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| The Basin, ME to New London, CT September 2006 |
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Sunday Aug 27 we took the day off! Richard did our first baking by
creating a cranberry coffee cake while Pen took Otis for a long morning
walk in the woods. Watched the seagulls eating sea urchins and
abandoning their shells along the beach. We joined Hilde and David
aboard Raven for a proper cup of tea and wonderful boat-baked
goodies. What a great start to what became a grey and gloomy day
weather wise. We filled in the gaps by reading, planning and napping.
Monday we woke to cold rain and fog. Lobster men were about though
and Richard dinghied over to purchase 2 for lunch. Right into the pot
they went and it was great! Hilde and David sailed by in their dinghy,
wiling away the gloomy afternoon with laughter. Richard napped and
Penny wrote. Otis dreamt of chasing cats and squirrels.
creating a cranberry coffee cake while Pen took Otis for a long morning
walk in the woods. Watched the seagulls eating sea urchins and
abandoning their shells along the beach. We joined Hilde and David
aboard Raven for a proper cup of tea and wonderful boat-baked
goodies. What a great start to what became a grey and gloomy day
weather wise. We filled in the gaps by reading, planning and napping.
Monday we woke to cold rain and fog. Lobster men were about though
and Richard dinghied over to purchase 2 for lunch. Right into the pot
they went and it was great! Hilde and David sailed by in their dinghy,
wiling away the gloomy afternoon with laughter. Richard napped and
Penny wrote. Otis dreamt of chasing cats and squirrels.
Aug 29 was another grey, cold day but we felt the need to get moving so we
headed to Falmouth Foreside. The passage through Casco Bay was mostly island
dodging and watching for markers as we motored the 20 plus miles. We met
Randy Perry and his girlfriend, Nancy, at the dock, shared a nice bottle of wine
aboard and then jaunted to the Falmouth Sea Grill at Handy Boat Yard for a
delightful dinner. It was good to catch up with Randy and see what life has
been sending his way. Always good to see old friends and make some new ones.
headed to Falmouth Foreside. The passage through Casco Bay was mostly island
dodging and watching for markers as we motored the 20 plus miles. We met
Randy Perry and his girlfriend, Nancy, at the dock, shared a nice bottle of wine
aboard and then jaunted to the Falmouth Sea Grill at Handy Boat Yard for a
delightful dinner. It was good to catch up with Randy and see what life has
been sending his way. Always good to see old friends and make some new ones.
Wednesday dawned clear and bright so we were off the dock at 7 am
for a 50 mile trip to Kittery, our last Maine port. There was virtually
no wind so we auto pilot/motored across rolly seas past Portland,
around Cape Elizabeth, past York and into the Piscataqua River. We
headed to the Back Channel and found a quiet mooring at Kittery Point
Boat Yard by 4 pm. The day had been warm and beautiful but the
evidence of civilization was becoming more apparent on the coastline.
Highrises! A quick dog walk in a lovely neighborhood then Penny and
Richard made one more stop for lobster up Chauncey Creek by dinghy.
The days are getting shorter so it was a dark, cool ride home but sleep
came quickly after a long and fun day.
for a 50 mile trip to Kittery, our last Maine port. There was virtually
no wind so we auto pilot/motored across rolly seas past Portland,
around Cape Elizabeth, past York and into the Piscataqua River. We
headed to the Back Channel and found a quiet mooring at Kittery Point
Boat Yard by 4 pm. The day had been warm and beautiful but the
evidence of civilization was becoming more apparent on the coastline.
Highrises! A quick dog walk in a lovely neighborhood then Penny and
Richard made one more stop for lobster up Chauncey Creek by dinghy.
The days are getting shorter so it was a dark, cool ride home but sleep
came quickly after a long and fun day.
Another beautiful day for us on the last day of August. We move into New Hampshire waters early and head
out past the Isles of Shoals, a spot we hope to visit on our return next year. Again there is no wind but the
vista is clear as we motor down the short coast of New Hampshire and into Massachusetts water, around
Cape Ann, past Gloucester and into Salem once more. We left here July 10th! Today we have seen geese and
ducks headed south and even had a Monarch butterfly drafting behind our jib, catching an easier ride south.
It is amazing to be out in open water, sometimes windy, sometimes calm and to see a lone bug making its way
somewhere! Mother Nature is truly awesome. The Grapevine was a special dinner with Peter and Ginger.
out past the Isles of Shoals, a spot we hope to visit on our return next year. Again there is no wind but the
vista is clear as we motor down the short coast of New Hampshire and into Massachusetts water, around
Cape Ann, past Gloucester and into Salem once more. We left here July 10th! Today we have seen geese and
ducks headed south and even had a Monarch butterfly drafting behind our jib, catching an easier ride south.
It is amazing to be out in open water, sometimes windy, sometimes calm and to see a lone bug making its way
somewhere! Mother Nature is truly awesome. The Grapevine was a special dinner with Peter and Ginger.
Sept 1 we are headed to visit Richard's Mom in New Hampshire since we are so
close. We cleaned out the fridge and freezer as we will be gone a few days and
borrowed Peter and Gingers car. Thank you so much! We are watching the weather,
too, as a remnant of Ernesto is moving up the coast. The first stop was Fish Tales
Diner in Newburyport for a good grease-fix after last nights great wine!
close. We cleaned out the fridge and freezer as we will be gone a few days and
borrowed Peter and Gingers car. Thank you so much! We are watching the weather,
too, as a remnant of Ernesto is moving up the coast. The first stop was Fish Tales
Diner in Newburyport for a good grease-fix after last nights great wine!
Labor day weekend we take Mom on a road trip to visit the
coastal sights by land for a change. After long, hot showers,
(a luxury to a sailor!) we went back to Salem to check the
Rose as the winds are high and the seas angered by
Ernesto. We then worked our way through Beverly, Rocky
Neck, Beverly Farms, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Gloucester,
Rockport, Annesquam, Ipswich, Essex and Rowley. We
stopped for lunch in Rocky Neck, an artist colony and then a
lobster - what else!- dinner at world famous Woodmans.
Gloucester and it's beautiful Mariners tribute was rocky
and windy, much like the lives it was depicting. The trip
brought back lots of memories for Mom.
coastal sights by land for a change. After long, hot showers,
(a luxury to a sailor!) we went back to Salem to check the
Rose as the winds are high and the seas angered by
Ernesto. We then worked our way through Beverly, Rocky
Neck, Beverly Farms, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Gloucester,
Rockport, Annesquam, Ipswich, Essex and Rowley. We
stopped for lunch in Rocky Neck, an artist colony and then a
lobster - what else!- dinner at world famous Woodmans.
Gloucester and it's beautiful Mariners tribute was rocky
and windy, much like the lives it was depicting. The trip
brought back lots of memories for Mom.
September 7th we leave the boat under brother Peters watchful eye as we return to Atlanta to close our
other home. As we plan to continue cruising, the trappings of life on land are slipping away by lack of use and
necessity. We have decided to consolidate our piles of "stuff" and put everything in long term storage. We
have allowed ourselves two weeks and fill it with visiting friends, family and doctors, while sifting through
memories, closets and drawers. It proved to be a stressful but cleansing experience and we are so thankful
for everyone's help. We make a few stops along the way to check out possible landing sites for the day when
we may want to live off the boat, whenever that will be. Who knows how this experiment will evolve! We
returned to the Rose on September 25th, sat in the cockpit at sunset and breathed a sigh of relief. We each
had a very quiet tear in our eye of thanks for being back home. The next few days are planning, reprovisioning
and looking forward to the next adventure.
other home. As we plan to continue cruising, the trappings of life on land are slipping away by lack of use and
necessity. We have decided to consolidate our piles of "stuff" and put everything in long term storage. We
have allowed ourselves two weeks and fill it with visiting friends, family and doctors, while sifting through
memories, closets and drawers. It proved to be a stressful but cleansing experience and we are so thankful
for everyone's help. We make a few stops along the way to check out possible landing sites for the day when
we may want to live off the boat, whenever that will be. Who knows how this experiment will evolve! We
returned to the Rose on September 25th, sat in the cockpit at sunset and breathed a sigh of relief. We each
had a very quiet tear in our eye of thanks for being back home. The next few days are planning, reprovisioning
and looking forward to the next adventure.
Sept 26th the day passes quickly as Penny goes grocery shopping,
Otis is off to have his nails done and Richard is purchasing repair
items at the marine store. We had another farewell dinner with
Peter and Ginger and tucked in early as tomorrow looks like a fair
departure window. We leave early Wednesday for Plymouth. The
weather is sunny but alas no wind. Penny almost ran us aground at
the entrance to the channel! We motored into our mooring by 4 pm
right off the dock of the Mayflower II. It is amazing that more
than 125 people came across the Atlantic in such a small ship of 90
feet. The town was quaint, welcoming and very interesting, to be
explored further tomorrow.
Otis is off to have his nails done and Richard is purchasing repair
items at the marine store. We had another farewell dinner with
Peter and Ginger and tucked in early as tomorrow looks like a fair
departure window. We leave early Wednesday for Plymouth. The
weather is sunny but alas no wind. Penny almost ran us aground at
the entrance to the channel! We motored into our mooring by 4 pm
right off the dock of the Mayflower II. It is amazing that more
than 125 people came across the Atlantic in such a small ship of 90
feet. The town was quaint, welcoming and very interesting, to be
explored further tomorrow.
Thursday morning we walk Plymouth early and are then headed into the
Cape Cod Canal on our way back to Marion. We need to make the passage
with a favorable tide going our way so we leave by 10:30 am. The
weather was warm and clear and we motor sailed through the canal at
record speed. The tide spit us out into Buzzards Bay doing 9 knots!
Yahoo! We came into Marion by 4 pm and the weather drastically
changed, dropping temperature at least 20 degrees and the wind up to
15 kts. What a difference an hour makes.
Cape Cod Canal on our way back to Marion. We need to make the passage
with a favorable tide going our way so we leave by 10:30 am. The
weather was warm and clear and we motor sailed through the canal at
record speed. The tide spit us out into Buzzards Bay doing 9 knots!
Yahoo! We came into Marion by 4 pm and the weather drastically
changed, dropping temperature at least 20 degrees and the wind up to
15 kts. What a difference an hour makes.
Friday September 29th it has rained all night and we take the day to regroup, changing closets to fall clothes
and looking at travel plans. Our goal at this point is to head down Long Island Sound to New York Saturday we
have a cool but sunny day with light, favorable winds according to NOAA, our marine weather guru. We have a
passage of about 40 miles to Block Island which is about 8 hours. We leave sheltered Buzzards Bay into Rhode
Island Sound and the winds pick up dramatically. We reef all sails, have breaking waves and big swells and are
honking along at 8+ kts....good for this big girl. The current is with us and we hit 10 kts, a new record speed
but the going is tough and it is getting late and cold, with a front coming at us. We motor sailed at dusk into
the safety of Block Island with the winds now up to 18 to 22 kts. A long exhilarating day but the night became
tough as winds built up to a steady 25-30 kts. Richard spent the early morning hours on mooring watch, as we
did not know the true strength of what we were tied to. Rain came screeching in at 5 am. Penny slept through
it all! The next day continued with high winds, rolling and slashing rain until 2 pm. We watched many boats leave
the protected harbor, assuming they either had jobs to get to on the mainland or they thought this was fun.
Sailors! Calm came at 2 pm and we took Otis for a much needed walk in full foul weather gear. The island was
lovely and it is off season so not too crowded. The night was calm and Richard had a long, well deserved sleep.
and looking at travel plans. Our goal at this point is to head down Long Island Sound to New York Saturday we
have a cool but sunny day with light, favorable winds according to NOAA, our marine weather guru. We have a
passage of about 40 miles to Block Island which is about 8 hours. We leave sheltered Buzzards Bay into Rhode
Island Sound and the winds pick up dramatically. We reef all sails, have breaking waves and big swells and are
honking along at 8+ kts....good for this big girl. The current is with us and we hit 10 kts, a new record speed
but the going is tough and it is getting late and cold, with a front coming at us. We motor sailed at dusk into
the safety of Block Island with the winds now up to 18 to 22 kts. A long exhilarating day but the night became
tough as winds built up to a steady 25-30 kts. Richard spent the early morning hours on mooring watch, as we
did not know the true strength of what we were tied to. Rain came screeching in at 5 am. Penny slept through
it all! The next day continued with high winds, rolling and slashing rain until 2 pm. We watched many boats leave
the protected harbor, assuming they either had jobs to get to on the mainland or they thought this was fun.
Sailors! Calm came at 2 pm and we took Otis for a much needed walk in full foul weather gear. The island was
lovely and it is off season so not too crowded. The night was calm and Richard had a long, well deserved sleep.
The next morning we decided to go to New London as the
weather had cleared. The winds were favorable to start
but clocked around to be on our nose so we motored most
of the day into heavy waves and wind. We needed to get to
The Race, a narrow passage where the water flows out of
Long Island Sound, at a favorable tide, which we did. The
seas were confused with outgoing tide fighting opposing
wind but we came around safely into the Thames River to
New London by 5 pm. The passage was cold and stressful
but we are safe at the dock and tired. We will be leaving
the boat here as we travel to Michigan to celebrate
Penny's Dad's 90th Birthday. Can't miss that!
weather had cleared. The winds were favorable to start
but clocked around to be on our nose so we motored most
of the day into heavy waves and wind. We needed to get to
The Race, a narrow passage where the water flows out of
Long Island Sound, at a favorable tide, which we did. The
seas were confused with outgoing tide fighting opposing
wind but we came around safely into the Thames River to
New London by 5 pm. The passage was cold and stressful
but we are safe at the dock and tired. We will be leaving
the boat here as we travel to Michigan to celebrate
Penny's Dad's 90th Birthday. Can't miss that!
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free of charge. No material printed or copied from this site, electronically or in any other form, may be sold or included in any work to
be sold without explicit permission from the authors. Most maps and charts have been extracted from Google Earth and Maptech, and we
thank them for their use.
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Travels of the Viking Rose
