Delaware City to Annapolis

We spent 3 days in Delaware City to rest, shop and sight see. The harbor master arranged a trip to Fort Delaware with a life long learning class from the University of Delaware for us on the 25th of September. Fort Delaware is on Pea Patch Island in the Delaware River. In 1819 a masonry fort was constructed and destroyed by fire. In 1847, Congress appropriated $1 million to construct the largest "modern" coastal defense fort in the country. They started building in 1849 and completed in 1859. During the civil war it became a prison camp. In 1862, 250 of Stonewall Jackson's troops were the first prisoners. By 1863 there were more than 10,000. There are reportedly ghosts that hang around the fort now.

Delaware City downtown

Entrance to Fort Delaware

Mess and officer's quarters

Infirmary

Cannon from roof

Same cannon from below

Interior cannon, they meant business

Yard for practice 

Moat surrounding, sewage drained here, try escaping.

With the promise of a real grocery store and some weather, we spent another day in Delaware City. It was a lovely stop, but on the 27th we headed out to get to the Chesapeake Bay via the C&D canal.

Canal bridges

The first night, the 27th,  we anchored on the Sassafras River. It was a nightmare getting Oliver to shore as everything was private and the locals were not very friendly. We found a sandy beach nature preserve where he communed with the wildlife. Needless to say we pulled up the anchor and took off after one night. We were looking forward to Annapolis anyway. We made it to Annapolis around 2:00 and grabbed a mooring ball. We were told we could only have it for 2 days since the big Sailboat Show was going to be set up. They told us to look for people leaving the next morning and try to grab a mooring ball in the non restricted area. We were up early just waiting to pounce and grabbed one, so we are here until tomorrow the 1st of October. Since dinghy docks close and it is madhouse here, we are not staying for the show. They do not allow dogs anyway. Annapolis itself is the coolest town and very dog friendly, except for lack of grassy areas.We all found grass a block down from the dinghy docks near a municipal building, so Oliver has many friends. Store owners put water and treats out on Main street.The ladies in the visitors center quickly got him a fresh bowl of water when we came in the first time.  Luckily with the dog, I am saving tons of money not going in all the shops. We walked down Main Street and to the state capitol and today plan to see the Naval Academy. Oliver is in heaven getting attention and taking dinghy rides around. I will do a separate posting of our time here.

Looks like Captain Jack Sparrow

Oliver sees the Chesapeake Bay bridge, not much farther

Heading into Annapolis , up Severn River

From Manhattan to Delaware City

We stayed at anchor in Great Kills Harbor on Staten Island the 17 -20th of September to relax.
We were at the edge of a mooring field associated with the Richmond County Yacht Club. We were near our friends, Laura and Tom, that were moored. There was a great park for Oliver to walk in and a ramp which provided easy access for him. The 18th had horrible storms blowing through the area with 20-25 knot sustained winds and gusts in the 40ish range.The anchor held and we could try to relax. Oliver was a trooper once more, waiting for the calmest moment for us to dinghy him ashore. The 19th we dinghied to the yacht club and had a walk into town which made up for it. I actually pulled out some knitting to work on during the "stuck on the boat" time and thank goodness for book exchanges I am finding along the way.

our anchorage in Great kill Harbor

Look for the high tide line on the rocks

 We left early the 20th for our run down the Jersey Coast in the Atlantic Ocean. The weather called for 3-4 footers. We passed Sandy Hook and my goodness the waves increased. We had to take a deep breath and continue on. The waves were different than Lake Michigan. We would go up and up and then settle down and down. We estimated the waves to be 4-6 and one buoy reading we saw had them at 4 1/2 feet. You finally got into the motion and we were cruising right along.

Ollie handled the waves OKAY

instruments showing where we are, depth and speed.

night is fast approaching

 It was about 10:00 and we saw Atlantic City. Oliver was severely in need of a "business break", so we pulled in. We were rocking and rolling, but made it. We pulled into a slip and Oliver just charged for some grass. Then we all crashed until the sun came up.

Atlantic City at night.

The next morning, the 21st

Bye-bye Atlantic City

 The weather the 21st was sunnier. The waves and winds were the same. We plowed on to Cape May. We can only go into certain inlets due to our draft, or how low the keel is or we would hit bottom. We stayed 2 nights at Utsch's Marina to get land legs back. Had a wonderful dinner at the Lobster House of shrimp, scallops and lobster. I was happy, Oliver was happy with land and Dale was happy his crew was happy.

The Lobster House

Anchored out by Coast Guard Station the 23rd. 

 The 24th we headed up the Delaware Bay. There was a north wind which caused us to bang into 2-3 footers the whole way, so we zigzagged back and forth. It is a busy place. We caught up with Cool Hand and continued the journey to Delaware City marina with them. Pulling in at night to a creek and dealing with tides and currents has really been an eye opener. The harbormaster gave us step by step directions on the subject and was so helpful. We stayed in Delaware City for 3 nights. New blog coming for that.

"Don't hit the rocks" lighthouse

One of many freighters 

Again, don't hit the rocks.

Leaving Manhattan

We left Manhattan on September 16, Here is Oliver on his last dinghy ride to the big city and a picture we did take of him in the "park".

our boat moored at West 79th street

 

Going down the Hudson River past all the sights was amazing. Here is some of what we saw going  to Staten Island.

We think it is the Concorde

Empire State Building and Staten island Ferry

World Trade Center

Ellis Island

Oliver leaving the big city

Need I say, the Statue of Liberty

 

 

Hudson River to NYC

The 12th, we anchored for the night by another park with a SANDY beach in Half Moon Bay. Then to get diesel, water and a couple loads of laundry done we stayed at Haverstraw marina on the 13th. It was pricey by Michigan standards and the dock was covered with duck poop! Management did not seem to care. Dale washed the dock before we let Ollie off. Oliver was happy there as he met two labs, a chocolate and yellow.  From there we made our way down the Hudson to Manhattan. We stayed on a mooring ball at West 79th Street marina with winds whipping down the Hudson River and the tides and currents pulling on us. We spent 2 days there, then continued on to Staten Island the 16th. Storms were predicted and we wanted to get to a safe harbor and get our anchor set. So as of today, the 19th, we are still anchored in Great Kill Harbor. We survived the storms of 25 knots sustained winds and gusts predicted to be 50. Oliver was a trooper. We got him off in the morning and then at 9:30 at night after the storms were past and the winds were 22 kts.

The section of the Hudson from Newburgh to Haverstraw is the most beautiful place. You feel like you are taken back in time cruising the fjords. Here are the sights from September 13th.

Culinary Institute of America

1871 lighthouse

Bannerman Castle on Propelel Island

Storm Mountain, environmental movement started here

West Point, roof says Beat Air Force (rivals, you think)

West Point

West Point

Funky sailing vessel we passed

Yonkers, getting close

Coming up on Manhattan

Manhattan

View from our Mooring Ball

We took Oliver on a walk to Central Park. He was quite the attraction. The so called unfriendly New Yorkers were all petting him and talking to us. Many took his picture. Being a small town girl, I was so ga-ga over everything, I did not get pictures of him. These are some shots I took as we roamed Manhattan. At the end of the day, I went in a typical grocery store you see on TV with the fruit stand in front. It was an experience I will not forget, tons of people, cubbyholes with specialty items and aisles only one cart could fit down. I could not find half the items I buy back home. I came out of there looking like I had been in a marathon. Crowds and more crowds was the theme of the day. It was cool to see all the different cultures and languages being spoken.

Flower boxes, you can't see, but I remember

Church at broadway and 79th st.

Central Park marionette

Big buildings everywhere, we were overwhelmed

Museum park

view down Broadway.

More pictures of us leaving Manhattan in the next edition. Love to all from Dale and me. Miss singing, but I am getting some knitting done as I sit waiting for our weather window to go down the Jersey coast.