DOLPHINS!!!!

Dolphins are at once ephemeral and loyal, elusive yet constant. They are quicksilver and full of mirth. They are childlike yet knowing. From the moment we had our first dolphin sighting at the mouth of Chesapeake bay in Norfolk, VA, they have been delighting us and comforting us at just the right times.

Into the Frying Pan

And there we were…..

I had just awakened from being off watch with the boat obviously riding on serious water.

Chesapeake Bay Highlights

Annapolis

So anyway, we dropped Don off, and there we were, suddenly alone together to continue our journey through Chesapeake Bay.

Good Crew

We knew leaving NYC to head out into the Atlantic and down to Cape May at the mouth of the Delaware Bay was a place that we would have elevated senses (aka stress) because we would be encountering currents, tides,  fish havens, commercial vessels, crab pots, lobster pots, and other unknowns.  All this is not what we have been used to sailing on Lake Michigan the last ten plus years.  Our good friend Donald Rome offered to help Pam and me out when we thought we would want an extra hand.  We knew this was a good place to take him up on that offer. 

The Hudson River - Part Three - Into New York City

 From West Point we continued down the lush banks of the Hudson flanked now by the Catskill mountains to our destination of Croton-on-the-Hudson, NY where we met up with up Ricky and Nancy, two of my more seafaring and adventurous relatives, that  live a only a few hours away by car, and wanted to meet "Grace".

The Hudson River - Part Two - West Point Military Academy

While moseying down the Hudson just to the starboard of green buoy 34 we came upon a building that had "Beat Air Force" emblazened on its roof.

The Hudson River - Part One - Stepping the Mast

Stepping the Mast

After a few days of rest, relaxation and catch up in Waterford,  we went through Federal Lock 1 and on down the Hudson River.