"Springing North"

Greetings, fellow travelers!

Having dealt with Winter, computer deficiencies, lack of access to Wi-Fi and other harmless annoyances, we have retrieved Trefoil from her winter digs in Maryland and returned her to her berth in Port Henry on Lake Champlain.

The return North:

Trefoil was recommissioned and sailed May 20, 2009 from Tolchester, Md to Anapolis Md.

We were cajoled into traveling SOUTH on our northerly venture by friends (Rick & Carol Clarke) who convinced us that watching the BLUE ANGELS air show was an event we would not regret witnessing. How right they were. What talented pilots in incredible aircraft. We were continously amazed at the ever-expanding level of dificulty of feats of skill and daring! Thanks to the Clarkes for their encouragement .

We left the Annapolis area on May 21, and had a beautiful day of sailing north on the Chesapeake. A night in Worton Creek, then on to Chesapeake City. Whoops, it was Memorial Day weekend, and not a spot available, either in the anchorage or at the town dock! So on to an anchorage we had used in the fall, behind Reedy Island, just a few miles south on the Delaware. On to Cape May, the tide was with us most of the way. And the wind was really picking up for the second half of the day, steady 25 + knots. We were happy to reach Utsche's Marina, a friendly and well protected spot. We ended up staying there a week, waiting for the Atlantic to calm down a bit. Met lots of nice folks there and enjoyed a couple of trips into town.
The crabcakes at the fish market Lobster House are superb!! We purchased these cakes on two occasions and cooked them on the boat.

After our "vacation" in Cape May, we had beautiful weather up the coast. Anchored one night in Atlantic City, then a night at Manasquan by "dog beach". Sure wished we had Colby with us! The following night, we were anchored at Liberty State Park, behind the Statue of Liberty. What a truly awesome sight, seeing the grand lady from the water!

Then more good weather, with a stop at Haverstraw Marina, then Esophus Creek, then to Riverview Marina in Catskill, where it was time to take down the mast for the trip up the Champlain Canal. The folks there are very nice and very skilled with the crane.

Then on to Waterford for 2 nights. What a great stop; people headed north up the Champlain Canal, and boats headed west out the Erie Canal. Our friend Larry stopped by and took us out to breakfast while we were here!

We picked up another friend, Herb, at Lock 3, for a short ride to Lock 4. Herb and his wife Dorothy have done the trip from Lake Champlain to Florida many times, and Herb wanted a short ride on he canal for Old times sake!

A good trip up the Champlain Canal, an overnight at Whitehall, and then back to Port Henry on June 10. The spring trip ws so different from the fall. We had great weather and a wonderful time!

We had the boat hauled and placed on its cradle to we could attend to some necesssary tasks. The centerboard has been repaired, the fuel tank has had its vent relocated so that it won't leak any more, and bottom paint touched up.

We were back in the water on July 17, and enjoyed a few days on the lake last week.

Saturday August 1 is the Westport Regatta, our first ever race! Wish us luck! And August 8 is the Lake Champlain rendez-vous of Tartan 34C sailboats. We look forward to meeting fellow 34C sailors on the lake.