June 1-2
Wow. The start of another month already!! We got a very early start from the Brigantine anchorage out the Absecon Inlet entrance past Atlantic City.
Absecon Inlet Lighthouse. Hidden by highrises from the ocean side but viewable once in the inlet.
It actually was a very nice anchorage.
Well protected with good depths, good holding mud bottom and a very
well marked entrance channel. We were a
bit nervous entering at low tide yesterday but at high tide the area was quite flooded,
so we knew there was plenty of water for our 5:15AM departure.
There was a forecast for fog in the morning and that was
exactly what we had leaving the channel. Glad I installed that radar! No other traffic except for a few other
loopers leaving for the same trip - even beat the fishing boats out.
Hazy morning as the sun tried to come out. Flat calm seas most of the day.
It remained mostly hazy and cool all day as
we continued our traverse up the NJ coast which made the scenery a bit mundane.
One seaside resort after another. The
forecast for Saturday called for another day of light 5-10 knot SW winds and
seas of just 1-2 feet. Perfect
conditions for running offshore. With a
Sunday forecast calling for increasing winds and likely rain and thunderstorms
we were shooting to get all the way to Great Kills Yacht Club on Staten Island.
Seaside Heights, NJ
We figured on a 12-14 hour day to make Great
Kills so had also picked Manasquan Inlet as a possible bailout point if we got
short on time. While the seas were calm
it was surprising that running 1-1/2 miles offshore we were fighting an adverse
.5-1+ knot current most of the day. I
had planned on averaging 7 knots to keep on schedule so had to bump the RPM’s
up just to keep it at 6.5 knots. No
sweat for the engine – just hated seeing the fuel consumption gauge taking a
big jump up.
We made Manasquan Inlet after 8 hours so figured even if the
current continued against us we could still make Staten Island well before
nightfall. And suddenly the current
swapped direction and pushed us along to 7, 8 and even 9 knots at times
allowing us to make a quick run of the remaining miles. We wound up arriving by 5:30 with John C.,
the local Harbor Host, welcoming us and helping tie the lines. After 12 hours and 95 miles we finished our
trip around the NJ coast and made it into NY.
We also passed the 1000-mile mark today on our looping journey.
Rounding Sandy Hook with a view of the Verrazano Narrows bridge and the city through the haze.
A quick dinner out and then bed was calling after a long day for
a sound night’s sleep!
Sunday June 2 we got
up relatively early and walked up to Hyde Blvd. for a salt bagel with butter
for breakfast and then a visit to Fran and Sals Italian Market which was highly
recommended as worth a visit by our harbor host. A great place with numerous premade items at
the back counter. We picked up some
eggplant lasagna, eggplant roll ups, baked pastry pinwheels one each filled
with sausage, spinach and eggplant. A
couple of house made meatballs and an assortment of olives. A nice loaf of just baked Italian bread, a piece of Tiramisu and a Napoleon from the bakery finished off items for a few dinners on board. Back to the boat and packed
that all up in the frig.
Leaving Staten Island looking south to Verrazano Narrows Bridge
Arriving in NYC. Iconic older ferry terminal getting a rehab.
Next up we took the bus to the ferry terminal where
we visited the National Lighthouse Museum which was right next door. Very limited exhibit and definitely a work in progress which should
be a nice facility in a few years as they continue to expand. Then a trip over to Manhattan, a walk past
Battery Park and then a somber visit to the 9-11 Memorial.
Walking up Broadway and passed "the Bull"
One World Trade Center
9-11 Memorial
After a rainy return trip on the ferry and bus we heated up some of those Italian delights
and had a feast for dinner. Finished the
day off with a great show from a wind
and lightning storm which promises some sunny, cool and breezy weather for
tomorrow. Ideal weather for walking
around and playing tourist again.
Journey for June 1
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