Boston through to Western Long Island Sound

Ship’s Log, September 12, 2009, Boston, MA through to Long Island Sound, CT / NY

9/12 – 9/19 – Saturday - Our new friends headed out on Saturday the 12th and called back to say that they were turning back – still big seas - but headed to one of the islands to anchor up and encouraged us to stay put yet another day. Our project for the day was that we made an attempt to get the internet, the computer and TV monitor speaking to each other. A Radio Shack and Staples up the street were helpful but it is still a work in progress. The hikes to the stores in the rain were our walks and we did do some chilling out. Sunday finally dawned quietly with better weather and after a last run to Mike's for pastries we headed out late morning in order to catch the correct tide at the Cape Cod Canal. There was a period where we saw more wildlife – a shearwater, porpoise, tuna and an ocean sunfish. It had been a lovely day but a quick downpour and a lovely rainbow greeted our entrance to Buzzards Bay. We anchored up in Onset (just at the west end of the canal) for the night. Monday, having listened to the long range forecast, we reluctantly changed our plans, bypassing Nantucket and headed for Block Island. The traveling conditions were perfect and we caught the tide and wind just right and are flying along at 8.5 knots (never thought I’d be saying that). The ride was pleasant and we dropped a hook mid-afternoon in Great Salt Pond on Block Island. We dingied around the Pond and had a beer at “The Oar” a waterfront pub that has a huge collection of decorated oars donated by many boaters over the years. Tuesday was a perfect day to take the Moped tour of the island. It is a lovely collection of homes and fields with extensive rock walls, one town as such, the ferry terminal on the east side, the pond for boaters on the west and lighthouses on both the north and south ends. Having covered the whole island by 2:30 – we decided to take advantage of the good weather and cross back over to Stoning ton, CT to check in on some boat issues. The anchorage where we could drop a hook was of course, the more exposed area behind the breakwater so when the weather did change it was rolly. Oh, well. Wednesday morning Mark got us to the dock and the guys determined that our autopilot was fine and that the windlass (the device that pulls up the anchor chain and anchor) that decided to misbehave badly as we pulled up the anchor just needed tightening. Afterwards, back to the anchorage. After a squall things died down so we headed out to put a few miles on and hopefully get to a nicer anchorage. Stonington had been a disappointment as far as a town goes. On our way we connected with Jonathan and after several calls to the UK (where he was) decided to connect in Milford on Friday when he gets back. In the meantime we were headed to Niantic Bay and up the river. As we approached our end point in the bay we realized that there were two bridges to get through. We could not raise a soul on any radio channel; we were getting stuck in the mud in the teensy approach channel and about to leave when miraculously the bascule bridge opened. We decided to turn around and head back in. The 2nd bridge was not a problem – high enough. We finally decided that the bridge must remain in the up position except when a train approaches and triggers it to go down. It was a very shallow bay and necessary to obey the channel markers. There was a big marina full of Grady Whites at the beginning, lots of moored boats and lots of homes on the shoreline. As we got farther upriver things thinned out and we found a lovely spot to drop a hook. Mark finished repairing the dingy and we had a very pleasant night. Thursday dawned as a brisk fall day. Somehow that bridge made us wait again – no trains in site so I got to practice some close quarter maneuvering under the high bridge. We headed out thinking that we had the wind and the tide in our favor, but we missed some piece of information somewhere and ploughed all the way to Milford “upstream”, thankful that it was light wind. Milford’s outer harbor was very calm and protected with the existing wind angle so we dropped a hook, watched the local evening sailboat race from the flybridge and retired. Friday we pulled into the Milford Landing Marina; a place we had stayed at on or last trip. Boat business was the order of the day. We had made an appointment with a tec guy who ultimately was unable to help us except to suggest that we purchase a Verizon Wireless Broadband card for the computer. Of course it is never that easy. Two trips to the mall and we still couldn’t get the thing working. We threw in the towel, had dinner and awaited Jon’s arrival via Amtrak. At @ 9pm we wandered up to the train (we had no idea of his actual arrival time – his cell phone was dead) and his train pulled in 10 or so minutes later. We spent some time reacquainting and then we all crashed. Saturday was a gorgeous fall day. We poked about the boat but with the intent of getting going. Jon got our Broadband going on my computer (after a few unsuccessful attempts himself) so at least we are up and running again! I got a pulled pork cooking on the Crockpot and Mark pointed the bow to Cold Spring Harbor on Long Island. All is well and we got a peek of the NY skyline on the horizon.