Well folks, we thought that leaving 3 weeks earlier than last year would ensure perfect weather this year (well, one can always hope!). Here we are in Atlantic City, in a big nor'easter, almost exactly like the conditions we had last year. The perfect opportunity to listen to all of the noises a boat can possibly make while tied to a dock in 50 knot winds!
Internet access has been spotty at best so far, so there has been no opportunity until now to update the blog. The good thing about being here is that the friendly folks at the Atlantic City Aquarium, where we are docked, allow us to use their DSL connection, so we can finally catch up with email and the blog!
So here is a synopsis of our trip so far, and it has been one ADVENTURE after another:
September 26--We left Van Slooten Harbour Marina in Port Henry, at 5:00 PM. A late start, but we wanted to just get underway, thinking that we would just go a ways and then anchor. Well, ADVENTURE #1: We thought we might put the hook down in Crown Point, near where we had anchored before. Well, we got caught up in a weed bed, and were happy to get out quickly! We headed across the lake to another bay, did get some protection from the wind there, and anchored. But we realized that our speed was down, and that we must have wrapped some weeds around the prop. So, do we return to Port Henry or go on the Chipman Point Marina? We decided to continue on, and powered at reduced speed there in the AM. We asked Chip, the owner, to dive on our prop to cut away the weeds. The next morning he was under the boat at 8:00 AM, and said he cut away a basketball sized mass of weeds from the prop!
Under way shortly after, motoring down the channel, and all of a sudden, ADVENTURE #2! We went aground at Red Marker #14. In our years of sailing, we have never gone aground before! We finally were able to kedge ourselves off with a stern anchor after about 1 1/2 hours of hard work. On to Whitehall and through the first lock. A quick stop in Whitehall to get ice (our cooler had filled with lake water and melted all the ice, but that doesn't even count as an adventure!).
A peaceful trip through the Champlain Canal, overnight at Lock 9, where there is a good floating dock, and arrival in Waterford on September 29. So nice to be there, great docks, friendly dockmaster, lots of nice folks! Always people coming and going in different directions. And our good friend Larry lives in Waterford, so we had a very enjoyable dinner with him that evening.
We spent a day in Waterford, did some provisioning, made arrangements to leave the boat there for a few days, then rented a car. Up to Port Henry to pick up one vehicle we had left there, and home. The wedding on October 3 was beautiful and we were happy to be there for this special event! A quick trip to GlensFalls for some last minute things, closed up the house, and back to Waterford Sunday afternoon.
October 5--Underway at 8:00 Am. Feels like we are really underway now! Arrived at Riverview Marine Services in Catskill Creek that afternoon. Nice to be back at this friendly place. Mast up the next morning, and then (ADVENTURE #3) we discover that we are missing a toggle for one of the shrouds. Can't quite figure out how it could be gone, but, we need one. Defender couldn't help us, so we called Jamestown Distributors, who had one and would ship it to Haverstraw Marina, where we planned to stop. So we won't be able to sail until then, but we can make progress anyway. Here we met Kathy, George and 15 year old Ben, as well as their dog Kooper, traveling on their Whitby 42. They are from Michigan and this is their first trip south. We all seem to get along well, and enjoyed a glass of their wine with them one evening! We stayed here 3 nights, as the wind was gusting to 50 the day we planned to leave. Departed there on October 8, and did a short day to Kingston. We anchored in Roundout Creek, and spent the afternoon on some projects. Dick wired the antenna for the 5 mile wifi,and Karen handsewed a cover for the dodger. When we use the diesel heater, lovely fine black soot is emitted, and we want to protect our "oyster" colored dodger! That evening, we used the diesel heater for the first time since Port Henry. What lovely warmth! This will certainly help us to be more comfortable this fall! And Colby loves it, as his bed is right next to the heater. It is just like being in front of the wood stove at home! And it is a dry heat, which is good thing in a plastic boat.
Underway the next day, headed to Haverstraw, when ADVENTURE #4, the engine quit! Dick changed the primary (Racor) fuel filter, and the second fuel filter, then added fuel. Still the engine won't start. We called the nearest marina for a tow, as we we drifting in the middle of the river. The told us to call Seatow, and we could come there but they had no mechanic. So we called Seatow (will be there in 45 minutes), then another marina a little farther along, White's, where we had stayed last year. White's said they had a mechanic (and we learned later that they also have a tow boat). So we were delivered to White's, and Jim, a very friendly mechanic, came on board. Dick thought the problem was probably sludge in the fuel, so Jim pumped 10 liters of fuel out of the tank, got some sludge. He said that apparently what happened was that sludge had plugged the filter so that it was sucking air instead of fuel. So even though we changed the filter, it wasn't primed properly. Once he did that, the engine started and ran fine. By then, it was 4:00 in the afternoon, and we were exhausted, so we elected to stay the night. The folks here are very friendly, and like dogs! We had to leave by 7:00 AM to get out before the tide changed, so we were underway early the next day.
By the way, we haven't told you that Colby has been great! Last year, it seemed that noises spooked him, and he wasn't a happy camper. He has been much more comfortable with the whole scene this year. It is more work having him with us, but he is our best friend and we are happy we have aboard!
Enough for today, adventures to be continued........
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