2018: Manasquan Inlet to Atlantic City to Cape May, NJ

10/22/2018
Depart: Hoffman's Marina - Manasquan Inlet 9:15
Arrive: Farley State Marina - Atlantic City, NJ 2:45
Distance: 54 nm

A boating friend of ours likes to post her favorite boat names in her blog updates. Well today I found one I liked at Hoffman's Marina .. "Tickee Tockee".

Before leaving the marina Clark spotted a kayaker heading for the bridge. I just hope that if he planned to go under it, he remembered to lower his fishing poles first. Going under that bridge in a kayak is something Clark would "convince" me do.

I wonder ... does he plan to go under or not???

For today's travel, Clark made the decision to try going "on the outside", i.e. in the Atlantic Ocean, today despite the ominous forecasts of 6-foot waves. My conversation with local fishermen, as I threw off our lines today, basically summarizes it.

Fisherman: Going to Florida?
Me: Yep
Fisherman: What's your next stop?
Me: Atlantic City
Fisherman: Going via the Intracoastal I hope!
Me: Nope! But that is our Plan B if it gets too bad out there.
(For this I got a thumb's up.)

Clark held jumping back in at Barnegat Inlet as Plan C, should we need it. When reviewing the wave situation, Clark saw that, at the weather buoy 5 miles out at Barnegat, the waves registered at 6 feet. Given the direction of the wind, Clark figured that if we stayed close to shore, we would get less action. That indeed turned out to be the case, and we found the rollers in the ocean to be quite acceptable for travel offshore to Atlantic City.

Shortly after Barnegat Inlet, we passed a sailboat, "Prevailing Winds", who haled us on the radio to say hello and ask if we were enjoying our trip. The owner, Gary, proudly exclaimed in response to a comment from Clark that, no, he was not traveling under motor power. With just using his jib, he had seen speeds of up to 10 knots which to a sailboat is flying! We did indeed have a good tailwind today.

We experienced sustained winds of over 20 knots and gusts as high as 45 knots on today's ocean voyage. The 45 knots occurred as we passed Great Bay where we had no land protection. All-in-all, other than a significant chill in the air, we had a rather pleasant trip along the coast.

Approaching Atlantic City
(Note the swells and choppy water)

A.C. Getting Closer

Due to the winds and waves, Sunset Delight received an extensive salt-water shower during the course of our travels today. Heading out of Manasquan Inlet we got salt spray from one side, heading south we had spray across our bow, and heading in at Atlantic City, we got spray from the other side. Basically, the whole boat got covered in salt. At one point a big splash (not spray) reached the 7 or so feet up from the ocean to seriously clean our anchor! Multiple times spray came up and showered the full enclosure.

Once we got tied up and checked in, Clark made it a priority to wash down the boat to get most of the salt off. Having just spent a good deal of time washing the panels of our full enclosure the night before, I was disappointed that everything was coated in salt less than 24 hours later.

By the time Clark declared himself done cleaning the boat, the sun had dropped quite low in the sky. Gary, from "Prevailing Winds", stopped by to introduce himself. He came on board and talked with us for a while. Clark had promised me a walk after the boat wash, and Gary's wife called to move him along, so we all left together to walk up to the marina office to find his wife. From there, we said our goodbyes as they went on their way to find dinner, and Clark and I set off to check out the local points of interest.

Sunset view from Farley State Marina in Atlantic City

We climbed the steps to the top of the building, containing the marina office and a restaurant associated with the Golden Nugget, to get some views of the area.

We did not "walk the docks", but we did walk to the far ends of the marina to check it out.

We found these sailboats in rather shallow water!

Casinos at night

Big, Flashing Lights

After our brisk walk, we returned to the boat to watch some Sunday night television. Since we could find no digital television stations other than HSN, and cable TV was not available, we watched our favorite shows via the internet until it was time to call it a night.


10/22/2018
Depart: Atlantic City, NJ 9:30
Arrive: Utsch's Marina, Cape May, NJ 2:05
Distance: 36 nm

We had a delay leaving the marina this morning as the charge that appeared on my credit card did not match the amount the marina said when we checked in. We waited until they opened at 9:00 to discuss the charges with the dock master. He explained that the charge included a $100 authorization fee that would be removed when we checked out. Too bad I did not have that information last night!

Coast Guard Station

Leaving Atlantic City

As we headed out into the Atlantic Ocean from Atlantic City, we saw numerous dolphins playing in the water - so many in fact, that I lost count. Try as he might, Clark could not get the dolphins to pose for a picture!

One of many dolphins playing in inlet
(Note the calm waters - nothing like the day before)

Although the waters were much, much calmer than yesterday, I found the travel a lot less pleasant. With the in-the-face wind, the weather was far too cold. For the most part, I stayed below. When I did take a turn at the wheel so Clark could use the restroom, I quickly became chilled to the bone in spite of the 5 layers of clothes covering my torso.

Consequently, as I stayed warm in the salon reading a book, I missed all the chatter Clark enjoyed on the trip. He once again passed "Prevailing Winds" and talked with him. In addition he caught up with "Cha Cha" - a boat whose owners we met in Marathon back in January of this year. "Cha Cha" became our unexpected traveling companion for the trip into Cape May. We stopped at Utsch's and they continued on to South Jersey Marina.

After settling in at our slip, registering, etc. etc., we walked over to South Jersey Marina to visit with Craig and Sherry on "Cha Cha" for a while. On the way I saw a cute little boat.

"A Tiny Cruise Line"

We invited them to join us for dinner at the Lobster House restaurant. As we tied up our boat, we met Dan and Jodi on "Done Diggin" in the slip next to ours. They are soon-to-be loopers and proudly displaying the AGLCA burgee. We invited them to join us for dinner as well.

Looper Dinner at Lobster House
Ev & Clark - Sunset Delight
Sherry & Craig - Cha Cha
Jodi & Dan - Done Diggin

2018: Rumson to Manasquan Inlet

20 October 2018
Depart: Rumson 11:25 a.m.
Arrive: Hoffman's East Marina 5:05 p.m.
Distance: 39 nm

We spent a lovely five months at our home in New Jersey that included lots of grandchild time. We rushed home in May to help our younger son build a swing set before the birth of their second child. "Jack" decided to arrive a bit early, so we just managed to complete the assembly before he arrived.

Clark with "Jack"

Proud Nana with "Jack" - one day old

In early June our son who lives in Idaho came to visit and brought his family. We had a great time with lots of grandchild time including a splash park outing, a Liberty Science Center trip, hikes and more. We all traveled to Connecticut to visit the new baby.

Boat trip in local Jersey waters

Learning how super balls bounce

Violet at the Liberty Science Center

All four grandchildren in Connecticut

When not playing with grandchildren, Clark worked on the boat and I worked on the house. He made a number of improvements to the boat over the summer while I kept busy doing things like a complete makeover of my sewing room, fixing some sunken pavers, and re-staining the garage doors.

Mid-summer Clark and I took the boat to visit the Thousand Islands. Clark was excited to complete our first international trip in Sunset Delight. The trip details are included in the blog.

In August our younger son came to visit, and we got to spend more time with our new grandson. We visited the beach while they were here.

Lily and Clark swimming in the Atlantic Ocean

Ev and Jack enjoying the beach

In September Evelyn got to spend four days with Jack as his mother returned to work. Clark stayed home and (you guessed it) worked on the boat.

Jack - 3.5 months old

In early October, Evelyn flew to Idaho to visit grandchildren there. Our daughter-in-law keeps everyone busy, so every day held some activity. While there I went with them to the park, took some hikes, visited the botanical gardens Halloween special event, and watched Sierra and Violet enjoy Saturday morning swim classes and fun.

Hiking in Idaho with Jeff, Devon, Sierra, and Violet

As soon as I got home from Idaho, Clark let me know we would be heading out of chilly New Jersey ASAP! I immediately began provisioning the boat with food, clothes, laptops, etc. to set us up for our now annual trek to Florida.

We left late this morning after spending all day yesterday carrying bag after bag of items onto the boat. Finally at 10:00 last night, we moved onto the boat to spend the night before leaving dock. We had quite a bit of discussion between us related to when we should leave as the weather forecast for wave heights seemed a little off-putting for travel either Saturday or Sunday.

Finally, we decided to head out today, stop for fuel, and then poke our noses out into the Atlantic Ocean at Sandy Hook. If we found unreasonable conditions, we would turn around and stay overnight at Sandy Hook. If we found reasonable wave heights, we would continue.

For the most part we did not find the 4 - 6' waves that Clark had heard were possible. If we got a wake from a passing boat, we saw a large wave; otherwise, it was mostly swells in front of the boat. I knew it would have to be quite terrible for us to turn back, so I took all precautions for rough seas, placing items that might fall etc. on the floor, but ultimately, those actions proved unnecessary.

Passing Asbury Park Convention Hall
(note the lack of 6 foot seas)

Arriving at Manasquan Inlet Buoy

Entering the inlet

 When we started out this morning, Clark heard on the VHF radio that the Manasquan Inlet would be closed from noon until 2:30 for a "tug-o-war" event taking place across the inlet. I had no idea what would be on each end of the rope - Clark said it would be teams of people on the beaches. We arrived well after the 2:30 finish time, so the closure was of no consequence to us.

As we came in the inlet, we saw a group of men - all wearing green t-shirts with their names imprinted on the back. They appeared to be coming out of the Riverside Cafe. I guessed that they were members of one of the teams - I wonder if they had been celebrating a great victory at the cafe or bemoaning a loss.

Several folks in green t-shirts outside Riverside Cafe

Looking back towards the inlet / ocean

To take advantage of electrical power, and therefore heat, we made a reservation at Hoffman's marina. We have a "lovely" spot with a much-used railroad track directly behind the boat. Every time a train goes by, the siren sounds for the bridge going down and then the train rumbles by. If we are watching TV, the picture becomes scrambled until the train has passed. I gather it blocks the digital signal.

Railroad bridge directly behind the boat

Sun down coming 

I had planned to clean the panels of the full enclosure before leaving home, but we left in such a hurry that it did not happen. After docking at the marina this afternoon, I grabbed a bucket and sponge and cleaned off a lot of grime. With the sun rapidly dropping, I had little time to get the job done.

Clark has a friend that he used to work with that lives near the marina, Don. Clark called him to let him know that we are in the area, and Don came over to visit and see our boat. After Don left, Clark helped me finish cleaning the panels. It took two of us as I refuse to balance on the 6-inch wide strip along the side of the boat, 15 feet in the air, to reach the outer side of the panels. With the joint effort, our visibility tomorrow will be much improved.

We finished around sunset.

Railroad bridge open

TI: Shattemuc NY to Home

Wednesday 8/8/2018
Depart: Shattemuc Yacht Club 8:50
Arrive: Rumson, NJ 2:40
Distance: 54 nm

We got a much later start today than we intended. Having arrived too late in the afternoon to check in and pay, Clark needed to settle up this morning. Only problem ... he could not find the dock master. That plus a locked restroom caused him to take much longer than planned to get ready to leave the dock.

After yesterday's fiasco on the water, today's ride was uneventful, which was a very good thing. Once again we got to enjoy a cool breeze on the Hudson River while our phones indicated temperatures in the 90s off the water. This time, thankfully, we were not interrupted by a disabled boat. Clark said he was so cool when passing under the Verrazano Bridge, he felt he might want a jacket.

Given the number of times we have boated in the waters around New York City, I was amazed to see that Clark had taken over a hundred pictures today.


Tappan Zee Bridge (now renamed the Gov. Mario Cuomo Bridge)...

Little Lighthouse at Tappan Zee Bridge
Neither of us knew existed.

Down with the old and up with the new

Modern Architecture

"Under the bridge" shot

Remains of the old bridge - being dismantled.

The Palisades ...

George Washington Bridge ...

NYC -- Hazy Day

GWB

NYC, Hoboken, and Jersey City ...

Cruise Ship in NYC

Lackawanna - Hoboken Terminal
Historic "Intermodal Passenger Station"

Colgate Clock - Jersey City

NYC

Statue of Liberty

Staten Island Ferry

Verrazano Bridge

Once we pass under the Verrazano Bridge, I feel like we are home. We have been up here often enough that it is very familiar waters. Crossing the bay from here to Sandy Hook can be rough, but today we had a calm ride. We only had rough waters when Seastreak sped past us.

Seastreak bound for NYC

We arrived home mid-afternoon and then the hard work began. After helping Clark tie up the boat and get power connected. I collected laundry, stripped the bed, packed up the clothes and food from the trip, and did some chores (dishes, clean bathrooms, etc.) I lined up all the bags at the door, and Clark got the hard work - carrying it all up the hill to the house. Even in the air conditioned boat, I felt overly hot. With the air outside over 90 degrees and humid, Clark had it a lot rougher than I did.

After I thought I had everything transferred to the house, we ended up making multiple additional trips as one of us or the other remembered yet another item we had mistakenly left on the boat. I love boat travel and living on the boat, but I hate transitioning from home to boat or boat to home. Twice now I have suggested to Clark that we not bother unloading the boat and just live there in our backyard. So far he has not taken me up on the suggestion!

No more boat travel for a while now. Clark has to do oil changes and has his on-going list of needed fixes / repairs for the boat. For once we did not have to repair anything while traveling - what a treat for Clark (and me)!