Anchored up in Noo Joyesey
A year afloat: to the Caribbean and back
Sam and Alex Fortescue
Thu 23 Jun 2011 13:09
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38:57.01N
74:53.15W
Working southeast towards the mouth of the Delaware
and the Atlantic Ocean today, we were immediately gripped by a helpful two knot
current. At one point reaching 8 knots over the ground, we were all too aware
that the present speed would have to be paid for when the tide turned. Still,
good for pre-coffee morale.
As the miles have ticked by, what began as a barely
discernible roll developed into a hearty chop which we crashed through at a
disappointingly slow pace. The weather is once again muggy and close, and the
horizon has shrunk to a few miles into the haze. Alex is still wearing a hoodie,
but that's more because she can't be bothered to take it off than because it is
cold.
Tonight's anchorage, Cape May, is renowned as
America's most complete Victorian town... something like a seaside Clapham or
Queen's Park, in my imagination. In reality, the 'historic' district is a few
blocks across and, though sweet in its way, a little contrived with wooden
fronted curiosity shops and places selling models of lighthouses and fudge. In
the fudge shop, I made the mistake of asking what 'taffy' was (there were signs
for it everywhere, and it sounded exotic). When the girl explained it was just
'regular taffy', I realised it was simply toffee with a New Jersey accent and
slunk out disappointed.
We consoled ourselves with supper in a resto by the
town's harbour. We had drinks and grilled oysters with cheese and spinach
sitting in an old schooner that has been beached. Then we moved into a
baltically chilled dining room for a big boil up of scallop, mussel, clam and a
whole Maine lobster. Being of the larrge clawed variety familiar to European
crustacean munchers, this beast packed twice as much meat as a spiny Caribbean
effort and was much appreciated. After
covering 65 miles yesterday and 55 today, we reckoned we deserved it.
Obviously, these things are relative
The pressure is now on to reach New York by
Saturday, for a reunion with Alex's mum Marina and family friend Paul. If we
have today's wind again tomorrow, it'll be a fast passage north to Ocean City.
There is an inshore canal here that winds through the marshes nearly as far as
New York, but it's too shallow for us, so we have to barve the rigours of the
Atlantic again. If nothing else, it'll be good to see some clean, blue
water...
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