June 13-15

Thus far on the trip having “no schedule” has worked beautifully, but when plans were made for me to go see the new grandbaby in Austin, the “schedule” was to arrive in Boston on June 19^th where Dennis could be left comfortably on a mooring ball, and I could fly out of Boson Logan airport.  Good, well thought-out plan, or so we thought.  With fair weather, it was doable fifty to sixty mile days and an extra day for good measure. 

The first day we spent fighting northeast 15-20 wind and waves out of New York City on the East River into Long Island Sound.  Thirty miles was all we covered, following a barge up the Hudson River then drafting him on the Sound as he broke the waves, before finally giving up and turning in for the night at Oyster Bay?  On the second day we spent another 3 hours trying again to go northeast with the 15-20 winds on the nose, but there was no way it could be done.  Finally we admitted “schedule” defeat, turned the motor off and sailed for another 3 hours retracing the miles we had just covered, our northerly journey at end. 

So where to now, we’re asking ourselves, back to New York City?  Regrouping we discovered Manhasset Bay and Port Washington on the south shore of Long Island Sound with five star reviews in Active Captain.  What a treasure, North Hempstead Town Dock provides 2 nights free moorings (after that $25 per night), water taxis, free pump out, water, two dinghy docks with great access to shopping and restaurants.  Fritz even needed a vet and Old Shore Animal Clinic was a block from the dinghy dock. 

New plan, moored here until Sunday morning before returning to New York City with new marina, Liberty Harbor Marina, for Dennis and Fritz and new flight plan for Shirla out of Newark on Tuesday morning.

To every one of you out there who advised have “no schedule” you were so right.  And so our motto "cruisers can't be choosers" rises again.