11/03/2009, On a Mooring at Atlantic Highlands, Sandy Hook, NJ
Since this is the first WIFI in several days, we are finally able to post a photo with this entry. The above photo was taken as we travelled past Ellis Island on Sunday morning. You can see the Statue of Liberty nicely framed within Grace's rigging.
During the preceding days while voyaging down the Hudson River, we were entertained by sights of trains, mansions, bridges, a variety of boats in a wide range of sizes, all surrounded in glowing fall foliage on the hillsides.
In NY Harbor we passed cruise ships, military ships, barges, tugs, water taxis, ferries, and were swarmed by hellicopters in the sky as we made our way down the shore of Manhattan, hugging the New Jersey side to stay out of everyone's way.
The last few days gave us a chance to stow things that were hurriedly placed on the boat, put Grace back together as a sailboat, and prepare for the upcoming leg of the journey.
Captain Kevin declared the "news" this morning, that there would be a shake-down sail; which was not only the first sail since the mast was stepped after travelling under the low bridges in the canal, but was also our first sail in about a month plus - what a wonderful sail it was! Grace sailed as if to say "now this is what I was made for"; she was smoothly traversing the waters on a sunny autumn day within sight of the NYC skyline.
We are now staged for our first coastal passage, offshore of the New Jersey coast. If the weather holds, we will make the trip over a 24 hour period, beginning tomorrow morning. If for any reason we decide not to do it in one stretch, there are inlets we can tuck into. We will update the blog when we can; so, if you do not see a post for a couple of days it is not reason for concern; it could be that we are catching up on sleep, or that we do not have a connection for the blog. Stay tuned....
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11/02/2009, Great Kills Harbor, Staten Island
Waiting out weather off the New Jersey coast.
Got some much needed extra sleep this morning.
Chores finished up, three hot meals, route planning.
Looks like the weather will hold us here tomorrow as well...the price is perfect...FREE.
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11/01/2009, Great Kills Harbor, Staten Island
Left Croton Point 6:30 AM.
Since Kevin does not like city driving, Debbie "drove" most of today.
We safely arrived south of NYC in a very protected anchorage at about 2:00 PM.
NY Harbor was exuberant, intense at times, yet manageable.
Weather forecast might keep us here until Tuesday.
Much more, including photos, when we have WIFI.
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10/31/2009, North of Croton Point
Left Highland Falls at 8:00 AM.
Weather forecast tricked us; it was not as severe as predicted.
Traveled about 17 miles; anchored in a lovely spot, and got treated to balmy temperatures and bagpipe music.
Tomorrow we head to New York Harbor.
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10/30/2009, Highland Falls, NY
Left Riverview at 7:30 AM.
Travelled about 60 miles.
We pulled into a marina just south of West Point Academy about 5:00 PM.
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10/29/2009, Catskill, NY
Ken, who is currently single-handing on the classy sailing vessel Element Quest, has been our buddy boat since we left Waterford together this morning at about 7:45 A.M.
We followed him to the Federal Lock at Troy.
There was a strong current in the approach to the lock, and mucho floating debris that had jammed up. We have been stuck in snow banks several times before. However, today was the first time we ever got stuck in a debris bank (as evidenced by the photo above). Grace, Kevin, and Debbie all survived just fine. It did seperate us from Ken on Element Quest for the next few hours, initially because it took a while to get us moving again, and then to go through the lock.
Upon the exit of the lock, we "white water rafted" across the roughest water we have seen to date, which nicely washed off most of the yuck-yuck from the debris bank. Grace took it all like a pro!
For a little while, we moved along swiftly with the current, hitting an all time high speed of over 11 MPH.
The conditions calmed down, we travelled past downtown Albany, and eventually caught up to Ken on Element Quest.
There were radio communications with and successful passings of a number of northbound tug boats pushing impressively large barges today.
Element Quest, Grace, and the canadian boat who left Chipman Point the same day we did all pulled in to Riverview Marine Services in Catskill, NY during the warm sunshine this afternoon.
Element Quest and Grace now look more like sailboats again, with masts upright. The canadian boat will wait until morning to step the mast.
Ken pulled out just as dusk was setting in, with exchanges of email and website addresses and sincere hopes to cross paths again very soon! Ken: it was great being able to travel down the Hudson River together today, chatting on the VHF radio, and admiring your beautiful boat; we wish you fair winds and smooth sailing!
(For the record: Ken is from Canada also; however, since I have not been successful in remembering the name of the other boat, nor gotten a very good photo yet, I am still referring to it as "the canadian boat".)
Thank you to everyone who has emailed us or posted comments on the sailblog! We certainly appreciate hearing from you!
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10/28/2009, Waterford, NY
Here we sit, at the free dock at Waterford, NY, with free WIFI! So, more details on the last few days:
Day One: The appraiser was at the house first thing, while we packed up last minute items. Shortly, thereafter we did the last few errands and headed to the boat. Kevin did motor fluid checks, Debbie loaded the final items onto the boat, we filled the gas jugs, paid the final bill at the marina, and cast off. It was a warm, sunny, perfect weather day for the beginning of our adventure.
Thank you to Dick and Pat at Chipman Point Marina for the pie, and for waiving to us as we pulled away from the dock!
We motored to Whitehall, NY, and passed through Lock 12, which was our very first time through any lock with a boat. A canadian boat, who earlier in the day had their mast unstepped at Chipman Point Marina while we finished getting ready to cast off, arrived at Whitehall ahead of us; we were the only two boats tied up at the free dock (with free water and power) in Whitehall for the night.
The fire department held what appeared to be a volunteer training for a few hours right beside where we were docked; so, that kept the thugs at bay and provided us with some free entertainment.
The attached photo is of Grace, just before sundown, at Whitehall with Skene Manor on the hill.
Day Two: The decks of the boat were slightly frosted as we pulled away from the dock, after having hot coffee and breakfast burritos.
Thank you to the folks at GMC for the warm hooded sweatshirt that has kept Debbie toasty each morning!
There was a short burst of boat traffic between Locks 7 and 8, as there was dredging work happening in the waterway. The "professionals" were quite courteous to us as we passed through their work zone. Otherwise, it was a pleasantly calm experience passing through the locks and travelling the champlain canal system, enjoying the beautiful fall folliage colors, viewings of cows, pigs, piglets, deer, ducks, geese, herons, sea gulls, hawks, and a large bald eagle who swooped down and caught a fish just off the side of our boat.
We stopped for the day at the free dock on the north side of Lock 4. Our sailor friend, Doug, came to visit us and treated us to a pizza in town. What a treat to have a visitor during the beginning of our journey! Thank you, Doug!
The same canadian boat arrived just behind us. We finally got a chance to engage in some conversation with them.
Today, in tandem with the canadian boat, we passed through Locks 4, 3, 2, and 1. We only travelled for about 3 hours; there was a light intermittent drizzle until just before Waterford, when it began to rain harder.
Tonight we are hooked up to free power, have both had free hot showers this evening, and are finally able to provide more info on the blog, as well as prepare for the next part of the voyage, which will include tides and salt water for the first time.
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10/27/2009, Lock 4 Champlain Canal
Left Whitehall 8:30 AM
Went through 6 locks.
Arrived at Lock 4, Stillwater, NY at 4:30 PM.
Stay tuned for more details when we have WIFI.
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10/26/2009, Whitehall, NY
Left Chipman Point Marina at 1:30 PM.
Arrived at Whitehall at 4:30 PM.
Beautiful day! More later.
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Since purchasing "Grace", a 1971 Morgan 35 sailboat, in October 2008, we have been focused on downsizing our tangible belongings, including our house, and getting Grace ready for coastal cruising in regards to both safety and comfort.
The past few weeks have been a flurry of activities including several days of road trips around New England to purchase items and get the sails worked on, unstepping the mast, hauling Grace out of the water to do work and examine the hull condition, meetings with the buyers and lawyer regarding the sale of our house, as well as moving stuff out of the house and onto the boat.
We are planning to head out from Chipman Point Marina in Orwell, Vermont aboard Grace on Monday, October 26, 2009 mid-day to begin our first trip down the Champlain Canal.
We anticipate journeying south with Grace for the next two weeks to get to the Chesapeake Bay, and return by train to Vermont.
Then we will finish getting the remainder of our things out of the house, and wrapping up the closing on the sale of the house before Thanksgiving.
Following the closing, we will return to Grace and continue the voyage to warmer locales.
We invite you to follow our adventure via this blog as we post continued updates. There is a map as part of this blog, on which you can view the path we travel.
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