Hells Gate

                                              Blue Crabs on the piling we were tied to.
                                                                            

    We rendezvoused with Sea Pearl just east of the Verrandanzo Bridge, to follow them through NYC.  Joe provided the narrative over the VHF, directing our attention to specific sites and not only naming them but giving us the history and significance of the landmarks.  Wow! Our own personal guided tour from the water with a very knowledgeable "tour Guide"

                                                                              
                                                  "Guess I better get out of the way!"
                                                          

                                                                               

     I will let the pictures do most of the talking.  Joe and Julie even had us stop in front of the Statue of Liberty, while they took pictures of Doc's Holiday bobbing in front. They are going to e-mail us the pics and we will post when we get them. Beth got great shots of the empire state building ,statue of liberty, Manhattan skyline, Riker's prison, a prison barge (because the main prison is so overcrowded), Rockefeller University, the Brooklyn Bridge and Hells Gate.

                                                                          

                                               
                                                                    "Sea Pearl"                                                                      
                                               

                                                      Doc's Holiday by Statue of Liberty
                                                     

                                                                                                                                                                                                                Land, Air and Sea!
                

                                                                                  
                                                                                 

                                                                                  

                                                                                  
                                                                        Tudor City

                                                                                
     Joe had our passage through Hells Gate timed with the incoming tide to give us the needed push to get through.  This narrow channel was not only swift but the incoming tide against the outgoing current produce standing 3 to 4 foot waves that Doc's Holiday crashed through. No big deal until we got to the rough part. Our normal 8 to 9 knots speed increased with the incoming tide and we pushed through at 15 knots.  Again, no big deal (except I was thrilled at how much fuel I was saving.) Then, I think it was near the Throgs Neck Bridge, we watched as Sea Pearl got thrown to one side.
 "Oh! Oh! Hang on Beth!" I shouted as we were thrown side ways and back and the boat leaned into the current one way than the other. Fighting with the wheel I managed to keep the boat off of both sides of the channel but clearly this was a very strong current! It is comparable to the power of "Old Sow", the whirlpool between Deer Island, New Brunswick and Eastport Maine. (which has been known to suck down ships!).  No question that if one fell into the water they would be unable to swim against the current and would most probably drown. A few things crashed in the galley down below, but nothing broke. Thank heaven we were already prepared for rough water because of the washing machine like water stirred up by the heavy boat traffic in New York Harbour.
     Once through Hells Gate the ride became like lake boating.  Perfectly smooth as glass water as we passed by the landing approach to La Guardia airport...it looked like the landing planes were going to come right through our Bimini top.
     We stopped beside Sea Pearl to thank them for the guided tour then parted company as they steamed off toward their home port Hugenot.  Slowly we cruised the last few miles into Manhasset sound to tie up at the Brewer Capri Marina in Port Washington.

Atlantic City, NJ to "The Big Apple"

                            Alantic City, NJ lights.                                                                                   

                          
                                                      Barnegat Inlet, NJ 

                                                     
                        Miles and miles of N.J.  Beaches packed with people today.

                                                                                                                                         
                                                                           NYC!!!!

   "Goosebumps!"
     "What?"
     "Goosebumps. I have goosebumps all over", Beth said as I reached over and gently felt the bumpy skin on her forearms.
     "Can you believe we actually made it to New York City!" she remarked as we both gazed out over the hazy water to watch the outline of NYC take shape. We were rounding Sandy Hook after a pleasant ride up the Atlantic Coast.
     "Who ever would have believed that two kids from Charlotte County, New Brunswick would have travelled this far on a boat to see this view of NYC.  I can't believe we've done it. It's almost like we are home!" Beth said with a big grin.
     I cautioned her, "We still have a long way to go!" as I tried to supress my growing excitement.
     Leaving Atlantic City at 06:00, I elected to bump up the speed to make sure that we were around Sandy Hook before the afternoon winds reached their predicted increase to 20 knots with gusts to 25.
The first thing we noticed was a change in the air.  Even Spencer had his nose up sniffing at fresh salty sea air.(not quite like home but the closest so far). Next, we noticed the beaches were getting more and more people and by the time we got near Sandy Hook some of the beaches looked like seething ant colonies....not my idea of a day at the beach but I bet it was a relief for those who have to suffer the heat in the NYC- NJ area( which has a population of 17.9 million people!)

                                       Docs Holiday Highlands Marina, Sandy Hook, N.J.
                                                                         
                                                                                          
     We pulled into the Atlantic Highlands Marina, tanked up with fuel, since it was the cheapest we will see (reportedly at $3.34/gal, 85 c/gal cheaper than in NYC!) then slid Doc's Holiday into a slip to await an approaching front. We immediately got cleaned and dressed up (as much as boat people can dress up...clean shirt, jeans and running shoes instead of bare feet!) and jumped on the ferry for the 45 minute ride into Manhatten.  It was thrilling to see in the distance; the empire state building, the statue of liberty and Brooklyn Bridge. What we were going to see in NYC was awe inspiring.

                                                                               

                                                                                 

                                                                                 

                                                                                 

     Landing at Pier 11 at the bottom of wall street, I immediately accosted a young fellow with a dog with, "Where's the bull?"
 "What!" he responded.
 "The wall street bull.  Do you know where we can find it?" I laughed.
 He laughed and responded, "Most of wall street is full of bull but go two blocks up and over to Broadway.  You will see it at Bowling Green Park."

                                                                                   

Guess who's Boss!!! 

                                                                                                                                                               


     Beth looked up at the towering buildings her mouth agape repeating,"I can't believe I am in New York city! It is just overwhelming.!"

                                                                            
                                  

                                                                                    

      We sauntered past the New York Stock Exchange, thrilled with the history and magnitude of the area.  After the requisite pictures with the bull, we meandered through the streets marvelling at not only the buildings but the variety of people we passed on the streets. All shapes, sizes and dressing, from Indian and muslim swaries to 6 inch high heeled short dresses, passed us. All going somewhere.  Some tourists and lots of people dressed in business suits, most in a hurry (how do those girls run in high heel shoes without spraining an ankle?), all rushing, most with sullen looks on their faces, all looking at anything but the people they were passing. Most seemed surprised when I would say, " Hello. " Occasionally, one would grunt a response and rarely would one stop and talk. 
     We wandered until we found the 911 Veterans memorial site at the fallen twin towers. Sobering! Viewing the site gave one a jittery sick feeling in the pit of one's stomach thinking that so many people died, not only in the destruction of the buildings, but died trying to rescue those few that were alive and trapped inside.  For what!! ...another #&%#@$ up religious belief!  I better stop. I feel another rant coming on!

                                                                                                                                                                   
                                                                          
     Waiting at the ferry dock for our return to Atlantic Highlands we looked up at the towering buildings and across the water at the lights on the bridges, passing boats, and ever present auto traffick.  Amazing, simply an amazing sight!....but in the end, not for me.  The more I see, the more I realize that our little remote area of this big blue ball we live on has as much as I really need to be happy, and a whole lot less of the vicissitudes of civilization that infect the cities. I guess it really is time to come home.

                                                                               
                                                                               
                                                      

    Tomorrow, we would rendezvous with Sea Pearl (Joe and Julie) who have kindly offered to lead us through New York Harbour so we can get pictures pictures of  Doc's Holiday near the Statue of Liberty.

Small World.....and on to Atlantic City, NJ

                                                     Waiting on storms to go away!!!

                 Interesting Cape May homes seen inside the harbor on our dingy excursion.

                                                                                     
                                                                                

                                                                                    

     So, I'm trying to find things to keep me occupied in Cape May as it is too stormy to travel, when I see a sailboat coming to dock.  Its "Talisman" a 40 some foot Island Packet carrying Kathy and Rodger Wilcox and their Nautidogs, Misty and Howie.  As I was helping them get tied into their slip they revealed that they had been not only to the Bay of Fundy but in particular to Campobello Island and St. Andrews. (our home and destination cruising grounds!)  They absolutely loved the area and are hoping to go back.  I assured them that Mr Chamberlain, on the St. Andrews wharf, was still there.
     They spoke very highly of him being a great ambassador for the St. Andrews area and remarked how he sent them to the Algonquin Hotel for night caps, where they sat pleasantly watching the sunset while a "young fellow in a kilt played bagpipe music.
     Rodger was a former "computer guy" and after living on both coasts due to his job, retired and he and Kathy became full time cruisers over the last 7 years.
    Next morning they introduced us to a new sailboat arrrival.....get this ...a fellow who is originally from St. Andrews, N.B.....SMALL WORLD!.  Steve Charbonneau's grandmother (I think she was a Ryan?) is about to return to St. Andrews.  Steve lived there until age 6 when he moved with his mother to attend school in Fredricton.   He eventualy spent 17 years in the Canadian Air Force then retired as a private pilot for a company in the U.S.A..

     Steve remarked, "I just couldn't live on the "starvation take home pay in Canada.  The taxes were just too much!" His fondness for Canada persists but he is not sure if he could ever afford to return home.
Who would have expected to meet people from home in this small port a thousand miles away from our destination? 
     Finally, in comes a 53 foot Marine Trader Trawler, "Sea Pearl", with Joe and Julie Nekola.  Joe a former member of the NYPD has been travelling on this boat for 9 years. This is the sister ship to the originator of "Active Captain"..Jeffrey and Karen Seigel from Castine, Maine.  Joe and Julie have travelled up and down the east coast for 9 years and are just returning from a winter cruise in the Bahamas, Abacos and Eleuthra.  Their home port is near Sedgewick, NY which just happens to be on the other side of New York Harbour, the same direction that we are headed.  They know the area well, including the marinas and anchorages and invited us to "buddy boat" with them.
      What good fortune to meet such wonderful people.  All enthusiastic about their life style and willing to help  us "newbies" enjoy the intricasies and joys of plying the east coast waterways.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                
                                 

Leaving Cape May Inlet

   We left Cape May at 8 am this morning even though the winds were predicted to be 10 to 15 knots. My weather system indicated that the seas would b 2 to 3 feet, but after asking around it was generally considered that if we travelled closer to shore ie. 1 to 2 miles, the north west wind would not have enough time to kick up a big "fetch" (think bounce!) and it worked!  The ride was comfortable. We had no spray on the deck or windshield.  Even Spencer was relaxed for the 39 miles we covered to enter an anchorage in Atlantic City, NJ.

                                                                                                 

                                          Wildwood, N.J.......a summer resort destination.

                                                                         
                                                              New Jersey Coastline 

                                                     
                                                         Atlantic City, New Jersey    

                                                                                           
                                                                Atlantic City Beach

                                                                               

                                                                                   
                                                                Trump Taj Mahal.

  I am sitting here with requisite frosty Coors in hand, looking out at a couple of sailboats and the skyline of Atlantic City, which includes "Trump towers, the Taj Mahal and the Water Club. Different architecture with lots of new construction in progress. (I guess someone is optimistic about the economy!) The sun is shining and the wind picked up but this is a safe comfortable anchorage to wait for Sea Pearl to catch up (they had to get supplies before they left Cape May).  Given good weather we should be headed toward Sandy Hook and New York tomorrow.
  Surprise....nothing needs to be fixed!  I waited to see if the motors would hold their 160 deg. temps  in the colder Atlantic, before changing out the thermostats...and they did.

Sitting in Cape May

     Just an update.  Maybe we are being overcautious since a number of motor yachts, trawlers, and sailboats have left for points north over the last couple of days, but after our "learning experience" with the storms coming down Delaware Bay, we are looking for an extra good weather forecast. 
     There is another front coming through today and it doesn't look all that good for the rest of the week. We will be patient because we do not want a repeat of Delaware Bay.
     Cape May is a tourist resort town.  Beautiful groomed white sand beaches that they charge you $5.00 per person to walk or sit on!..No Thanks! ...so we assembled our bicycles and rode around the town, out to the public beach where there is no charge!

                                                                            
                                                         Lots of big boats here.

                                                                              

                                                                                

                                                                                
                                  Watch out for this guy!!!!! Especially on Delaware Bay!!!
                                                (Neptune-god of the sea!)
     Since we may be here for a while I am going to look into getting my thermostats changed to 180 degree thermostats, to see if I can keep the motor temps up to operating levels in this colder Atlantic water.
     We accomplished a few repairs so far: door hinges that pulled out during the storm; repaired snaps on the Bimini; anemometer repaired; tightened packing glands; and picked up all the stuff that fell on the floors.
     I Talked with  Mr. Utsch a vibrant 90 year old who still shows up for work everyday.  He started this huge marina back in 1959 as a "bait camp" and with persistence and hard work developed this 300 slip marina. His marina is  noted for taking good care of the transient boat population (like they did for us-staying late to help a boat get fueled up and tied up in inclement weather!) It is amazing what a good work ethic can accomplish.
     Perusing the areas we have to travel to get Doc's Holiday home, it seems that we have a long way to go, but surprisingly we have already covered  2,500 nautical miles.  At this point "coming home" is shorter than "going back!"
    We rocked and rolled most of last night with the front that passed through...good thing we waited!Tomorrow looks like flat seas even though the wind is supposed to be 10 to 15 knots.  Looks as though we may be able to get up to at least Atlantic city (4 hours) and possibly Manasquan inlet (8 hours).  If we can get to Manasquan we will be just one day out of New york City!
    I  worked on the Dingy motor most of the day.  Turns out there was water in the fuel.  New Fuel.  Good run around the harbour....good to go.  If no wind gusts tonight, we may take a stab at the Atlantic Ocean tomorrow.....da dum...da.dum...da...dumm ( that's the theme from jaws in my head!)