What a short summer in NY! No Erie Canal trip back to Pennellville this year for Persephone. Persephone spent the summer on the hard in Kingston, NY on the Hudson receiving some TLC. We made a number of trips by car between Kingston and Pennellville. There are a number of spots along the NY Thruway where we could look over at the Erie Canal and we always joked how it takes a week by boat and 3 hours by car. We launched my 25' Albin trawler “mouse” in Pennellville and lived onboard at Brian and Deb’s docks when we were not in Kingston.
Here’s Deb and I aboard their “Sir Richard” a 1955 wooden cabin cruiser on one of the river cruises Brian took us on.
We took the boom “home” so Jerry could use tools and space at Brian’s to make some improvements. Do you like our boom transport vehicle? The boom has never traveled at such speed!
Here’s Jerry taking apart the engine to see what parts need replacing. It takes some contorting for him to get in there. From this point on Jerry has spent the summer in pain due to piriformis muscle syndrome.
Here’s our new exhaust elbow on the engine. From HDI Marine in Washington and it’s stainless steel! New hose too! We also ordered many parts from England and were amazed at how fast service and shipping are from the company parts4engines.com.
One of the projects I accomplished - sewing new curtains for Persephone. The gazebo on the river at Brian and Deb’s is my favorite place to sew! I not only made curtains. I helped Deb’s granddaughters complete sewing projects. Ava made a blanket and Emma made a bucket hat.
Our friend Jim took us apple picking at his neighbor’s place. We made and canned 24 pints of applesauce, made a couple of pies for Vince at Hideaway Marina, made apple crisp a few times and brought a box of apples with us.
It’s always a challenge to make and can anything on a 25’ boat. It’s amazing what you can do with 2 burners and 2 feet of counter space!
Our 7 weeks in NY went by so fast! In a blink of an eye it was time to start packing up and putting away in Pennellville.
Here’s “mouse” at Brian and Deb’s launch ramp dock with the frame for the winter cover which is rolled up on the foredeck.
In the backyard behind Brian and Deb’s house you’ll find my boat under cover, my 10’ Trillium camper under cover next to that, and our car under cover. It’s easy to find…just follow the moth ball smell (although we’ve found the mice sometimes like to build nests next to the bags of mothballs)!
Jerry’s brother Dan again provided transportation service for us and a truckload of supplies back to Kingston after we stored our car. Thanks again Dan! Our family and friends, as you can see from this update, help out in so many ways. Thanks Brian and Deb! What would we do without you?
Persephone now has new bottom paint, a boom with new fittings, an engine with many new components in the cooling system, and more. After baking one more apple pie for Vince we sailed off down the Hudson.
New York City - we stay safe from contracting Covid by not stopping but enjoying the sights and the sun. Our summer was spent in this fashion - trying to get tasks done, the boat provisioned, and limiting exposure. We look forward to a healthier nation next summer and visiting all of our friends and family we did not see in 2020.
So off to the ocean from NY to Norfolk (where I will try to post this from) headed for Oriental, NC. Our plans are to sail to the USVI for the winter from Beaufort, NC. My sister Susan surprised us by asking if she could come along! We’ve never had crew for a passage before! I’ll try to send an update before we leave!
PS Thanks D for finding an Uber ride for the outboard motor from Jacksonville, FL!
