Tom & Gerry
Clare's Journeys on the Sea Knight
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Tom & Gerry
Clare's Journeys on the Sea Knight |
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Monday, August 25, 2003 We're home (sort of). Back in the USA at Rouses Point, NY, Lighthouse Point Marina. Passed Fort Montgomery at the border (pix), known as "Fort Blunder" due to some unknown (to me) surveying error. (Pos: N 45-59.8; W 73-21.3). Tuesday, August 26, 2003 Left for Burton Island State Park, through "the Gut" (pix) and on to the Inland Sea of Lake Champlain. The park was almost deserted (pix) but we had a nice hike on the nature trail (pix). Dinner on board with a nice bottle of Bernier shiraz. (Pos: N 44-46.5; w 73-11.9) Wednesday, August 27, 2003 Left Burton Island after stormy night and dropped the hook at Valcour Island's beautiful Sloop Cove (pix) (Pos: N44-37.4; W 73-24.4) for lunch and "man overboard" drill. Then to Plattsburgh for the evening and dinner at the Naked Turtle and watched the Wednesday evening sail race on the Lake. (Pos: N 44-41.8; W 73-26.4) Thursday, August 28, 2003 On to Willsboro Bay, Jim and Deb Rollins favorite, and now ours too. Rock cliffs surround the Bay, where 20' from the cliff, (Pix) we're in 100+ feet of water. Dinner at the Upper Deck at the Willsboro Marina(*****), where we're docked next to a new (hull #3) 400 Mainship, which is next to Peter and Sue on a 2001 Mainship 34 Pilot like ours, also with a Cummins 330B engine. Small world, as we compared notes and joined them and their friends for dinner. (Pos: N 44-24.2; W 73-23.7) Friday - Saturday, August 29 - 30, 2003 Burlington, VT at the Boathouse after a rough crossing from Willsboro. A really neat town, with a downtown thoroughfare closed to traffic (pix), lined with shops and restaurants. Very windy day, with PM showers, but we got sightseeing and shopping in beforehand. Rain forced us to a nearby restaurant, Greenstreets, where we had the best meal of the whole trip to date (*****3/4). Saturday: More walking, shopping etc, but much better weather, although cool. Back to Greenstreets for another fabulous meal, thanks to chef John, Rich our fine waiter and staff (pix), followed by a great sunset (pix). (Pos: N 44-28.6; W 73-13.3) Sunday, August 31, 2003 On to the world renowned "annual lobsterfest" at Westport, NY Marina. A beautiful, cool day. Festival was fun with boat races (pix), face painting, balloon tricks, etc. Followed by a marvelous lobster dinner with all the trimmings (Pos: N 44-10.9; W 73-25.8) Monday, September 1, 2003 Labor Day Up the narrow, winding, Otter Creek to Vergennes, Vt., the town in Vermont, with free city dock, water and electric, just below a lovely waterfall (pix). Town was mostly closed for Labor Day, but hopefully we can get prescriptions filled tomorrow. Joined at the city dock by Dick and Barbara on Big Blue, the new MS 400 we were docked next to at Willsboro, small world. Had a delightful happy hour and pizza dinner with them on the great fly bridge. (Pos: N 44-10.2; W 73-15.5) Tuesday, September 2, 2003 Nice day in Vergennes and to our relief, got our prescriptions refilled and should be set for the rest of the trip. Dinner tonight at the Black Sheep Bistro, hopefully as good as the locals say. Wednesday, September 3, 2003 Back to Westport for some minor repairs, bilge pump and water heater. Dinner last night, the best, another (*****3/4) at the Black Sheep Bistro. Something about Vermont; only 3 days and 3 outstanding meals! Rainy evening, so we watched "My Blue Heaven" for the umpteenth time, the best Steve Martin movie, ever. Southward again, tomorrow. Thursday, September 4, 2003 Repairs successful on water heater and bilge pump, we travel south past Crown Point (pix) and Fort Ticonderoga (pix) and water chestnut pickers (pix) to Whitehall, NY, the birthplace of the US Navy, and the start of the Champlain Canal, to the Hudson River and Troy, NY. Thanks to recommendation of the Rollins, we dine at Division Street Cafe (*****).(Pos: N 43-33.3; W 73-24.1) Friday, September 5, 2003 Long trip to Mechanicsville (8hrs.) and tie up on free city dock. Found out this weekend is the annual Canal Tugfest in Waterford, so we'll try to find dockage somewhere and join the festivities. (Pos: N 42-54.2; W 73-41.0) Saturday, September 6, 2003 A great day, weather is perfect. We decide to stay at Mechanicsville free dock and rent a weekend special at Enterprise. Met new friends, Tom and Trudy on Pleiades, a PT 35 on the dock. They also have a rental and are off to a casino, so I give them $5.00 to bet for me. Off to the Tug Roundup at Waterford dock (pix). A side trip to Albany and the beautiful Rockefeller Plaza and the Egg Center (pixs). Back to the tug fest for the most spectacular fireworks we have seen. We watch from the USCG Cutter Wire (WYTL65612) as guests of Chief Curth and crew. Wire is a 65' Hudson River icebreaker, based in Saugerties, NY. Back to the dock to collect casino winnings (Ha!), only to find we won $67.00 on a roulette table. Sunday, September 7, 2003 Back to Tug Roundup in AM for photo shoot of USCGC Wire (pix) and Chief Curth with crew (pix) getting ready for open house. Rest of day up to Saratoga Springs, which unlike Albany yesterday, was open and active. Lots of shops and eateries open and filled. Off to Hudson River tomorrow and completion of the "Champlain Loop" which we stated back on June 22nd. Monday, September 8, 2003 Completed the Champlain Loop, at Whitehall, NY. 76 days, 117 locks, approximately 1200 miles. A great trip overall with good weather and wonderful places and people, especially Canada. On to Coeymans (pronounced: qweemans) NY and hopefully resolution to our raw water problem, with the help of Cummins and Mainship. Dinner with our friends Dirk and Jacquee who we met on the way North. (Pos: N 42-28.5; W 73-47.4) Tuesday, September 9, 2003 Lay day. Awaiting Cummins tomorrow, beautiful weather on the Hudson. Wednesday, September 10, 2003 Cummins day at Coeymans, all tests on engine and raw water system OK. Where we go from here is anybody's guess as we still have the problem. Off tomorrow to continue South, plan to cruise with Dirk and Jacquee to Catskill, NY. Left message with my brother Bill to meet us there if he's in the area. Thursday, September 11, 2003 A silent prayer for the families and loved ones of the 9/11 victims. On to Catskill today where we were joined at the free restaurant dock at the Point by Dirk and Jacquee on Hattie H. (Pos: N 42-12.6; W 73-51.3) Friday, September 12, 2003 Off early to catch some current. Lunch stop at Torches in Newburgh, excellent with free dockage on the waterfront. Anchored out with Dennis and Esther Bruckell, on Sadie B., behind Bannerman Castle on Pollepel Island. (pixs). Explored the ruins (pix) by dinghy, led by Dennis and Esther. (Pos: N 41-27.2; W 73-59.1) Saturday, September 13, 2003 Southbound to Tarrytown on a dreary, rainy day. Looks like the New Jersey coast weather is still bad from recent storms and little prospect for improvement before Isabel hits the coast, somewhere. May be stuck here for many days or may even have to retreat North up the Hudson. Stay tuned! Train to NYC tomorrow to visit with Gerry's brother and friends on Monday. (Pos: N 41-04.5; W 73-52.1) Sunday, September 14, 2003 Off to NYC this morning. Nice visit w. Gerry's brother and wife-Bob and Marvel Hecking. Saw their Townhouse Project in Rutherford, NJ (pix). Sunday - Monday, September 14 - 15, 2003 Monday back to NYC and sightseeing: Times Square (pix), Grand Central Station (pix) and Museum of Natural History (pix), including a great show at the Planetarium. Cocktails and dinner with Gerry's old friends, Ralph and Louise D'Annucci at SQC Restaurant (*****). Train back to Tarrytown tonight and tomorrow we'll probably turn back North on the Hudson to seek refuge from Isabel. Tuesday, September 16, 2003 Backtracking up the Hudson to Kingston on a beautiful, sunny day. In company with the Dantzscher's on Silvermoon and Afternoon Tea past West Point (pix). Great dinner at Ship to Shore (*****). (Pos: N 41-54.7; W 73-59.4) Wednesday, September 17, 2003 First storm lay day in Kingston. Absolutely gorgeous day, no hint of what may come. Dinner at same place tonight with new friends Harry and Donna on My Girl from NJ. Thursday, September 18, 2003 Lay day 2 in Kingston, no news. Wind and rain to start late tonight-, only expecting 25-30 mph winds and rain most of the day tomorrow. Hope to resume south on Sat. Friday, September 19, 2003 Lay day 3, calm day with occasional rain and hardly any wind. Dinner at La Mirage (*****) with Harry & Donna again. Hope to resume south tomorrow, stay tuned. Hope all is well with our friends on the Chessy! Saturday, September 20, 2003 Nice day, joined a lot of southbound traffic and back to Tarrytown. Nice dinner at Stripped Bass(****1/2) again and reversed inverted duckbills after dinner (if you don't understand, don't ask!). (Pos: N 41-04.5; W 73-52.1) Sunday, September 21, 2003 Nice day to Atlantic Highlands with current help most of the way. NY Harbor relatively quiet and scenic. Dinner with Florida neighbors Bob & Caroline Sperry, who are visiting with Caroline's son & family. Also at dinner was Caroline's good friend Connie at What's your Beef(****).(pix). (Pos: N 40-25.1; W 74-02.0) Monday, September 22, 2003 5 1/2 hours on the ocean to Atlantic City today. Walked the boardwalk and did the buffet at Resorts ($15.00) and not bad. Rough day forecast for tomorrow, so will probably stay put-getting used to that lately. We're at Gardiners Basin again, $1.25/foot, a bargain in Atlantic City. (Pos: N 39-22.6; W 74-25.3) Tuesday, September 23, 2003 Lay day in Atlantic City. Nasty, windy, rainy AM, beautiful PM. Dentist to re-cement cap (lasted 1 hour) and stuffing box servicing (overtime rate at 5PM, unannounced 'till after completed), expensive day!!! Wednesday, September 24, 2003 Beautiful fall day, outside to Cape May and Utsch's Marina. Happy hour with Jan and Pat Lupinski, who have a 2004 34' Pilot on order and their friends Glenn and Liz Heathcote. Dinner at the famous Lobster House (*****). (Pos: N 38-57.1; W 74-54.3) Thursday, September 25, 2003 Lumpy ride up Delaware Bay to the C&D Canal. Topped off fuel tanks on the canal due to apprehension about fueling on the Chessie due to Isabel storm damages. Heard stories of debris and even homes floating on the Bay. Docked at Chesapeake City town dock (free) and dinner at Chesapeake Inn, great pizza (*****). ( Pos: N 39-31.6; W 75-48.7) Friday, September 26, 2003 Nice day. Bucked the currents to Georgetown, on the Sassafras River, one of our favorite stops on the way North. Met up with Evolution at anchor and had a delightful dinner with Gail, while her husband Gary was giving presentations at Trawlerfest at Solomons. The Granary restaurant was as good as last time (*****) and enjoyed swapping cruise stories with Gail. They made the very same trip, the Champlain Loop, as we did, just a couple of weeks ahead of us, on their 36' Krogen Manatee. (Pos: N 39-21.7; W 73-53.1) Saturday, September 27, 2003 On to Kent Narrows to visit with the Gustafsons. Denny was working boat shows, dinner with Carol at Annie's Restaurant (*****). (Pos: N 38-58.5; W 76-14.7) Sunday, September 28, 2003 Lay day at Kent Island. Gerry rented a car to go to NJ for the funeral of her Aunt. Spent the afternoon with Denny at brokers office and looked at a couple of boats. Dinner picnic at his dock, nice folks and lots of eats. Gerry due back tomorrow PM and then resume southbound. Monday, September 29, 2003 Lay day. Gerry returns from funeral in NJ. Happy hour and dinner with Denny and Carol and surprise visitors, my brother Bill and wife Liz, returning to Washington, DC from a wedding in Rehoboth. Nice dinner at Fisherman's Inn (*****). Tuesday, September 30, 2003 Nice day across the Bay to Solomons, said hello to Jim & Deb Rollins on No Egrets, friends from Amelia, based here on their boat for the Summer. Will breakfast with them in the AM. Dinner on board, Chinese take-out. (Pos: N 38-19.5; W 76-27.3) Wednesday, October 1, 2003 Breakfast with "deer" friends, Jim and Deb (pix) and showing off their new slim Atkins figures (pix). Followed old friends Gene and Cathy, on Sutton Creek (35' Duffy) to Urbanna where they joined us for happy hour and dinner at the local Pizza+ restaurant. Captain lost his cell phone in the drink and no replacement 'till Norfolk (weekend, probably). (Pos: N 37-38.1; w 76-34.3) Thursday, October 2, 2003 Lay day but excursion up the Corrotoman River to look at the new dock of Dirk and Jacquee Mundt (pixs). Passed our 4,000 mile mark only 18 miles away from our 1,000 mile mark. Happy hour with Gene and Kathy again. Temp going down in the 30's tonight... Brrr! Dinner at Mojo Cafe (*****) Friday, October 3, 2003 Good weather window, so on to Portsmouth, VA, leaving the Bay behind with many unexplored locations. Maybe next time. Lots of Isabel damage on the Bay, though. Dinner at Sassafras (*****). (Pos: N 36-49.9; W 76-17.8) Saturday, October 4, 2003 Lay day in Portsmouth, brunch at Brutti's. New boat chairs, as the old ones were 20 years old. Movie theatre and great dinner at Lobscouser (*****). Sunday, October 5, 2003 Beautiful fall day, on to Coinjock and fuel fill. (Pos: N 36-21.1; W 75-56.9) Monday, October 6, 2003 Another beautiful day. Crossed Albemarle Sound in ideal conditions, on to Alligator River Marina, home of the notorious Wanda. A pleasant stay, happy hour and dinner with Bob and Joy on Time Together (37' Island Packet) and Steve and Toni on Osprey (37' Tartan). Small world, Toni used to work with my college roomie, Willie Werwaiss, at Southern New England Bell, and Bob retired from Lucent (Bell Labs), thus 3 ex=Bellheads. (Pos: N 35-54.4; W 76-01.8) Tuesday, October 7, 2003 On to Belhaven, joined at Waterway Marina by Osprey and Time Together. (Pix-left to right; Bob & Joy Kershaw; Toni & Steve Miley). (Pos: N 36-32.2; W 76-37.3) Wednesday, October 8, 2003 Cloudy day-, on to Oriental with Time Together. Rainy PM and poor forecast for tomorrow. Dinner with Bob & Joy at M&M's (*****). (Pos: N 35-01.5; W 76-41.7) Thursday, October 9, 2003 Thurs:10/9-Dreary day-breakfast at M&M's and on to Morehead City, followed by Alonzo's Sea (47' Great Harbor-hull#1) and Time Together. Dinner at Sanitary Seafood (*****) with Bob & Joy. (Pos: N35-01.5; W 76-41.7) Friday, October 10, 2003 Lay day, lots of rain and wind last night, into AM. Side trip to Atlantic Beach (pix) for Gerry. Turned into lovely PM, full moon and great dinner at Nickola's (*****). Saturday, October 11, 2003 Dreary day, on to Swansboro for the 49th annual Mullet Festival (Pix) and dinner at Gourmet Cafe (*****). (Pos: N 34-41.1; W 77-07.3) Sunday, October 12, 2003 Dreary start of the day again, on to Wrightsville and finally a gorgeous PM. Hope for a couple of more good days. Sightseeing in Wrightsville with the courtesy car at Seapath Yacht Club. (Pos: N 34-12.7; W 77-48.4) Monday, October 13, 2003 Mon:10/13-Fabulous weather day, on to Southport and the St. James Marina, limited facilities, (ie.restroom, shower, restaurant). Dinner on board. (Pos: N 33-55.6; W 78-07.6) Tuesday, October 14, 2003 Another dreary day, on to Myrtle Beach Yacht Club. Dinner at Umberto's Cafe (*****). (Pos: N 33-51.9; W 78-38.3) Wednesday, October 15, 2003 On to Barefoot Landing (Pix). 3 meals out today, first time on the trip, dockage free though. In company with Bob and Joy again at Barefoot Landing. Lots of walking and a little shopping. Watched the jungle tour boat come in (pix). (Pos: N 33-48.1; W 78-44.7) Thursday, October 16, 2003 Crisp, sunny fall day, on to Georgetown Landing with Bob & Joy on Time Together bringing up the rear. Dinner together at the Marina (early bird specials). Looks like we'll be home early, barring any unforeseen circumstances (It's a boat). We have learned that the most dangerous thing on a boat is a "schedule". (Pos: N 33-21.9; W 79-16.0) Friday, October 17, 2003 Lay day in Georgetown, biked around town. Lunch on the riverfront (pix) at Pink Magnolia (*****). Dinner on board with Gerry's famous spaghetti with meat sauce. On towards Charleston tomorrow. Saturday, October 18, 2003 Clearing weather after stormy night. On to City Marina in Charleston, will stay a couple of days. Dinner with Bob and Joy again at Hominy Grill (*****). (Pos: N 32-46.8; W 79-57.3) Sunday, October 19, 2003 Sunny lay day in Charlestown. Lots of walking in this marvelous city. Fabulous pizza for lunch and dinner on board. Looks like we may be home by the weekend. Monday, October 20, 2003 Beautiful sunny day, a 7 hour trip to Beaufort and fabulous steak dinner at Luther's (*****). No atmosphere, but great food! (Pos: N 32-25.8; W 80-40.5) Tuesday, October 21, 2003 Another beautiful fall day. On to Hilton Head and Harbourtown Marina, a first for Gerry. Nice dinner at The Crazy Crab (*****). (Pos: N 32-08.3; W 80-48.7) Wednesday, October 22, 2003 Another great day. Short trip to Thunderbolt, cab to town and lunch at River House (*****). A couple of Wet Willies and all is rosy. Dinner with Jeff and Barbara from Ali-Michelle (40' SeaRay) and Bob Flick (31' Camano) at Tubby's Tank House. (Pos: N 32-01.5; W 81-02.8) Thursday, October 23, 2003 Another perfect, sunny, day. On to Kilkenney Creek with Bob Flick on Flickers. Restaurant closed, so its a taco dinner on board. (Pos: N 31-47.3; W 81-12.2) Friday, October 24, 2003 Almost home, beautiful day to St. Simons and a last 5 3/4* dinner at the Georgia Sea Grill (*****3/4). (Pos: N 31-10.0; W 81-24.9). Last Position report for Aaron!! Saturday, October 25, 2003 Home at Fernandina! Captain Tom prepares to open the Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin to celebrate with Bob and Carolyn Sperry (pix),and the first mate. Final stats: 6 months, 10 days; 4,826 miles at an average speed of 8.4 mph. More importantly; many interesting and exciting places; renewing old friendships and making many new ones. Thanks to my dear mate for her support and putting up with "captain grouch". She started the trip with trepidation and finished as a professional first mate. What a team!! Here's hoping and looking forward to another great trip in the future. Post Trip Follow-up I have compiled a general expense summary for those who may be interested. We had set forth an objective of $100.00 per day to include fuel, dockage, meal, charts and cruising guides. Not to be included in that figure were maintenance and upkeep or miscellaneous expenses such as entertainment and car rentals. We had hoped that maintenance would not exceed 10% of total. Unfortunately, due to the raw water exhaust problems, which now have been determined by Cummins to be a design deficiency, we exceeded that by 3 1/2%. The good news , considering how well we dined, is that our $100.00 objective came in at just under $93.00 per day. Here are the figures, rounded off: Meals: $9,000.00 Dockage: $6,000.00 Upkeep: $3,000.00 Fuel: $2,000.00 Misc./Ent $1,000.00 Chart/Guides: $1,000.00
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