We raced down the Potomac, fighting a few showers and squalls with an increasing wind in our face. We were trying for the Yeocomico River, right at the mouth of the Potomac, but we ran out of daylight and pulled into the Lower Machodoc Creek and into a delightful anchorage and a good night’s rest. We were up early again for the run up the bay to Annapolis and this time we had the wind at our back and made good time despite a few more squalls along the way. We pulled into Harness Creek and found a few boats already there but found a good spot and settled in.
The weather was fore cast to be bad for a couple of days with wind out of the north and storms so we planned to sit tight and enjoy one of our favorite places. We walked into town and stopped at all the stores, West Marine and Fawcett’s. We also made time for lunch at the Main Ingredient, one of our favorite restaurants in the world.
With an improving weather outlook, we made another marathon jump up the bay and through the C&D Canal and into Delaware Bay and came to rest at Reedy Island just before dark and just before a giant squall. We saw 50 knots of wind and hung on for dear life, but stayed put with no problems. A boat anchored in front of us slid back a bit and gave us something to keep an eye on but he eventually stopped and hung tight. The next morning we waited for the tide to turn in our favor and had 30 knots of wind to blow us down the bay and around Cape May. As we headed north the wind laid down and eventually died, so we motored past Atlantic City and all the lights and dawn found us off Manasquan Inlet. We needed to be at the Battery in lower Manhattan at 3 PM so we took our time around Sandy Hook and then up New York Harbor and under the Verrazano Narrows Bridge. We were still a little early at 2:30 but into the East River we went. We had a little adverse current at first, but it soon turned and we flew through the city and under all the bridges. The last one being Throg’s Neck and then around the corner and into Port Washington and we picked up a free mooring for the night. We were able to have a relaxed departure the next morning for a change and motor sailed over to Port Jefferson and settled into our normal anchoring spot for a visit with Lisa.
She is at the end of her educational experience and is almost done with her dissertation and is now looking for a job. She has had some interviews but nothing firm yet. We have our fingers crossed that something will come up. She seems confident. We are going to be helping her get ready to move to where ever she goes, so she and Molly are going though everything and making keep and get rid of piles.
After a couple of days we moved over to Essex Connecticut for a SSCA Gam. Our boat was one selected to be an example for people interested in Blue Water Cruising, and we thought it would be a good venue to show her to prospective buyers. We had a good get together, and several people looked at Allegria with interest.
Tonight we are planning to go to the Griswald Inn, built in 1776 and eat dinner and attend a show where they sing sea chanteys. It is supposed to be very good. Then we are up early tomorrow to head back over to Port Jefferson and visit with Lisa some more and continue to help her get her stuff organized.
Then in 1 week we are off to France to check on the new boat and discuss some of the layout and equipment options for her. Very exciting stuff. Check out some new photos in the Gallery.