we picked up the tether to the mooring ball and wrapped it onto our cleat: "all set" as they say up here.
We went ashore and found the clubhouse empty but 8 cars parked on the grass. The drivers were daysailors and they were out enjoying the 13 knots that was blowing. We walked down the lane past gray cedar cottages and even a mother and 2 toddlers playing in a sand box. We soon met the main road and after almost a mile came to the crossroads where Brooklyn, Me. Stands.
D. Got a newspaper and settled in on a bench while I went into the little perfectly tended white Friends Library to see the 2 original plates of illustrations from EB White's"Stuart Little". E B is from these parts and he donated them to the library. E B 's son was a master boat designer and his son runs the boarders here at Center Harbor now.
I met a lady working with clay who was the artist that produced a huge painting of a zebra hanging on the gallery wall. It is a 3 person show as the local artists take turns showing in the space.
After talking to Betsy at Betsy's Kitchen and things, I realized she had owned 3 stores in Appalachicola for 10 years before moving to Maine tho they kept a lot there for later. We love Appalach.

Bought another quart of lil blueberries and milk from the lil general store and hiked home.
Rain came thru the night and joined with fog all day on Wed. Stayed on the boat all day reading, plotting a course on the chart, reading about Acadia Ntnl park and Southwest Harbor and Northeast Harbor where people say is where you want to be for exploring. Can hardly believe we ate almost to out downeast

On to Bucks Harbor or further Center Harbor

Sunny, beautiful crisp morning.
After spending much time reminiscing about dear Louis, we decide to plot waypoints for Eggemoggin Reach where we will stop at Bucks H. Or go onto to Center Harbor where in the summer classes are taught at the wooden boat school. Many owners of classic yachts keep their boat there and since rain is predicted for tomorrow, it might be a good time to visit the friendly school and hopefully meet up with Richard Holk from Magnolia Springs, Ala. Cindra met him at EFM at Christ Church Pcola a few years ago. He keeps his 32 Westsail in the Benjamin River and May hang out at the wooden boat school alot.

If a posting doesn't come again for a few days, it will be because of poor Internet reception due to low clouds also known as fog! And the lack of an ATT presence in these parts!

Gathering of The Cruising-kind then to Castine,Me.

We sailed the short distance from Camden to the southern entrance into Gilkey Harbor at Islesboro. Partly cloudy skies with winds from the SW.
Anchored in Cradle Cove and took our covered dish and dinghied on to the dock at where the ferry lands and walked the wtf of a mile to the De Grasse's home where the seven Seas Cruising Assoc was having it's "GAM". The big surprise was running into Mike Beard and Carol Simpson members of PYC who had taken the ferry over to Islesboro following a wedding they attended in NY.!!! Heard the author James L Nelson talk about his new book "Washington's Greatest Gamble". Very interesting. D. Bought his book about lady pirates and is amused with it!
We had a great breezy supper that night.

The next day was Sunday and we awoke to fog and drizzle which continuedost of the day and night. We had hoped to dinghy a mile into Dark Harbor on Islesboro to attend Christ Church to hear an Aussie preacher: Rev .Shakespeare but the weather changed those plans. We read and did boat chores. The day seemed to go on forever. The fog and rain come every couple days so you are forced to slow down.
Monday brought sunny skies after early morning fog. We pulled up anchor and motored into a N breeze up West Penobscot Bay and sailed around Turtle Head to Castine where we found a quiet yet very cultured town! Brass Quartet was to play later at 7:30 at the Congreational Church which incidentally has a bell made by Paul Revere and a steeple designed by Bullfinch the designer of our country's capital!

The Wilson Museum right on the waterfront looked like a Smithsonian extension- very well curated and a speaker set up and about to speak to 15 women about the influence of food on art and movies! Enjoyed a first class dinner at Stellas!
Received some sad news about our dear friend Louis De Sonier who died yesterday. He was a special person whom we will greatly miss.

Ghosting into Camden

Camden ----boats preparing for race

With light and variable winds, we left Rockland where we passed by a large US Navy ship anchored outside the breakwater. The ship comes on every year for the lobster feat so as to improve morale, I suppose!
Sunny skies and clouds that look like the ones you see in movies of the English countryside.
We sailed off course to carry the sails the short 14 miles. It was nice to sail without concerns of arriving before dark.
We had lunch and eyed the beautiful Camden hills ahead.
We passed by the"graves" just before turning to the red number 2 mark leafing past Curtis Island and it's lighthouse. Words like the "graves" tends to get the severe attention of a couple of southerners!! But I am starting to relax even tho the chart continues to speak of "ledges" and "rocks".
We arrived at our inner harbor float which I'd a small floating piece of a dock anchored to the harbor floor for which to come alongside to tie up and stay for the night. They provide a better "ride" thru the night of unfavorable conditions come up.

The harbor and town is one of Maine's loveliest, and the shopping is a step above the other cities thus far. Gloria Oehlert drove over to meet us for lunch and she took I'd ip to the top of Mt. Battie where FDR stayed in the hotel that once stood on the spot but was later burned to the ground. Fabulous views of most all the islands in Penobscot Bay! All the way to Mt Desert and Acadia Natnl.Park!! Gloria showed Cindra a sweet chapel on the Wood's built and given to the people by a generous woman. Very peaceful and such a secret.
You know your husband is married to the right woman when he leaves his fleece pullover on a park post and his wife happens to come along and pick it up and ID it!!

We had another animal encounter this time with a loon. It flew and landed on our davits which hoist the dinghy up out of the water. Our cat Lulu sprang to her feet and jumped up for a closer look. I carefully spoke to Lulu to discourage her ,and David blew a fog horn to scare it- but nothing. So I then waved my arms, still nothing! Then I picked up a towel and swung it around and with that he finally took off!

Leaving in the am for Islesboro and Gilkey Harbor the location for a "gam" or gathering of members of the 7 seas cruising assoc. We only travel one sea and a few gulfs, but if you pay your dues they take anyone!There should be some 60 cruising boats there for a pot luck lunch and a noted author historian to speak. Looking forward to it as we may reunite with some sailors we have met in Annapolis in past years.

Arrived into Rockland Harbor

We dropped off our mooring in Tenants Harbor Sunday, July 31 mid morning after cutting and slicing a half of a fresh, wonderful cantaloupe and wrapping half of the melon to share with an older couple on their boat named "tango" moored next to us. They have a yellow lab and 2 cats on board. They keep a car here at Tenants and have family or friends meet th here to daysail and they can go to art openings and activities in Rockland when they are interested.

The day was sunny from the very beginning and after passing by the empty lighthouse structures on Southern Island (now occupied by some members of the Wyeth family) we pointed east toward Rockland and were soon under full sail with 5-10 kn of wind.
We had another seal sighting as we evidently snuck up on a large seal with his head and back of neck exposed above water. We him looked 90 degrees to the left and saw us 30 ft away
, he dove under water.
At noon, we called Cathy and Herb Stackhouse to let them know we were sailing thru Muscle Ridge Channel at that moment within in view of their cottage on Seal Bay. We caught them at home and Herb came out an waved! I could see him thru the binoculars!
We carried the sails beautifully thru the long channel and arrived at Owl's Head Lighthouse on Owls Head at 2:30pm and after going to the dock at Journey's End Marina to have a pumpout and take on water, we a were settled on our mooring by 4:30.it is a nice harbor tho half of the waterfront is occupied by old seafood packing buildings that are now used to store boats for the winter.
We met up with Cathy and Herb again on Monday afternoon and they drove us east where we saw thecows that look like Oreo cookies: black or dark brown skins fore and act and a white band around their center!!
We drove thru Rockport and stopped to see their Tony "inlet" of a harbor surrounded by a park, and then we drove on eastward toward Camden voted the village with the most lovely harbor in Maine. The line between Rockport and Camden is no line aT all- the beautiful homes of Rockport blend gently into those of Camden. They showed us the town park set on a rising hill where people sit to enjoy music from bands down on the waters edge. We then all discovered the Riverside footbridge which had fantastic fleer baskets hanging along the railings! A multitude of photos were taken there. We got a taste of the highend galleries which primarily focused on the beauty of Maine and the harbors. So much to see! A very quaint town with several good restaurants. We enjoyed the Warefront Restaurant that evening and thoroughly loved it even tho the fog came in so thick we could no longer see the harbor!
Back to the boat before dark in the fog- we have decided that taking a hand-held compass bearing might be a good idea in the future tho we found Second Wind easily.we became acquainted with the laundry mat on Park St and jess' Seafood Market where we bought fresh halibut, a Quart of tiny, sweet fresh Maine blueberries(my first taste of these) and heirloom tomatoes! How delicious!went to bed feeling like kings!
Herb and Cathy have really helped us learn our way around!
Today we will walk up to buy a prepaid data device as we are not sure that we will be able to check weather buoys with AT&T for the next few weeks before we leave the boat for the winter.
David decided t Journeys End here in Rockland is the place so we will return here in early to late Sept to haul out.For now, On with the day! The sun is out, and Camden awaits!
Cindra and David

Back Post: : Thursday, July 29,2011 : Sailing to Tenant's Harbor

We left Long Cove on Thursday( I made a mistake; We left Boothbay on Wed. not Tuesday)) with beautiful morning skies and winds that filled in nicely from the S-SE from 8 to 12 knots. Under full sail from 10:30- 14:30 past Old Man's Ledge with Monhegan Island coming into better view. Monhegan is the Island where the Wyeth family summered and paintied for some 20 years. As I understand there is no where to anchor or moor so a ferry for the day or to stay a night or 2 is the only way to truly see the Island. It is 1.7 miles long and about .5 mile wide with walking trails and a couple Inns. After Lunch ,  we rounded Old Man's ledge and had just come up to  our waypoint off Old Cilley ledge at 1320 when we were looking close starboard and saw a huge humpback whale do a gentle roll along side us! I imagine she came over to see what we were as we were sailing at about 5 knots. She rolled again gently , and we could see that she was about as long as our 36 foot vessel! She rolled 4 times then never surfaced again. I ran D down stairs to turn on the gentle Sirius station as we have heard whales like music but she had another plan.
At last our first whale sighting from the quiet  of our own cockpit and to think we both were looking right where she surfaced just 30 ft away- it was a miracle! I knew the day was special as we sailed but had no idea there was a "whale more" to come!
Sadly at 1430, we rolled in the sails as we could not carry them into Tenant's Harbor. After passing safely thru about 1000 fluorescent lobster buoys (which were really a pretty sight with the afternoon sun shining on them.) We picked up a free mooring which belongs to a friend we met in boothbay. Herb and Cathy Stackhouse , (formerly of Pensacola now based in Washington, Georgia) bought a cottage on Sprucehead Island just the next village over from Tenant's. They picked us up and we drove the short 10 miles down to Port Clyde where the Monhegan ferry departs. I was afraid it would not have much character since they have cars parked there  for overnight ferry travelers but there was only one small lot that by no menas marred the town. Ate at the Dip Net that is newly owned by one of the LL BEan grandaughters. Great Fish and visit .
Friday morning after pancakes and sausage on board, we went ashore for some jogging and showers at the Lyman-Morse Yacht center. Then to Herb and Cathy's cottage that evening for Grilled Halibut steaks that were out of this world good! Their cottage is perfectly Maine and has a 200 degree view of Seal Bay and False Whitehead Harbor! Unbelievable! Then back to the boat just before the predicted light rain which fell nearly all night. Awoke to dry, clearing skies. Relaxing  in Maine. We expect to shove off for Rockland in the next day or 2 to receive mail.

Cindra, David and Lulu, too

Back post: Tuesday, July 27, 2011 :Heading for Long Cove off Muscongus Bay

We have been with patchy AT&T service since leaving Boothbay on Tuesday so I will go back to catch you up!
We left Boothbay Harbor under beautiful skies with 1-2 foot seas but with winds so light we couldn't carry the sails. We motored the short 14 miles to Long Cove to take a free mooring and see Bill and Ellen Addison who have a sweet old family (3 generations) cottage on Long Cove. They are members once again of Christ Church! We arrived just after lunch and then were treated to a land tour of South Bristol, Christmas Cove, Gamage Yacht Harbor, Fort Wm Henry on the Damariscotta River and Pemaquid Lighthouse on Pemaquid Point and Shaw's Seafood Restaurant on New Harbor for dinner. We really enjoyed our visit and the night on Long Cove was quiet with only one lobsterman starting his engine long after our rising at 8am! The sound of the water lapping on the nearby rocky beach was our bedtime lullaby.

Cindra

We love it here, but I guess we should go east!

We departed Biddeford Pool with it's Tiny 4 room clubhouse for Boothbay Harbor Maine. I was wondering how it would be with more activity in the harbor- I was getting used to quiet small harbors.
The wind was on our stern and very light so we had t
Our first day with very little sailing. We kept the main out most of the day for stabilization. We passed the spectacular Sequin island, Maine. You must google this island as it is mammoth in height and holds the last lighthouses with a fresnel lens. The others have been changed out to solar, but the people petitioned the coast guard to leave this one as it is very significant even in navigation today and it needs a bright light not a solar one that may not shine strongly all the time. You must google it for a photo!! It is a very old light asGeorge Washington signed the deed for the land a d it has held a light I bieve since the late 1700s.
We arrived into Boothbay Harbor around 2:30 and found them to be having an unusually hot afternoon- 95! it cooled down at 7pm and has been nice ever since then.
The harbor is smaller and quieter than either of us expected. It offers 20 us restaurants and neat locally owned nice shops and galleries and a free trolley that will take you to the large grocery a few miles away and it circles every 30 minutes. The marina loaned us a car to drive 4 miles to the campground to fill our spare propane tank.

I called Dondy and Tom Buckley from Christ church and found that 3 other couples from Christ Church were also vacationing here this week! We met the Boneys, the carltons,
the Modjeskis at The Buckleys for dinner last night and boy were they surprised to see us!
We are enjoying the lobster and Haddock!
After an adjustment on the autopilot, we will travel just 12 miles east to Long Cove where Bill Addison has a summer cottage And a mooring ball! We look forward to meeting his wife- they are also members of Christ Church.This morning, We enjoyed a pancake breakfast onboard with Muffet and Ed Crowell who drove over from Harrison, Me.
Time to turn in as the lobstermen can't lobster on Sundays so they will be raring to go tomorrow, Monday.

Encountering Wildlife

Friends,
I have been meaning to tell you while we did not make eye contact with a whale as of yet, we were surrounded by a school of dolphin half way from Gloucester to the Isle of ShoAls! D. Had seen some ripples on the water when the wind grew light then he exclaimed a few minutes later"look!" I saw the long, lean bodies of porpoise 4 - 8 feet below the surface of the wAter about to swim under the boat and others following close behind. Their long, lean bodies with white tummies were so amazing! They stayed with us a few moments then traveled on to the south. Then just 5 miles from
The Isle of Shoals a single grey seal surfaced 20 yards
Away and swam along near us before disappearing.
Then on the way to Biddeford we encountered some 40 black flies over the course of the day they landed on board and wanted to make us their lunch and dinner. We swatted flies til they were all lying dead in the cockpit. this encounter was not as great as the dolphin and seal sightings, but nothing is perfect.

Too beautiful to spend time writing!

Ahoy,
This Maine country is so wonderful!
We did indeed have silence with our coffee on Wed. Once we felt the fog/ haze was navigable, we left Isle of Shoals for the mainland, Biddeford Pool Maine about 38 miles east as they say. Up here you are either going "down east" (which is really up northeast)or you are going south.

We had a good day of sailing and entered the more narrow entrance to Wood Island Harbor between Wood island and the neck. We had reserved a mooring that morning and were glad to know we would have a snug spot. We did make note of where others anchored for future visits. The pool is like a pond that nearly empties to a puddle at low tide! Only small craft in there. First time I have ever gone forward to pick up the tether to a mooring to find the lines running with the current opposite the 12 knot breeze! Made 3 passes and I finally got it!I have a patient husband.
The town is really a few B&Bs, grocery/restaurant with the most fabulous views of the rocky islands and moored boats, and a shop or 2. Great walking past well kept summer cottages, private golf club where they walk and carry their clubs
And a simple old Episcopal church high on a hill with a view of the entire neck and waterways.Also enjoyed walking an Audubon trail out to east point that overlooked our entrance from the Atlantic- huge rocky cliffs with waves crashing on them and the sound of the ocean waves was so loud and left me in awe.
Lynda and Andy Creed were at their cabin in New Hampshire so the drove over and met us for lunch! It was so good to see good friends. we make acquaintances
But spend alot of time on our own so seeing them was real therapy! Thank you Lynda and Andywe departed Friday for a 36 mile sail up to Boothbay Harbor.






alot of to
E on our own.

So close but no introduction

Alas, we sailed through Cape Cod Bay with whales nearby yet none surfaced close to us. Truth be told, we were quite busy tending sails, watching for lobster pots floating in the water especially on the port side behind the jib. Several whale watching boats powered thru the Cape from Boston. If we had not had such a good many miles to get to Gloucester, we would have sailed further east to Stellwagen Banks where the whale watchers go.
They were there. we were there, but no introduction.
The last half of the day was a motor sail as the wind was on our nose, but it became more favorable and the wind increased so that we nearly sailed into Gloucester Harbor.
We called the harbormasters Ofc to arrange to take a mooring as close to town as possible. We were directed past red marker 10 just past Ten Pound Island. We picked one up and found out we had been misdirected and were on a private mooring. The Beneteau on the mooring next door said the owners boat was hauled out for some reason and that we might just stay on it for the weekend so we did! We enjoyed the town and hunting and finding sea glass on Ten Pound Island.
Sunday we did laundry and hiked a short way to a Connolly Seafood Mkt. Where we got 4 lobster for $24!!
We boiled them all and had plenty for Lobster salad the next day.
We took the local bus to Rockport, the famous art colony for lunch one day. The bus driver knew everyone along the roads route, and he honked and waved to them all. He gave us tips and named every love cove we passed. Just 40 mes from Boston and all this lovely water and cool temps!

We departed Gloucester this morning and arrived at the Isle of Shoals in MAINE waters! We are so excited to be in Maine! These 7-8 islands are 6 miles from Portsmith, New Ha
Lahore 6 miles away due west.
The word shoals also means "schools" as in schools of codfish which were in abundance in the early days when this was an English cony. It was the most valuable to the Crown because of it abundant schools or shoals of cod.
A lovely night with only 28 drawbacks... Three boats arrived with 28 middle schoolers for an overnight. 28 kids all trying to out talk the other. Oh well, maybe they will sleep in and we can have coffee in the cockpit to utter sence in the morning.

Provincetown,Mass. at the tip of Cape Cod

Good Morning!
Two days ago from half way across Cape Cod Bay(10 miles out) we saw the usual look of distant land and one lone vertical object. Surely a lighthouse, I thought. Once in the harbor we knew it was not a lighthouse, but some special tower. It was the Pilgrim monument erected to commemorate the first landing of the pilgrims here in 1620. It rises 252 feet and still is the tallest all-granite structure in the US. The first cornerstone was laid in 1907 by Pres Roosevelt and dedicated by Pres Taft in 1910. I climbed the tower not once but twice as I needed a good workout after sitting on the boat. It's not a bad climb as it has 116 steps and 60 ramps, and it only took me 5 mins to get to the top. The view of the harbor and the town as well as the natural seashore was worth the effort!

We enjoyed reminiscing about our first trip here with Sandra and Inge Holman some 15 or so years ago. We had met them in Kittery, Me. And traveled with them for a long weekend. It was October, and had timed our visit miraculously with the height of color! That visit is probably what has driven me this far on Second Wind. The water,majestic lighthouses and small towns are calling me back. We revisited the Lobster pot Restaurant last night and while some of the town has changed the food at the L. Pot has not. Wonderfully fresh! Thank you, Sandra and Inge for your most notable gift: generosity.
Last night we saw the moonrise and this morning I saw it set. Being this close to creation and seeing those special movements which occur and change quite quickly is what I love about this time inboard.
We leave shortly for Gloucester on the mainland. We expect to see a humpback whale as they tell us you only need a little luck , and we have more than that I feel.

We love Cape Cod!

Hello to all!
We had a nice stay in beautiful Redbrook Harbor and enjoyed a nice lunch with Gene and Christine. Christine had packed us a bottle of Fume Blanc which we had with the last 4 filets of Blk Sea Bass caught on lobster traps at Cutty Hunk.
Fantastic fish!
Monday we sailed on to Onset Bay . How nice it was without the weekenders on the water!
Onset is lovely with onset island and Wicket Island both are tall clumping islands with thick vegetation and traditional cottages. From the town park high on a hill you get the best view of the beaches sweeping the shore in every cove, the islands and moored boats below! Every bit as pretty as most of Martha's Vineyd!
Great gluten free food at The fresh Food Cafe where Michelle gave me a few tips.
We received mail from home and our dear friend, Jim Matthews sent us a pkg from Beneteau!
After 2 great days at anchor, we pulled up anchor at 0630 this morning and motored out the winding channel and entered the cape cod canal with favorable current. At 1800 rpm we made 9.5 knots of boat speed- 4 knots of which were current!

And now after exiting the canal at 0745 we are under full sail no engine with 13 knots of wind in route for Provincetown!Glorious!! We visited here once before with Sandra and Inge Holman 15 years ago. Sunny and clear!


Cindra and David and Lulu

We are watching for right whales . Just heard someone on radio who is tagging whales.

Sailing on Naragansett Sound and Buzzards Bay

Ahoy!
Just a brief post to tell you where we are in our voyage.

After leaving Sag Harbor last Tuesday we sailed to Block Island in beautiful weather, but the following day began hopeful, but soon became dreary and taxing as a heavy blanket of fog settled over Buzzards Bay all the way to the Cape.

We did arrive safely to Cutty Hunk Island on Wed. Where we met up with gene Nd Christine Reddick on board their I.P. "Dream Catcher" and Mike and Julie Sneath on board their newly purchased I.P.: "walkabout". Both couples are from Pcola. We enjoyed 2 nights with them moored in Cutty Hunk the first in the chain of the Elizabeth Islands. It is one of my favorite places because of it's simple elegance.

Horace and Marla Garfield (whom we met at D's cousins Ky Derby weekend in Louisville in 06)
Have a home that was once a 2 lane bowling alley on Cutty H. It sits high on the hill overlooking Vineyard Sound and on a clear day you can see martha's Vineyard and the famous bluff of Gay Head now referred to by it's Indian name:Aquinnah.we enjoyed a cold drink on their patio on night while there.
Fresh lobster and Black sea bass were treats brought in by Capt Bruce.so fresh and so delicious.

Yesterday, we sailed east to Hadley's Harbor just off Woods Hole where we had a beautiful anchorage for the night in view of a cedar shingled home owned by the Malcolm Forbes family. This is probably our favorite anchorage of all.

Leaving in a moment for a short sail to Redbrook Harbor on the southside of Cape Cod where we will go ashore with the Reddicks to see Kingman Marina where they keep Dream Catcher.

If you can't beat'em, move your boat!

We awoke early, as usual, yesterday to catch a cab to Sag Harbor for the day where we planned to go to Christ Church Sag Harbor and see some on the
Men's wimbledon final. We decided to call the cab and touch base. When he said fare for 2 one way to 7 miles to Sag Harbor would be $50, we nearly choked! So we decided to pick up anchor and sail the 10 miles and spend the$ on a mooring for the night. We are glad we did as the town begins right at the foot of the dock and the atmosphere is totally diff. From East Hampton! Sag has no chain gift shops they are all locally owned and the feel is so "Un- Hampton" as they call it. The people are more relaxed, cars are bumper to bumper on the main streets but we didn't hear a single string of cuss words or see any near brawls as we did in East Hampton, repeatedly! The cars gladly let people cross at any corner! We are so glad we came! After a few hours walking and enjoying the whaling museum we took in a movie: The Trip in the Tiny theater on Main. We awaken to a quiet harbor thick with fog. Unbelievable, you can bear a pin drop!
We move east tomorrow for the last stretch before the Cape Cod canal.
Happy 4th!
Cindra and David

Celebrating our independence in East Hampton and Sag Harbor

Happy fourth of July!
We arrived into Three Mile Harbor located on the north east end of Long Island on Friday. It is a quiet place with homes bordering one side and nature ruling the other. We anchored easily and toasted to our well deserved rest having traveled daily for 3 days. The mooring balls rent for $70 a night so everytime we drop our anchor we feel like a deposit just went into our account! AFter the quietest night yet at anchor, we dinghied in for the day. The town dock is really just a small floating dinghy dock alongside the boat launch not even blessed with a sign. No person or direction even to town! We quickly made friends with another couple just arriving by dinghy and jumped into a cab he had called earlier to go the 3 short miles to East Hampton. The couple were from conn. And were raving about the east hampton beach as they were heading there. We got out in the city center and walked the bustling streets to see the old wind mill, Guild Hall, Hook Pond and other historic buildings. The town was an English settlement in 1628 that focused on farming. The people lived in the village and went out to different plots of land surrounding to farm. It is nice rolling pasture land. The shops are posh and the homes most all look like Ina 's: shingle siding white trim and 200 blue hydrangeas in the yard! we didn't see anyone famous but enjoyed rubbing elbows as we lunched and shopped. We walked and walked and even waked back toward the boat with a few groceries but after 2 miles stuck our thumbs out for a ride. A cute gal that looked like Anne Margaret spoke to us at the farmstand and agreed to give us a ride.she had graduated from U of F if you can believe it tho was a Long Islander.The wonderful farmstand with permanent buildings within 1 mile of the harbor has fresh seafood, amazingly rich colored vegetables and fruits and baked goods. If I had it to do again I would go there first But we didn't know what it had to offer as our cabbie was a typical New Yorker: just pay me and don't expect me to be your tour guide! We pan fried fresh halibut for dinner which was very fresh!

NY City here we come!!

D had studied the Bible of cruising the northeast:Eldridge's Guide to tides and current to plan our trip. We enter from The southeast thru Lower Bay, and once under the Ft Wadsworth Bridge (to Staten Island), we enter the narrows, pass the Battery enter the East River and continue past Roosevelt to . The East river is only 1 of 2 rivers in the U.S. That has 2 mouths. Currents ebbing and flooding must be timed so to make your passage safely and efficiently. One times arrival at these different points so that the current helps you or doesn't hurt your speed much. Our new AIS receiver that identifies large vessels and their courses showed so many parked vessels that we had to disengage it in order to see the route onthe chartplotter! Most ships were anchored and the activity was only from ferries.
We had 10-18 knots of favorable wind thru the day so we were cool and comfortable tho surrounded by skyscrapers . We ended the day strong with 18 knots of wind on a reach to Manhasset Bay: city of Port Washington on Long Island. We took a free town mooring and enjoyed a new recipe of blueberry salsa! If you like cilantro, lemon, red bell pepper, jalapeños then you will love this with chips!

Thursday, june 30
Up to A beautiful sunrise and a leisurely breakfast. We've decided to travel on thinking about Maine! To come. Underway at 10:30 in route to Port Jefferson, Long Island N.Y. Winds started out lih
Ghy but filled in at 1200: 13 kn from The north.
Speed 6.5 knots with 1 kn of favorable current. D is wearing his Indian Jpnes hat! Maybe a photo will be forthcoming as I downloaded an apication for the iPhone. I have no idea what I am doing ectronically,but if you ask me about blueberry ssa I know it all!

Blogspot goes haywire

Hello y'all,
We are currently underway with 2 kn of favorable current but very light winds under sunny skies in Long Island Sound enroute to Three Mile Harbor next to Sag Harbor and only 3 miles from East Hampton where the Barefoot Contessa has a cafe and estate where I believe she tapes her cooking shows. breath! I know my writing skills are atrocious so to all my newspaper design professors and English teachers, I greatly apologize.

I would like to ask for forgiveness for posting a piece that was full of typos! Blogspot would not let me edit and at times changes what I am trying to spell!! It's worse than someone talking when you are talking!
At this time, I am unable to edit a post. I have been trying all day with nothing but frustration to show. Since frustration is not what I signed up for on this cruise, I may have to publish another crazy spelled post.
I will give it a lil while longer then post anyway.
Signed
"Letting go of frustration on the high seas"

Laying over at Sandy Hook & Atlantic Highlands, NJ

Ahoy,
We anchored Sunday night at Horseshoe Cove at Sandy Hook, NJ. after sailing up the jersey coast from Barnegat Light, NJ. after a good nights rest we motored a few miles into the harbor at Atlantic Highlands. On the way in, we spied small skiffs with funny square tarps rigged as sails using 2 wooden poles to hold the sail aloft. They would drift slowly while the fisherman shook a 25ft flexible pole with a basket like shovel end. The shaking action was to remove sand we supposed. The man brought up the pole as he doused his sail and emptied the basket which was full of clams! Interesting to watch this primitive way of harvesting from the sea!

On approach to Atl Highlds, the setting is lovely,as the land builds up like a small mountain covered in trees with the occasional cottage peeking thru.
After "the works", we took mooring ball for 2 nights. We had a great afternoon of Exercise walking the Bayshore trail where C hunted and found sea glass. We also met a couple from Brit. Columbia on a 55ft Fleming trawler.
: bob short and his friend Carrie. We met for BBQ that night.Bob said he would like to follow us thru the city as we had traversed it before.
the next day was spent getting groceries and doing laundry.the weather has been sunny and cool ,and it has been fun watching the highspeed ferry take new Yorkers in to the city to work and small charter fishing boats go in and out.

C. enjoyed the "flaky Tart" a fantastic bakery unfortunately not much gluten free.the owner and pastry chef, Marie, is a great gal.
We left Atl Highlds at 1100 on Wed June 29.

Beautiful Jersey Coast, continued

Ahoy,
Our last post was not complete. The iPod gods would not let me add morunto our post but at least finally let us publish what we had! We love this iPod and hate it all at once!

The basin behind Rum Pt. Was fantastic! Plenty of room for 10 or more boats.lush grasses growing all the way to the shoreline edged with 2story condos. A nice contrast to the concrete and glitzy highrises just across the channel. Good night photo of the Harrah's casino
Seven stars. Can anyone tell us how to take a photo taken on the iPod and post it on the blog????
Storms were occurring in other areas of Atl. city that late Aftn so winds built to 20 knots but we had good holding with our anchor set by Capt. David.

We enjoyed salmon with bluberries in sauce using the New Jersey blueberry wine given to us by Utsch's marina in cape may.
The seas were flatter that day and the skies brighter. This brightness continued for the rest of our second leg: up the jersey coast.

Saturday June 25
7 am anchor up and underway. A huge dredge operation going on in Atl City pass was something to maneuver. Left 2 hours before low tide and found calm, rolling seas with cool enough temps for a jacket.we motorsailed on a broad reach all the way for the 28 miles to the inlet. We arrived with the tide going in at 1330 to find many small craft out and about as we carefully watched for the marks designating the channel. We were Leary about stoping in Barnegat as the chart shows no marks for the channel because the sand shifts often and the channel must be remarked. So we called the coast guard station to inquire and they sent us to Tow boat US. The staff there were very friendly and told us for our 5 ft5onch draft we would have no problem. We followed the marks they gave us and did fine. We anchored insures Jole just inside the inlet on view of their impressive lighthouse. We called John McGill's sister and her husband to say hello and invite them to the boat, but they had planned a feast of tuna and clams for us so we politely obliged! John and Eileen Meko were so very kind and welcoming! We enjoyed a ovely Mel and evening with them then back to the boat by dink before del. The next day promisedsunshine and good winds so we would push ahead.

Sunday June 26, 2011

We were awaken by our designated alarm mate Lulu the cat. She sleeps all day then guards the ship at night and as soon as light appears in the sky, she meows. She knows we have a long day ahead to make the 68 miles to Sandy Hook, NJ. Anchor up and underway by 0630 as we leave we count9 sailboats anchored and one large trawler, all with plenty of room to swing.already to the pass at 0700 and so are 20 other small craft! The narrow inlet already churning as we leave on the outgoing tide.as we turned north to set our sails we find 8 knots of wind! The winds stayed 8-12 knots All day and we were just able to carry the sails on a close haul. The seas are even flatter today and it is a beautiful day! Still chilly enough for a jacket.

We pulled the jib out too fast and when we went to roll it up as we closed in on Sandy Hook, D had to go forward and unroll the jib furling line on the spool as it had overlapped low on the spool. This was a first time situation for us for on Second Wind. Conditions were good tho and no danger of losing D overboard. By 1630 or 4:30we were anchored at horseshoe cove at Sandy Hook.
We spy the skyline of Manhattan as we enter NY's Lower Bay. Time to relax and reprovision and get in some Exercise!!!

We have just completed the 2nd leg of the trip.

The beautiful Jersey coast

Greetings from our ship !
We are presently under full sail on a 30degree coarse north for sandy Hook, New jersey!
Mr. Thrif-T is at the helm making 6.3 knots with 10 knots of cool breeze. We have had 3 days in a row of sunny, clear skies for good sailing.

We have pushed on everyday because their are many variables to balance when sailing up the jersey coast. There is the time of high and low tide in the narrow inlets to consider. It is of course preferred to have the tide coming with you as you come into harbor and the tide ebbing out with you as you depart an inlet for the north Atlantic. So, one should calculate when it is good to leave one inlet and choosing the best time to be coming into the next desired inlet. also, it is very inadvisable to enter an inlet when the wind direction is in opposition to the direction of the tide. If this occurs it can make for a rough or even dangerous ride.In addition, one must consider the basic weather forcast and determine if the wind speed and direction will be such that you can make your destination in daylight hours to avoid coming into an unfamiliar port at night.

we arrived Atlantic City and anchored in a basin behind rum point. We heard about the spot from our friends Al and Marianne Berard of Annapois.

Stubbed our toe on the second leg

Ahoy!
After a delightful day ashore in cape may, we departed our anchorage at 0630 pn Thurs June 23 and motored out the cape may inlet. We turned north for Atlantic city and set our sails with motor assist and shortly after heard a rumbling noise from below. The engine appeared to be fine but the noise continued and was made worse when at higher engine rpms and on a broad reach with following seas. So we turned back to cape may and had the boat hauled. We removed the feathering high max tech prop and installed the original prop.
After a trip back out the pass, all was well under the same conditions!

Hot and tired, we did a few loads of laundry ,showered and David graciously insisted we dine again at the lobster house. After 1.5 hours enjoying a drink outside, we checked on our table inside. When we found it still not ready, we yawned and went back to the boat and enjoyed a delicious homemade, leftover cold meatloaf sandwich! Oh well, at least some restaurant is thriving in this economy ! A goodnight in a slip at utsch's marina.

We send this message from offshore while under sail for Atlantic City.
Saltily yours,
Cindra and David

First leg of trip completed!

Hello everyone,
We arrived and anchored behind Reedy Island on the De. bay yesterday in time for lunch. The cloudy skies gave way to a sunny, clear afternoon. for the first time, we used a kellik to assure that when the current and tide opposed one another we would not wrap our anchor line around our keel and possibly delay our start the next morning.john Matthews introduced us to the idea, and it did it's job!

We left anchor at Reedy this morning at 0600 under cloudy skies and light rain. We rode the outgoing tide for most of the morning seeing speeds of up to 9.4 kn with the engine at 2100rpm. the AIS system helped us spot tankers several miles down Bay.
We arrived at the back entrance or Cape May canal at noon. Skies cleared and after taking on more fuel, water and getting a pumpout, we anchored just off the coast guard station. We dinghied in to the Lobster House for fresh monkfish and clams and steamed lobster!! fantastic!! back to the boat where the wind is howling thru our rigging - a night in the 60's means good sleeping.

Underway at last!

June 20, 2011
We shoved off on yesterday from Annapolis under cloudy skies with 5 to 10 kn wind and good current pushing us an extra kn. up the Chesapeake Bay - a nice Fathers Day gift! After motoring into light north winds we Arrived at our chosenanchorage at Still Pond - 30 nau. Miles north on the easternshore of Md. One of the nice things @ still pd. Is its easy access to the Chesapeake Bay.
We anchored at noon and had lunch. We spotted 2 large red wolves on the shore line about 50 yards away. We planned our route for coming days and read about the ports in Maine. Plenty of time to simmer a Chunky spaghetti sauce for supper.
Great night sleep in the 60's.
Departed 0630 for The Chesapeake Delaware canal and anchorage at Reedy point off De. bay.
More to come
Cindra and David

Preparations and provisioning to sail north

June 14, 2011
Hello friends!
We have been busy for the past 2 weeks dewinterizing the boat and having Second Wind "splashed" which means lifted from her cradle on land and carried in the sling of a travel lift and lowered into the water on Back Creek here in Annapolis, Md. Now you know why people cut things short by saying splashed!!

Our tasks have ranged from a thorough inspection of the engine and rigging to working with a technician to clear a gas line leading to one stove top burner to selecting and ordering a line cutter for a diver to install just forward of the prop in the event we snag a lobster trap this summer. Food supplies (ESP. Gluten free items) are being stowed in all the space available as some seaports will not have a grocery within walking distance.
We did take shakedown cruise to Oxford, Md.to attend a fun Beneteau Rendezvous with 60 other Beneteau owners.
We expect to shove off the dock this Sat. Morning with our first night at Still Pond where we will anchor for the night, and then continue north to the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal on Sunday.
More later.
Cindra And David

Preparing the boat and provisioning to sail north

Provisioning

Preparation for Sail