Hi All - Sorry for the hiccup. We had what the care givers are calling "computer issues" the last few days of travel. So let me bring you up to speed: First and foremost: I SLEPT IN MY OWN BED LAST NIGHT!!! YAAAAAAY!!!!
We left Newburyport when the tide was slack in the am so we could actually maneuver out of the marina and into the channel without incident. "Could" was the operative word here - as for all the chit chat on the radio between the two captains - you would have thought they could have decided who was actually pulling out first. We had some momentary stress as the two boats were headed for each other - but all recovered when I barked a few orders.
We headed out the channel on the Merrimack - turns out there is a whole less traffic and congestion on the river on Monday am than there was at noon on Sunday when every boat on the North Shore was headed up or down that river.
The seas and weather cooperated again and we headed down towards Cape Ann, passing along Plum Island and Ipswich and Essex (Woodman's for steamers, Yum!). We came closer to shore at Crane's Beach and could see Crane's Castle. By this time, What's Her Name was all excited as this was her old stomping grounds in her formative years. We toodled down the Annisquam River ogling the waterfront cottages. What's Her Name pointed out the house deck where she filmed her one and only cinema effort: an instructional video on how to eat lobster for a graduate course. Of course, that was 40 years ago! We zipped by the Annisquam Yacht Club and saluted. And then headed out towards Gloucester under a couple of bridges and then had to wait for the last bridge in the Blynman Canel to head out into Gloucester Harbor past Stage Fort Park where What's Her Name would picnic with her family as a toddler. And then past Hammond Castle and the wreck of the Hesperus - with a nod to H.W. Longfellow.
The seas were flat and the skies sunny as we headed down the coast. Why is this not "Up the Coast" since we just came from "Down Maine?" Imponderable questions. We saw a few birdies - but no exciting sightings of anything else - unless you count the sunbathers at Salisbury Beach when we left the Merrimack River... We stayed a few miles off shore so could barely make out the landmarks in the haze. We rounded Duxbury Light and headed into Plymouth Harbor - which takes FOREVER to get to when your anticipation is high and your little legs are crossed.
After a 3 Stooges routine by dock hands at Brewers Marina, they finally managed to point us to an agreed spot on the dock: it took them 3 tries to decide. We then tried a forced march into town but had to quit it due to sunstroke. Gee it was hot! The AC went on in Taking Stock and did not go off until we left in the early am.
We had a visit from the Kavorka, himself - Ralph Sewall and the lovely Mrs. Sewall, Carol, welcoming me - err, us that is, back to the home ground. Joel immediately snared them into a few rounds of the hateful game - and did not even turn the AC on! After some grape juice and some cheese and crackers, of which I got to lick the plate, they all trooped off to dinner at Cafe Strega up the hill and gave me a little peace and quiet. Good news: leftovers! Bad news: not for me!
We overnighted in Plymouth and awoke to mighty winds. We made haste to set to sea and battened down the hatches and all movable objects including me and headed out to sea. We pretty much sloshed our way out of Plymouth Harbor past the Duxbury Loght. Joel was a head of us and he made so many moves on the waves, you would think he was in a Zumba class. We had waves washing overhead and I was regularly levitated off the captain's seat. We made the corner and headed down the coast to the mouth of Cape Cod Canel. Here things had evened out a bit and we had a favorable tide through the canal. I was really getting into a good nap when we hit the Buzzards Bay Channel on the other end - and waves suddenly were 6 plus feet. I ordered the Nina and Pinta back into the safety of Onset harbor to wait until the tide and wind were more favorable to make it across Buzzards Bay. We holed up rafted together on an Independence Point Yacht Club mooring, eating lunch and playing more of the hateful game until I needed a constitutional at the fuel dock before heading back out.
We cleared the channel to the canal and though the seas were a bit rough, they were manageable through Buzzards Bay and Woods Hole and past Nobska Light and into Falmouth Harbor to tie up with our old buddies at Pier 37. Good news! Home safely! Bad news: flat tire on the Subaru in the parking lot. I got my people to handle it all! Now all the laundry is done, the boat is cleaned and back on its mooring and I am chasing bunnies in the back yard. GEE WHIZZ - there is no place like home, Toto.
That's it, folks. I'll try to complete this little saga with a few pix from our final days at sea. I will be back with the important stats of the trip. Important to me, that is.
May your nose be to the wind and wishing you many bellyrubs ahead.
W.
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