New Jersey
ALICE'S ADVENTURES
ANDREW AND CELIA SHARPE
Fri 17 Jun 2011 15:00
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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.
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