Today the Delaware and the C & D canal. We left the Cape May Inlet at 7:00 am and went through the Cape May Canal. We had the tides on our side and slid through doing 9 knots. When we came out the other side and turned up Delaware Bay, Dave put up the small jib sail that we brought for just this purpose. We had a southwest wind that pulled us along at a brisk 10 knots. Really felt like we were flying. Its not really that fast, just about 14 miles an hour but on the water - for us - that's fast. The tide stayed with us the entire route and brought us to the C & D canal at noon. The sail had to be brought in and there was some busy time while Dave took the sail in, brought the stabilizer arms up and tried to keep a steady course. He's a good mariner and I have to admit I'm not much help. I hope I'm learning. I need to get the hang of tying up properly, so as not to embarrass ourselves and keep us safe. I get anxious when entering port, leaving port, navigating and just about everything else that goes with the mariner's life. The only time I'm truly relaxed is when we tie up. Dave says I'll get better at it. At least I've not been seasick on this trip and I stopped taking Bonnine. We are currently tied into the Chesapeake Inn, Restaurant and Marina. Had a great hot shower, nice lunch out (shrimp, crab cakes and salad and a beer (to calm my nerves). Now I'm back at the keyboard where I feel most comfortable. I have not written a word on the new book, although I have plenty of ideas in my head. The days fly by while I check the charts, watch the weather, wind and tides while planning our next stop. When I get really nervous I call my son, the professional mariner, and he tells me what I need to know. He's a peach. I can hardly believe we've been gone only 9 days, seems like a lifetime. We took a walk after lunch to the Municipal Marina on the other side and found out we could have tied up for free. Dave saw a boat and said, "That looks like Paul's boat, the 'Scup'. He's the assistant harbor master in Oak Bluffs, Martha's Vineyard." Well wouldn't you know but he was right on. We sat and talked with Paul for awhile, he's made this trip many times. He's heading for Key West and we hope we meet up with him again. If not it will be next spring in Oak Bluffs.
Early night for me tonight. The days run took 7 hours and now its time to rest.
Thursday, October 29, 2015
Monday, October 26, 2015
Heading south
The Richard & Arnold has a lazy roll every time another ferry leaves the dock here in Atlantic Highlands, NJ in Sandy Hook. We came down the east river with the outgoing tide doing a brisk 10 knots. That's good going. I marveled at the UN building, saw a tram passing overhead from Manhattan to Governor's Island, was in awe of the Statue of Liberty, but nervous leaving the East River through 'the narrows' at lower Manhattan because I've never seen so much water traffic. Ferry boats to Staten Island, Tugs with barges, US Coast Guard, a couple of sailboats, tankers and us. We passed the four masted Peking docked alongside an old lightship and the Sherman Zwicker from Maine. I think that's how its spelled. All this and helicopters and airplanes overhead. I think we went under eight bridges today. We could see the traffic and marveled at how slow we moved in comparison. The day went smoothly, light winds, sun and we docked early. Last night we moored in City Island and walked around the town, visited the City Island Maritime Museum. Did you know that City Island is famous for building racing yachts like 'Freedom' that won the America's Cup. The town built many famous wooden sailing yachts, but when fiberglass took over the boat building industry and waterfront property became so valuable (1970-80's) the old boat yards began to close down. None of the big boat building yards have survived, but there is a sail maker there and a small travel lift for taking out boats. Barron's Boat yard, good people and the mooring was only $35 for the night. There is a full moon tonight and because we have a long ride tomorrow we will most likely leave around midnight to cruise the Jersey shore. It will most likely be 16 - 20 hour trip and we'd like to enter Cape May while there is still light. We shall see how it goes. Also the forecast is good weather for tomorrow and then Wednesday it turns yucky. We hope to make it in to port before the wind picks up and rain comes down. I have asked myself why I choose to do this trip and I honestly don't know. It is something we've always talked about and now it's happening.
Living aboard is comfortable. We have everything we need and I'm content. Miss my grandkids like crazy, face-time works and I talk to them every other night. Well it's almost 8pm and I need to hit the bunk. Have safe travels out there in your cars going 60 miles an hour - I feel like a turtle.
Living aboard is comfortable. We have everything we need and I'm content. Miss my grandkids like crazy, face-time works and I talk to them every other night. Well it's almost 8pm and I need to hit the bunk. Have safe travels out there in your cars going 60 miles an hour - I feel like a turtle.
Tuesday, October 20, 2015
Slow start
Off to a slow start. We've said goodbye to our family, friends and neighbors. Finally moved aboard only to be held up by winds blowing in excess of 35. Dave said there's no reason to beat up the old girl, that would be me not the boat ( she can take it). We've had a comfy / cozy berth at the wharf where the Hindu usually ties. The beautiful Hindu is on her way to Key West having left less than a week ago she is already in the Carolinas. Must be nice to have a great crew, including Mike Winkler and his son. They do watches, 24/ 7 and just keep going. They will be there before we leave Massachusetts. We'll do it our way; stopping every night in a new place. Taking in the sights, meeting new friends, and enjoying each day. The Richard & Arnold is as prepared as she can be. Tanks full, plenty of water, gas and food. I've learned how to use my phone as a hot spot so I can send out emails, check the weather, blog and do everything I could do from land. The only things my floating home lacks are: TV (don't miss it one bit), a dishwasher (using less dishes anyway), washing machine (we can wear our clothes a little longer). We are anxious to cast off and it looks like Wednesday AM we will be heading for the Cape Cod Canal. I hope to keep my friends informed of our travels and add a few pics as we go along, I will post a blog weekly. We are heading to Martha's Vineyard for our first stop, after that we'll check the charts, tides and weather each night, and then select the next stop.
Monday, October 5, 2015
Moving ahead and Making ready
Want to mention that I will be speaking and reading from The Fishermen's Ball on Tuesday, October 6, 2015 at the Truro Public Library at 6:30 pm. WOW that's tomorrow. Hope to see you there. This will be the last public speaking engagement for awhile. It's stressful for me, I get nervous. I try to remember what Jerry Sinfeld said, "A survey was taken of the American public, asked what was their greatest fear, the #1 answer was public speaking, #2 was death. So Jerry said, People would rather be in the coffin than giving the eulogy." I guess I'd rather stand up and give the eulogy.
On the home front we are preparing to let go the lines and head the boat south to warmer waters for the winter. This will be the first time since 1981 that Dave and I have ventured forth on the water for an extended cruise. There are similarities but also this will be very different. We've been preparing the boat and ourselves. The Richard & Arnold has new batteries, inverter, hot water heater, alternator, new stove and a freezer. Today Dave is cleaning up his tools and making room for the freezer. I think the boat will do fine. I've got plenty of Bonine, so I'm ready. We will be moving aboard next week, I hope. We need to store gear: clothing, food, kitchen equipment and all the rest of the amenities that make living aboard possible, like flash-lights, netting, bungie cords, binoculars, air horn, survival suits, and a thousand other items that will keep us safe, warm and dry. The past week we put sound-down on the ceilings of the engine room and sound proofing floor mats for the wheel house, I'm hoping I wont't need ear plugs. We purchased, via Craig's list, two new wheelhouse chairs. These are bucket seats out of a Honda Oddessey, never used, like new, with arm rests! Dave said it's a good thing he didn't have them last summer when he was fishing, he'd probably have fallen asleep at the helm. This is the first time in the 33 years that we have owned the Richard & Arnold that I have my own seat in the wheelhouse. Dave hopes this isn't going to lead to a mutiny.
A couple of days ago we learned that we couldn't take the tracking device off the boat for the winter, we thought because we were heading to Florida for vacation and there would be no fishing that we could just unplug the thing. No such luck, so now we are installing a new, mandated new, tracking device that will track our every move. And we thought Big Brother was a myth.
I have to sign off for now, my granddaughter is on the couch with a sore throat, needs some TLC. She hates the idea that her Nonnie is leaving for the winter. I will keep in touch as we journey south. Fair winds.
On the home front we are preparing to let go the lines and head the boat south to warmer waters for the winter. This will be the first time since 1981 that Dave and I have ventured forth on the water for an extended cruise. There are similarities but also this will be very different. We've been preparing the boat and ourselves. The Richard & Arnold has new batteries, inverter, hot water heater, alternator, new stove and a freezer. Today Dave is cleaning up his tools and making room for the freezer. I think the boat will do fine. I've got plenty of Bonine, so I'm ready. We will be moving aboard next week, I hope. We need to store gear: clothing, food, kitchen equipment and all the rest of the amenities that make living aboard possible, like flash-lights, netting, bungie cords, binoculars, air horn, survival suits, and a thousand other items that will keep us safe, warm and dry. The past week we put sound-down on the ceilings of the engine room and sound proofing floor mats for the wheel house, I'm hoping I wont't need ear plugs. We purchased, via Craig's list, two new wheelhouse chairs. These are bucket seats out of a Honda Oddessey, never used, like new, with arm rests! Dave said it's a good thing he didn't have them last summer when he was fishing, he'd probably have fallen asleep at the helm. This is the first time in the 33 years that we have owned the Richard & Arnold that I have my own seat in the wheelhouse. Dave hopes this isn't going to lead to a mutiny.
A couple of days ago we learned that we couldn't take the tracking device off the boat for the winter, we thought because we were heading to Florida for vacation and there would be no fishing that we could just unplug the thing. No such luck, so now we are installing a new, mandated new, tracking device that will track our every move. And we thought Big Brother was a myth.
I have to sign off for now, my granddaughter is on the couch with a sore throat, needs some TLC. She hates the idea that her Nonnie is leaving for the winter. I will keep in touch as we journey south. Fair winds.
Sunday, July 12, 2015
July 2015 Boat Nuts
Hope everyone had a happy and safe Fourth of July. We watched the Provincetown fireworks from the deck of a friend's house. It proved to be a lovely night with lots of oohs, aaahs and wows. Since the 4th fell on a Saturday and fishing for fluke runs Sunday - Thursday, Captain Dave was on the road back to Woods Hole to pick up the Richard & Arnold at 1:00 AM. It was a good time to travel, but he was really tired when he set out off of Noman's Island at 5 AM. He still thinks he's forty years old. There are just a few boats working the area now. Dave counted six. Some of the fellows are fishing closer to Nantucket, but for Dave the distance would add a couple hours to his already tiring day.
We are talking and planning a trip with the Richard & Arnold this fall. If all goes well we will head out in October. First stop - Block Island since I've never been there. We will follow a plan, but we know that sometimes wind and tides dictate when and where we go. Our plans include stops in CT, Montauk, City Island, Sandy Hook, Cape May, the Delaware, Chesapeake,Orient NC, Darian GA and the inland waterway through to Florida. I hope to be able to blog along the way, maybe sell a few books as well.
In other news, our son Bob launched his 36' Harris on Thursday and yesterday he had it going 19 knots skipping across Cape Cod Bay. It has taken 3 years of work to get it back in the water. He put in a new/rebuilt engine, new fuel tanks, lots of fiberglass work. It took so long because he could only work on it when he wasn't on his three week rotation aboard the tugboat Yellow Fin in the Gulf of Mexico. The nut really doesn't fall far from the tree. Boats, boats, boats. Like father like son. And I'm proud of both my sons. Jackson loves the water, has a run about boat of his own and is a talented carpenter who is building beautiful homes.
And oh YES, the book is done and should be available at Amazon around July 20, 2015. Look for The Fishermen's Ball by J. J. Dutra and let me know what you think. It's a murder mystery set in Provincetown in 1938-39, a little different from the last one but still has some fishing included.
Nautical Twilight is still available, also on Kindle for those who use the lighted screen. I finally broke down and got one so that I could read at night and not disturb Dave with the light. I like it well enough but I still take a book to the beach because you can't see the screen in the sunlight. Mostly my grandchildren use it to play games, something the captain doesn't like, but I'm all for technology if it is tempered with lots of outdoor play time. It is recommended that for every hour of computer time a kid should play three hours outdoors. Sounds right to me. Fair winds fellow boat nuts, see you soon.
We are talking and planning a trip with the Richard & Arnold this fall. If all goes well we will head out in October. First stop - Block Island since I've never been there. We will follow a plan, but we know that sometimes wind and tides dictate when and where we go. Our plans include stops in CT, Montauk, City Island, Sandy Hook, Cape May, the Delaware, Chesapeake,Orient NC, Darian GA and the inland waterway through to Florida. I hope to be able to blog along the way, maybe sell a few books as well.
In other news, our son Bob launched his 36' Harris on Thursday and yesterday he had it going 19 knots skipping across Cape Cod Bay. It has taken 3 years of work to get it back in the water. He put in a new/rebuilt engine, new fuel tanks, lots of fiberglass work. It took so long because he could only work on it when he wasn't on his three week rotation aboard the tugboat Yellow Fin in the Gulf of Mexico. The nut really doesn't fall far from the tree. Boats, boats, boats. Like father like son. And I'm proud of both my sons. Jackson loves the water, has a run about boat of his own and is a talented carpenter who is building beautiful homes.
And oh YES, the book is done and should be available at Amazon around July 20, 2015. Look for The Fishermen's Ball by J. J. Dutra and let me know what you think. It's a murder mystery set in Provincetown in 1938-39, a little different from the last one but still has some fishing included.
Nautical Twilight is still available, also on Kindle for those who use the lighted screen. I finally broke down and got one so that I could read at night and not disturb Dave with the light. I like it well enough but I still take a book to the beach because you can't see the screen in the sunlight. Mostly my grandchildren use it to play games, something the captain doesn't like, but I'm all for technology if it is tempered with lots of outdoor play time. It is recommended that for every hour of computer time a kid should play three hours outdoors. Sounds right to me. Fair winds fellow boat nuts, see you soon.
Monday, June 15, 2015
Fluke season is off to a rough start. It's the forth day in and today there was tragedy in Menemsha Bite, MVI. The Robert C went down. Captain Dougie was pulled from the water and he is reported to be safe. Dave told me this when he phoned from the island this evening. It seems two boats collided and the Robert C went down in minutes. Dave said he didn't see it, but heard the Coast Guard on the radio. Six or seven boats were fishing the bite. Dave said he's not sure how it happened. Like so many of the boats, Dougie fishes alone. As Dave is fond of saying, "Too much work for one man but not enough money for two." Fishing alone is how most of the guys manage, so I can see how these things can happen. The other boat, the Peddler is safe, but most likely out of commission. Capt. Walter and Capt. Dougie are old hands at fishing, so this is a terrible accident that neither could have imagined. The Robert C was a beauty, I don't know her details, but she looked like a Stonington Dragger. She was old, wooden, heavy planked and currently hailed from New Bedford. She was a beautiful old girl. The men are safe and that really is all that matters in the long run. Say a prayer for our men and women at sea. Remember our fishermen. And don't forget to give thanks.
Thursday, June 11, 2015
Update - June 2015
After much hard work, long hours, and an inpouring of money the Richard & Arnold is back to work. Dave says she's better than ever. The engine: a complete overhaul done by RCS Diesel Service in Ludlow MA has put the boat on a smooth coarse. It is not using oil, doesn't smoke, and has more power. I can't say enough about the efforts at RCS, great mechanics, all business, and fair prices. Thanks to Mike Miner and all the men who worked on it.
The new wheelhouse was a challenge. It's amazing how much stuff accumulates in a small space after thirty plus years, but on a boat it's all necessary, well most of it. It took months to replace everything from the old wheelhouse. We knew the wheelhouse needed changing when one day, out at sea, Dave showed me how the old house was moving. Literally swaying on its foundation. So glad to have the new one in place, bolted and fiberglassed in. Everything had to come out of the old house and either be refitted to the new one or new equipment had to be purchased. All the important electronics are back in place, radar, depth sounder. The steering and autopilot are working. Hydraulics up to speed. Radios, computer, tracking device, antennas, have been rewired in. Safety equipment, deck lights, EPIRB in good working order. Only the odds and ends left to do, things like shelves for tools, hooks to hang oil-gear and a soft seat for the mate (that would be me) will all be done as we go along, because now the fishing begins and when Dave is fishing there's not much time left to do anything else.
Dave took the boat to Woods Hole last month for squid, but he got a late start due to the massive amount of work to the wheelhouse, and the squid didn't come in jumbo numbers so he came back to Provincetown Harbor. He brought aboard a thousand pounds of lead for needed weight in the bilge. He then changed nets and end-for-ended the wire on the winches. He left for Martha's Vineyard last Tuesday to fish for Fluke. Now we hope for a good season to put us in shape for travel this winter. The boat is ready, Dave is looking forward to taking her south. I'm excited, nervous, worried, and making lists of a million things that need to be done before I can cut the ties to land. Things like auto pay of bills. What do I do with all my house plants? What clothing should I bring, how much linens, blankets, etc? How much food can I store? Yes it is exciting, but the idea of leaving my grandkids is almost heartbreaking. My feeling is that everyone will survive one winter without me. I'll keep up with kids on face-time. And I should have more time to write. Right?
The new wheelhouse was a challenge. It's amazing how much stuff accumulates in a small space after thirty plus years, but on a boat it's all necessary, well most of it. It took months to replace everything from the old wheelhouse. We knew the wheelhouse needed changing when one day, out at sea, Dave showed me how the old house was moving. Literally swaying on its foundation. So glad to have the new one in place, bolted and fiberglassed in. Everything had to come out of the old house and either be refitted to the new one or new equipment had to be purchased. All the important electronics are back in place, radar, depth sounder. The steering and autopilot are working. Hydraulics up to speed. Radios, computer, tracking device, antennas, have been rewired in. Safety equipment, deck lights, EPIRB in good working order. Only the odds and ends left to do, things like shelves for tools, hooks to hang oil-gear and a soft seat for the mate (that would be me) will all be done as we go along, because now the fishing begins and when Dave is fishing there's not much time left to do anything else.
Dave took the boat to Woods Hole last month for squid, but he got a late start due to the massive amount of work to the wheelhouse, and the squid didn't come in jumbo numbers so he came back to Provincetown Harbor. He brought aboard a thousand pounds of lead for needed weight in the bilge. He then changed nets and end-for-ended the wire on the winches. He left for Martha's Vineyard last Tuesday to fish for Fluke. Now we hope for a good season to put us in shape for travel this winter. The boat is ready, Dave is looking forward to taking her south. I'm excited, nervous, worried, and making lists of a million things that need to be done before I can cut the ties to land. Things like auto pay of bills. What do I do with all my house plants? What clothing should I bring, how much linens, blankets, etc? How much food can I store? Yes it is exciting, but the idea of leaving my grandkids is almost heartbreaking. My feeling is that everyone will survive one winter without me. I'll keep up with kids on face-time. And I should have more time to write. Right?
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