But other than getting a little wet, Adagio made it through the storm.
We started this blog to document our Great Loop adventure. We continued to cruise on Adagio, but in 2018 we purchased a Roadtrek Sprinter Class B RV, named Adagietto. We then purchased an Advanced RV Sprinter named Rocky, which we later traded in for Poppy. It was also from Advanced RV, but was a new design, something they called a B-Box
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Packed up
Adagio was hauled Friday October 12. All winterization finished up the same day. The truck is all packed for the trip back to Florida. We should return to NJ in May, then head north sometime in June.
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Essex, Ct to New Gretna, NJ (our 2012 final destination)
8/28/12
After 2 weeks in New Jersey staying with Ron's mother while his sister and brother in law were away, we returned to Essex, CT. The warranty work (a new shaft seal) was completed while we were gone. Last night, (8/29), we stayed in Stratford, CT at a free dock in a condo community where our friends Brad and Alice keep their boat. Our Nordic tugs were parked side by side, which was quite a sight. After a great dinner at a local Italian restaurant we returned to our boat and spent time visiting.
8/30/12
The past 2 days have been beautiful. Full moon at night. Clear skies. Very little wind. Tonight we are in Port Washington, NY on Long Island. Tomorrow we will time our entry to the East River so that the current is with us as we approach NY Harbor. The plan is to be in Great Kills tomorrow night. Then we will wait for a weather window on the Atlantic as we travel to Manasquan Inlet. If you remember, this is where we had very rough weather several weeks ago.
8/31/12
We timed our departure to take advantage of the current in the East River which can be turbulent, especially in Hell's Gate. We had a head wind as we approached Hell's Gate, but were fortunate that there were no other ships (just a few pleasure craft) in that section as we headed for NYC Harbor. The ferry boats can be a challenge, so it takes two sets of eyes to watch for them. When we neared the Statue of Liberty, there were numerous large, site-seeing boats heading for Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. Instead of heading directly under the Verrazano Bridge for Great Kills Yacht Club, we decided to completely circumnavigate Staten Island so Ron could see the waterfront at Elizabeth, NJ, his birthplace. We both concurred that it was a boring few hours and would not do that trip again.
We met several members of the yacht club and were invited to visit with John Calascibette, the harbor host, and his wife and friends on his boat. He had just purchased a really nice37 foot Carver (1980's) in mint condition for $5,000.00. Yes, that's five thousand dollars. Unbelievable! Apparently the previous owner from Connecticut died and the boat sat for 5 years. He offered $10,000 for it, but it needed $5,000 worth of work, so he ended up paying $5,000.
We had paid for a two night stay at the Yacht Club, but after watching the weather, we decided that 9/1 was our best chance for a smooth ride on the Atlantic. We left at 0630 and did have a really smooth ride the whole way to Manasquan Inlet. Again, Ron had timed the entry perfectly so that the current was with us both in the inlet and in the Point Pleasant Canal. Once we entered Barnegat Bay, there were a ton of holiday boaters. Go fast cigar boats, sail boats, center console boats and mid -sized cruisers stirred up the water and made it very rough. After stopping for fuel at Beach Haven Yacht Club, we decided that we could make it all the way to Viking Yachting Center at New Gretna (our final destination). So after 12 hours on the water, we were grateful to pull in to the marina. Our tug is now in the same slip that we berthed in during our July stay.
9/ 8/11
After unloading the boat and spending a few days with family, we bought a new Subaru, loaded it up and headed for Florida. We arrived 9/10 and have reacquainted ourselves with our new home. Ron will make a trip back to NJ in the truck in early October to prepare the boat for drydocking. Then he will load up the remaining stuff and head back to Florida.
Until spring, our blog will be silent. We look forward to sharing our travels with you then...
After 2 weeks in New Jersey staying with Ron's mother while his sister and brother in law were away, we returned to Essex, CT. The warranty work (a new shaft seal) was completed while we were gone. Last night, (8/29), we stayed in Stratford, CT at a free dock in a condo community where our friends Brad and Alice keep their boat. Our Nordic tugs were parked side by side, which was quite a sight. After a great dinner at a local Italian restaurant we returned to our boat and spent time visiting.
8/30/12
The past 2 days have been beautiful. Full moon at night. Clear skies. Very little wind. Tonight we are in Port Washington, NY on Long Island. Tomorrow we will time our entry to the East River so that the current is with us as we approach NY Harbor. The plan is to be in Great Kills tomorrow night. Then we will wait for a weather window on the Atlantic as we travel to Manasquan Inlet. If you remember, this is where we had very rough weather several weeks ago.
8/31/12
We timed our departure to take advantage of the current in the East River which can be turbulent, especially in Hell's Gate. We had a head wind as we approached Hell's Gate, but were fortunate that there were no other ships (just a few pleasure craft) in that section as we headed for NYC Harbor. The ferry boats can be a challenge, so it takes two sets of eyes to watch for them. When we neared the Statue of Liberty, there were numerous large, site-seeing boats heading for Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. Instead of heading directly under the Verrazano Bridge for Great Kills Yacht Club, we decided to completely circumnavigate Staten Island so Ron could see the waterfront at Elizabeth, NJ, his birthplace. We both concurred that it was a boring few hours and would not do that trip again.
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| NYC viewed across from Elizabeth NJ |
We met several members of the yacht club and were invited to visit with John Calascibette, the harbor host, and his wife and friends on his boat. He had just purchased a really nice37 foot Carver (1980's) in mint condition for $5,000.00. Yes, that's five thousand dollars. Unbelievable! Apparently the previous owner from Connecticut died and the boat sat for 5 years. He offered $10,000 for it, but it needed $5,000 worth of work, so he ended up paying $5,000.
We had paid for a two night stay at the Yacht Club, but after watching the weather, we decided that 9/1 was our best chance for a smooth ride on the Atlantic. We left at 0630 and did have a really smooth ride the whole way to Manasquan Inlet. Again, Ron had timed the entry perfectly so that the current was with us both in the inlet and in the Point Pleasant Canal. Once we entered Barnegat Bay, there were a ton of holiday boaters. Go fast cigar boats, sail boats, center console boats and mid -sized cruisers stirred up the water and made it very rough. After stopping for fuel at Beach Haven Yacht Club, we decided that we could make it all the way to Viking Yachting Center at New Gretna (our final destination). So after 12 hours on the water, we were grateful to pull in to the marina. Our tug is now in the same slip that we berthed in during our July stay.
After unloading the boat and spending a few days with family, we bought a new Subaru, loaded it up and headed for Florida. We arrived 9/10 and have reacquainted ourselves with our new home. Ron will make a trip back to NJ in the truck in early October to prepare the boat for drydocking. Then he will load up the remaining stuff and head back to Florida.
Until spring, our blog will be silent. We look forward to sharing our travels with you then...
Friday, August 10, 2012
Cuttyhunk to Mystic, CT to Essex, CT
8/8/12
We left Cuttyhunk early. After a smoothe ride, we arrived in Mystic at Brewer's Marina where our looper friends keep their boat, the Erika Lin. Bob and Lynda were the loopers we met on our first day on Lake Michigan after leaving Traverse City.
Ron and I took a dinghy ride up to Mystic Seaport and had drinks with Alice and Brad, on the Nordic Tug, Orca I.
8/9/12
We spent the day walking around Mystic and eating lunch at Mystic Pizza, the location of the movie of the same name. Dinner was with Bob, Lynda and their friends Ingrid and Dave.
8/10/12
Today was another early departure, this time for Essex, CT, where we have an appointment with the mechanic at the Nordic Tug dealership. We may need a new seal on the drive shaft. We arrived at 0945, several hours before severe storms passed through the area. There were tornado warnings north of here, very unusual for this region. We hope to leave in the morning for a very long day (70 miles) on Long Island Sound. It will depend upon the forecast.
We left Cuttyhunk early. After a smoothe ride, we arrived in Mystic at Brewer's Marina where our looper friends keep their boat, the Erika Lin. Bob and Lynda were the loopers we met on our first day on Lake Michigan after leaving Traverse City.
Ron and I took a dinghy ride up to Mystic Seaport and had drinks with Alice and Brad, on the Nordic Tug, Orca I.
8/9/12
We spent the day walking around Mystic and eating lunch at Mystic Pizza, the location of the movie of the same name. Dinner was with Bob, Lynda and their friends Ingrid and Dave.
8/10/12
Today was another early departure, this time for Essex, CT, where we have an appointment with the mechanic at the Nordic Tug dealership. We may need a new seal on the drive shaft. We arrived at 0945, several hours before severe storms passed through the area. There were tornado warnings north of here, very unusual for this region. We hope to leave in the morning for a very long day (70 miles) on Long Island Sound. It will depend upon the forecast.
Monday, August 6, 2012
Falmouth, MA to Cuttyhunk
8/4/12
Because Pat has symptoms of food-borne illness, we are heading directly for their home in Falmouth instead of the planned trip to Martha's Vineyard. It was good to follow Joe's boat, since he has local knowledge of the area. As soon as we left, we were in fog for at least an hour. Visibility was limited to about 100 yards, so we stayed close to "Glory Days". There were quite a few Sunday cruisers when we arrived at the entrance to Joe's harbor. We wound our way back to the river where Joe's house is located and tied up to his dock. Joe & Pat have a beautiful home which Joe build several years ago
While Pat rested, Joe took us on an extensive tour of the area. One of the places we stopped was Quissett Marina where our Nordic Tug group was spending the night. We knew we would not see them, but wanted to point out their boats for Joe. As we approached the dock, Judy and Warren were just exiting their dinghy. Serendipity! We were able to say a personal goodbye to them, which we had not done when we left the group.
After the tour, Joe took us to the new homeowners' association clubhouse where we enjoyed a nice dinner.
8/5/12
Pat and Joe invited the guys (with whom Joe traveled on the gulf when we first met) and their significant others to a cocktail party. We had spent a couple of weeks with them from Gulf Shores, to Appalachiacola, to Carrabelle, to Clearwater, so it was great to see them again and meet their spouses. What a nice evening!
8/6/12
Woo Hoo! Got my hair cut when Pat went to have her nails done. This was one of the discount franchises where you pay $13.95. What a bargain!! Tonight we plan to take our hosts out to dinner before our departure in the morning for Cuttyhunk. Tomorrow is their anniversary, and they may head for Cuttyhunk, as well. From there we will be in Mystic Seaport, Essex and back up the Hudson to NJ.
8/7/12
We spent a wonderful day relaxing and walking around the island. The sunsest was beautiful.
We will miss Pat and Joe.
Because Pat has symptoms of food-borne illness, we are heading directly for their home in Falmouth instead of the planned trip to Martha's Vineyard. It was good to follow Joe's boat, since he has local knowledge of the area. As soon as we left, we were in fog for at least an hour. Visibility was limited to about 100 yards, so we stayed close to "Glory Days". There were quite a few Sunday cruisers when we arrived at the entrance to Joe's harbor. We wound our way back to the river where Joe's house is located and tied up to his dock. Joe & Pat have a beautiful home which Joe build several years ago
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| Adagio docked at Joe & Pat's home |
While Pat rested, Joe took us on an extensive tour of the area. One of the places we stopped was Quissett Marina where our Nordic Tug group was spending the night. We knew we would not see them, but wanted to point out their boats for Joe. As we approached the dock, Judy and Warren were just exiting their dinghy. Serendipity! We were able to say a personal goodbye to them, which we had not done when we left the group.
After the tour, Joe took us to the new homeowners' association clubhouse where we enjoyed a nice dinner.
8/5/12
Pat and Joe invited the guys (with whom Joe traveled on the gulf when we first met) and their significant others to a cocktail party. We had spent a couple of weeks with them from Gulf Shores, to Appalachiacola, to Carrabelle, to Clearwater, so it was great to see them again and meet their spouses. What a nice evening!
8/6/12
Woo Hoo! Got my hair cut when Pat went to have her nails done. This was one of the discount franchises where you pay $13.95. What a bargain!! Tonight we plan to take our hosts out to dinner before our departure in the morning for Cuttyhunk. Tomorrow is their anniversary, and they may head for Cuttyhunk, as well. From there we will be in Mystic Seaport, Essex and back up the Hudson to NJ.
8/7/12
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| Cuttyhunk at dusk |
We spent a wonderful day relaxing and walking around the island. The sunsest was beautiful.
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| Pat & Joe |
Friday, August 3, 2012
Cuttyhunk to Nantucket
7/30/12
We arrived at Cuttyhunk after a nice smooth ride on the water. Cuttyhunk is the opposite of the frenzied, touristy area of Block Island. It is a quiet harbor and tourists are limited to those on mooring balls and a few tied to a dock or anchored. We went ashored with Judy, Warren, Sue and Bob. After climbing to the highest point on the island, we were able to see a panoramic view of the entire area (20 miles out). It was a perfectly clear day. The few shops in Cuttyhunk are in little sheds or on front porches. A small grocery store stocks essentials. All in all, a perfect day.
7/31/12
Twelve of us climbed up a hill to the Cuttyhunk Fishing Club for a casual breakfast on the porch.
CFC is also a bed and breakfast.
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Sue and Bob (on Simone) are returning home today and we will miss them!
They were great companions on the journey. Our destination today is New Bedford, only 15 miles away. Clouds and storms are predicted for tonight. We took Duke ashore via the dinghy in New Bedford. Not a real clean area--lots of trash lying about. A rainy mist started in the afternoon which lead to a steady rain through the night. Everyone stayed aboard their vessels on the moorings due to the weather.
8/1/12
After stopping at the commercial dock for fuel, we headed for Marion, MA. When we arrived in Marion, it was a nice day. The many moorings here are filled with sailboats for the regatta which begins on Friday, but they found room for all of our tugs. Judy, Warren (on Celebration), Ron, Duke and I walked in to town where the ladies did laundry. Everyone met again for cocktails on Nordic Lady. Some of our Nordic tug group have departed for other locations. We contacted Joe Apicella, a looper from Falmouth, MA, whom we met on the gulf coast. In order to visit with Joe and his wife Pat, we decided to leave our Nordic Tug group earlier than planned. We will join Joe and Pat in Nantucket for two days.
The friendships we developed on this trip were wonderful. We will miss all of the tug owners and hope they keep in touch.
8/2/12
The 50 mile trip to Nantucket was perfect. Calm with mild swells and no wind. Storms are predicted for Sunday and Monday, so we will have to plan our route carefully. Pat and Joe pulled into the next mooring about an hour after we arrived. After spending some time walking around town, Ron and I had salads at a small outdoor restaurant and then went back to the boat. Our mooring is a long way to the dinghy dock, so the trip in takes a while. The mooring balls here are $70 per night.....very pricey! The launch service is NOT FREE. They charge $10.00 per person round trip from mooring to dock and back. We'll just use our own transportation, thanks. Dinners in town at some restaurants were a flat fee of $68.00. Some were much higher. We're eating on the boat!! There are 5 huge personal yachts on the dock....over 200 feet long and 3 stories high. Who are these people?
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8/3/12
We caught a shuttle bus to Sciasconset on the other side of Nantucket. The bus costs $2.00 for those under 65 and $1.00 if you are over 65. We found a walkway behind some houses along the shore. The hydrangeas are FABULOUS!
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After our lunch, we took the bus back to Nantucket.
We arrived at Cuttyhunk after a nice smooth ride on the water. Cuttyhunk is the opposite of the frenzied, touristy area of Block Island. It is a quiet harbor and tourists are limited to those on mooring balls and a few tied to a dock or anchored. We went ashored with Judy, Warren, Sue and Bob. After climbing to the highest point on the island, we were able to see a panoramic view of the entire area (20 miles out). It was a perfectly clear day. The few shops in Cuttyhunk are in little sheds or on front porches. A small grocery store stocks essentials. All in all, a perfect day.
7/31/12
Twelve of us climbed up a hill to the Cuttyhunk Fishing Club for a casual breakfast on the porch.
CFC is also a bed and breakfast.
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Sue and Bob (on Simone) are returning home today and we will miss them!
They were great companions on the journey. Our destination today is New Bedford, only 15 miles away. Clouds and storms are predicted for tonight. We took Duke ashore via the dinghy in New Bedford. Not a real clean area--lots of trash lying about. A rainy mist started in the afternoon which lead to a steady rain through the night. Everyone stayed aboard their vessels on the moorings due to the weather.
8/1/12
After stopping at the commercial dock for fuel, we headed for Marion, MA. When we arrived in Marion, it was a nice day. The many moorings here are filled with sailboats for the regatta which begins on Friday, but they found room for all of our tugs. Judy, Warren (on Celebration), Ron, Duke and I walked in to town where the ladies did laundry. Everyone met again for cocktails on Nordic Lady. Some of our Nordic tug group have departed for other locations. We contacted Joe Apicella, a looper from Falmouth, MA, whom we met on the gulf coast. In order to visit with Joe and his wife Pat, we decided to leave our Nordic Tug group earlier than planned. We will join Joe and Pat in Nantucket for two days.
The friendships we developed on this trip were wonderful. We will miss all of the tug owners and hope they keep in touch.
8/2/12
The 50 mile trip to Nantucket was perfect. Calm with mild swells and no wind. Storms are predicted for Sunday and Monday, so we will have to plan our route carefully. Pat and Joe pulled into the next mooring about an hour after we arrived. After spending some time walking around town, Ron and I had salads at a small outdoor restaurant and then went back to the boat. Our mooring is a long way to the dinghy dock, so the trip in takes a while. The mooring balls here are $70 per night.....very pricey! The launch service is NOT FREE. They charge $10.00 per person round trip from mooring to dock and back. We'll just use our own transportation, thanks. Dinners in town at some restaurants were a flat fee of $68.00. Some were much higher. We're eating on the boat!! There are 5 huge personal yachts on the dock....over 200 feet long and 3 stories high. Who are these people?
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8/3/12
We caught a shuttle bus to Sciasconset on the other side of Nantucket. The bus costs $2.00 for those under 65 and $1.00 if you are over 65. We found a walkway behind some houses along the shore. The hydrangeas are FABULOUS!
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After our lunch, we took the bus back to Nantucket.
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Great Kills, Staten Island, NY to Block Island, RI
We stayed at Great Kills Yacht Club for three nights waiting
for the weather to improve. Great Kills
is a melting pot of many nationalities.
The Italian bartender at the Club was Carmine, who was short just like
Carmine from the old TV show Laverne and Shirley. A number of the members were Italian and
Irish. We rode our bikes to St. Claire’s
church on Saturday evening. The
parishioners appeared to be of Italian descent, but the priest was from
Ghana. After church we rode to a nearby
market for groceries. It was a small
market and I couldn’t find the dairy products, so I asked the butcher. He did not speak English. I then looked at the labels on all of the
products and they were in Russian.
The only person in the entire store who spoke English was the Russian clerk at checkout. We had dinner at a nearby Italian restaurant where the waiters were Russian and the cooks were Hispanic. Very different from Morton, Illinois!
Staten Island: Did
you know that Staten Island belongs to New York, not New Jersey, because it was
won in a sailboat race in the 1800’s?
The only person in the entire store who spoke English was the Russian clerk at checkout. We had dinner at a nearby Italian restaurant where the waiters were Russian and the cooks were Hispanic. Very different from Morton, Illinois!
7/22/12
0620 we left harbor with no wind and just rolling swells
from the bay as we headed for the Verrazano Bridge into New York Harbor.
Because it was a Sunday morning, there was light traffic. The view of the skyline and the Statue of Liberty were spectacular.
We saw one cargo ship, one Staten Island Ferry and two Circle Line boats, so passage was easy for us.
We passed the UN building and Riker’s Island (prison).
The current was 4 mph in our favor as we headed up the East River. This area can be very turbulent due to the many eddies and whirlpools from frequent depth changes in the bottom of the river. Once we arrived at Hell’s Gate, the river became very turbulent for a short distance. Fortunately, there was still very little river traffic.
After arriving in Oyster Bay (Long Island Sound), we tied up
to the dock at Oyster Bay Marine Center (OMYC).
We had reviewed the postings on Active Captain for marina prices. This one was listed for $1.50 per
foot…spectacular for this area…BUT…we didn’t read carefully. That price was for a mooring ball. The price at the dock was $4.50 per foot on
weekends. GULP!! 
Because it was a Sunday morning, there was light traffic. The view of the skyline and the Statue of Liberty were spectacular.
We saw one cargo ship, one Staten Island Ferry and two Circle Line boats, so passage was easy for us.
We passed the UN building and Riker’s Island (prison).
The current was 4 mph in our favor as we headed up the East River. This area can be very turbulent due to the many eddies and whirlpools from frequent depth changes in the bottom of the river. Once we arrived at Hell’s Gate, the river became very turbulent for a short distance. Fortunately, there was still very little river traffic.
Tides here were 8 feet.
7/23/12
We moved to a mooring ball to save some $$$. This was our first attempt to tie up to one
and we had no problems. OMYC owns four
boats that are used to shuttle people from their mooring balls and anchorages
to shore. 
The staff at this marina was very accommodating. They had lots of dock hands. The wind picked up in the evening but subsided during the night.
7/24/12
0545: Since we
departed before the marina opened, we motored to the gas dock and tied up in
order to give Duke a morning walk. We
were gone before marina staff arrived.
After the walk, we headed out on the Sound to Essex, CT and the Nordic
Tug Rendezvous. Essex Island Marina is about 100 yards off the
shore of Essex, CT. No cars are allowed
on the island, so a small ferry boat shuttles people on and off on demand.
The town is filled with houses built in the late 1700’s and early 1800’s. Each house on the main street has a placard with the original owner’s name and the date of construction. Very quaint!
7/25/12-7/27/12: The
Rendezvous
The town is filled with houses built in the late 1700’s and early 1800’s. Each house on the main street has a placard with the original owner’s name and the date of construction. Very quaint!
Seminars were offered on a variety of topics. Some were large group sessions and other
breakouts. We met a wonderful group of
boaters from New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Maine. The boat behind ours was NT-317, Simone, which we saw being built last January at the factory. This boat is owned by Bob and Sue Baglini.
7/27/12
Eleven Nordic Tugs departed for Greenport, NY. Because there were so many of us, we waited an hour in the Greenport Harbor to finally dock the boat. On the marine radio, we were directed to our slip and told “Stern In”. We do not like stern in because we have only one engine and a bow thruster (no stern thruster). That makes turning more difficult. The fairway to our slip was very narrow and the docks were short.
The boats were too
large for the slips and protruded out into the narrow fairway.
At the last minute, I handed the controls to
Ron and said…”you do this one”. The boat
across from us had a large bow pulpit and we were being placed next to another
Nordic Tug with little space between the two boats (and the winds were blowing
us sideways into the tug). With the help
of the dock hands, we finally got situated.
After walking around this touristy little town, all of the tug owners
(25 of us) were invited aboard Ben & Sue Wilde’s 52 foot tug for cocktails
and appetizers. Ben is the east coast
Nordic Tug dealer. Nice boat!!!!
It was raining and windy.
Even though we were bow out, I was apprehensive about getting out of
this slip that was such a struggle to enter.
I took the helm and Ron placed a spring line on the boat so that we
could pivot on the piling as I piloted the boat forward. Ron yelled, “all lines off” as I cleared the
boat in front of us by inches and avoided hitting the dock. When I looked back, RON WAS IN THE
WATER! He had tried to jump aboard, but
I had the stern too far off and he missed.
So I was on the boat ALONE!!
Fortunately John Feeney, another tug owner was on the dock. Ron had somehow tied the stern line to the
dock, so I moved the bow to the end of the adjacent dock and John tied the bow
line there. If there had been a boat in
that slip, I’m not sure what we would have done. Ron was uninjured. After I stopped the engine, he climbed aboard
via the swim platform. While all this
was happening, Joe (from Marjo) yelled as he pulled out of his slip…”your stern
line is still tied to the dock”. He
didn’t see Ron in the water and thought that I was motoring out of the harbor
with a line still tied. He and Marge
thought that I was going to take out the docks as I left. In hindsight, it was humorous, but it could
have been a disaster.
Little did we realize that the day was going to get even
more interesting. We arrived at Block
Island after 4.5 hours. Although we had
called for reservations at Payne’s Dock, we were told just to let them know
when we arrived. Block Island is a
harbor surrounded by a circle of land with only one entrance. There are mooring fields everywhere. Some are privately owned. The public ones are light green with black
lettering. We tried to find an empty
one, but all were filled, so we motored down to Payne’s. Someone yelled from the front of a large
boat, “Do you want to dock?” We said, “Yes”,
and he said “OK…back in to the dock here”.
When we looked, there was no dock.
It was behind and between some large boats. He said, “Back in here!” It was like threading a needle through an eye
that was way too small.
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A dock hand or boat owner was on EVERY boat. Ron took the helm and I tossed lines as instructed by the dock hands. They told Ron every move needed to get the boat through the maze. A large audience on the dock clapped when we got it to the dock. Apparently this is NORMAL PROCEDURE since they raft all boats here. As soon as we got in, ORCA, another tug was placed in the last available spot next to us. We were happy that Brad and Alice were the ones who would be climbing on our boat to get to the docks. We observed this procedure several times as other boats arrived. The procedure reversed as boats left on Sunday morning.
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It is amazing that no one had any boat damage to their boats.
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A dock hand or boat owner was on EVERY boat. Ron took the helm and I tossed lines as instructed by the dock hands. They told Ron every move needed to get the boat through the maze. A large audience on the dock clapped when we got it to the dock. Apparently this is NORMAL PROCEDURE since they raft all boats here. As soon as we got in, ORCA, another tug was placed in the last available spot next to us. We were happy that Brad and Alice were the ones who would be climbing on our boat to get to the docks. We observed this procedure several times as other boats arrived. The procedure reversed as boats left on Sunday morning.
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It is amazing that no one had any boat damage to their boats.
.
Friday, July 20, 2012
Long Beach Island, NJ to Great Kills Yacht Club, Staten Island, NY
6/18/12
We left with some wind behind us. The concern in Barnegat Bay is shallow water. Many loopers mentioned problems, but we had none. After going through the Point Pleasant-Manasquan Canal, we turned upriver on the Manasquan toward Manasquan River Club. Although we talked to them on the phone a few times, we still were unclear about entering their channel and finding the slip. Their marina is a small peninsula with individual slips facing the land....there were no piers and no identifying numbers on the slips. We called again and were directed to slip B55 which was a floating dock but required stern end toward shore. WE ALWAYS GO BOW IN! So Ron took the helm and started backing up, but we got stuck because this slip had silted in from lack of use. A fellow boater helped us with the lines and we finally powered into the dock. The heat index was 104, so about 4:30 we headed for the pool. After 10 minutes, we noticed the storm approaching so we quickly went back to the boat. While I boiled water for mac and cheese, the wind picked up to 40 mph and got pretty rocky. After carefully draining the pot, we had a bouncy dinner. The storm passed fairly quickly.
6/19/12 (Headed for Staten Island--Great Kills Yacht Club)
We always check numerous sources for weather before starting out for the day. All predictions stated that winds in the Atlantic were 5-10 knots and the waves were 3 to 4. This was a little more wave action than we like, but the forecast for the next 5 days progressively deteriorated. Manasquan Inlet is the last of the ICW and you must go out. We headed for the inlet at slack tide because this can be a very turbulent spot. As soon as we left the inlet we were hit with constant 30 knot winds and seas of 4 to 5 feet with a period of 5 seconds. Some waves were much higher. The life jackets went on Duke and me immediately, and Ron's was next to him on the seat. He did a great job of driving the boat and keeping the other two passengers ( Duke and Jan) from total panic.
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We had everything stowed inside cabinets except for a few magazines, pillows, paper towels which were on the seats in the galley. When the waves were on our bow, we would sink into a wave and rise up on the next. When the waves were quartering, we were slightly more comfortable. When we had a beam sea, the boat would tilt down to the gunwale and then right itself. It was the roughest ride of the loop so far.
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After some LARGE wave action, everything ended up on the floor. The seat in our dingy came loose and nearly fell overboard...this is the seat to which we attach our motor, so we would have lost the motor if the seat had gone overboard. One of the fenders tied up top broke one of the horn mounts. So all in all....not a fun day!
After rounding Sandy Hook, NJ, the water calmed down. We are at Great Kills Yacht Club in a secure little harbor. We arrived right before the rain started.
God was watching over us today!
6/19/12
We are able to stay at this Yacht Club because of the kindness of one of its members who has arranged for Great Loopers to stay ($2.00 per foot-cash) without having a reciprocal agreement from another yacht club. The weather has cooled significantly but it is raining and very windy. We will be here until Sunday morning. If the weather is good, we will head for the East River and Long Island Sound.
We left with some wind behind us. The concern in Barnegat Bay is shallow water. Many loopers mentioned problems, but we had none. After going through the Point Pleasant-Manasquan Canal, we turned upriver on the Manasquan toward Manasquan River Club. Although we talked to them on the phone a few times, we still were unclear about entering their channel and finding the slip. Their marina is a small peninsula with individual slips facing the land....there were no piers and no identifying numbers on the slips. We called again and were directed to slip B55 which was a floating dock but required stern end toward shore. WE ALWAYS GO BOW IN! So Ron took the helm and started backing up, but we got stuck because this slip had silted in from lack of use. A fellow boater helped us with the lines and we finally powered into the dock. The heat index was 104, so about 4:30 we headed for the pool. After 10 minutes, we noticed the storm approaching so we quickly went back to the boat. While I boiled water for mac and cheese, the wind picked up to 40 mph and got pretty rocky. After carefully draining the pot, we had a bouncy dinner. The storm passed fairly quickly.
6/19/12 (Headed for Staten Island--Great Kills Yacht Club)
We always check numerous sources for weather before starting out for the day. All predictions stated that winds in the Atlantic were 5-10 knots and the waves were 3 to 4. This was a little more wave action than we like, but the forecast for the next 5 days progressively deteriorated. Manasquan Inlet is the last of the ICW and you must go out. We headed for the inlet at slack tide because this can be a very turbulent spot. As soon as we left the inlet we were hit with constant 30 knot winds and seas of 4 to 5 feet with a period of 5 seconds. Some waves were much higher. The life jackets went on Duke and me immediately, and Ron's was next to him on the seat. He did a great job of driving the boat and keeping the other two passengers ( Duke and Jan) from total panic.
.JPG)
We had everything stowed inside cabinets except for a few magazines, pillows, paper towels which were on the seats in the galley. When the waves were on our bow, we would sink into a wave and rise up on the next. When the waves were quartering, we were slightly more comfortable. When we had a beam sea, the boat would tilt down to the gunwale and then right itself. It was the roughest ride of the loop so far.
.JPG)
After some LARGE wave action, everything ended up on the floor. The seat in our dingy came loose and nearly fell overboard...this is the seat to which we attach our motor, so we would have lost the motor if the seat had gone overboard. One of the fenders tied up top broke one of the horn mounts. So all in all....not a fun day!
After rounding Sandy Hook, NJ, the water calmed down. We are at Great Kills Yacht Club in a secure little harbor. We arrived right before the rain started.
God was watching over us today!
6/19/12
We are able to stay at this Yacht Club because of the kindness of one of its members who has arranged for Great Loopers to stay ($2.00 per foot-cash) without having a reciprocal agreement from another yacht club. The weather has cooled significantly but it is raining and very windy. We will be here until Sunday morning. If the weather is good, we will head for the East River and Long Island Sound.
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Viking Yacht Center to Long Island Beach, NJ
7/17/12 This morning we left Viking Yachting Center along with Ron's sister Denise and cousin Theresa, who decided to ride along. The ride was only about 20 miles and the main reason for going to Long Beach Island was the diesel price of $3.15 per gallon at Beach Haven Yacht Club Marina. We decided not to stay there, though, because of their fixed docks. Instead, we went next door at Morrison's Beach Haven Marina for the nicer floating docks.....PRICEY!! $3.00 per foot and there is not much here. Long Beach Island is a very touristy area for people from New York, NJ, and Philly....thus the high prices. Tomorrow we head for Manasquan about 45 miles north.
DC revisited
We saw this guy sitting outside the Capitol a few weeks ago and thought it was worth sharing......
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Sunday, July 15, 2012
Cape May to Viking Yacht Center, New Gretna, NJ
7/13/12
Friday the 13th.....we had planned to take the ICW today, but after hearing several warnings from locals about the shallow waters, we decided to take the ocean route. Ron always plots our course on the chartplotter the night before a departure, but this late decision required some fast planning. We checked the predicted wind/ wave situation and headed out. Amazingly, the winds were 2 knots with gusts to 4 knots, so the water looked like glass. The ocean swells were 2 to 3 feet with a period of 7 seconds, so it was a nice rolling ride. Duke slept most of the way. After 4 hours, we turned in to Abescon Inlet at Atlantic City.
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Since it was still early, we decided to take that section of the ICW to New Gretna, which is the town next Little Egg Harbor where Ron's family lives. We had checked out Viking Yachting Center when we were here at Christmas. It is about an hour off the ICW, but it is a really nice marina ($1.50 per foot) with a pool. They build Viking Yachts in the building nexxtx door.
7/14/12
Church (Theresa was lector), grocery shopping, and dinner at Brian's and Denise's. We are staying on the boat rather than with family because it is easier with Duke.
7/15, 7/16, 7/17...more time with family.
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Friday the 13th.....we had planned to take the ICW today, but after hearing several warnings from locals about the shallow waters, we decided to take the ocean route. Ron always plots our course on the chartplotter the night before a departure, but this late decision required some fast planning. We checked the predicted wind/ wave situation and headed out. Amazingly, the winds were 2 knots with gusts to 4 knots, so the water looked like glass. The ocean swells were 2 to 3 feet with a period of 7 seconds, so it was a nice rolling ride. Duke slept most of the way. After 4 hours, we turned in to Abescon Inlet at Atlantic City.
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Since it was still early, we decided to take that section of the ICW to New Gretna, which is the town next Little Egg Harbor where Ron's family lives. We had checked out Viking Yachting Center when we were here at Christmas. It is about an hour off the ICW, but it is a really nice marina ($1.50 per foot) with a pool. They build Viking Yachts in the building nexxtx door.
7/14/12
Church (Theresa was lector), grocery shopping, and dinner at Brian's and Denise's. We are staying on the boat rather than with family because it is easier with Duke.
7/15, 7/16, 7/17...more time with family.
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Thursday, July 12, 2012
Cape May
Rumor has it that New Jersey boaters can be thoughtless on the waterways. They offer no consideration as they "wake you" in small channels. This occurred in the first 10 minutes in Cape May Canal.
Ron's sister, brother-in-law, mother and cousin live an hour north of Cape May, so Denise, Brian, and grandson Logan came to visit and took us to dinner.
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Rock Hall to Delaware City
7/8/12
We arrived at Rock Hall, a small, quaint town with a trolley(Rock Hall Landing Marina) . The newly instituted trolley is pulled by a Jeep and was developed to assist transient boaters. It costs $1.00 per person for a ride anywhere in town. You can either call them or just catch a ride as they pass by. On our trip to the grocery store, the driver offered to show us around. He took us to all of the marinas and through the small downtown. They are trying to promote business for the restaurants and shops. Because it rained/stormed during the night, we decided to stay another day.
7/9/12
A familiar boat pulled in behind us this afternoon......John and Marsha on Kadadi. We han't seen them since we were on the Tennessee River at the Rendezvous last fall. The end of May, John fell off the top of his boat and broke his leg in 3 places. The leg is healing nicely now, so they are trying to make up for lost time by traveling 90 miles a day. Going home to Canada.
7/10/12
Kadadi and Adagio both headed for the Delaware City Marina after passing through the C&D Canal which connects the Delaware to the Chesapeake. If all goes well, we will head out Delaware Bay to Cape May, NJ in the morning. This bay can have dangerous winds, currents, and tides, but the forecast for tomorrow is good.
We had a pleasant ride down the bay (2's to 3's). The last few miles of the ride turned out to be a bit bumpy as we turned into Cape May. We passed the ferry terminal just minutes before one of the large ferrys pulled out into the channel.
We arrived at Rock Hall, a small, quaint town with a trolley(Rock Hall Landing Marina) . The newly instituted trolley is pulled by a Jeep and was developed to assist transient boaters. It costs $1.00 per person for a ride anywhere in town. You can either call them or just catch a ride as they pass by. On our trip to the grocery store, the driver offered to show us around. He took us to all of the marinas and through the small downtown. They are trying to promote business for the restaurants and shops. Because it rained/stormed during the night, we decided to stay another day.
7/9/12
A familiar boat pulled in behind us this afternoon......John and Marsha on Kadadi. We han't seen them since we were on the Tennessee River at the Rendezvous last fall. The end of May, John fell off the top of his boat and broke his leg in 3 places. The leg is healing nicely now, so they are trying to make up for lost time by traveling 90 miles a day. Going home to Canada.
7/10/12
Kadadi and Adagio both headed for the Delaware City Marina after passing through the C&D Canal which connects the Delaware to the Chesapeake. If all goes well, we will head out Delaware Bay to Cape May, NJ in the morning. This bay can have dangerous winds, currents, and tides, but the forecast for tomorrow is good.
We had a pleasant ride down the bay (2's to 3's). The last few miles of the ride turned out to be a bit bumpy as we turned into Cape May. We passed the ferry terminal just minutes before one of the large ferrys pulled out into the channel.
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Annapolis
7/6/12
We went through Knapps Narrows and on to Annapolis. On our way into Annapolis harbor, we wound through some anchored ships, three regattas (30 boats each), and many power boats. Severeal Navy sailboats withp plebes on board were practicing in the harbor. One boat tacked right in front of us.
We decided to stay at the Annapolis City Docks. When we arrived, they told us the last slip was filled (first come/first served), so they placed in a side tie on the town wall. The city docks waterway is called Ego Alley....for a reason. Both day and night, boats ride up and down this narrow waterway with a turnaround basin at the end......it reminded us of hot rods cruising main street.
HOT!!! The temp is over 100 degrees and we have stifling humidity. The entire country has been enveloped in this heat wave. Crops are dying in the midwest.
At 2am, our first night, Ron was awakened by a noise. When he got up, he found a drunk on the bow of our boat having his picture taken by his buddy. Ron convinced this young hispanic to get off the boat when he said "policia". The boat behind us had called the police and they finally convinced these guys to leave in a car with their buddies. We're just glad they didn't have guns!
7/7/12
Duke hates this town. People walk up and down the sidewalk next to the boat day and night. Cars cruise on one side and boats cruise by on the other. There are many city noises (trucks) and no place to walk him close by.
We took a guided tour of the U.S. Naval Academy and learned the meaning on several sayings.
1) "Don't let the cat out of the bag" originated when flogging of midshipmen was allowed. Cattails were used and kept in a pouch. No one wanted the "cat" out of the bag.
2) "Learning the ropes" originated when new plebes were required to learn the use of every rope on a large model ship at the Academy.
3) The term Midshipman originated (on early ships) when the lowest level cabin boy was stationed in the middle. His job was to run messages from the bow to the stern and back.
The plebes have been here only a week. Out of 1300 nominations, 1200 were accepted. The campus is beautiful. We couldn't tour the chapel because weddings occur there on Saturdays, but we plan to attend church there tomorrow.
While touring the Naval Academy Museum, I got tired and sat down to wait for Ron. When I looked up at the display case in front of me, there was a display on J. Paul Reason and his family.....we met Paul and Dianne in D.C. at the marina bar.
Another marina nightmare: The people on the 50 foot sailboat tied to the wall in front of us, came back to their boat at 2am and decided to crank up the music to full volume on their boat. This went on for an hour so they could dance and party on board. Thoughtless!
7/8/12 We attended mass at the Academy Chapel which holds over 2000 people. There are several huge Tiffany windows in the building, and the crypt of John Paul Jones is in the basement. It is the largest crypt I've ever seen. The plebes sat on the left side of the sanctuary and the civilians and a few officers on the right. The music was fabulous, the accoustics phenomenal, the pipe organ was incredible, and the voices of the plebe choir was amazing.
After picking up a few things at the farmers' market, we took off again for the Eastern shore.
We went through Knapps Narrows and on to Annapolis. On our way into Annapolis harbor, we wound through some anchored ships, three regattas (30 boats each), and many power boats. Severeal Navy sailboats withp plebes on board were practicing in the harbor. One boat tacked right in front of us.
We decided to stay at the Annapolis City Docks. When we arrived, they told us the last slip was filled (first come/first served), so they placed in a side tie on the town wall. The city docks waterway is called Ego Alley....for a reason. Both day and night, boats ride up and down this narrow waterway with a turnaround basin at the end......it reminded us of hot rods cruising main street.
HOT!!! The temp is over 100 degrees and we have stifling humidity. The entire country has been enveloped in this heat wave. Crops are dying in the midwest.
At 2am, our first night, Ron was awakened by a noise. When he got up, he found a drunk on the bow of our boat having his picture taken by his buddy. Ron convinced this young hispanic to get off the boat when he said "policia". The boat behind us had called the police and they finally convinced these guys to leave in a car with their buddies. We're just glad they didn't have guns!
7/7/12
Duke hates this town. People walk up and down the sidewalk next to the boat day and night. Cars cruise on one side and boats cruise by on the other. There are many city noises (trucks) and no place to walk him close by.
We took a guided tour of the U.S. Naval Academy and learned the meaning on several sayings.
1) "Don't let the cat out of the bag" originated when flogging of midshipmen was allowed. Cattails were used and kept in a pouch. No one wanted the "cat" out of the bag.
2) "Learning the ropes" originated when new plebes were required to learn the use of every rope on a large model ship at the Academy.
3) The term Midshipman originated (on early ships) when the lowest level cabin boy was stationed in the middle. His job was to run messages from the bow to the stern and back.
The plebes have been here only a week. Out of 1300 nominations, 1200 were accepted. The campus is beautiful. We couldn't tour the chapel because weddings occur there on Saturdays, but we plan to attend church there tomorrow.
While touring the Naval Academy Museum, I got tired and sat down to wait for Ron. When I looked up at the display case in front of me, there was a display on J. Paul Reason and his family.....we met Paul and Dianne in D.C. at the marina bar.
Another marina nightmare: The people on the 50 foot sailboat tied to the wall in front of us, came back to their boat at 2am and decided to crank up the music to full volume on their boat. This went on for an hour so they could dance and party on board. Thoughtless!
7/8/12 We attended mass at the Academy Chapel which holds over 2000 people. There are several huge Tiffany windows in the building, and the crypt of John Paul Jones is in the basement. It is the largest crypt I've ever seen. The plebes sat on the left side of the sanctuary and the civilians and a few officers on the right. The music was fabulous, the accoustics phenomenal, the pipe organ was incredible, and the voices of the plebe choir was amazing.
After picking up a few things at the farmers' market, we took off again for the Eastern shore.
Back to the Chesapeake
7/5/12
After almost a week at Solomons, we decided to head to the Eastern Shore (Oxford, MD). This place (Hinckley Yacht Services) is the same price as our last marina ($2.25 per foot) but doesn't come close to it in quality. It is a working marine yard. The showers were not clean and the small pool closes at 5pm. We had intended to stay two nights, but we will probably head for Annapolis (western shore) tomorrow.
After almost a week at Solomons, we decided to head to the Eastern Shore (Oxford, MD). This place (Hinckley Yacht Services) is the same price as our last marina ($2.25 per foot) but doesn't come close to it in quality. It is a working marine yard. The showers were not clean and the small pool closes at 5pm. We had intended to stay two nights, but we will probably head for Annapolis (western shore) tomorrow.
Solomons, MD
6/30/12
The water was calm after last night's storm, so we headed out for Solomons. On the way, we passed a restricted area for military operations. This was clearly listed on the chart as an area to avoid. There were several naval boats there. After we passed the area, we heard the naval vessels on Channel 16 calling some boats...asking them to clear the area for active gunfire. Then we saw several military planes flying low. Glad we missed that excitement.
We arrived at Zahniser Marina (Solomons) early afternooon after winding through many fields of crabpots. Will crabpots never cease??? We called Ken Shanley, whom we'd met at the fall AGLCA Rendezvous. His newly purchased boat, a custom built 42 foot Cape Dory, was in a nearby marina. Dinner with Ken and Ann was at Zahniser's Dry Dock Restaurant. We had fun getting to know Ann, a former business teacher from Florida. Ken and Ann plan to start the loop next year.
7/1/12
We attended church at Our Lady Star of the Sea which has an amazing view of Back Creek and boats passing by.
Zahniser's Marina, which is super, has a gorgeous pool, great laundry and super showers. Instead of giving you a loaner car, they take you where you want to go. Two other ladies and I went to the grocery store together. For dinner, Ken and Ann invited us for shrimp and salad on their boat--delicious.
7/2/12
Pool day. We then went to the BBQ place with Ken and Ann for their crabcake special ($9.95 for a large crabcake and two side dishes). Very reasonable since most places are charging $17 and up for crabcakes.
7/3/12
Chores: laundry, more groceries, cleaning and a haircut. Ron discovered a 26 foot Nordic Tug in the paint shop and got the boat name, Canvasback. It belonged to Elliot and Joan Kocen. Ron called them and they invited us for drinks at the Solomons Yacht Club and then dinner at DiGiovani's. They were gracious hosts and we had a great time. Solomons Yacht Club limits membership to 200, but they have a waiting list of at least 60 people. While on the waiting list, those prospective members are allowed to attend all parties and can use the club. Great idea!
7/4/12 I've met the most interesting people on the loop. The cleaning lady in the laundry/shower area mentioned that she had written two published books. I asked about them and she went to the storage closet and pulled out copies....both religious books. She had an abundant supply just in case someone wanted to purchase them.
Temps were near 100 and the water temp on Back Creek was 87. We spent some time cooling off in the pool, took a dinghy ride, and then went with Ken and Ann to the local fireworks.
These people were on their way to the fireworks show...any means they could find to get there. Great fireworks show!
The water was calm after last night's storm, so we headed out for Solomons. On the way, we passed a restricted area for military operations. This was clearly listed on the chart as an area to avoid. There were several naval boats there. After we passed the area, we heard the naval vessels on Channel 16 calling some boats...asking them to clear the area for active gunfire. Then we saw several military planes flying low. Glad we missed that excitement.
We arrived at Zahniser Marina (Solomons) early afternooon after winding through many fields of crabpots. Will crabpots never cease??? We called Ken Shanley, whom we'd met at the fall AGLCA Rendezvous. His newly purchased boat, a custom built 42 foot Cape Dory, was in a nearby marina. Dinner with Ken and Ann was at Zahniser's Dry Dock Restaurant. We had fun getting to know Ann, a former business teacher from Florida. Ken and Ann plan to start the loop next year.
7/1/12
We attended church at Our Lady Star of the Sea which has an amazing view of Back Creek and boats passing by.
Zahniser's Marina, which is super, has a gorgeous pool, great laundry and super showers. Instead of giving you a loaner car, they take you where you want to go. Two other ladies and I went to the grocery store together. For dinner, Ken and Ann invited us for shrimp and salad on their boat--delicious.
7/2/12
Pool day. We then went to the BBQ place with Ken and Ann for their crabcake special ($9.95 for a large crabcake and two side dishes). Very reasonable since most places are charging $17 and up for crabcakes.
7/3/12
Chores: laundry, more groceries, cleaning and a haircut. Ron discovered a 26 foot Nordic Tug in the paint shop and got the boat name, Canvasback. It belonged to Elliot and Joan Kocen. Ron called them and they invited us for drinks at the Solomons Yacht Club and then dinner at DiGiovani's. They were gracious hosts and we had a great time. Solomons Yacht Club limits membership to 200, but they have a waiting list of at least 60 people. While on the waiting list, those prospective members are allowed to attend all parties and can use the club. Great idea!
7/4/12 I've met the most interesting people on the loop. The cleaning lady in the laundry/shower area mentioned that she had written two published books. I asked about them and she went to the storage closet and pulled out copies....both religious books. She had an abundant supply just in case someone wanted to purchase them.
Temps were near 100 and the water temp on Back Creek was 87. We spent some time cooling off in the pool, took a dinghy ride, and then went with Ken and Ann to the local fireworks.
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