06/23/2012, Northport, NY
Leisurely morning for me at least - L. emptied about 2 gallons of water out of the dinghy which we saved in buckets for cleaning the deck to help keep the deck as free of salt as possible. Then I took out the 3M and waxed a tiny area on the port bulkhead and along the starboard genoa track. Will try to do little bits each day but it is incredibly hard work. Then headed off to town to visit the farmer's market for our very first time. It was just wonderful. Everything from homemade preserves, pickles, fresh produce and breads to pet supplies, cheeses, flowers and fresh pasta. I could have bought a little of everything. Instead we bought a loaf of ciabatta, a yellow and a red tomato, baby yellow and zuchinni squash, patty pan squash and, perhaps best of all, fresh mozzarella and tiny, tiny, cheese raviolis. Returned to the boat and started knitting only to begin thinking how much fun next Saturday's shop will be!
Jordan, Andrea, Justin and Marisa arrive today with our car which will make shopping easier. We will go to the Bracciante's this evening for a barbecue. Our contribution will be the deserts we purchased yesterday at Copenhagen Bakery. A beautiful torte with a a custard creme anglais topped with fresh strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, peaches! Then L.'s choice - a cake but filled with custard, marzipan, raspberry preserves, chocolate and god only knows what else! Enough calories for a month in one easy bite. Time to go back and sit on the deck with the lovely breeze and do some more knitting!!!
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06/23/2012, Northport, NY
If weather is your topic of choice, then yesterday was your day. We woke up to 85 degrees and only the lightest of Southerly breeze. The breeze vanished pretty quickly, but not the heat. By 14:00, it was 96 degrees outside and 94 inside the boat. We were using our portable mister to keep the heat at bay. The day began to change when we noticed storms off to the West. By 16:00 we were in the middle of a pretty big storm, the wind wasn't bad but we got about a 1/2 inch of rain in that next hour. Best of all, the air temp went down about 22 degrees. We had dinner around 17:30, and it was actually pleasant sitting outside during our meal. Sometime around 19:00, we saw another storm to our Northwest. This time the rain missed us but we were slammed on our starboard side by sudden 20 knot winds from the Northwest. Well, combine that kind of wind with the tide heading out and you get a rolling bay in a hurry. Fortunately, that really only lasted for a 1/2 hour. By that time the cabin, had cooled off enough to sit below and watch a movie. We had paused the movie to get more to drink, when Elaine called me up on deck to see the most beautiful sunset. I wish this photo was as beautiful, but you at least get an idea. What a finish to a day of all kinds of weather.
Fair winds & Smooth sailing,
Lawrence S/V Elle & I
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06/21/2012, Northport, NY
Finally after seeing all those fins again last night before dinner I did do the google search and here is what I found -
Really watch this Youtube - indeed they were bunkers. Now, I'm beginning to think I should try to catch them and I could sell them for bait for the fisherman seeking Strippers!!!! A new vocation! If profitable enough, I could buy all the fishing equipment and join them in the Stripper hunt! Who knows - maybe even a bigger boat!!!!! :)
After dinner a large flock of geese came right over to the boat. Since I had old croissants left that neither the bunkers or swans would touch, I thought I'd try the geese. Boy was I in luck!! They just loved them - I even saved a few for tonight's geese dinner! L. took some wonderful shots of the sunset after a very long, blazing hot day.
Today, we filled our tanks with both diesel and water and then went into town to do the laundry. No girls, I didn't use the washing machine on the boat, that you will all have to wait for!!! But now, all the chores are done until next week and I can be a bit more frivolous! Knit, knit, knit!
Time now to catch a bit of sun while this breeze is still here!
EL
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06/20/2012, Northport, NY
First truly leisurely morning. Last night I cooked potatoes and eggs for a potato salad for this evening and steamed green beans for a cold bean salad in anticipation of today's heat. Had chicken marsala, roasted red potatoes and green beans for dinner. Then at sunset relaxed and had our coffee and Irish Coffee. Then there were hundreds of fins popping out of the water on all sides of the boat. Fish would come right up to the surfaced and dive down again. They were silver with a shiny orange side. They were amazing to watch. I wonder what they were? This morning L. cleaned inside the cockpit and the top part of the deck - boy was it all dirty. Then we called the transport tender and they brought us in to shore to pay for their service for the season. Then walked down the street into this quaint little town. Although there is no grocery store per se, we were able to buy fresh Boar's Head ham for sandwiches, a half gallon of milk and a dozen eggs all at a little deli. Then onwards to a little organic food shop where we were able to buy fresh lettuce and a cucumber. On to the local hardware store which was of about 100 years ago with a tin ceiling - original - where we bought rust inhibitor for the anchor, markers and a sharpie and some more cotter pins. The a stop for Lorenzo, the local home made ice cream shop where he had a scoop of strawberry and a scoop of black raspberry - totalling about a quart, I might add. No lunch for him. Went to the local bank to get change for some bills and it was about 65 degrees in there and I could have spent the day there. But no, onwards to the local bakery which was just spectacular to buy fresh whole wheat and Tuscan rolls. Strolled through the beautiful park carrying our supplies in the great canvas bags from my Williams College friends. Back at Seymour's we bought a block of ice and the tender picked us up and returned us out to Elle and I. There was a young man and his 2 girls on the tender with us. When we inquired about the "fins" the girls laughed, and said they saw hundreds also.They think they are "bunkers" - whatever they are. I have to google and see what I can learn. This afternoon I cut up the potatoes, eggs, celery, onion and pickles for our potato salad. After I finish this blogging stuff, I'll do the dressing for the bean salad. I'll barbecue 2 small steaks for dinner and we'll be set!!! While trying to cool off sitting in the shade under the bimini there were two beautiful swans that swam by on the port side of Elle & I. Below you can see just how lovely they were. I tried tossing out some stale croissants, but they weren't interested. Time to feed Marin as this is his time for his "wet" food, and he can barely contain himself. He's been a great companion for us both and tonight when it cools off I'm sure he'll take a stroll up on deck. Will try to update again tomorrow if there is anything interesting other than record heat! As Lawrence likes to say-
Fair winds & Smooth sailing,
Elaine S/V Elle & I
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06/19/2012, Northport, NY
While anchored at LIberty State Park, I watched several guys crabbing off the wall. It was fun to watch as they pulled up their traps with crabs or God knows what in them. I remembered so vividly while visiting our friends in Charleston, SC that I had the great opportunity to go shrimping with Jim Carew and one of his friends. We shrimped from midday til dark and then anchored at the Battery while the men headed the shrimp. It was such fun and they were amazingly talented at throwing out those huge shrimp nets. Then I realized - why not me - well, not shrimping but why not try to do some crabbing. Knowing nothing about it I called the Bureau for Commercial Fisheries (quite by mistake) and asked about getting or needing a license. The man laughed and said I could recreational crab for free and catch up to 50 crabs a day. I replied, "I'd be so happy if I caught 2 or 3". "Well", he said, "it doesn't take much to make some people happy. Have a great day!" Then I googled where I could buy a crab trap - preferably a collapseable one. Next I called the Carews and learned that I needed chicken necks for bait. Okay, as soon as I can get on shore, I'll be buying chicken necks and a crab pot!! Lawrence has said he won't clean fish but I can cook the crabs just like lobster and voila!!!! L. laughs - he can, as he does all the really hard work of downloading all these pics and then loading them into this site - so it's okay, We'll see if he's still laughing if I catch some crabs and he has them for dinner some night!
Tomorrow it is supposed to be 93 and very, very hot for the next couple days. Okay with me - I'll just remember those cold days in December in Williamstown!
Marin is quite happy and growing accustomed to his new home - far beyond a 10 day trip - and so far so good! He still doesn't like loud noises but he is slowly getting better. AND, he might like some fresh crab meat also!! Not so fond of chicken necks so I guess I'll have to use whatever I buy all up - more crabs!!!!!
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06/19/2012, Northport, NY
This is looking Southwest. I think 500 boats would be a fair estimate of the number of boats in Northport Bay. I gotta say, it is nice to be here for the Summer.
Fair winds & Smooth sailing,
Lawrence S/V Elle & I
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