Update from George for Week 4 June 6, 2011

0530 June 6, 2011; we got up to the most beautiful morning with very calm seas
around us. I packed up and headed out at 0600. It was low tide and my first turn
into the channel I hit the bottom. Wow, that came up fast and reminded me to
stay between the sticks and in the middle of the channel.

Unless you were there, you cannot imagine how beautiful and calm the waters
were through the marsh lands heading north from Atlantic City. I was like in a
dream the water was so calm the air smelled so clean and the sun shine was
so brilliant. I came to a place on the ICW where the sticks were gone and once
again if it wasn’t for my GPS I couldn’t have found the pass.

About an hour up the canal I came to a place that was a spitting image of Cape
Coral, called Manahawkin Bay, but the homes were a bit more expensive than
on the Cape. I next came to Barnegat Bay and it’s HUGE but the waters still
remained calm. However the ICW markers were over a mile apart and I had to
set Way Points on the GPS to stay in the track. All the way across the waters
remained extremely calm.

In the last part of the ICW in Northern NJ you cross through the Pleasant Canal
that takes you further up the intercostals before you enter the Atlantic. The canal
was far from pleasant for the river draining out was hitting the incoming tide and
the canal was churning. I came out of the churning canal and headed for the
Atlantic. Before going out I topped off my tanks and asked the attendant how the
water was on the Atlantic. I don’t know, just go out and find out and then hit the
gas.

Well, I entered the Atlantic at 1200 and it was almost dead calm with a little roll
from the south. I took the gas attendant’s advice and hit the throttle and headed
north for 30 miles of open Atlantic Sea. I stayed 200-300 yards off shore and
beat feet. I felt like I was traveling up a lake coast line with mucho beautiful
homes and hotels along the way. I made Sandy Hook in two hours and what an
awesome sight to see the Verrazano Bridge and the NYC Skyline ahead of me.
I crossed the bay between Sandy Hook and the V Bridge in 45 minutes and
headed up the Hudson River past the Statute of Liberty and downtown New
York. The worst wave conditions were in the NYC harbor from all the Ferry
traffic coming passed me in every direction. Once past the Navy Air Museum
and the Intrepid Air Craft Carrier I had very good waters all the way up to the
George Washington and the Tappan Zee Bridge. I was on the water 12 exciting,
beautiful, exuberating and exhausting hours today and I wouldn’t have had it any
other way. Oh yes, the Creator, Mother Nature and all the Guardian Angles were
with me to make this journey as remarkable as it was.

As I passed under the Tappan Zee Bridge, two Sherriff’s pulled up to me and
we had a nice chat about the boat and my adventure. They couldn’t believe I
have come so far in a pontoon boat. They advised me where the Half Moon Bay
Marina was located and I headed up river another 10 miles.

The Half Moon Bay Marina is a private club that takes transients but they don’t
like dogs. Of course Chase, being Chase, went right up the ramp and took a
beautiful dump to the astonishment of the neighbors! After a long day, I was in
the rack by 2030 hrs.

Update from George for Week 4 June 5, 2011

0600 June 5, 2011; Last night was very cool when tucked in and were up to over
cast skies with the sun shine coming from the north. The floating docks rocked
and rolled till midnight caused by wakes of passing boats who must not be able
to read or understand the NO WAKE signs. I have only been in NJ a few hours
and so far I have found the most un-courteous boaters. They seam to rule the
waters with no concern for other boaters. Well, it’s 0700 and time to unzip the
pilot house and head north.

Grounded, or I at least hit the muddy bottom, just 50 yards out of the slip and
right next to the red stick. Tide is out and the guys told me to stay just inside the
sticks or in the middle. The next thing to greet me was the very cool weather. It’s
only 62 out and the wind is from the ocean. The skies still look like rain but the
wind seams to be keeping the clouds to the west.

The NJ shore line along the ICW is a maze of intertwining streams coming into
the main channel. Once again, it looks much like the Georgia and SC channel
and you must stay between the sticks.

The homes along the ICW are stacked onto one another and there is “0” lot lines
and I can imagine that the homes go in the $ high 500K. Most have hinged
ramps that rise and fall with the tide so they can get into their floating boat docks.
I could see the Casino’s of Atlantic City some 15 miles out and now I am in the
back channel cruising behind them. I can’t wait to see if the pictures come out.
I came upon my first draw bridge and had a fifteen minute wait and the second
draw bridge seamed to open on my command. Both bridges were connecting
roads that went to the beaches.

I had to cruise by Atlantic City to the north and come around a point past
Harrah’s Casino and then cruise down the ICW towards the Atlantic Ocean.
The turn into the Trump Casino Marina was just under a main bridge next to the
Coast Guard Station and the seas became very choppy. I noted that once again
I arrive in choppy seas and am very thankful to have a place to tie up. I pulled
into the Trump Marina which is now owned by the Golden Nugget. Dave, the
marina manager gave me a slot and asked the Director of Activities, Ms. Harris,
for the comp. I was advised later in the afternoon by Dave that she authorized
me a 50% discount. Not a bad motel room on the water for $35 a night and what
a place to take a well needed nap!

I fueled up, went over the charts and if the weather is right I will shove off for
northern NJ early in the AM

Update from George for Week 4 June 4, 2011

HMS Patriot
Great Loop Boat Log
Week # June 4- June 10, 2011

0500, June 4, 2011: 21 days on the water and starting my 4th week.
We awoke to calm waters in the harbor and the outer harbor of Charles River
Bay had a slight chop. I decided to head out and cross the bay to find calmer
waters. The trip across the bay was very fast even though I had a 3-8 inch chop.
I made it up around North Point Pelorus on the Eastern Neck and headed up the
coast line just half mile off shore. Once around the point the waters became flat
with a chop every now and then, I made great time and arrived in Chesapeake
City on the C&D canal at 1030. I was finely out of the Chesapeake’s grip after
five days and decided to push on instead of staying over because the waters
were calm and the weather was outstanding.
I made it to the Delaware River by 1130 and headed south. I had a slight
incoming tide that soon would turn and the wind and waves were behind me. I
settled in for the 4-5 hour trip down the Delaware to Cape May. I found the River
to be quite peaceful and all the negative reports were unfounded. However, I
believe the river could change for the worse the next day and I was going to take
advantage of this fine cruising day.
About half way down the river I came to a side river and two fishermen told
me there was fuel stop about two miles up the incoming river. I made the trip
through the Georgia wet lands type of landscape up the winding river to find
three marinas. I topped off my tanks and headed back to the river and my trip
south. Most of the river is empty of housing and there was one large nuclear
power plant. I did pass a few settlements but didn’t notice any road ways into the
developments. I must get a NJ map.
I made the last costal light tower at 1545 and started to cross the Delaware Bay.
The shore line on the other side had vanished a half hour ago for mouth of the
bay is over 12 miles wide. I kept the eastern shore line in sight and headed
straight to the Cape May Canal on my GPS for it was also out of sight. I opened
up the engine to 15 MPH and boogied. I had a calm rolling sea, tied and wind
with me and made it to Cape May at 1655. As I headed across the east west
canal to find a place to tie up a large car ferry came out to great me. Huge when
you are this small along side. The marina I am in is 75% full and no marina
manager to talk with. Oh well, I will be out of here early in the AM. The weather
looks like rain and I have put down the side certins for the first time in 21 days.

Week 4, Tuesday June 7, 2011

Per Bill Banfield.. Left early again and is moving well up the river.  He is now running by/dodging a lot of debris in the river….trees, tree limbs, junk, etc.  He has a following breeze and is making good time. Passing by West Point and Bear Mountain area is beautiful….noted that as he passed out of the tidal influence area, the construction of docks changed…no longer seeing the floating docks.  Weather is clear….another perfect day!  His goal is Troy, just before the entrance to the Barge/Erie Canal and just above Albany…..a long day……I estimate 129 miles for the day, another 6:00am to 6:00pm day.

Week 4, June 6, 2011

Left at 6:00am…..water was like glass….by 11:00am, he was at Point Pleasant and refueled….ocean was like glass!!!  At that point, he had to transition to the ocean for the 30 miles up Sandy Hook, then across Raritan Bay and into NY harbor….he is passing the Statue of Liberty right now !!!!!!!   Per George, this is the most spectacular day yet !!!!!  His plan is to go to the Nyack Yacht Club at the Tappan Zee Bridge…he will be under the GW bridge within an hour or so, and at the Tappan Zee bridge about 1 and ½ hours later !!!!!!!! Per friend Bill Banfield.

Week 3, June 3, 2011

0630 June 3, 2011, I spent a very windy and rough night tied to the dock.  At 0200 I was up and tied more lines to the boat because the wind was pushing hard at my stern.  I was up and about with Chase and one look out to sea told me I would be here another day.  I checked the weather report and once again the seas are supposed to calm down.  Now it’s a wait and sees and I don’t need to go out in those choppy waters for any reason.  As Jean says, sit around and enjoy the break, a tough thing to do when you want to be on the way.  Oh well, it’s another beautiful day except for the wind. 

Week 3, June 2, 2011

0500 June 2, 2011; I was up and ready to go at 0600 and the waters in the bay were dead calm.  Oh, but what lie ahead and just around the under the Bay Bridge. The following sea and wind turned to a NW wind and came straight at my port bow with a pounding blow.  I headed at an angle to my first way point of the tip of Kent Island and with the help of the Creator; I made it around the point and headed south into the Charles River sound. I saw a red and white light house about 3 miles away and headed that way.  Once inside the break water wall I entered the Castle Harbor Marina.  It was 0730 and the marina was closed so I tied up to the fuel dock after two go rounds because a stiff breeze kept pushing me off the dock.  I moored the boat and took Chase for a walk about. 

At 0800, Danielle the Dock Master arrived and I told her of my plight.  She said welcome aboard and asked me to move my boat ahead so that other boats could have more space when they come in for fuel.  The wind continued to be very strong with 10-15 mph gust and only one boat came in for a pump out and two large boats went out into the rough seas.

Jim my next slip mate introduced me to Dan Humbert, a retired Navy Master Chief and his dog Willy and Dan introduced me to Jim the assistant dock master and a retired Navy chief.  All were interested in my travels and very supportive. Dan, a seven year old cancer survivor, lives on a large 60 ton trawler, and does boat eminence in his spare time.  They and several others took me under their wing and made me feel at home.

Well, needless to say, I spent a full day tied to the dock and watched the white caps build just off the marina entrance.  I did some minor repairs on the boat, started reading another book, had a soak in the hot tub and enjoyed my forced vacation at this beautiful and friendly marina.  The weather report stated that the seas would calm down in the evening and maybe I will be able to head out in the morning.