Sailing Encore

Hi all. Many of you have reached out asking ‘Where are you? Are you in harm’s way of the hurricanes?’ The answer is far from them. We are currently in Syracuse (upper New York state). We are visiting with my son Stephen, daughter- in-law, Sarah, and two precious granddaughters.

Several weeks back we sailed for a few days from Port Washington, New York to Newport, Rhode Island. We awoke early to make a nice long sail up to New London, Connecticut.

The wind was perfect for the direction we traveled and the sun peeked through the clouds occasionally. The tides and current were in our favor and we hit speeds of 10 knots as we sailed through the day. We anchored off the shore of the very place we deposited Steve over 15 years ago as he entered the US Coast Guard Academy. (Cried my eyes out that day). The next day we continued north up the sound to Newport, Rhode Island. Newport has a long history of sailing and some deep water so we actually felt small compared to the sail boats in the marina and anchorage. The day we entered the harbor there was an overnight regatta starting  and the boats went out to face some strong winds and rain. Vernon and I were happy to dinghy ashore and get a beer and burger at one of the many restaurants along the waterfront.

We spent a few days exploring the area with its shops along the shore and beautiful historic mansions (summer cottages of the elite and wealthy around the turn of the century). We took a dinghy picnic to get a closer look at the BIG boats. Many of which sailed in America’s Cup races from back when they used just one keel. It was a beautiful evening and sunset.

I was able to meet up with my bff from my years in Florida -Karen M. Currently living in Massachusetts. She and I worked together opening and running ambulatory surgery centers in St. Petersburg area. Amazing nurse and mentor.

Vernon and I decided that Newport would be the northern most point of our journey. Several years back we chartered a sailboat in Maine and dodged lobster traps for days so we decided that we would rather spend some time with kids and grandkids in their home in northern New York. So we took a few days to sail south, back down the Long Island Sound. We were able to watch the solar eclipse as we sailed. It was a crescent shape in the hand held sextant -that was the first time we pulled that out! But I remember doing sun readings for navigation plotting back when we first lived on the boat in the Caribbean with Stephen!

We sailed to New Haven and anchored off the picturesque shore where the sun set with the same eclipse crescent shape (due to the clouds)The next day we went into Glen Cove, NY to put the boat in a marina, rented a car and drove north.

We have been here for over two weeks now. Enjoying the cool weather, helping with house projects and playing with our granddaughters!!!! Just a few pictures but I could go on and on with these two cuties!

We will head back to the boat and start to head south soon –but not too soon. We definitely will keep our eye on the storms and only travel when it looks safe. We hope that the next leg of our trip would bring us to the US Virgin Islands. We will see what damage is done from Irma and if traveling there is the best plan or not. Our thoughts and best wishes go out to all friends and family in harms way from these recent storms- Harvey hit our old home area in Texas and now Irma is headed toward our old Florida home area.

Feeling full of love and snug and safe!

T