After 4 nights we left Annapolis on a Monday morning. We usually stay longer but this year we seemed to be making a lot of 4 day stops. Most unplanned. Future weather was a potential issue and we did all we needed to do in the 4 days. Some boat stuff inventory, groceries, meds, a booster shot and more. We also got the chance to enjoy downtown Annapolis and some restaurant dining, just not as much as usual.
Our mooring in Back Creek, Eastport.
Departure day was cold and gray but seas were only a foot so it really wasn't bad. Just against the breeze and current. We went half the distance we could have gone, to Worton Creek, MD, a regular spot for us. Very protected. After one night we got underway to complete the passage to Chesapeake City and out of the Chesapeake Bay. It was very foggy, maybe 1/4 mile visibility, until we got near the canal and land was closer on both sides of us. Cool, not cold, but still against the wind and current. Not bad, however. We tied up at the city's free dock for 3 nights and then went to anchor in the basin for 1 night. This was for the tide state when we planned to depart at first light on Saturday. So after 4 cold, windy nights at Chesapeake City (there's that 4 again) we picked up the anchor on a cold, not so windy morning and did not go aground leaving the basin. It was very cold with ice on the deck but the current was in our favor and we flew up the canal. I slid across the deck once and fell once while raising and cleaning the anchor and chain. Ice is fun! Delaware Bay was mostly flat and our passage around Cape May Point was easier than it has been in years. Faster, too. Nice for a change. The sea was okay as we headed towards Atlantic City but the wind and seas increased the last 2 hours or so of our passage. A little discomfort after a mostly good day was the price to pay for the forecast for next day. We left Atlantic City at first light for a long day at sea. We had very light winds but the residual swell was around 2ft. with small wavelets on top. Once in a while it was flat calm and seas averaged well under 1ft. On the stern, too. Made for a comfortable day. We can't remember when we had as nice a passage as this off the NJ coast. Of course, we can't remember last week, never mind years ago. Once we got near NYC we went into Coney Island Creek to anchor for the night. This is about 2 miles from the Narrows-Verrazano Bridge so we were staged for our passage through the City. The anchorage was new to us and it was interesting. It is landlocked with a lot of very old vessel parts and gear lining the north side. We were worried about wreckage on the bottom, too. Fortunately we did not hook onto any debris and get stuck. We anchored more than 1/2 mile from the noise (music?) but it was still very loud. The bottom mud was gross, with an oily smell/feel to it. There is a park along the south side which could be worth exploring but, of course, we were not getting off the boat.
We delayed getting underway in the morning due to a passing thunderstorm but once we got going it wasn't too bad if cold and damp.
The passage through the City was swift because of current timing but it was a bit choppy with wakes, etc. It was decided to pass by Port Washington and head to Port Jefferson on Long Island. Big mistake. Just after passing Manhasset Bay it got rough on the Sound. Rainy, too. Conditions were not forecast to be like this. Sigh. After getting beat up for a couple of hours we bailed out and headed into Oyster Bay. As soon as we turned into the Bay the waves were no longer an issue but visibility, which wasn't great to begin with, got worse. We found our way in and anchored where we have in the past. Normally this is a pretty spot but the weather made it less attractive. Gray, dull, misty, rolly and isolated. The day was not a great re-introduction to our home waters of Long Island Sound. Interestingly, as we turned into Oyster Bay after being cold, wet and bounced around, we came across 3 groups of Optimist prams, sailing dinghies and board sailors out tearing about in the nasty conditions. Probably a hundred small boats all spread out. Goes to show: sailors are crazy. Or dumb.
Oyster Bay is normally a beautiful spot but our stay was gray, damp and dismal. However, we were comfortable enough. From there the forecast was for light winds from the east or northeast (our direction home) with heavy overcast but not much chance of rain. Against the current, too. Mostly the same forecast as when we came into Long Island Sound the previous day. That didn't work out so well. We headed out, unsure of our destination. Would it be Port Jefferson? Branford? Duck Island? Or maybe all the way home to Old Lyme? The were several calculations, recalculations and course changes but we ultimately decided to press on home. The current didn't slow us down as much as we thought it would and the next day was forecast to be rainy all day so we pushed on. The seas were mostly flat and it didn't rain so the 10 hours underway didn't seem so bad. An overcast, dull, calm day can seem boring but sometimes boring is nice. Adventures are highly overrated.
Coming home into the Connecticut River after 7 months away. Nice.
This trip north as a whole saw more long underway days, more long weather delays/layovers, more lingering cold days and one horrible passage. Nice times occured, too. Nice times don't seem to get mentioned as much. Human nature, perhaps, but rest assured, the good times/ great times, make it all worthwhile. We wouldn't continue our lifestyle otherwise.
So, we are home. At our main home at Old Lyme Marina. We'll go and visit the grandkids, get our car back, start our medical visits, start work at the museum again and start on boat maintenance projects. In other words, enjoy the summer. Hope it gets warm soon.
Next blog posting will be after the summer. Try to survive the wait 😝
