[Ed.Note: Days 151-154 summarized from original blog; hurricane days 155-158 remain as originals]
Wed.Jul.29/Day 151: Wx sunny, 76/87, winds NW - W @ 4-9mph. Left at 07:40, arriving at Utsch’s Marina at 12:25, at the east end of Cape May canal, 4mi.inland; 61 miles in 5.1 hrs, @2200 rpm the whole way, with speeds often 14-15mph due to peak ebb current and wind; saw some large freighters and a tow pulling barge with cable [see photos]. Marina 350 slips/25 transients; aging docks with power pedestals at channel end of slip, so docked bow in. Next to our dock are 2 slips for the Para-Sailing/water sports boats. Fresh water pump strainer still leaking so will order a new one; mechanic recommended I bleed the hydraulics regularly.
Admirals Desk: I had my Instacart order all ready for when we arrived and, voila!, they arrived 2hrs later. I'm still going shopping tomorrow, just to get away from the boat for a while. I may even put on make up!😁 As Rob mentioned we saw the ship in the photos coming towards us. It's hard to miss something that huge. The surprise was his hailing us to say he was turning around mid channel. As in our planned path. Following his suggestion to keep his stern in sight we swung wide and passed without incident. He was fully turned and on our stbd stern when a very large tow appeared and proceeded to head straight between us. We all three were side by each for a while. The clincher was when that ship the size of 2+ football fields passed us and we were running faster than normal.
BTW, the men next door are all covered up from the sun. You would think by now everyone would know that, as nice as a tan looks when you're 20 something, you're going to pay for it later on. Old saggy wrinkles and trips to the dermatologist.
Thurs.Jul.30/Day 152: wx 74/87, winds 15mph. A busy place with constant parasailing runs, the USACOE dredge docked, boats coming/going. Nice marina staff, helpful, great store. [see photos]. I bled the hydraulics and found more black particles; FWpump strainer snap-ring holding the intake water line popped out and ‘disappeared’; bailing wire ‘fix’ until new one tomorrow arrives.
Admirals Desk reports her grocery trip taxi is a tour guide also; masking almost 100%. She noted storm Isaiah threatening so we looked at the NJICW options vs off-shore [related to tides and currents].
Fri.Jul.31/Day 153:
wx cooler,72/79, with rain off/on all day, winds NE10; watching Isaiah closely; marina offered advice about tying lines [‘spider-web’ to all cleats - they’ve been through this before]; notified the 3 marinas north of us to reschedule stays and they obviously are ok. Installed the new FW strainer/clip; holding tank monitors mostly accurate; vacuumed and degreased E.Rm. Marg made bread and commented on nice looking boats here.
Sat.Aug.1/Day 154: wx high 80’s, winds S10. Took D.A. to marina across channel to pump-out, because Utsch’s suddenly died; had to ‘tread water’ for 20min. in 5’ water. Marg’s taxi driver gave us a 1hr tour of city and its history. Photos of the city and marinas. Bought a new 50’ RV water hose. Continue to watch Isaiah develop. Reading novels.
Comments:
Ernie R - 30 Jul 2020: Rob, have you noticed everything seems to work better the faster you run! Keep this up and we will have to get you two some racing helmets! Not to be critical but your “tiny suit “ photo section is woefully inadequate! Hope Isais does not cause you any problems, be safe!
Paul - 30 Jul 2020: Rob, we met briefly at Steenson Hollow Marina probably in Feb. We have a 36 ft. Grand Banks, Indulgence. Our plan was to depart about the same time you did on the loop, but my wife needed hip surgery, and then Covad hit. So, we decided to postpone until next year. Jay Martin just gave me your blog site, so we are now following your adventure vicariously and learning a lot.
Robert & Margaret - 31 Jul 2020: Paul, Hope her surgery went well and that you are finding our notes reasonably entertaining as well as helpful. It has been a learning experience. The storm is throwing bit of a monkey wrench into our plans. We are prepared to hole-up here in Cape May for a few extra days until it passes. We have lots of extra lines to 'spider-web' ourselves, assuming the marina doesn't want us out of the water/area!
Ernie R - 31 Jul 2020: Rob, sounds like you need to order some more bailing wire! Just remember, bailing wire repairs can be made permanent with a layer of duct tape (on a boat it is called marine tape!). If you will send pictures of utility locker can help you find lock ring! Lock rings and springs should always be covered during removal! Be safe.
Ernie R - 1 Aug 2020: Rob, to be fair I think a couple of pictures would help tremendously instead of one hastily composed snapshot! Based on picture provided, did you look in the metal fire bowl on the Racor or feel around wire bundle at top? Remember, Einstein said matter can neither be made nor destroyed and he was a big boat person so it has to be in that area! (No, I was not trying to make some comparison to you!). Be safe, hopefully storm will miss you all!
Robert & Margaret - 1 Aug 2020: Yes, I did check the Racor bowl and the wire bundles. It remains a puzzle. Further searches will be conducted anyway.
Ernie R - 2 Aug 2020: Rob, I think you have gotten spoiled with all this help from dock hands, a couple days back at TP will fix that! Current storm path is tracking direct to you all, hopefully won’t be much by then. Be safe!