We left home on Monday and motored most of the day to Chesapeake City. We anchored in the harbor. Last year we tied up along side the quay at Schaffer's on the opposite side of the C & D Canal. It was expensive, the restaurant food was poor, the slip was noisy due to out side bands playing at the restaurant. The anchorage, on the other hand, was free, we ate on board stir-fried rice and pork loin that was excellent, and the harbor was very noisy do to out side bands playing at the near by restaurants ashore. Oh well, sometimes you just can't find silence.
We left for Cape May, NJ at 7:15 AM on Tuesday. The weather was beautiful...cool and clear...but, a lass, no wind except dead ahead (no good to sailors with distance to travel). We motored all day. The entrance to the harbor at Cape May is thru the Cape May Canal. It was low, very low, tide and the Captain was concerned about running aground. However, me made it without event. We anchored near the Coast Guard Training Center. Of coarse, the cadet's were having a screaming rally for hours (again no silence). Fishing boats and tour boats were running beside us and made the anchorage very rolly polly. We were a featured spot for the Whale Watch Tour. Felt a little like being an animal in the zoo, "See the sailors, having their dinner." We found we were anchored with 5 boats that were in Chesapeake City: Jeapers from Canada, Wingit and Serra from VA and 2 others. The Virginians were heading for Maine via the Long Island Sound. We took the dingy and went to the harbor town for a light dinner. Cape May is a quiet, Victorian town. Not much happening there.
Up early on Wednesday and on our way out to sea with the destination of Block Island RI. The day was great with fair skies. No wind however. We motored into the wee small hours of the morning when fresh winds came up out of the North East. I was on watch as the winds grew to 12 knots. I was too uncomfortable in the night at sea to make the switch to sail from motor, so I waited for Barry to come on watch. We let the sails out and enjoyed several hours of good sailing before the winds and sea built to 15 to 20 knots and 5 to 6 foot choppy waves. We both felt ok (no sea sickness or fear) but it was a pounding trip with the boat beating to windward into the waves. We forgot to turn the dorave vents around so water would not come into our cabin. Every thing on the bed and under the bed was soaked. We spent the next couple of days getting things back together.
We arrived at Block Island around 8:00 PM on Thursday. We were spent. Bed in any condition was welcomed. We spent Friday and Saturday at Block Island. We walked and enjoyed the summer in this serene New England resort.
Wild life, that is nature not lifestyle, has been abundant. We saw porpoises as we were leaving Cape May and several times during the crossing to Block Island. We saw a 30 foot fin whale off of Montauk Point. Pelicans were in the north Chesapeake and near Cape May. Block Island sightings have been less spectacular unless cows are your fancy.
And now, let me take a few minutes to introduce you to our crew:
The Artful Dodger, called Artie, is our new dodger. He has already protected us from the sea, sheltered us from wind, and given us a great spot to dry wet bedding.
Birdie is our name for the Wind Generator. She sounds like birds chirping when she starts and like a lawn mower when she really gets going. The jury is still out on Birdie.
. Gennie is our motor (Iron Gennie).
Robbie is the Auto Pilot(Robertson). One of the best investments we have made. I can't imagine trying to do long trips without an auto pilot.
GPS, pronounced Jeeps, helps the captain keep us on coarse.
Bruce and CQ (full name CQR) have anchor duty.
That is all for now. We would love to hear from you. Be patient, we are using wireless connections and so far we are not impressed.
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