Wednesday, May 7, 2008

We have crossed our Wake!




Tonight we are in Liberty Landing, Jersey City. If I look to our stern, I can see Lady Liberty and to our starboard is the Manhattan Skyline. This evening should be beautiful with all the lights and excitement. Ron, Gilligan and I would like to thank you for being a part of our journey and for all the support we've received along the way. It has been a trip of a lifetime and we are glad we did it and glad it's ended. Now to plant a flower and watch it grow! There was a ceramic plaque in our pilot house area. It reads: "Lord, keep your arm around my shouldner and your hand over my mouth." We give thanks and praise to our loving Father for his guidance and protection along the way. We look forward to where He will lead us next!

Dubhe III Crosses her wake!




THIS was a bonus believe us! At Cape May we met a wonderful couple from Ottowa, Canada aboard the Janbarre III. There were about five boats land locked due to inclement weather. We had gone out to dinner a few times together and we traveled to the next two marina's with Janbarre. As it worked out, we were both going to Liberty Landing Marina in Manhattan at the end of this days journey and we crossed our wake (completed the Loop) at the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge. Because they were traveling along side, they were gracious enough to take these shots. We will treasure the gift!

WE'RE ALMOST THERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!




Monday, May 5, 2008

Morning Star

Another bed and breakfast. As you can see we are still in Cape May. This morning we were completely disconnected, lines singled back, and good to go when fog began to settle in. On the ocean, 1/4 mile visibility which wasn't the problem. The real problem is the wind took a turn and was now NE to become East this afternoon. That's over the water folks, and not a nice ride. We rode to the ocean on our bikes this afternoon and thankfully it was every bit as nasty as we all thought it would be. This way we weren't kicking ourselves for not going "anyway!" Tomorrow morning is supposed to be SW and all of the boats who have been stuck here for five days, plan on leaving around 6 and hopefully making it to the Manasquan Inlet tomorrow evening. Keep your fingers crossed! This is a very nice place, but we are tired of being here at this point and want to get on and done with the trip! It's time to go home folks!!!!

Angel of the Sea


Just had to go back and get a picture of this beautiful bed and breakfast. The second half was undergoing renovations as you can see, but it was such a pretty place, I had to get a picture.

Hummmmmmmer




Yes, they say it's a hummer and is used for brush fires. Not very effective we are told as the unit was not really designed to carry the amount of water they carry. I thought this would be great fun for our guys back home, but the people we spoke to said it's not at all what they would have chosen. I just thought it was a great looking apparatus and thought you firefighters back home would enjoy it too.

Sunday, May 4, 2008

Cape May, New Jersey




Yesterday we walked along the beach. We are still held by weather at Utsch Marina -- a great place if you have to be stuck anywhere. Three of the boats held here for the past three days left this morning and radioed back their impression of sea conditions. Four of us decided to give it another day to lay down and the sea conditions for tomorrow (Monday) are far more favorable. This was a little sand shark we saw one of the anglers bring in. It gave quite a nice fight and he showed it to his children and gentle released it back into the ocean. Gilligan's take on the sand shark -- don't ask!

Thursday, May 1, 2008

Cape May Canal


We were grateful to see this part of the journey today. The Delaware Bay had a 3-4 foot chop. It was unpleasant but not a bad transit. We hope to have two more days along the New Jersey ICW. Then out the Manasquan Inlet to the Verrazano Narrows Bridge where our loop officially closes! We had planned on going up the East River AGAIN and through Hell's Gate to head out to Connecticut but that has changed at this point due to our former marina not having any room at this point in the beginning of the boating season. Therefore, we plan to reverse course once we've closed the loop and head back home where a berth awaits us. We will then drive back to CT to gather all the "stuff" and bring it home! Our daughter and son-in-law are helping in the moving process. We are grateful for the helping hands. Neither of us can believe it is almost completed. Some days it felt like an eternity and other days it felt like we'd just begun. I'll be posting a few entries along the way and you can bet you'll see the Verrazano!!!!

Ship John Shoel Light and Frost Ledge Light




St. Georges East and West Bridges


We entered the Delaware Bay today and headed south to Cape May! South again?? Come on Ronald! Go North, Go North! We're so close now! But of course you must go south on the Delaware Bay where we pick up the intercoastal again in Cape May, NJ

Behold, a car carried Ron tells me.




Rock Hall Landing


We were in Rock Hall Landing for what we'd hoped would be a two day stay. We came in last Saturday and was to see our son and his family on Sunday, which we did. However, the weather picture did not look good for departure on Monday or Tuesday so we remained at Rock Hall and enjoyed every bit of the town, the friendly people and the great restaurants.

It's a visiting bird!


Ahh, no no no no no I'm not going to risk getting in trouble with you Audubon folks! It's a bird. What kind of bird? Well, you can tell us. It came "a visitin" and I took it's picture for you! Enjoy!