Annapolis, Maryland

C & D Canal (between Delaware and Maryland)

The change of colours were over whelming...As the ducks flew over us, Ted kept visualizing, Bubba Gump and the boys would appear out of the bushes shooting!!!

Views from two states ...Cape May, NJ through the Delaware Bay, DE

It's over whelming when you have large bodies of water...and yet no depth! Traveling down the coast of New Jersey (on the Atlantic Ocean), across the Delaware Bay and Chesapeake Bay. We were hard to find sixteen feet of water. Every now and then we'd get a welcome sight of sixty feet....much more of a comfort zone! However, with the change of colours the view is breathe taking.

From Atop the Empire State Building

Crab Fishing...or should I say we feed them well!!!

We tended to feed, catch and release the Blue Crab as we never caught enough in order to keep and make a feast.

Some views from Atlantic Highlands, NJ

Engina Saga...continues

Today, is our 23rd day here at Atlantic Highlands. This injector pump has been in and out and back in more than enough. The Yanmar folks here have been slightly more than useless. Our mechanic has found that the new pump wasn’t new after all. It was actually put back on the shelf after it was returned faulty and working incorrectly, and then forgotten about. Only to end up in our hands as a new pump.

Yes the Linus Cloud is still over us!!

The pump didn’t work last week on Friday; it was back to the shop Monday after being repaired. Unfortunately, not all parts were returned. Therefore, these parts were sent via FedEx overnight and received Tuesday a.m. Once again installed and seemed to have been running quite nicely for over an hour. We have not had our fridge working for the last twenty-two days and have been shopping one day at a time. So, with the engine running, finally we can now turn on the fridge. Hind sight, Pat wanted to clean out the fridge before refilling. So we went to the grocery store to get just enough groceries for our supper. Getting back to the boat, we flashed the engine once again and started to clean the fridge. It was blowing 30-35 knots from the west outside around 40-45 degrees F. Wasn’t long after, all hell broke loose. The engine increases its revs, and then over the top she goes again. In order to get it to stop Ted had to place his hand over the air intake and finally it shuts down.

So here we sit, one more night in Atlantic Highlands, NJ, looking at the Empire State Building across the Hook. Do you remember the movie “Ground Hog Day” and the never ending loop never changing?? This seems to be like that movie only it’s getting colder each day closer to November.

Day 24, a new lift pump (supplies the new injector pump) and oil change all seems to be fine. Are we nervous? You bet, not doing the happy dance until we feel more confident. Perhaps that’s what our jinx yesterday was. This crappy weather haunts us like a Halloween movie…still holds us back…looks like perhaps this weekend we will be up the coast.

Friday, 27th of October and we have lived aboard Xcelsior for 182 days, What an Eventful Six Months.
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Engine..Engine...Run Away!!

Our over night stop became a five days of bad weather…in Atlantic Highlands. This is not a friendly harbour bottom for anchorage, what so ever, East or West winds are just plan terror. Besides the heavy winds of 40 to 50 knots, we have found a soft bottom….the first night we were set fine. While the second night there was a thunderstorm and we plowed the harbour bottom from one end to the other. The aquaculture farmers would be proud of us. This all occurred at the wee hours of 0:30 in the morning, once we managed to get the situation under control and reset, all 150 feet of chain rode and plow anchor, in ten feet of water. The next morning we thought we set, a second anchor the Bruce was put out. Doing so the engine ran away….those that don’t know what a diesel run away is, was full speed ahead with no one at the throttle. We allowed the engine to cool down and tried once again to no avail. The second engine run away occurred.

Sunday came about and we took on fuel, water and did a pump out. Heading out the harbour, destination Atlantic City and the engine ran away once again for the third time. Dropped our anchor and called a diesel mechanic. Three days later we are ordering a new injector fuel pump at the cost of $750 (remember the Yanmar is only three years old and has less than 700 hours of running time). Two days later and what was thought to be the problem doesn’t seem to be so. The governor spring and controls does not appear to be doing their job. So we wait. Hopefully Monday, Vince the mechanic, will have a solution.

There we are anchored in the middle of the harbour, we were going to take the ferry into New York City, but the wind comes up and we thought we’d best hang about the boat to make sure she doesn’t drag again. Less than an hour later, and we slide by two mooring balls, “we’d best tie up to one of those mooring balls” as we have no engine to assist us Ted heads out in the dinghy puts on a bridle. I pull the boat over to the mooring (now about two boat lengths away) by a sheet slipped through the eye of the bridle. We are now secured with mooring ball and anchor still down.

Meanwhile, a member last week offered us the use of his mooring ball. Mooring balls here are $40 a night, which includes launch service and showers. Ironically, in order to save dollars, Ted taking the dinghy tried towing us over to the members ball. The wind came up and as we were almost at the ball, pushed us as much as ten boat lengths away. Before we knew it… the dinghy was riding up the bow of the boat and Ted’s in the water and the dinghies upside down. Drop anchor…between attempting to get the boat upright and Ted back on board….So IRONIC in order of saving dollars, we end up with an outboard now needing to be flushed of saltwater. The Suzuki dealer here didn’t have time to look at the outboard so a friend took us to Sea Bright to his Mercury dealer. As long as the outboard turns over he’d be able to flush it for us but…if parts are required we’d have to go back to the Suzuki dealer that had no mechanic to assist. Things were on our side…the outboard after a little priming turned over.

All in all…the people of Atlantic Highlands, NJ have been great and made us feel like family. We have learned to crab fish….Actually we have been feeding the crabs well, catching and releasing. Topaz, was quite intrigued by the intruder.

Started our third week here and had hoped we'd be heading to the Intracoastal Waterway via C & D Canal, however, the engine story continues....we will keep you all updated.

The current at Hell's Gate

The Big Apple….leads to Hell’s Gate

Bright and early Tuesday morning at 0430, we raise our bodies out of bed, to start the morning venture from Port Washington, Long Island Sound to New York City. We were told by many to time our tides for the river channels into New York. The currents were strong but in our favour once again.

As we arrived at Rikers Island (the prison island) there was a huge prison barge tied up across the channel. It must have stood six stories, 500 feet long by 100 wide. The top level was the barred fenced exercise courtyard about half the length of a football field. Can’t even begin to think how many prisoners would work on this barge.

Hell’s Gate wasn’t anything we anticipated. Strong currents but nothing we couldn’t handle. The winds were blowing 20 knots at the time and I don’t believe I would have wanted anything stronger.

Another concern was the weekday commuters on the ferries during the morning rush. A few people had told us horror stories about the NY Waterway Ferries fighting the currents and just flying out of their berths at full speed ahead. It wasn’t long before we witnessed the stories ourselves. We were smack in the middle of the 0730 and 0800 rush. The ferries would sooner go through you than around. The worst area was at the joining of the East River and Hudson River known as “The Battery”. Fighting current, ferries and wave wakes.

Over all we traveled under eight bridges and the Big Apple was overwhelming. From ducking airplanes (La Guardia Field), Aerial Sky Cars (Cable Car), trains, heavy bridge commuter traffic and commercial ships and barges, made for one very noisy passage.

Next stop...we are going to skip Atlantic City if the weather is against us and continue around Cape May into Deleware.

Newport, Rhode Island

Newport, Rhode Island is a very active harbour. From a 12 meter challenge (there must be at least six countries represented), junior sailors out racing in 25 knot winds, along with a Norwegian cruise line anchored about a half mile away from us. The downtown core is hoping with millions of people roaming the streets and attractions.

Our first three days in Newport, we were berthed at the Naval Yachting Centre. A lovely facility with lots of activities. When we first arrived the Special Olympics were just heading out for their weekly sail on Rhode 19’s. Sailing courses consisted of ground school and on the water. Each berth had a dock locker for storage, which I believe is a great idea.

We are in our second day of heavy winds from Helene. To keep costs down we were leaving the Naval Centre to anchor in the downtown core. That way we could take in the water activities and enjoy our next two days on a different scale. Newport has been a rather expensive stop as all the facilities are here. West Marine where we purchased a new solenoid valve for the propane stove, Bluewater Charts picked up the Leeward Island charts and Yanmar dealer. Just a few to mention…I won’t go into all the attractions and shops. We have hoofed a number of miles in the last three days…Last night I treated my feet to a lovely foot bath.

Ted and I visited the Museum of Yachting, which housed many trophies and treasures from the American Cup and BOC Challenges Hall of Fame.

How to get out of a difficult berth with 35 knot winds. The wind was blowing us into the dock and once we go astern it pushes us into not only the dock but another boat. Therefore, Ted took his fishing rod with a half filled bottle of water. From across the water he casted the bottle towards me at the stern of the boat. I in turn tied a sheet to the fishing line, where Ted than reeled the line into him. This allowed us to self slip from the dock behind us as we winched the line in and pulling the boat out of the berth. The engine is on but not in gear. We didn’t touch the dock, or the boat next to us. The ride to downtown was not as easy with gusts to 35 knots making 2.5 Knots towards the inner harbour. Once inside the wind dropped to a mere 25 knots.

While visiting Newport we took advantage of some views by going to the Internation Yacht Restoration School. The Beetle Cats seems to be the wooden boat of choice for the students training projects. Once restored these boats go for sale as high as $11,500 US. The Seamen Church Institute is mission for sea men and women, where we are at present updating our blog. This is a lovely facility and operates from donations.

The best part of cruising is the number of interesting people you meet along the way.
Next stop....Long Island Sound!

Marblehead (Boston Yacht Club)

This picture only shows maybe a third of the boats in this cove. Boston Yacht Club is a huge sailing community. Marblehead itself is a small town that reminds me of England with alley ways leading to beautiful heritage homes.

Beverly, MA (Jubilee Yacht Club)

A beautiful spot and extremely friendly members.

Provincetown

Pilgram Monument

National Guard

These feathered soldiers stood guard over us for two evenings in a row. Drove Topaz nuts!!

Cape Cod Canal (Current and Whirlpools)

The boat speed is only 4.5 knots while the strength of the current pushes us through.

Cape Cod Canal (two of three bridges)

Cuttyhunk (a small island near Martha's Vineyard)

Enjoying Massachusetts

It’s been an interesting week since our last entry. First of all it’s a pleasure that Massachusetts obviously have rules for fisherman and where they lay their lobster traps. All channels are trap free….and believe me it’s a blessing (not to mention marriage saver). We spent two days in Marblehead (Boston Yacht Club). It’s a massive harbour with boats out of this world. Marblehead is a quaint town, very much like a small English village. Just around the corner is Salem and Beverly, these two communities often get passed by. However, I urge any one to reconsider. We had spent three evenings moored at the Jubilee Yacht Club and met a number of great people. Bernie, born in PEI has lived in Enjoying Massachusetts…

Beverly for forty-two years. This club is a members club, that each member puts in twenty hours of work (based on a $20 hour salary) or pay the four hundred dollars. The work would range from driving the launch boat (tender), manage the travel lift, gas jetty or any repairs the club may have. It was comical as every where we went we were known as “the Canadian’s”. Not to fear Canada…I made sure Ted behaved himself!!!

Provincetown, Cape Cod Bay, fifty miles across from Marblehead. Unfortunately, we arrived on Sunday evening rather than Friday or Saturday, as the night traffic here is quite entertaining. This community is very artsy, full of galleries from paintings to sculptures. All locals had a dog if not two. One gentleman had a hat and sunglasses on his little terrier. The one store we went into was designed for people like Paris Hilton, who like to dress their dogs up….mostly for dogs but the odd cat stuff. The stock ranged from every piece of clothing one could ask for…rain coats, mittens and booties to match, evening gowns to bikinis with hats of all styles. We could have picked up a lovely diamond or stone collar for Topaz as low as $65…or as high as…well past my bank account. Earlier that morning we came across a traffic sign “Slowly…Cats Crossing” I loved it!!

Today’s Tuesday, 19 September and back across the Cape Cod Bay, thirty miles to the Canal. The current here can be up to six knots; therefore, we want the tide behind us to help move us through, rather than against. When we arrived at 2 p.m. today the current would have been perfect, but it wouldn’t give us enough time to get on the other side before dark. The marina we have rented for the night allows us to wait for the morning tide and give us a better time frame for passage. This area (before someone discovered it to be a gold mine) used to be a popular anchorage called “Refugee Cove”. Now known as Sandwich Harbour at the fee of $1.80 per foot for a slip. Next stop Cuttyhunk and then to Rhode Island.

Biddeford, ME after thunderstorm