June 6-June 23, 2017

6/10  After returning from Nashville, we attended the rehearsal dinner for Nephew, Joe (and Zara's wedding).  It was an interesting party because of the ethnicity of Zara's family.  They are Armenian. We sat with Zara parents, her brother's in-laws and her uncle.  Other than her uncle who had flown over from Armenia, most of the family spoke limited English even though they've lived in the states for a few years. Her uncle works for the US embassy in Armenia.

Kim(left) and her kids

6/11  The wedding!  It was a beautiful event and a fabulous reception!

6/12  My one year post cancer mammogram was scheduled in North Jersey (Summit), so we drove up a day ahead.  Ron's cousin Tom manages a Hilton Garden Hotel.  Connections!  He upgraded us to the bridal suite.

6/13  The mammogram was not good.  It showed new calcifications near my scar so the mammogram was repeated.  Then I talked with the radiologist who scheduled me for a stereotactic biopsy.  (Drove back to South Jersey)

In addition to that news, we attended a wake (visitation) for Ron's 65 year old cousin, Arlene Slinsky.  She had been diagnosed with pancreatic/liver cancer.  As children, Ron and Denise spent lots of time wit Arlene. She will be missed!  Drove back to South Jersey.

6/14  Arlene's funeral and repast (dinner).  We drove to North Jersey and back again for this. Each one way trip takes about 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Coming from rural Illinois, this commute is tedious for me, but people in NJ are accustomed to it.

6/15 Stereotactic biopsy.  Another drive up and back.  Following the procedure, I stayed at Denise's  and Brian's in South Jersey.

Ron, Denise, Brian and cousin Theresa drove up and back in the evening for his Aunt Margie's (also Ron's Godmother) wake.  She had ovarian cancer.

6/16  Another drive up and back to north Jersey for Aunt Margie's funeral and repast.  The funeral procession contained many, many cars, had a police escort, and routed past her house on the way to the cemetery.  She had lived in the house for over 60 years.

11 of the 20 living cousins

Ron with Aunt Margie's sons

6/17  Ron and I are prepared for good or bad news on my test.  With good news, we will proceed on our boat trip.  With bad news, we will go home.  But how will we get home...rent a car, fly, buy a car???

6/19 received a call from Gail (Summit Breast Center) on my test results....all tissue samples were benign.  YEAH!!!!!!!!! With this emotion-filled week, we both breathed a sigh of relief.  Our decision made, we are preparing for our boat trip north.

6/20  We bought a used (2,400 miles) 2017 Subaru from the same dealer where we bought our white one.  Since we need a car to get us from Michigan to FL in September, the car will stay in NJ until Ron takes a train to come back and get it.

6/21  We departed from Viking Yachting Center, New Gretna at 0800 and arrived Traders Cove Marina in Brick, NJ.   We had a reservation.  When we got close, I phoned them since they don't respond on marine radio.  I have never had worse directions getting in to a marina.  Here is a portion of that conversation.

Jan:  we just came under the Mantoloking  Bridge from the south.  Can you direct us in to the marina?
Marina guy #1:  So you are where.?
Jan:  just came under the bridge from the south.
Marina guy #1.  He handed the phone to an older worker #2.  I repeated what I had said.  He said so you came from the south and you are heading south?
Jan:  I see your marina.  We are heading toward the 3 story gray building.  Do we go in the main marina opening.
Marina guy #2:  Do you see me?
Jan:  where are you?
Guy #2:  I'm on the grass.
Jan: I do not see you.
Guy #2:  Do you see the police boat?
Jan:  No. (Turns out that boat was down a channel and behind a larger boat).
#2:  do you see the playground?
Jan:  Yes. Do I head to the right of  the playground down that channel?
#2: Yes. Did you have a reservation?
Jan:  Yes.  Our length is 34 and our draft is 4 feet.  Is it deep enough?
#2: Your what.
Jan: where do you want us?
#2:  Will you fit behind the police boat?  If not, go further down.

By then we turned around and pulled into a fairly tight space behind the police boat and in front of looper boat, Wandering Star (Dirk and Pat) who helped us dock. #1 and# 2 seemed less comfortable assisting us.

This marina has been purchased by the city of Brick and completely redone.  The cleats on the dock are few and far between and the power didnt work well.  Current price is $25 per night but is expected to rise to about $2.00 per foot.  The grounds and playground are beautiful.  Currently they have only portapotties, but are building restrooms and showers.

According to a friend, the dock hands are public works employees...probably with no marina experience.

June 22.  We based our departure time on when slack tide would occur at Manasquan Inlet.  That made our departure 0630.  We had to transit the Point Pleasant Canal while the 2 knot current was against us.  That didn't sound like it would be a problem for this 2 mile stretch, but at one point Ron briefly lost control to the current.  A bit scary!

 Fortunately it was a weekday with very little boat traffic.  The railroad bridge at the Inlet was open, so we breezed right through.

 Conditions on the Atlantic were great.  Winds---3.  Swells--3 feet with a period of 8 seconds.

 We neared Sandy Hook, where there is a nude beach, and yes, there were nude bathers and walkers.
Once we were around Sandy Hook and headed for Staten Island, I  noticed a disturbance in the  water.  Then I saw the blowhole.  It was a whale!  How exciting!!

John Calascibetta, the harbor host extraordinaire, greeted us!  This is our 5th stay at Great Kills Yacht Club. We had an evening drink in the bar and Joe, the bartender, gave us 2 loaves of fresh Italian bread.

June 23:  We decided to stay a couple more days.  Rain from Tropical Storm Cindy is on the way and weather looks better on Sunday.