NY to Chesapeake

10/31/10
I feel that the notes we send are often a representation of our travels.  Some notes are dashed off in a hurry as we race towards a destination while the "weather window" is open for a safe passage.  Other notes are composed onboard in a leisurely fashion as we stop to "smell the roses".  Today's note would fit in the first category.

The Hudson River is such a beautiful sight by water in the fall............

Our travels though were hurried as the warm temperatures were expected to drop.  An overnite in Catskill Creek and an overnite in Kingston to put up the mast then onto New York City.

  The ferry traffic in NY Harbor can be like rush hour on a freeway.  On a small boat it's not an issue of being caught in traffic but being tossed in traffic.  The wakes caused by the ferries rocks and rolls us along until we pass the Statue of Libery.  We then dodge the ships and barges coming and going, go under the Verazzano Bridge, past the Coney Island attractions and anchor in Sheepshead Bay in Brooklyn.
Our journey south is usually one long 48 hour sail from NY Harbor to the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay.  This year we ocean hopped from NY Harbor to Barnegat Inlet, NJ and another day hop from Barnegat to Cape May.  Both ocean jaunts this year were accomplished in a hurry - the strong winds enabled us to sail at 8 knots (our normal average speed is 5-6 knots).   Here's a video to get an idea of what it was like.....

 some of you may want to take some dramamine before viewing.

This is my view of Atlantic City from the sea covered window from inside the cabin....

Here's a better view from the cockpit....

We had one passenger who flew aboard near Atlantic City, probably blown offshore far from home........

  Later, when we came closer to land the hitch-hiker took the opportunity and jumped ship.
And, yesterday we sailed from Cape May up the Delaware Bay with the current to the C & D Canal.  Here we anchored at Chesapeake City, baked an apple pie, played Scrabble and hit the hay.  Today's journey from Chesapeake City to Worton Creek, MD, only 20 miles, provided us with a sunny afternoon to do something besides navigate and sail.  The tranquil feeling of just sitting at anchor for a change, not sailing or navigating, or trying to maneuver around the boat at an angle.  I know it's hard for you to imagine but I was able to make a sandwich today on level counters - the ingredients stayed put and didn't roll off to the floor.  Ah, the luxuries of being at anchor.....tomorrow we'll head south down the Chesapeake toward Annapolis.