More adventures as Trefoil heads home!

Trefoil is now at the town dock in Waterford, always a nice spot to be, whether headed north or south. We have provisioned, done laundry, cleaned the decks, had dinner with our friend Larry, and chatted with lots of nice boat people, most of whom are headed south. This is our third day here, and we will head out in the morning to travel through the Champlain Canal back to Port Henry, where Trefoil will be stored for the winter.

Some highlights since the last post: from Mystic we returned to the Old Lyme Dock Co in the Connecticut River, then on to Milford, CT. Milford is a very pretty harbor, and we had spent time here at the beginning of our cruise. This time we arrived on Sunday night of Labor Day weekend, and finally found dock space at the Milford Yacht Club. It was a party weekend, a band was playing, and we were invited to a wine tasting party on the 52' motor yacht "Enuff." All was good until we departed in the morning. We waited just a bit too long after slack tide, and as we backed out of our slip, the tide pushed us against the boat next to us and our dinghy davits became entangled with the bow, breaking their bow light! Ouch! We finally got off without further damage, but not a great start to the day. We have contacted the owner and will pay for the damage. Milford is probably not a spot we would return to, as we also had difficulty here the first time we visited. No major damage, however. Especially in tight quarters, as at this location, is is very important to pay close attention to tidal flow. Also, we had not paid careful enough attention to the the sun and moon; in addition to a full moon, the sun and moon were within 45 degrees of each other, creating an extra strong tide, both low and high.

On to Oyster Bay, where we picked up a mooring, and then Manhassett Bay, where we also were on a mooring for two nights, due to weather. While there we did careful calculations so that we could arrive at Hell Gate at slack tide. Actually, we were a bit early, so we motored along at 1.5 knots for a while! Then into Liberty Landing Marina for an overnight before starting up the Hudson River. Nice to be back on the Hudson again! The first night on the Hudson we anchored at Croton on Hudson, a great anchorage. Jonah played for over an hour with Major, a Czech shephard..the most fun he had had in a long time!

The next morning, we knew a storm was coming, but NOAA said it would arrive late afternoon or early evening. We went across the bay to Haverstraw Marina for fuel and ice, planning to travel up the river a ways. But by the time we were finished with our purchases (the dock hand put gasoline in one of our diesel jerry jugs, so it took a bit longer to get that taken care of), the sky was already getting very dark, the wind speed was increasing, and now we were hearing the storm was going to arrive much sooner than expected. So we decided to take a slip at the marina to ride out the upcoming storm, and we are glad we did. Within an hour, there were severe thunderstorm warnings and a tornado watch. It rained on and off all day, gusty winds from the south and then suddenly, a big blow from the west with heavy rain. Then all was quiet. Apparently, two fronts collided. Later we learned that a tornado had actually touched down in Queens.

Off again the next morning with blue skies and a light breeze, we motored to Hyde Park, where we picked up a mooring. We had stopped here two years ago, and Pete, the owner, remembered us. As we chatted, it turned out that he had gone to Clarkson and was a classmate of Dick's best friend from high school! Another front passed through that evening, but it quieted down at dark, just in time for Jonah's last "shore call" of the day. We were underway by 7:45 the next morning, headed for Riverview Marina in Catskill. Winds were forecast to increase throughout the day...the first 3 hours were very calm, and then suddenly the wind came up and for 2 1/2 hours we motored through 30 knots gusts from the north. We were very glad to arrive in Catskill Creek and to have assistance getting into our dock space! Here we met Matt and Jessica, from Michigan, on their Sabre 34, a young couple who are starting out on an extended cruise, no schedule, destination Venezuela or places beyond! Sails off, bimini down, and once Matt and Jessica's mast was up, we moved into the crane bay, and our mast came down. We decided to stay another night so that we could travel with the tide instead of against it for our trip to Waterford. In tidal waters, with a 5 knot boat, we have learned to pay careful attention to the tide tables. So tomorrow morning, we will take on crew for a day, our friend Noah, as we begin the trip back to Lake Champlain.

Cuttyhunk to Mystic and spots in between

Underway from Cuttyhunk under power, at the mouth of the Sakonnet River, we suddenly noticed a decrease in speed and a drop in RPMs. We immediately wondered if we had wrapped a line from a fishing float around our prop. There are plenty of these to dodge in these waters (not quite as many as in the Chesapeake, but still numerous), and we generally keep a sharp lookout, but Lee Andrews on his Tartan 3800 had hailed us on his way into Jamestown, and during our conversation with him, we temporarily lost focus. We continued on for a bit, and the situation remained the same. We made the decision to take a detour into Jamestown, to the marina Lee had mentioned. This would give us the opportunity to check out the situation. So we called Conanicut Marine Services and reserved a mooring. Dick wanted to dive under the boat to see if there was anything wrapped around the prop. We also knew that if we needed services, such as a diver, we would be able to get assistance here. It was fairly bouncy when we arrived, so we took the launch ashore for a walk with Jonah. While there, a couple approached us and asked, "Weren't you just on Cuttyhunk? We recognize your dog!" We had a nice chat with Wendy and Gene, who have a Freedom 30. They were now on a mooring at Dutch Harbor Marina on the other side of the island from Jamestown. Then back to the boat, and Dick dove underneath, but the water was dark and there was still a fair chop, so he was unable to see anything. We decided to try putting the engine in reverse for a few minutes in the morning, hoping that if something was wrapped, it would un-wrap. We would motor out, and if all was well we would contine, and if speed and RPMs were still not right, we would go around into Dutch Harbor, which Wendy and Gene said was very protected and quiet. After running the engine in reverse the next morning, all seemed fine, so we continued on.
If we were to return here another time, we would go into Dutch Harbor Marina. Conanicut Marina is very nice, but is quite exposed, and the anchorage was rolly. Also, Newport is right across the harbor, and while it was fun to watch the boats coming and going, this also added to the chop. There is a ferry that runs from Jamestown to Newport, so this would be an easy way to get into Newport, without actually being moored or spending the big bucks to stay at a marina there. We did see some vey impressive boats headed into and out of the harbor!
So we were now underway to Block Island! We had been warned not to go there on a weekend, but it was Friday and that is where we were headed! We arrived about 4:00 in the afternoon, and called the harbormaster to inquire if there were any available moorings. We were put in a private mooring for Friday night, for one night only, and were told that we would probably be able to pick up a town mooring Saturday morning, between 7:00 and 9:00. So up early Saturday AM, Jonah and Dick ashore and back by 7:00. Then we cruised through the mooring field, and by 7:30 we were on a mooring! On a town mooring, we could stay as long as we wanted. We watched other people looking for moorings as well. It is possible to anchor at Block Island, and many do, but the anchorage is deep, and we have heard many stories of people dragging anchor there. We wanted to be able to sleep at night. $40 per night seemed a fair price for a good night's sleep! Being at Block Island was like being at a carnival! Dinghies, sailboats, powerboats, silicone, the launch, kayaks, paddleboards all coming and going all the time. This was very different from Marthas Vineyard and Cuttyhunk. Lots of dogs, Jonah had a great time swimming! Karen rented a kayak and did some exploring. We stayed here 3 nights total, had dinner out one night at Dead Eye Dick's...very good!
The weather is starting to change...we were actually chilly our last night here when returning to the boat in the dinghy! After such a hot summer, the cool air felt good.
Monday morning, it was on to Stonington, to a mooring at Dodson's Boatyard. We had been here several weeks ago. After our time in the islands, we needed to do laundry (not Jonah's fault this time!), get ice, take showers and do some major provisioning for our trip home. On Tuesday, our friends Linda and Ed drove over from their boat in Westerly, RI, just around the corner from Stonington. Ed and Dick visited (and ate ice cream) while Linda and Karen did some provisioning at the the Big Y supermarket in Mystic. What a nice store! It was so helpful to be able to do this: thank you Linda and Ed! It was nice to be back at Dodson's again; this is a very well run marina, with complete services available and very friendly, helpful staff. We were very pleased to be on a mooring close to the dinghy dock, and surrounded by Hinckley and Morris sailboats! Our last night there, we had dinner at the "Dog Watch Cafe," a very popular spot. Jonah was on the patio area just off the deck, and received lots of compliments!
On to Mystic the next day, only 8 miles (4 miles by land!). In 2004, we attended the Sparkman and Stephens 75th anniversary celebration at Mystic Seaport (we drove there by car). It was here that we met Rick and Carol Clark, who sail their Tartan 34C on the Chesapeake. Rick and Carol have become good friends, and we have visited them several times at their home on the Chesapeake.
We decided that we wanted to see Mystic from the water, so we opted for a stop here. We sailed part way, which was lovely. Then up the winding Mystic River to Brewer's Yacht Yard. Except for the one night at Cuttyhunk, this was our first night at a dock in 17 days! Moorings and anchoring are great and have their advantages, but being at a dock is a real treat! This is a very nice marina, and we wouldn't hesitate to return here another time. The location is great, and we can walk or take the dinghy to downtown Mystic. Mystic is a busy spot, but it was nice to be able to walk around a bit and do some Christmas shopping! While Dick and Jonah were waiting outside a store for Karen, a man approached and said "I know that dog! He barked a me, but I didn't take it personally!" This was an emplyee of Dodson's Boatyard!
We had planned to leave this morning, but the forecast was for 20 knot winds from the SW, which would be right "on the nose" for us. No sailing, powering all the way. We have been there, done that, and it isn't enjoyable, so we opted for one more day here. We are glad we did! This afternoon we took the dinghy for a long ride, up the Mystic River, past Mystic Seaport, and took Jonah for a swim. Actually, he jumped around in a lot of muck, but he had a great time!
We are now headed west back through Long Island Sound enroute to NYC and the Hudson River. We are planning for another slack tide at Hell Gate!

A Yellow Dog fares well in Black Dog territory!

As we were leaving the village of Mettapoisett, headed for Martha's Vineyard, we were advised to go to Lake Tashmoo, an anchorage on the north side of the Vineyard. This was advice we are most happy we followed, as Lake Tashmoo was a lovely spot. We enjoyed it so much we stayed 6 days! Well protected, good holding, quiet and peaceful, a dinghy dock close by, with a water supply and garbage disposal, an easy 20 minute walk into Vineyard Haven, where we could take showers at the Harbormaster's building. Vineyard Haven has a good grocery store, lots of shops and several good restaurants with excellent takeout (we travel with Jonah, remember, and he isn't allowed in restaurants!). Lobster dinners, lobster salad, steamed clams and mussels....delicious! Martha's Vineyard is a very dog friendly place, and although the "Black Dog" trademark is everywhere, and every other person walking down the street is wearing a "black dog" shirt, Jonah got lots of compliments! He met many friendly people and lots of other dogs. The last night we were there, as we were walking back to the anchorage, a car drove by and someone called out the window, "Hi Jonah!" While on Martha's Vineyard, we traveled by bus to Oak Bluffs and the Edgartown, as well as all the way out to Aquinnah and Gay Head Lighthouse. Jonah didn't like the bus at all at first, and wanted to get off every time the door opened, but gradually he got used to it, and by the time we took the bus back to Vineyard Haven, he slept all the way!

One evening as we were taking Jonah for the last "shore call" of the day, we saw a dinghy, holding 6 people, bobbing around. Their 9.9 HP motor wouldn't start, and they were a long ways from their boat. So we gave them a tow...our 2.5 Suzuki powered 8 people, one dog, 2 dinghies and the 9.9 outboard! We are very pleased with our new dinghy, the Walker Bay with the inflatable tubes. It is stable, has plenty of room for the three of us and groceries, ice or whatever we are carrying at the time, and is easily pushed through the water by our 2.5 HP motor.

We finally decided it was time to leave lovely Lake Tashmoo, and we headed for Cuttyhunk, a small island at the opposite end of the chain of the Elizabeth Islands from Woods Hole. The tide was against us, and it took us 6 hours to motor (no wind) 18 miles! In Cuttyhunk Harbor, we picked up a mooring. What a difference from Lake Tashmoo! Boats coming and going all the time, mostly sailboats, a very festive atmosphere! We soon took the dinghy ashore, and explored the island a bit. There are about 30 permanent residents, and many more in the summer. Cuttyhunk is very relaxed, very pretty, does not have a lot in terms of services, but is still a very popular place to be. A fun part if being here is the floating "raw bar" which makes its way around the mooring field each evening. Oysters and clams on the halfshell, shrimp cocktail, clam chowder (delicious), seafood dip, all delivered to your boat! And gorgeous sunsets as well! We have had some nice walks to the lookout at the highest point of the island, and Jonah has loved his romps in the ocean! We planned to stay 2 days, and opted for a third! Tomorrow we head out for Block Island!

Dealing with the unexpected (aka: Are we having fun yet?)

The past week has certainly been eventful! Once we got back into Long Island Sound after leaving Old Lyme (in the Connecticut River) we were in dense fog! It was very eerie, being in such a small circle of visibility. We kept moving under power, using the horn whenever we heard another vessel approaching. Eventually the circle of visibility widened and by late morning the fog had dissipated. We arrived in Stonington, the official" beginning point of the TONE cruise, early afternoon and picked up a mooring at Dodson's Boatyard. We called our friends Linda and Ed Thorne, who live on their lobster boat at a marina in Westerly, RI, just a few minutes away. They came and took us to Watch Hill lighthouse, back to their boat for pizza and salad, and then to a grocery store for a much needed provisioning stop! We used the launch service provided by the boatyard for the trip to and from shore. Those guys really know how to drive a boat! Lee Andrews, from TONE, arrived on his Tartan 3700 that afternoon, and were on the mooring right next to us. We didn't actually meet him, as we were gone until evening. The next morning, Dick took Jonah ashore in our dingy, and during this expedition, the airfloor of the dingy failed. Not a good situation. We reviewed our options, and decided that we really needed to replace the dingy. So off to West Marine in Mystic, just a few miles away, in the courtesy car provided by the boatyard. We decided on a Walker Bay 8, a plastic hull, so no airfloor to give out. We knew that this boat can be a bit tippy, and we wanted to also buy the inflatable tubes that Walker Bay sells for this dinghy, to provide some added stability, especially with 2 adults and a dog! However, the tubes were not in stock, so we bought just the dinghy. Back to Dodson's, the rest of the day was spent installing the seats and hardware. Much of this was done with the boat in the water, as our tools were on Trefoil. Dick bounced around quite a bit that afternoon! As expected, the Walker Bay is tippy, so we decided that as soon as possible we would get the inflatable tubes. Meanwhile, Lee Andrews left around noon that day to move to the next anchorage, so we didn't actually get to meet him. Ron Curtis, on his Tartan 34, also left. The next morning we were ready to go, the Walker Bay in the dinghy davits, but there was a lot of fog. So we walked into town for breakfast (used the launch service again, certainly easy!). We started out the channel at about 11:00, but the fog was so thick we could barely see other boats in the channel, so back we went to the mooring. An hour later, fog was starting to lift, so we finally departed Stonington. Dodson's is an excellent marina, and the folks here very friendly and helpful. We were in and out of fog all afternoon, so we decided to go into the anchorage at Point Judith Pond that Lee had told us about. A nice anchorage, lots of boats there already, so we anchored near the back of the pack. Chatting with the folks on the boat next to us, we learned that the Cruising Club of New England was out for its annual cruise, and this was the first gathering spot! There were a couple of small islands close by, but we decided the "tough it out" with Jonah, not take him ashore, and encourage him to "go" on the foredeck. He had done that at the Pollopel Island anchorage, but we have been on a dock or at a mooring every night since. Well, the plan backfired, and he peed on the port cushion (inside the boat) that night while we were sleeping! Still wouldn't go the next morning, so Dick took him ashore. Jonah 1, parents 0. We decided to stay in this anchorage for the day, as it was foggy out on the bay, and winds were expected to increase to 25 knots in the afternoon. As we were sitting in the cockpit midafternoon chatting, remarking on the increased wind velocity, we suddenly noticed a sailboat dragging its anchor, bearing down quickly on us! A couple of men were aboard (not the owner), trying to get the engine started, but not able to. The boat reached us and was T-boned against our bow!! We fended off, the other guys finally got the engine started (it was a Beneteau 47). It appeared to be hung up on our anchor rode, so Dick released some more rode, and the Beneteau was free. Our anchor (a 20 kilogram claw) held both boats, in a 20 knot breeze, with higher gusts! A rather exciting adventure! The owner came by later, apologized for he problem, and inquired if there was any damage to our boat. None that is apparent at this time. We were invited to join the Cruising Club, and were told we had already passed the initiation! A couple of more times ashore with Jonah on the island, happy dog! The Walker Bay is great, but the inflatable tubes will make it more stable. We called West Marine in Fairhaven (New Bedford), ordered the tubes, and were told they would be in Wednesday. By now we have realized that we will not be able to participate in the TONE Cruise. We cannot catch up to the group, as we are already behind schedule. We notified the organizers....On one hand, it is a disappointment that we will not meet all the other TONE folks,and do the cruise as planned. But it is also somewhat of a relief to be free of the schedule. We pushed hard to get here from Port Henry at the appointed time, and we are tired. Now we can relax a bit, and make our own plans. One of the cardinal rules of cruising is not to be on a schedule and we were trying to do it anyway. Best laid plans.... Monday we left the anchorage, and out into Block Island Sound. We should have realized that after yesterday's blow, the seas would be unsettled today! We experienced 6 foot swells for a long time, but little wind today. We power sailed, as having the sails up gave us more stability in the waves. Finally, toward late afternoon, the wind picked up and we had some beautiful sailing into Buzzard's Bay. We had made a reservation at Pope's Island Marina, and had an easy entrance into the marina about 7:30 PM. A long day, but we were glad to be at the dock and to take showers! Tuesday was laundry day (thanks, Jonah) and a bit of rest. It was also our 30th anniversary, and we had an excellent dinner at Fathoms, a seafood restaurant just across the street from the marina. (Thanks to the Cruising Club for the recommendations for the marina and the restaurant!) Wednesday we walked to West Marine, about a mile away, and picked up the inflatable tube kit for our Walker Bay! The rest of the afternoon was spent installing the hardware, as well as some non-skid for the plastic seats, and some hooks to lift the dinghy in the davits. Back to Fathoms for dinner! This morning, we attached the inflatable tubes, and within an hour or so, we discovered that one of the tubes was leaking!!!! Arghhhhhhh!!! Dick called the West Marine store, explained the situation and that we are 400 miles from home and that we are paying to stay in a marina to get this done.....Long story short, the manager said he would have new tubes here tomorrow, and that he would discount them to make up for the cost of staying the extra time at the marina. Thank you West Marine! Weather has been mostly hot and humid, a bit cooler would be a relief! Before leaving home, we had purchased a wind scoop for the forward hatch...so glad to have it! It treally helps draw the breeze down below when at a dock or anchored.

Moving on through Long Island Sound

New York Harbor is certainly busy! We departed Liberty Landing Sunday morning, and so much noise! Helicopters, ferries, powerboats, sailboats, jetskis, tugs with tows, lots of boat waves...and car traffic, train traffic, very hectic all the way up the East River! We had been a bit worried about transiting Hell Gate, but we timed it perfectly and went through at slack tide. No worries, mate! On to Greenwich, CT, where we had to call for a bridge opening. The man on the phone said, "You mean now?" We are accustomed to calling for an opening when we approach a bridge, from our travels in the south. Apparently for this bridge, a union electrician, a union carpenter, and who know how many others, have to be present. It took an hour and a half to get an opening! It was a noisy spot, betweeen the rr bridge and I-95. Probably not a spot to return to! Monday was the nicest day we have had since this trip begain. Cooler temperatures, clear sky and moderate winds! We sailed for a couple of hours, enjoying the quiet! Then we fired up the "iron genny" as we needed to make some miles. On to Milford, CT, where we stayed at the Milford Landing Marina. A lovely spot, but unfortunately we got a deep scratch on our newly painted hull here. A combination of factors...tides coming in fast, needing to navigate around a rather large trawler to get to our slip, and inexperienced deck hands. We'll fix it when we get home...! The next morning we started out, but conditions were not good. Waves about 3 feet, a close together, and wind directly on the nose. After an hour and a half, we turned around and went back to Milford. This time we had a great landing at our slip! We spent the day doing boat jobs, Dick re-regged the first reef, we took naps, also out to dinner for the first time since leaving Lake Champlain. This morning, what difference! We put up sail a couple of times, but not enough wind. And we needed to make distance. So it was another tillerpilot day. What a useful tool it is! It takes a lot of the fatigue away from a long day of powering. Tonight we are 3 miles up the Connecticut RIver, at Old Lyme Dock Co. What a peaceful spot! Jonah got to go swimming for the first time since Haverstraw...happy dog! He has adapted very well to this life..he sleeps all day, and then springs to life when we reach our destination for the day! Tomorrow it is on to Stonington, CT where we will meet the first boat of the TONE group. We hope to also see Ed and Linda Thorne on Seasmoke. They are friends we met for thefors time a couple of years ago when we were cruising.

Fogged in at NYC!

Jersey City, actually, just across the river from Manhattan. We arrived here yesterday, fully expecting to leave this morning, to catch the slack tide to pass through Hell Gate and into Long Island Sound. But we awoke this morning to heavy, dense fog (you could hardly see any buildings across the river) and a forecast for severe thunderstorms in Long Island Sound. So we opted for an extra day here, at Liberty Landing Marina, which has state of the art facilities. The air conditioned showers and transient lounge are most appreciated! The extra day gave us time to clean the boat and work on charting our route into Long Island Sound. It has been a busy week. We left Waterford Sunday AM, after a nice visit with Larry on Saturday evening. On to Catskill, where we once again had our mast stepped at Riverview Marine Services. The marina sustained heavy damage after Hurricane Irene hit last fall, but all has been repaired, with some nice improvements. The staff here is excellent, friendly and skilled. Two days here to rig, put on sails, and get the boat ready for the trip down the Hudson. It was difficult to keep working in the heat (low 90's) and humidity. We enjoyed the company here of Alex and Charlotte, a young couple from France, who traveled down the west coast of France, to the Canary Islands, crossed the Atlantic, traveled through the Caribbean, up the East Coast of the US, and are now on their way to Montreal. Wednesday AM, we started south, and decided to anchor by Bannerman's Castle, by Pollopel Island, just south of Newburgh. This was our first time in this anchorage, and aside from the frequent and loud train traffic, it was a good anchorage. A bit diffficult to get the dog ashore, however, and he only got one trip. About 4:00 AM, Jonah decided he really had to "go," and finally became a real "boat dog." Breezy and showers the next AM, with forecast for severe thunderstorms, so on to Haverstraw, only a 3 houur trip, where we would have good protection from the storm. As it turned out, the storm didn't happen until about 7:00 PM, but when it came, it was amazing! Winds in excess of 60 mph, heavy rain, black, black sky, and then several more hours of rain. On down the Hudson to the NYC area the next day. We wanted to get some good local knowledge about the infamous Hell Gate, so we opted for Liberty Landing Marina instead of anchoring behind the Statue of Liberty. It has been 4 years since we were here, and the improvements are exceptional! Tomorrow, on to Long Island Sound!

Trefoil travels again!

After two years at home, We are underway again! This time we are headed to Maine! We plan to join a group of 18 other boats, all Tartans of verying lengths, for the New England cruise. Our goal is to meet the first boat in Stonington, Connecticut on August 2. From there we will follow an itinerary set up by the TONE (Tartan Owners of the Northeast)board, with stops in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Maine. Other boats will join the group at varying points. It is good to be on the water again, although it has been a very hectic spring. This year we decided to paint Trefoil's topsides. Wow, what a job! We are pleased with the final result, but it was an enormous undertaking. After launching on June 21, we took our pastor, Kirianne and her husband Marcus out for a two day trip, and then friends Carolyn and Charlie Unger for a day of great sailing. Then Karen flew to London to meet our brandnew grandson, Benjy, who was born June 25! It was wonderful to spend 10 days with Jane, Pete and Benjy. Mom, Dad and baby are all doing great! It was very cool and rainy in London, in sharp contrast to the weather we are having in the Northeast this summer. Karen returned on July 11, and one week later, July 18, we were underway from Van Slooten Harbor Marina in Port Henry down the Champlain Canal. We had taken the mast down 2 days before, and had gone home to pick up another load of gear. A storm with strong wind gusts hit just before we returned to the boat, knocking the front of the mast off its suport. Fortunately it didn't go in the water, and Harbormaster Dave had it back in place just as we arrived back at the marina! Three days from Port Henry to Waterford, at the end of the Champlain Canal. It is always nice to spend time here, the people are friendly, there are great docks to tie up to, with water and electricity, wifi, and a supermarket is nearby! A great place to catch up on a few boat jobs, get a little rest, and do a major provisioning. Also, our friend Larry lives about 3 blocks from the waterfront. Larry has been extremely helpful, in the past and again this year. We had ordered some last minute equipment, including a whisker pole, through West Marine. Larry picked those items up for us, and we walked to his house to pick them up! Thank you once again, Larry! Tomorrow we will move on to Catskill, where we will have our mast stepped and make the conversion from a powerboat to a sailboat! Last August we lost our beloved Colby. He had traveled with us from Lake Champlain to the Chesapeake, and then from Lake Champlain to Florida and back. We made friends all along the way because of his wonderful, gentle demeanor. Our new second mate is Jonah, a yellow lab puppy. He is 14 months old, and still has a lot to learn! He is doing very well so far, except that he barks at the aids to navigation and sometimes at people who walk down the dock!