NJ: Cape May in Bloom

Saturday 5/12/2018
Depart: Delaware City Marina 9:00
Arrive: Cape May Utsch's Marina 3:15
Distance: 55 nm

Clark said we would leave around 9:00 this morning in an effort to catch a favorable tide on the Delaware River. As we untied our lines, a boater who helped us told me that he would not travel today but would leave tomorrow instead. He was the second boater who told me that.

I questioned Clark about why we felt today would be a fine travel day and tomorrow we might need to stay put while other boaters felt the opposite was true. He replied that he thought the weather briefing from the marina staff member might have something to do with it. "They're worried about the three to five foot waves due to wind against current in Delaware Bay", he said. I trust Clark's judgement, so I figured we would be fine.

Docks at Delaware City, DE

Yesterday we had shorts on. A downpour at 4:00 a.m. this morning brought a cold front with it. Today we were back to long pants and winter coats. Even dressed with multiple layers, I felt chilled on the water and kept going below to get out of the cold wind.

The good news with today's travels ... Clark picked a fine travel day. The waves on the Delaware were around one foot, and as Clark predicted, we had current helping us along on our trip down the river. Being a Saturday, we saw a mix of pleasure and commercial vessels on the water, but traffic on the river remained pretty light today.

Work Boats on the Delaware

Tug gave us a great big wake as he passed!

We saw a few lighthouses including one that looked more like a bird sanctuary.

Elbow Cross Ledge Light on the Delaware

When we saw the Cape May - Lewes Ferry, I knew we were almost home as New Jersey was right around the bend.

NJ-DE Ferry

We did have a bit of a rocky ride towards the end of our time on Delaware Bay. I did not mind the rocking as much as the chill in the air. I anticipated a warmer climate after we entered the Cape May canal. Unfortunately, my expectations were not met. Initially it felt warmer, but all too soon, I was freezing again. I could see boaters traveling with the wind wearing shorts and t-shirts. Since we had the wind in our faces, we had on cold-weather attire.

The boat traffic we found on the canal made up for the lack of traffic on the Delaware River. In fact, the canal seemed rougher at times than the Delaware due to the wakes from the boats rushing by.

Cape May Canal

Unlike the Delaware River where we had the current with us, here we had the opposite. At our normal RPM we saw 6.6 knots instead of 8.5. We passed through a couple of bridges. With the current against us, boating etiquette says we give way to those traveling with the current when transiting a bridge. As we approached a skinny bridge opening, we saw a much smaller boat coming the other direction. We thought he would go through the bridge and we would need to wait.

Perhaps he chickened out due to our size, but when he got to the bridge opening, he suddenly decided to just sit there. Eventually we decided he meant to wait for us, so we proceeded. 

One-at-a-time bridge

We decided to stay at Utsch's Marina again where we have stayed in the past. After getting the lines secured, we walked the 1.8 miles into town for a look around and an early Mother's Day dinner.

Near the Docks in Cape May

We enjoyed the long stroll along Cape May's quaint streets. Many homes had flowers in bloom.

Tulips

Tulips at "The Petite Retreat"

Iris

Azaleas

Magnolia Trees

Cherry Trees

Creeping Speedwell Ground Cover

Apparently we missed some of the most beautiful of the trees as evidenced by the petals on the ground that looked as though it had snowed flower petals.

Cherry blossom petals on the sidewalk

Of course we saw many of the old Victorian homes that Cape May is famous for including one very large property.

Cape May Building

and grounds

We did not know where we planned to eat. I figured we would find something after we got to the pedestrian walkway where a lot of fudge, ice cream, and memorabilia stores reside. Clark remembered we had eaten at the Ugly Mug restaurant once before and liked it, so we ate there.

Outside the Ugly Mug restaurant

Pedestrian Walkway in Cape May

We enjoyed our dinner at the Ugly Mug and then walked a few doors down for ice cream at Ben & Jerry's. With bad weather expected tonight, we ate our ice cream as we made our way back to the boat.

Interesting sign: "Caution Trees Leaning Toward Roadway"
(hopefully they only lean and don't topple!)

View of the "leaning" trees

We saw a very unexpected sight on the road causing the traffic to slow and come to a stop.

What is that blocking the cars?

A very large wild turkey!

We watched and saw that he made it safely across the road. How on earth did he come to be in downtown Cape May!?

As we approached the docks, I noticed that the sun had begun to set. Clark noticed as well and pulled his camera out to snap some shots as we walked.

Docks near sunset

Really Fresh Catch of the Day

Coast Guard Station

View at the peninsula

Sunset in Cape May

Sunset at the docks

Clark said we made it back to the boat "just in time". We had threats of thunderstorms and tornadoes. Shortly after climbing on board, the wind picked up and whistled an eerie tune as it howled around the boat. Clark ran out and gathered up anything that could be damaged by high winds such as flags and lose furniture.

The thunderstorms did arrive. Thankfully, we saw no tornadoes! After the worst of the weather passed, Clark stepped outside. When he came back in he said, "It is really cold out there!" I guess it's a long pants and winter coats day again tomorrow.

Try as hard as we could, we could not find a weather report on television tonight. We still have to decide if we are tackling the Atlantic tomorrow or waiting a day. The prediction on the ocean is three-to-five foot waves.