May 29 - June 5,2015 ::: Cape May to NYC Liberty Park, to Croton-on-Hudson, to Catskill, to Mechanicville

After arriving at Utsch's Marina,  we had lunch, went to the grocery, returned to the Lobster House to pick up fresh scallops, and then back to SONATA to assess the weather.  All the loopers got together and all wanted to continue to NYC . . . but the winds were to be very stiff starting Friday afternoon.  Charlie completed a weather research, talked with the group and two boats decided to travel with us to NYC . . . departing Thursday night at midnight.  This picture is sunrise some five hours after our departure from Cape May.

Hours later we arrived off NYC near Coney Island.  Continued North to go under the Narrows Bridge.

John "Sax" Saxman and his wife Sherri followed us into the lower New York Harbor aboard their vessel, RED EAGLE, another Grand Banks.

The Saxman's caught SONATA on camera first going toward the Freedom Tower, then turning toward the Statute of Liberty.

Lady Liberty was a most welcoming sight after 16 hours of travel up the coast.We anchored
behind her and beside Liberty Park in strong winds with several sail boats and motor boats.
The winds soon calmed down and we enjoyed a very peaceful evening.

 

 



 

 

Saturday we were out of Liberty Park, past Ellis Island and a closer look at the Freedom Tower, then North toward the George Washington Bridge and points above NYC.

 

 



A former client of mine resides in the Sing Sing New York State Prison, I promised him a picture, it is now included; then we turned into Haverstraw Bay to stop at Croton-on-Hudson.  Charlie's brother John joined us for the evening having driven over from Ridgefield, Conn.

SONATA was comfortable in a small slip, 40' for a 42' boat.  Half-Moon-Bay's dockmaster, Steve, was a hard worker . . . the marina is a challenge. The Catskill mountains loom in the background.

Back on the Hudson we started with calm waters . . . only to have "catpaws" come down the
 river quickly toward us, winds grew to 50 mph with rain and waves were 3 ft  and more in a short time.. The light houses on the Hudson are always so interesting to see and we enjoyed them.

The Esopus Meadows Lighthouse was built in 1859, put in service in 1872, and deactivated in 1965.

The Rondout Lighthouse built in 1838 continues in use near the entrance to Kingston, NY.

The Saugerties Lighthouse built in 1836 and was finally deactivated in 1954.

The Hudson/Athens Lighthouse established in 1874 continues in operation today.

Our second day in Catskill we ran upon some "cool-cats". 

 

 

For a number of years the City of Catskill has sponsored decorative cats on Main Street.  Artists purchase them for $500, decorate them and they then become the object of a "Cat's" Ball at the end of the season to raise donations.

 

 

 





Several hours after departing Catskill and taking on almost 200 gallons of fuel, we were caught by a "drone" just hanging there in the sky looking at us.  Hovered for a minute and then was off and gone?!?

 

 

Passage down the Hudson, passing Albany, New York, we are approaching the first of approximately 125 locks that we will transit during our trip...The Troy "Federal" Lock.

Interesting note about government elitism, the Lock is named "The Troy Lock and Dam" and happens to be operated by the federal government.  The other New York Locks, Erie Canal and Champlain Canal, are New York State Locks.  The Troy lock would not respond to a radio call until he was addressed as "the federal" lock.

This year the choice is the Champlain Canal . . . we have tried before but floods upstream had marinas under water.

 

 

SONATA quickly passed through Lock C1 and proceeded on to Lock C2.  There we locked through with a small tug pushing a barge . . . and by the time Bonnie placed SONATA in the South end of the lock the door . . . just would close.  She did a splendid job of bringing SONATA carefully into the lock, not hitting the lock walls or the tug or barge in front.  A real ship handler!!

May 24 - 28, 2015 ::: Tides Inn to Annapolis to Delaware City to Cape May

While on the second loop, in Harborsprings, Illinois, we helped the Brubakers tie up their boat in the marina.  We saw them again when they came through Portsmouth a couple of years later on their way South, and have been in touch with them ever since.  They now live in Weems, Virginia, and invited us to dinner on Sunday before we departed the Tides Inn.  Great to see them again and discuss our favorite subject, boating.

From the Tides Inn we were on our way North again and intended to spend the evening at the Patuxent River Naval Air Station Marina.  When we arrived there the wind was blowing so strong that we crossed the river and anchored in Mill Creek.  A peaceful evening before departing for Annapolis the next morning.

One of our favorite spots, "Ego Alley" in Annapolis.  Bonnie carefully guided SONATA to its berth behind a sail boat on the wall.  We walked or biked the area and had a terrific Thai lunch ashore which was concluded with ice cream from across the street for SONATA.

Later in the afternoon we had a very pleasing surprise.  Two of our friends that we grew to know from our Sunday School Class at First Baptist, came knocking on our door for a visit.

Mike and Sue Morris were in town for the retirement of a Marine friend and just thought that we might be on "Ego Alley".  The had time to come aboard for a visit and to discuss their planned visit with us to occur later in the year.  They will be joining us at Trenton, Canada, and riding with us to Peterborough.

Early on Wednesday, May 27th, we departed Annapolis for Delaware City.  The current through the C&D Canal was favorable for our arrival time there.  When we arrived at the entrance of the canal the USCG vessel had just suffered a loss of main propulsion power . . . dropped its anchor . . .  corrected its power problem before we arrived and moved on out of our way.  Just a little excitement at the C&D.

Just after we passed the USCG ship we had a larger ship to pass.  The DORADO LEADER was west bound in the canal and we discussed our passage on the radio then proceeded to pass them on "one-whistle", a port-to-port passage.

The marina at Delaware City is a portion of the original C&D canal.  It is a narrow, shallow, waterway and we came in bow first.  The next morning we would have to turn around (it would be a high tide then) and then proceed on to Cape May.

Up before first light for the 54 mile trip to Cape May we were turned around, out of the channel and then crossing the Delaware Bay before this sunrise occurred.  A good trip with fairly calm winds.

At artificial island we passed the power plant and shortly thereafter we came past Jones Shoal Light House.  Our next event will be going into the Ferry Landing on the West side of Cape May.

In the early afternoon the transit of the Ferry Landing took place and we then proceeded to Utschs Marina to take on some 400 gallons of diesel fuel and prepare for a departure to New York.

May 21 - 24, 2015 ::: Ocean Marine, Portsmouth, Virginia, to Tides Inn, Irvington, Virginia -- Loop III Begins

WHERE ARE WE GOING:

We are departing from Ocean Marine Yacht Center in Portsmouth, Virginia, and will proceed up the Chesapeake Bay to the C&D Canal into the Delaware Bay and out to Cape May.  From there we will continue North to New York City and up the Hudson including Lake Champlain to Sorel, Canada; then Southwest to Montreal with stops in Ottawa, Kingston, Trenton, up the Trent-Severn Waterway to Port Severn and into the Georgian Bay.  West through the northern waters, the North Channel and down to Mackinac Island, the East shore of Lake Michigan, Chicago, the Illinois River, to the Mississippi.  Down the Mississippi past St. Louis to the Ohio, up the Ohio to the Tennessee and thence up that river to Knoxville.  Make a "U" turn and come back down the river to the Tombigbee Waterway and down to Mobile.  Over to New Orleans, another "U" turn to the Florida panhandle to Apalachicola and a Gulf crossing to Clearwater.  Down the Florida West coast and out to Key West.  From Key West we will turn North again along the Intracoastal Waterway back to home port, Portsmouth, with stops along the way.

HOW WILL WE TRAVEL:  SONATA is our travel mode, and a fine vessel she is!

One of our favorite photos of SONATA, anchored in Collins Inlet, North Channel, Canada.

The forward portion of our salon showing the lower helm with sink, stove and refrigerator to the left; our ice-maker is on the right.

The aft portion of the salon,  our dining table ready for use and a great meal it will be.

The aft, our, berthing compartment with cabinets, a two door closet and a full bath with a shower.

The forward berth where guests will be staying, a "V" berth with a 1/2 bath adjoining the berth area.



We moved aboard SONATA on Wednesday, May 20th, in preparation for our departure.

0500 the engines were running and we shortly thereafter departed Ocean Marine in Portsmouth.
As we passed our condo at Admirals Landing and our friend Lawton Baker waved farewell to us from his balcony; he is there in the dark on the 6th floor.

Onancock Town Wharf on the Eastern Shore was to be our first stop.  Two vessels joined us in crossing the bay, SOUTHERN COMFORT (Mike and Cindy) and SLACKTIME II (Bill and Darlene).  We joined together as we proceeded out of Norfolk passing Tidewater Marina and Town Point, and observed the first LOOP III sunrise.

Once we were passed the Naval Station, passing the USS GEORGE H.W. BUSH

and became exposed to the bay we, SOUTHERN COMFORT and SLACKTIME following SONATA,

found 3-5 foot swells out of the northeast and knew the trip across the bay to Onancock would be a rough one.  As we came by Thimble Shoals Light, we observed some real sailors entering the Port of Norfolk.

All three boats, nonetheless, proceeded to Onancock

and docked in a down-pour ... everyone was soaked.  Dinner, Mallards At the Wharf, was outstanding.  It is next to the marina and the wet sailors were made quite welcome. 

Friday, after a stop at the Onancock Bakery for sweet-rolls, all three of us departed for the Tides Inn across the bay in Irvington, Virginia.

SONATA took a spot on the Inn's pier, SOUTHERN COMFORT and SLACKTIME anchored in the cove behind the Inn.

Patti and Alan Sutton (FAIRWAYS) joined us and we all went to dinner at the Trick Dog Café in Irvington. Yum!



 

 

 

On Saturday Rhonda and Leslie came over and took  us out for some delicious hamburgers and homemade chips  in  Kilmarnock and to  wish us well on our journey, Loop III.