New London, CT

The first day of July and the summer is fully upon us! As I was having my bi-weekly Spanish lesson, Jonny took Archie in to do his business. But he didn’t get far before the outboard on the dinghy conked out entirely. We are now officially moving to Plan B as to where we keep Zendo for the next few days. We decided to go on to New London where we could stay at Crocker’s Marina. We won’t need to use the dinghy there and we can bring the outboard in for repairs which Jonny had already arranged. 

We left Niantic on a pleasant, if overcast, day at 10:45 and arrived at Crocker’s at 12:40 - a quick trip.  We quickly headed over to our favorite Captain Scott’s waterfront lobster and clam shack to have fried clams.  But horrors! They were out of clams so we satisfied ourselves with steamers, corn on the cob and a lobster roll. That afternoon Jonny worked on the outboard and got it working again while I hid out in the air conditioned boat. He was able to fix the carburetor so it’s functioning but there is still an oil leak that needs to be fixed.

The next day Jonny picked up our rental car and we drove three hours to South Londonderry in southern Vermont where our friends Peter and Paul have owned a very comfortable ski home for years.  We had a great visit with them hiking all around the countryside near their home.  Jonny and Peter went for a long bike ride on the Zimmer’s electric bikes.  

Billy and Lisa Rappoport arrived at midnight having driven up from Fairfield, CT (my hometown and also where Peter and Paula now have their primary home). The next day, which was Friday, July 4, we all took a walk through the nearby wooded path and afterwards drove to Dorset VT to visit our friend Michael Goldfield. I should mention that I’ve been friends with these three guys since junior high days. And Peter and I met our spouses when we were all freshmen at UConn - so we have a lot of shared history! 

We picked up lunch at a nearby shop in Dorset and brought it back to eat at the picnic table at the home that Michael built in that charming village. It is essentially a replica of a historic home owned by a prominent past citizen of Dorset and it is exquisite.

Unfortunately, Michael’s partner, Melina was away at their summer home in Maine.  Although we didn’t get to see Melina, Michael took us to her shop in nearby Manchester. Melina designs and makes custom hooked rugs. She not only designs and makes them but she also dyes all the wool. We got to see her impressive operation located on the riverfront in yet another charming Vermont town. 

We returned to South Londonderry where we had a big beautiful salad for dinner and played a few rounds of Rummy Cube (a first for Jonny and me).

Jonny and I departed on Saturday bound for my cousin Donna’s home in Prospect, CT (near Waterbury).  I hadn’t seen Donna in years and I was excited about the visit. She invited my cousin Janice and her daughter Robin as well. Donna made a delicious lunch and we had a great afternoon catching up on each other’s lives.

Later that afternoon we returned to Zendo which we had moved from Crocker’s Marina to a mooring before we left for Vermont.  We proceeded to stay on board Zendo one more day and were able to get our fried clam “fix” on Sunday when we took a long walk to Ocean Pizza which is also known for its delicious fried clams. We also brought home an eggplant grinder to have the next day.  Whenever we are in New London, we have a list of foods that we have to eat and we are definitely checking off that list on this visit!

Niantic, CT

We awoke to a beautiful, sunny day on Monday, June 30. We took Archie for a nice walk along the length of the beautiful Milford green. When we returned I did a load of laundry in the convenient facilities that were part of our marina (only $1 per load). After Jonny washed down Zendo, he invited a couple who were cruising south to come aboard. They had an interesting vintage picnic boat that they were taking to the Chesapeake. As he often does, Jonny helpfully shared with them some of the apps he uses for weather and navigation. They were very appreciative.

We left Milford at 10 bound for a mooring in Niantic that is owned by our boating friends, Bill and Joan Volmar.  They were very helpful to us on a past trip and continue to be so on this one. Our plan was to leave Zendo there for a few days while we rent a car to drive to Vermont to visit our friends Peter and Paula Zimmer.  It was a beautiful day for a long passage up the Connecticut coast and we arrived in Niantic by 4:30. We had a little challenge finding the mooring ball but we finally did so. Then we had another challenge figuring out where we could take Archie onto land because the waterfront was lined with private homes. 

We finally found a rocky beach which returned out to be a bird sanctuary! It was very pretty and almost deserted with only one family enjoying it with us. 

We’re having difficulty with the dinghy engine and we planned to leave it for repairs while we go to Vermont.  However, the dinghy ride to a place where we could leave it tied up for a few days was at least a couple of miles away and we didn’t feel comfortable taking it that far without a problem. The last time we left Zendo in Niantic on anchor, the place where we left the dinghy was much closer to a dock. We mentioned our concern to Bill who owns the mooring and he offered to loan us his electric outboard but even that arrangement had its challenges. 

That evening we concentrated on consuming our leftovers for dinner so we could leave the refrigerator without too much food since we would be away. We decided to delay our decision on where to leave Zendo until the next day.

Milford, CT

We took our time on Sunday, June 28 and didn't leave Norwalk until 10:20 for the relatively short cruise to Milford. It was a beautiful day on the Sound and we were enjoying it but for some reason Archie was not feeling it. He kept wandering up and down the stairs and in and out of the boat until I finally had to lie down with him on our bed until he settled down.

We really like going to Milford Harbor because it’s a deep harbor with several marinas and a beautiful setting. We especially like staying at Milford Landing, the marina furthest inside the harbor. It has comfortable facilities, is close to several restaurants and we especially love that it is very close to the Milford Town Green.

We arrived at 1:45 and settled in for a couple of hours.  Jonny’s cousins Abby and Anne came by at 4:30 as planned.  We have been meeting them every year since we’ve been cruising but unfortunately their spouses are no longer able to be with us. As is their tradition, they brought a bottle of champagne and we drank that bottle and another accompanied by some appetizers.  Afterwards we walked to a nearby restaurant/bar called Seven Seas that featured lobster rolls. The lobster rolls were so big we had to eat them with a knife and fork.  Later we returned to Zendo for some port and other after dinner drinks.

We always have a fun time together and hopefully we’ll see them again on the way back. Note: photos will resume in the post after the next one!

Norwalk, CT

It was somewhat rainy on Saturday morning, June 28 but it stopped in time for Jonny to take Archie for a walk. Unfortunately, on the way back he encountered a problem with the outboard engine on the dinghy. It appears to be a small oil leak. He spent some time trying to fix it to no avail.  We left at 9:45 after Jonny spent 45 minutes rinsing the mud off of the anchor and the anchor rode!

As we crossed Long Island Sound we were grateful that the seas were much calmer than the day before.  Our plan was to grab a mooring in Norwalk and meet fellow MTOA members Joe and Marge Pucciarelli who live nearby for lunch.  We arrived in Norwalk at 12:15 and they met us at the town dock.  They were very gracious and drove us all around that part of Norwalk.  Although I grew up in nearby Fairfield, I was totally unfamiliar with Norwalk and didn’t realize how attractive a town it is, especially close to the water.

They took us to a nearby oyster and clam shack where we sat outside on picnic tables and ate fried oysters and whole belly clams - delicious!  They then drove us around the surrounding neighborhoods and brought us to their lovely townhome where they have their boat docked right behind their home. So convenient! 

By 4:00, they dropped us off and we dinghied back to Zendo where we spent a quiet evening onboard.

Northport, NY

It was time to leave City Island after almost a week in the marina taking respite from the beastly heat.  We left the marina at 11 on Friday, June 27 bound for Northport on Long Island.  However, Long Island Sound was quite choppy and rough so we decided to go to Oyster Bay instead because it was a little closer.  Archie clung to me the entire passage!

Fortunately the temperatures had cooled considerably and it was a good 30 degrees cooler than it had been earlier in the week.

 We arrived in Oyster Bay at 2 and anchored in a comfortable spot not too far from shore.  This is a very calm and protected anchorage and quite beautiful. Oyster Bay is very affluent and it’s where Theodore Roosevelt had his home, Sagamore Hill.  We took Archie onto shore where we walked through this charming hamlet with many places named after or referencing Teddy Roosevelt. 

That evening we had leftover tuna pasta salad and spent a quiet night onboard in this peaceful and protected anchorage. Sorry for the lack of photos!

City Island, NY

Our original plan on Saturday, June 21 was to cruise to Port Washington, NY which is on Long Island since we had only been there once before and we could get one free night on the town’s moorings.  There is also access to a big grocery store and additional shopping opportunities there. We got an early start catching the first opening of the Glimmer Glass bridge at 8 a.m. we were now cruising on the Atlantic but it was a nice calm day on the high seas. We made our way through NYC on the East River past all the familiar sights.  I have few pictures, though, because I had abandoned all hopes with this blog! 

As we listened to the weather forecast predicting 100 degree temperatures for the next several days, we decided we’d be much better off at a marina especially if we wanted to go into the city.  Archie could stay comfortably cool aboard Zendo in a marina with the air conditioning. Also, Jonny wanted to replace the impeller which is a lot easier to do at a marina. So we shifted gears and made our way to the S. Middeford Yacht Club on City Island arriving there at 3:45.  Meanwhile we decided to get tickets to see Hell’s Kitchen on Broadway for the Sunday matinee and made reservations for a pre-theatre lunch in Hell’s Kitchen. We always enjoy staying on City Island, a little seaside village in the Bronx, where we can easily walk the length and breath of it and recognize people we’ve met there over the years.

The next day was Sunday and we took the bus and a train into Manhattan. We had lunch at EZ Paella and Tapas in Hell’s Kitchen recommended by our friend, Cathy, then walked to the theatre. The show was fantastic! We had great seats in the first row of the mezzanine. 

We enjoyed being in a real Broadway theatre so much so that afterwards we walked over to the Majestic Theatre to get tickets for Gypsy for the Wednesday matinee.  Jonny really wanted to see Audra MacDonald who is starring in it. Curiously he had never seen the play nor the movie so we rented the version with Bette Midler that evening and he thoroughly enjoyed it.

Jonny worked on Zendo on Monday and Tuesday while Archie and I hunkered down enjoying our access to air conditioning.  Jonny also changed the oil and the impeller and the water pump - he was incredibly productive!  I made a huge batch of tuna macaroni salad which we proceeded to eat for several days afterwards.

On Wednesday we went back into Manhattan and had lunch at the Glass Tower Tavern which had a delicious prix fixe pre-theatre lunch.  

Afterwards, we walked over to the theater where once again we had stellar seats. The show was amazing and Audra McDonald gave a stirring performance in her role as Gypsy’s mother, Rose.

On the following day, as if we couldn’t get enough of a “hot time in the city,” we took the bus to Arthur Avenue in the Bronx to stock up on all their delicious Italian specialties.  We had a fantastic lunch at our favorite restaurant there called Zero Otto Nove (the area code of Salerno) and proceeded to the sausage shop, the cheese shop, the ravioli shop and finally topped it off with an espresso and cannoli!

By the way, Archie was perfectly cool and content on each of the days we left him for hours so no need for me to feel guilty! 

Manasquan, NJ

On Friday, June 20 I had a Spanish tutoring session so Jonny took Archie for his walk. Berkeley Island is a pleasant anchorage with easy access to a nearby park - perfect for dog walking. We plan to have a short cruise to one of our favorite anchorages in Manasquan called Glimmer Glass.  We left at 9:45 and arrived a short three hours later passing through the railroad lift bridge. It was a beautiful sunny day but still quite windy.  Along the way we probably passed a hundred waterfront houses lining the Jersey shore here.

Once we arrived we took Archie on the dinghy to the little nearby beach where we tied up and took the short walk into the cute town of Manasquan. We have a favorite Italian market there where we bought a bunch of goodies including some of their delicious prepared foods for dinner.

On the walk back I picked some gorgeous hydrangeas from a bush hanging over the street but unfortunately they didn’t keep well on the boat. 

We enjoyed our takeout dinner and planned the next leg of our journey.  The forecast is for beastly hot weather over the next several days and we are headed for New York City for a few days. That should be interesting! 

Berkeley Island, NJ

After a very long voyage the day before we were happy to delay our departure on Thursday, July 19.  Jonny took Archie for a walk on the beach with a fabulous view of the Atlantic City skyline.

We departed at 10:30 on a rising tide and made our way to Berkeley Island on the NJ Intra-Coastal Waterway.  For the first couple of hours we cruised through shallow low-lying wetlands.  Eventually we hit the huge stretch of the Jersey shore where houses are lined up cheek to jowl over the entire barrier island.

Eventually we arrived in Barnegat Bay where we could feel the force of the wind blowing from the ocean.  We were all very glad to be traveling along the inside route.

As the afternoon wore on we became aware of the threat of severe thunderstorms expected throughout the region. We made our way to a safe anchorage north of Barnegat Light by Berkeley Island arriving at 4:25.

After a while Jonny took Archie in to do his business and I worked on my first blog entry. Every year I have fits with blogspot but I never want to change having 9 years worth of blogs on the same platform.  This year it was worse than usual and after many hours over several days I decided to give it up. As you may notice, a month later I’ve tried again and think I can make it work (though I am now way behind - writing this entry on July 8)!

A thunderstorm arrived as we were sitting down for dinner. It was fierce (40 mph winds) but we were securely anchored.  We expected another storm later that night but fortunately it didn’t come.

Brigantine,NJ

We finally began our 2025 cruise leaving Delaware City bound for Cape May on Wednesday, June 18. Our trip was delayed because we had several little repairs to make and we wanted to spend some time in Philadelphia with Stephanie and Ryan. Our voyage this year will be much shorter because of the big news in our lives - our first grandchild (a girl) is due in early October!  For that reason we have decided to move to Philadelphia this summer.  We found a row house to rent just two blocks from Stephanie and Ryan and we’ll be moving in August. Our Miami condo is on the market but we’ll see if we sell it or rent it out since the real estate market is so soft right now.

Our immediate cruising plan is to go up to Mystic, CT for an MTOA Rendezvous in mid-July.  We’d like to spend a few days in Manhattan on the way since we often bypass it in our rush to get to more distant destinations. Of course, visiting friends and family in CT is always on our agenda.

Back to the first leg of our journey - we departed from Delaware City Marina (where Zendo is housed for the winter) at 6 a.m. bound for Cape May, NJ. We left early to take advantage of the currents and favorable winds on Delaware Bay.

The day was very overcast, foggy and cool and the sun didn’t start to break through until around 2 p.m.  Jonny suggested we bypass Cape May and go all the way to Brigantine, NJ which would add another 5 hours to our journey.  The reason to do this was that the Atlantic Ocean was quite calm and we could make the passage between Cape May and Atlantic City more easily today while the next day the seas were predicted to be quite rougher. The wind was expected to kick up for the next few days and if we could make it to Brigantine we would be better positioned to take the inside ICW route up through NJ.  So we cruised past Cape May for another 4 hours!

At 4 p.m (10 hours into our journey), we were making our way up the Jersey coast about three miles off-shore when Jonny finally let me take the helm to give him a rest. Not five minutes went by before a really loud alarm went off - the raw water alarm.  Jonny jumped into action to see what the problem was. Unfortunately, the tool he uses to check the water temperature had a non-functioning battery.  Since none of the gauges were showing an increase in water temperature which would indicate a big problem, we just continued on our way without incident. You can be sure that the next purchase will be that special battery!

Although the waves and wind were pretty calm, being on the open ocean can sometimes make one feel a little queasy.  Archie stayed glued to me the whole voyage and it wasn’t one of those easy days when I could read or knit, so we just hunkered down and made the best of it.

It was a very long day and around 6 p.m. the weather app was indicating an approaching thunderstorm.  Fortunately, we were just passing Atlantic City with our mooring at Brigantine not far beyond. 

A friend of ours has a mooring ball there that he graciously lets us use. As we approached the mooring field a big trimaran was tied up to it.  Jonny called Glenn to make sure we had the right one. Apparently an interloper had grabbed it but Glen directed us to another one that wasn’t being used.  In fact, we were the only two boats in the mooring field that night.  Thankfully, the thunderstorm passed us by and we just had a little rain as we tied up at 6:20. It was a long 12 hour day!

But it still wasn’t over as Jonny had to take Archie to relieve himself.  I made dinner while he was gone and we finally could relax with apps and a nice hot dinner. It’s no surprise that we were exhausted and went to bed early in our nicely tucked away anchorage.