New Jersey

ALICE'S ADVENTURES
ANDREW AND CELIA SHARPE
Fri 17 Jun 2011 15:00
No luck with getting the generator sorted so we left Crab Creek on a very hot morning and headed up to Baltimore.  We had to go and see Customs as we had been given conflicting information about paperwork and the officer in Maryland was not happy with what the officer in Virginia had said!  So we spent the afternoon getting a cruising permit sorted out.  We anchored in the Inner Harbour along with Caduceus.  We found a delightful Italian restaurant just off the main tourist drag where a 2 pint glass of beer was 3 dollars.  However if you wanted one pint it was 4 dollars!!!  But you could have the 2 pint one in two glasses!!!!  Very confusing but it all was delicious.  Lasagne for the men and crab imperial (the local specialty) for Elizabeth and Celia.
Next day we had a day of being tourists and caught the water taxi over to Fort McHenry.  This was where Francis Scott Key wrote the words to the Star Spangled Banner.  It was during the war of 1812 against the British.  He was on a ship in the bay and did not know who had won the battle but in the morning they looked to see which flag was flying.  The words now make sense.  We strolled around the historic area of town which was fascinating and parts are being gentrified.  Another really good Italian meal - this time in Little Italy.  We sat inside to eat and when we came out it was still boiling hot.
We left again the following morning and went up to the Sasafrass River which is a lovely tributary of the Chesapeake.  Arriving there we saw there was one other boat anchored there - a British boat.  It turned out to be David and Lin Wilkie on Moonbeam who we had met in Jolly Harbour, Antigua.  They are also on their way north and it was good to catch up with them.
We headed up to the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal and through the other side to the Delaware.  Found a good anchorage for the night behind Reedy Island and left at 7am.  Woke up to a thick mist which by the time we got to the entrance of the Delaware was very thick fog.  Life jackets were on, grab bag ready, radar and nav lights on.  Lots of concentration but it cleared enough to see our way into Cape May.  We had farewell drinks on Caduceus as they are leaving to go up to Maine and we are taking it slower.  We met Adrian and Lesley on Lalize who are also OCC members on their way to the Newfoundland rally.
When we got up the next morning everyone else had gone on their way.  We went to West Marine (chandlers) first to get parts we had ordered.  Then walked in to Cape May.  A really delightful town with mainly wooden Victorian houses all different colours and referred to locally as Painted Ladies.   We found a beach restaurant for lunch.  We sat on the terrace (it was a lot cooler than of late), had a sea view, great lunch and then saw several dolphins going by very close to the shore.  Hearing the excitement from the locals this is obviously quite a rare occurrence. 
Left Cape May for a 35 mile trip, visibility was great this time.  We could see a new building for the Revel Casino 25 miles away in Atlantic City.  The last hour was cold and windy and then it rained, oilskins were back on.  We have even got the duvet back out.  Anchored in the river in Atlantic City and went ashore to Trump Marina and Casino - what a dump!  Motored round the harbour in the dinghy and tied up at Gardners Marina where we had a walk and  a nice meal.  Next day we went back there and caught the shuttle bus into the boardwalk - the main casino part of the town.  Managed to get side tracked and found an outlet shopping centre!!!  The casinos this side of town were not quite so down market and very busy.  Bit like Blackpool in the sunshine! Andrew thinks its probably cheaper to go gambling and lose the money rather than own a boat!!  An interesting place but not one we would want to spend much time in!!  Another British boat was anchored nearby so we invited them over for a drink - Dee and Eric on Sirena of Oare. 
We then did the 85 mile trip to Sandy Hook - weather forecast was 180 degrees out on the wind direction.  But we motor sailed.  Anchored at Atlantic Highlands (only a bit of a hill) where we can see the Verazanno Narrows Bridge and the Manhattan skyline.  Next stop NEW YORK.  Great excitement to be in New York Harbour, 11 months to the day since we left home in the dinghy at Tuckton with Lizzie.  Weather is rather unsettled so we are going to spend a day or two doing chores before we venture into the city.
 
Just in case you were wondering about her - Alice is still with us!
The stars and stripes above Fort McHenry
Alice and Caduceus in Baltimore
Cape May Victorian wooden house
Another street scene in Cape May