Imagine, 3 states (MD, DE, and NJ) and a totally sunny day.  Zoomed down Delaware Bay at 12 knots, on to lovely Cape May, NJ (pixs). Walking tour of town and the beach, dinner at Freda's Cafe (*****) and a 2 mile walk back to the boat. (Pos. N 38-57.1; W 74-54.4)

Tuesday, June 3, 2003

On to Atlantic City, outside on the ocean-relatively calm, smooth passage. Walked the boardwalk (pix) and had a great Philly pizza cheese steak for lunch. Cocktails on the boat with Richie and Ramona Marshall, very good friends from the old days in the Plainfield area. They treated us to dinner (****) and drinks at the Hilton (pix) and it was great to see them again. (Pos N 39-22.6; W 74-25.2)

Wednesday, June 4, 2003

Heavy rains (surprise) last night and windy and rainy in the AM, but decided to forge ahead after hearing from Evolution, a Krogen Manatee that had already headed north on the ICW from Atlantic City. It was definitely yucky, but interesting along the marshy grasses and narrow waterway along Long Beach Island, NJ. Finally tied up by noon, had lunch with boating friends Nancy and Bill Merhoff (pix) and dinner at Tucker's (***) a lovely restaurant with great swordfish. Although summer has been cancelled at the Jersey shore (no sun all day again), we had a lovely time with friends along the way.

Thursday, June 5, 2003

Rainy night again (what's new) and dreary AM, off at 10:30 after oil change. Finally a nice PM, at anchor in front of the Bay Head, NJ Yacht Club. Great dinner on board from chef Gerry (****) and a gorgeous sunset. (Pos: N 40-03.9; W 74-02.9)

Friday, June 6, 2003

On to Sandy Hook, another nice day (hopefully, more common in the future). Docked at Atlantic Highlands and bumped into Ches. City friends, Dennis and Peggy Nitka. This is their homeport, Evolution at anchor in the harbor. On the way up the beach we saw The Shores' (pix) where Gerry and I were married 16 years ago, and the condo where Gerry and Jen lived before we were married (pix). Happy hour (lots of champagne) on the boat with Capt. John Hunter, Barbara Van Duyne, and Ken and Linda Reitz (pix), all good friends from the old days at the shore. Dinner at the Hofbrau House (****) at the top of the Highlands, where we saw the beautiful vista of NYC and also what we believe to be one of the last approaches of a Concorde to JFK Airport across the water. Good night drink at the Sea Gull Nest on Sandy Hook, an old days hangout, overlooking the ocean and Raritan Bay. (Pos: N 40-25.0; W 74-02.0)

Addendum: Ken entertained us at happy hour, (pix) playing Ode to Joy to celebrate our reunion. Ken will be appearing at Lincoln Center next year or so (emphasis on the "or so").

Saturday, June 7, 2003

Lay day in the rain again, ALL DAY, this is really getting old. Bright spot was reunion with Sylvia and Geary Decker, old friends from our shore days. Cocktails at the yacht club (pix) and dinner in Red Bank (now yuppieville) at Gaetano's (****), and dessert at their cute house on Reckless Place (no kidding).

 Sunday, June 8, 2003

Lay day,  and finally a little sun. We walked up to the Atlantic Restaurant (Greek) in Atlantic Highlands for a great breakfast. Bob (Gerry's brother) and his wife, Marvel, drove down from Rutherford, NJ to meet us at the boat. We drove down memory lane to the Twin Lights at the Highlands (pix) and through Sea Bright, Monmouth Beach, Fair Haven and Rumson. Finally, lunched in Red Bank and back to the Atlantic Highlands Marina in time for Gerry to read the Sunday New York Times, have happy hour on John and Liz Hunter's Trojan and enjoy a great filet mignon and lobster dinner at the Memphis Pig-Out (*****). Incredibly good and reasonably priced.

Monday, June 9, 2003

Foggy AM, off to Brooklyn to visit my sister-in-law Alicia and husband Fidel (pix).  Beautiful sunny PM and dinner at Gargiulo's (*****), a Soprano's type Italian restaurant in Coney Island. Gave Gerry a walking tour of typical Brooklyn neighborhoods, very ethnic and diverse. (Pos: N 40-35.2; W 74-00.0)

Tuesday, June 10, 2003

Finally, a clear, dry, sunny day. Cruised NY Harbor (pix), Statue of Liberty (pix), United Nations (pix) and past Hell Gate ('twas calm) into LI Sound, past Stepping Stone Lighthouse (pix) to Cockenoe Island off Norwalk, where we dropped the hook for the night. (Pos: N 41-05.3; W 73-21.9)

Wednesday, June 11, 2003

On to Old Saybrook, CT, arrived just before the fog set in, now another dreary PM. Guided tour of the area from Willie Werwaiss, my college roommate; Old Saybrook-Essex-Deep River-East Haddam, and his home in Ivoryton. Dinner there tomorrow night. Tonight at Dock and Dine (***1/2), next to the marina. (Pos: N 41-16.9; W 72-21.0)

Thursday, June 12, 2003

Another dreary day, upriver to Essex in the AM and walked this beautiful New England town. Lunch at the renowned Griswold Inn (pix) (*****), undoubtedly the most charming dining rooms we have ever seen (pix). We dined at the "Griz" 16 years ago, on our honeymoon. Dinner with Willie and Gail Werwaiss (*****) at their lovely home in Ivoryton , a short distance away. Met their charming daughter Emily who helped finish the shrimp cocktail. It was a wonderful, nostalgic evening, renewing an old friendship. (Pos: N 41-20.9; W 72-23.0)

Friday, June 13, 2003

ANOTHER dreary day.  Left Essex with forecast of 1-2 ft. seas, forced into Milford Harbor with 4-6 ft. seas, NOAA doesn't have a clue. On the bright side, Milford is a lovely city of 50,000 and a perfectly protected harbor. We are docked at Milford Landing, a new city transient marina that has suffered this year from the lousy weather. Only 2 boats in today, with many cancellations. Dinner at Citrus, another (*****1/2) and the best LI duck in memory.  Thanks Laura for the great service! (Pos: N 41-13.2; W 73-03.3)

Saturday, June 14, 2003

Hazy day on the Sound, but with good current, made it to Hell Gate and on up the Harlem River to the Hudson. Passed the Cirque du Soleil tents on Randall's Island (pix) and watched 100+ power boats up and down the Hudson, in the NYC Poker Run (No pix). Arrived Tarrytown after passing thru a real gully washer and met with Gerry's long time and dear friends, Terry and George Grippo (pix). Cocktails on the boat and dinner at a Portuguese and Brazilian restaurant, called Caravela (*****) (again). We have really lucked out in finding great places for dinner, many just by chance, as this one was. Supposed to be dry and sunny for 3 next days, but that's what they said last week. (Pos: N 41-04.5; W 73-52.0)

Sunday, June 15, 2003

SUNNY lay day with the NY Times and nice calls and messages from the kids for Fathers' Day. Thanks, kids!! Dinner at Lago Di Como (***1/2).

Monday, June 16, 2003

ANOTHER beautiful day!! After so much wretched weather, you get a real high on a bright, sunny day. Let's hope for some more, so that it gets boring again. Passed West Point (pix) and Bannerman's Castle (pix) on Pollepel Island on the way to Newburgh Yacht club, which we visited 17 years ago on Sea Knight II. Dinner on site at Nikola's (****), should be 5* but waiter was a buffoon. (Pos: N 41-30.9; W 74-00.4)

Tuesday, June 17, 2003

ANOTHER beautiful day on the Hudson, past the CIA (Culinary Institute of America) (pix), gorgeous estates and the restored Esopus Lighthouse. Docked at Rondout Basin in Kingston, where we shared ice cream with Dirk and Jacquee Mundt, friends of the Rollins. Their 38 ' Marine Trader is being awl gripped here and looks great. (Pos: N 41-54.7; W 73-59.4)

Wednesday, June 18, 2003

Dreary again.  Up river past the old Saugerties Lighthouse, now a bed and breakfast (pix), to Catskill Marina.  Rented car and took a trip to Olana, (pix) the Persian architecture home of Fredrick Church, at one time the most famous painter in America, and a trip to fog-bound Twilight Park, where the Captain spent all his childhood summers. (pix). (Pos: N 42-12.7; W 73-51.8)

Thursday, June 19, 2003

Dreary early start, passing Albany (pix) and on to Troy, the jumping off point for the Champlain Triangle (Loop). Troy is the home of Uncle Sam (pix) and a nice stop on the River. Dinner with new friends, Dirk and Jacquee Mundt (pix) at Fresno's (****) after cocktails on the boat. (Pos: N 42-44.1; W 73-41.3)

Friday, June 20, 2003

Dreary day again.  Can't believe tomorrow is the first day of Summer and the Northeast had an all rain Spring. Passed thru our first of many locks at Troy, fairly uneventfully and on to the starting point of the triangle (pix). On the free dock at Waterford, NY with a nice group of friendly boaters all waiting to start west on the Erie or north to Lake Champlain. The Captain BBQ'd on the dock (pix) and had super, grilled lamb chops on board (****1/2). (Pos:N 42-47.2; W 73-40.8)

Saturday, June 21, 2003

Lay Day at Waterford.  Bike ride to wine store for re-supply. Lazy day and heavy rain late afternoon, pizza on board for dinner.  Hopefully we start the Erie Canal in the AM.

Next Chapter: Waterford, NY to Phoenix, NY (Erie Canal) - June 21, 2003 to July 17, 2003