We finally made it.....

Cape May was a good place to stop and rest for a day. Some other cruisers we meet up north came in and rented a slip for 2.75 a foot and were just going to stay one night than move over to the anchoring area with us. Well when the tide went out they were on bottom and could not leave, they had to pay for another night. I am sorry but that seems like it should be a no charge night since they can’t leave…..
We went over to visit and had a glass of wine with them.

This is Tom and Maureen. Tom is a dentist and Maureen is an O. R. nurse so this is good company to be traveling with.
The night before departing from Cape May we stopped into town at the Lobster House with Dink to pick up some fresh seafood. This place had everything….. I went for the Large shrimp, ½ dozen oysters, seafood pasta, cucumber salad and some onion poppy bread, total bill with tip $21.25. Everything was awesome.
On our last night walk with the dogs Sara found this huge crab and cornered it. The crab was defending itself by showing its claws and Sara had know idea what to think of it. I finally broke it up and let the crab go on its way (next one won’t be that lucky or maybe Sara won’t be….).
We left Cape May at Sunrise and headed out the Cape May canal which has 7.5 ft. and two bridges 55ft high, we measured a few times just to make sure we could fit(51ft Kasidah is). Then we headed up the Delaware Bay with the current in our favor. What a nice day we had. We started off Sailing but then the wind died so we had to motor sail and then motor. The temp was around 75 to 80 and all our outer wear started to come off. This is what I have been waiting for. All the way down it has been none stop things to do places to get to and always with some type of weather. Now today was great, Ya I know the sailing was not that great but we are use to sailing in cold crappy weather so this was fine not to sail for a day and have some wonderful weather.
We made our way up the Delaware Bay to the Cohansey River to anchor for the night. Tom and Maureen came in just before us. This river has so many turns in it that you think you may be at the end and another turn comes up. We anchored around the first corner just inside the cut. We went up the river with dink to get Gas, Diesel and some water. We found a nice little marina that had all we needed and moreJ. They also had this huge thing that looked like a UFO.
Bright and early we left for the C&D canal. We were able to sail most of the way up the Bay but when we got to the canal sailing is not permitted so motoring was the way for the 14 mile canal trip. It was Sunday and pretty quiet till we reached about the half way point and then there were so many power boats racing by us in all directions, every boat looked to have full capacity. Once on the Chesapeake we decided to anchor in the Sassafras River and finish off down the Chesapeake in the morning to Annapolis which is the first long stop on our journey.
We woke up at sunrise to walk the dogs and get Kasidah ready for the day. At the beach we did notice lots of horse tracks and where turtles had come up to lay eggs or something. Sara and Blue ran around for a few minutes before we made our way back to the boat.
We were able to sail all the way to Annapolis which was a lot of fun except dodging all the crab pot markers(that’s a real challenge).
Annapolis came quick, I called the Harbormaster(thanks to S/V Veranda) for a little info on the mooring balls and anchorage and he said moorings were all taken up at that point and to anchor would be tight so we decided to head one creek up from Spa Creek to a very quiet place called Weems creek. We went in with S/V Ozy to see what we could find and the anchorage was fine no problems for both of us to find a spot. We just happened to see some people on S/V Summer Dream which we meet on the Erie Canal so that was very cool.
Weems creek is a little out of the spot light of the boat show but they have trolleys that will take us there and if we choose to walk it is only about 20 minute or less.
The second day we took Dink out and around to Spa creek to scope the anchorage out. We did see a few places that we could squeeze into but we decided for now we would stay put in Weems creek.

As we were going by the city mooring balls Jon happened to pick out S/V Kismit, they are friends of Dick and Ann and are from Sodus NY. They were not on the boat but we left them out card. We picked up 15 gallons of water and found out that if we need a pump out they will come to us so this makes things a little easier.

Cape May, NJ

We had a great time in Atlantic Highlands while waiting for the weather to be in our favor. On the last day we were visiting other cruisers on their boat and some weather was coming our way, so we finished our drinks and headed back to Kasidah in our dinghy. Well needless to say we got caught in 35 mph winds and biting rain drops. As we made our way down wind to Kasidah, Jon commented that we had the small 4.5 hp outboard on the dinghy and I had one chance to wrap the line around a cleat on Kasidah or we would fly right passed her and have to beach “dink” till the weather ended. Well that went as smooth as could be and we boarded Kasidah as wet as if we had been under a water hose for an hour. All we could do was laugh as hard as we could and strip the wet clothes off. At least four boats anchored with us were dragging all over the place. LOVE our new Anchor and All Chain!

We left first thing in the morning and headed out into the Atlantic for a 54 mile trip down the coast to Barnegat’s inlet for the night. We saw so many boats heading south and commented that we never sailed with so many boats before at the same time. It was a perfect sail with west wind 15 to 20 knots all day. Barnegat’s inlet was a little tricky and all NOAA maps showed only 4.5 feet and of course we draw 6, but everyone we talked to said it was much deeper than that. Jon ended up calling the Coast guard and Tow Boat US to ask if there was more water than the 4.5 feet. The Coast Guard told Jon her could not say what he saw but he could read what NOAA charts had on them. Jon explained that we knew that already and that we would not hold him responsible if we grounded. The young gentlemen said to Jon “Well I can’t tell you the real depth but I can tell youit is closer to 20 feet than 4.5 but I can’t really tell you anything other than that”. Jon thanked him for the info. Now Boat US gave Jon just about every little thing you could possibly want to know about going into an unfamiliar inlet. (Thanks to all for that information). The anchorage was just about filled but we managed to find a place near a nice little beach to let the dogs run around for an hour or so.

We left Barnegat’s bright and early for Cape May which would be a 67 mile trip. The wind was supposed to be out of the W-NW 5 to 10 so we figured we would motor sail most of the day. Well half way down the wind went from 10 to 25 gusting 30 and out of the south. It was a challenge but we have seen worst on Ontario. We made Cape May about 1800 hours and had just enough time to find a place in the already crowded anchorage field and walk the dogs before dark. We decided to stay here two nights and head up the Delaware Bay on Saturday when the current will be more in our favor, and we’ll be more rested.

Getting into our new life.

As we had traveled across the Erie Canal, and thru the locks, sometimes you could see where the original canal is running next to the present one. Settings where huge homes overlook the canal can’t help but fill your mind with thoughts of history. Down the Hudson one senses the history of what once was. Majestic homes, towns, and areas on both sides overlooking the river all scream with the past, maybe I’m a little bite envious of a time gone by. I like to think of those times and envision what it was that drove these people of that time to create what they did. I put myself into that time and think about the opportunities that there were to furnish, prosper and profit. Then it hit me. PROFIT! Those evil people wanting to profit, prosper, and advance themselves, THAT was the driving force of what created the greatest nation in modern history. It is the one of the major differences between then and now. Those people lived and worked their whole lives to build as much wealth as they could during their lives, Build, Build, and Build. Build so they could pass it onto their children, and there was no one in their way. There was no retirement to look forward to, you worked to survive. You had your family and they all worked together. The harder you worked the more wealth that your family could acquirer and create, the better off your next generation would be and the further they could go in life, and the easier it would have been on the older generation. I see some of these Castles that where built from the PROFIT of their hard work and envision the commitment, sacrifice, and (this is going to be the hard part for most people to believe in) the people that they brought along with them. I believe they created more good people, more wealth, and took care of more people than is truly given credit to. More people had been taken care of by those means, yes the profit side of it, than the Government could have ever done. Basically, profit and their believe in God, returning what they could drove people to take care of people like we don’t do today, don’t you think.

Today it seems we only worry about too much profit. If somebody makes too much money then somebody else must be poorer. WRONG. We also aren’t as worried about our, children or parents. We only need to enjoy life to the fullest. “If you can’t be, with the one you love; Love the one you’re with”. Our Government will take care of you. And if enough care isn’t being handed out, vote for me and I’ll give you what you need and more, I’ll take it from the guy next door who works his fingers to a bone, He has more than he needs, and you need more than you have.

These are just my rambling thoughts, I could be wrong, but ,.............

Waiting for the Weather

We decided to go right to Sandy Hook, NJ and skip NYC. We tried to motorsail but the wind was on our back all the was to Sandy Hook. There was small craft advisories issued, but I didn't think it was that bad compared to some Lake sailing we've done.

On our way into Sandy Hook we notice tons of Fishing trap markers which you really need to stay away from.

We decided to grab a mooring ball at Atlantic Highlands which includes free water taxi till midnight. There is a small hip town within walking distance with a Laundry mat, food store and lots of little Bistros. It is a very nice summer vacation town which is starting to close down for the winter. We have been finishing up some projects which I am sure will never end, but seem to be getting easier.

Dick and Ann from S/V Grey Hound gave us a bottle of Champagne to toast to the first new place we made it to so we popped the cork(Thanks Guys). We are going to stay one more night on the mooring and then anchor for the next night or two before doing our 30 hour sail down to Cape May. I was hoping maybe to have someone else do this part instead of me because of the dogs. I am afraid that Sara may hold it and not go on the boat for the whole time, which would not be good. We had no takers so we will just deal with it. Our weather opening looks to be Tuesday or Wednesday and it looks pretty good for sailing the whole way. The people we meet on S/V Tocorora will be here Monday and it sounds like his wife and kids will take a train down to Cape May and he will solo this part without them. We will sail with him till he pulls into a cut that he can pick up the NJ ICW. We draw way to much for this part and are just headed all the way to Cape May's deeper water. This will put us closer to Annapolis and there might still be a chance to make the boat show. But we aren't putting any push on for a time frame. It's just not worth it.

Skipping down the Hudson

Jon and I have been trying to get used to this lifestyle of waking up, getting Kasidah shipshape, and heading for the next town or small quiet cove to lay her anchor. Then of course there are many issues we need to deal with. The biggest has been the computers not working right. These computers are only 6 months old and one thing after another has gone wrong with both of them, I think it is more the software than the computers. Well both are running so so for now.
Once again I would like to say how much we thank everyone that came over to wish us well, we love you guys and want to let you know it made our departure bittersweet. Now we have ate all the dinner leftovers, drank all the liquor, spent most of the money but still have some wool socks to wear and if we can only find a West Marine that will be used also:).

We Left Waterford after a days rest and some early morning fog. Headed down the Hudson for Castleton where the mast would go up. After the last lock (YAHOO) just around Albany and just before a big bridge a Sheriffs boat powers up to us and says "Put it in neutral Captain!" "Stay here and wait, President Obama might go over this bridge, You 'll be an hour!" You got to be kidding, I said, NO Sir he said. My last suggestion was " How about you board me, Search Me and then Escort Me under the bridge?" "Sir?" "WAIT HERE!!!" ok . They let us by about 45 minutes later and then we did see Air Force one taking off. When we got to Castleton they had the daily newspaper which on page one showed a picture of a C-5 air plane (Amy is flying this plane too) with the Precedent's motorcade being unloaded. Cool.

We made it to Castleton on Hudson where Jon and Adrian from s/v Tocorura stepped our two mast in about 4 hours. We spent the night there and the next day over stayed our welcome to get the mustache off Kasidah and get her looking awesome and ship shape. We left there around 1500 hours and headed 3 hours down to Coxesake were there is a free town dock. I think it is just day time use but no one cares. This town is so dead that within 5 minute anyone that did live there knew we landed. We had people offer us their washer and dryer, A ride to a near store and any help that we might need during the night......Then the Mayor came down and gave us the key to the Village, ... Not really he just came to help cast us off...
We left there bright and early and were going to stop at a restaurant with free docks at the Hudson bridge for one night but it was only 1400 so we decided to move on and we would go till 1800 hours to an anchorage that was behind Pollepel Island which has the ruins of Bannerman Castle on it. Going in we had to go a 1/4 mile south than hug the shore in 8 ft of water all the way in till it opened up to about 20ft. We put two anchors out so as to not swing to much. Blue and Sara had only a small area to use on land to do their thing but did not like it at all, We finally got Sara to go but Blue would not even think about it. In the morning Blue had to go so bad she went on the deck so we gave her treats and really made a big deal of it. Sara would not go and just looked at us. We decided to stop at a Store that had a dock you could get to and let them walk but on the way in the 10 ft channel we get stuck in 5ft under the boat. Kasidah managed to get us out of it with out a problem. Thank you Kasidah....
We headed out this morning with thoughts of making the 79th street marina and take a mooring ball but when we called the guy said they were all filled and could not guarantee one would be there. We decided to make an early day and head to Haverstraw bay to anchor and do more projects on the boat, they have a great state park to walk the dogs and they can really use that. We will pass up on New York and head right for Sandy Hook in the morning.