2nd Leg: Osterville, MA to Old Saybrooke, CT

Friday, September 11th:

This was the day that we were supposed to be leaving Osterville, but a low pressure system has found it's way to New England and has decided to hang out for a bit. So we leisurely found our way up to the Cape. We took our daughter's car back to her in Boston and took the bus from South Station back down to Barnstable where my fabulous sister Chappy hosted us once again.

Saturday, September 12th:

The next morning was still iffy. But by 10:00AM we decided to make a crossing to Cutty Hunk which would place us an hour closer to New London where we hope to have lunch with our son on Sunday. Lots to do with bringing the boat in from the mooring, loading the boat and getting supplies, leaving Chap's car for her and getting a cab back to the Ellis' dock. All of this was accomplished while the weather went from intermitten sun to steady rain to sun to fog back to sprinkling rain. After this weekend in Osterville, we are now referring to our boat as "THAT boat". When people heard of our journey to the keys in Rum Drop, the overwhelming response from our older friends was, "in THAT boat?" Trust me when I say that we are not roughing it. We have air conditioning and heat. We have shore power and generator (all working) a small galley with a microwave,cooktop and sink (hot and cold station), seperate head with shower (hot and cold station, as a matter of fact we have four hot and cold water stations which include one at the bar area and one on the swim platform) Our berth sleeps both Nip and I very comfortably. Considering that he is 6'6" that is saying something. So off we went with Pam Simmonds and Catherine Ellis waving us off. Jamie Jones texted us directions to Cutty Hunk: "go out to Bell 8 and turn right". Thanks Jame! And out the harbor we went. It was a perfect time to go. Once we were off-shore we watched the rain move into the mainland. We stayed nice and dry as there was occaissional spitting but mostly a beautiful overcast sky for the whole trip through the Vineyard Sound. We left Martha's Vineyard to our port and the Elizabeth Islands to our starboard, dodged a few trawlers and ferries and we were there at 3:45PM one hour fifteen minutes later. We crossed through the Elizabeth Island chain at Quick Hole which was perfectly calm and rounded the bell to the entrance to Cutty Hunk's inner harbor. We picked up a mooring from their rather large mooring field and couldn't wait to try out the engine on the dinghy. It worked! We wandered around the island and hiked up to the top via a very wide paved stone wall-lined road. The views from the top are spectacular. We watch the low system work it's way north away from us and knew that we would have a great day tomorrow.

 

We went back down to the boat, fixed ourselves a cocktail and settled into a dinner consisting of expertly grilled cheeseburgers a la Chef Nip. As you can see from the picture, we weren't alone. The breeze was wonderful. It picked up in the night, we had a little rain, but we both slept like babies and were ready for the big crossing.

Sunday, September 13th:

It was a bit breezy and cloudy in Cutty Hunk, but when looking West which was the direction we were heading, the weather looked much promising. And by the time we crossed the shipping lanes that run up to Buzzards Bay, the sun was starting to come out. Whatever chop there was, 2' to 4' , was mostly at our stern while crossing the bay. Once we got in the lee of the mainland, it quieted down. We basically headed west to Watch Hill point and cruised effortlesly with the sunshine through Fisher's Island Sound. Everyone was out enjoying the weather. from Narragansett Bay through Fishers Island Sound there were boats everywhere: sailboats with their colorful spinakers, ferries dashing between Block Island and the mainland, tugs with barges and .... Mary Alice. There she was off of our port bow. I wonder if we'll see her in Manhattan. The journey was warm, calm and sunny the whole way into New London and up the Thames River. We passed the Eagle which is the Coast Guard's square rigger. She is still majestic even with her sails furled at the dock. We cruised under Rt 95 and passed the "Nautilis" the nuclear sub on our starboard side. The water depth getting into Conn Coll docks is a little shallow, so we found a marina right up the river who let us dock there for a couple of hours while we hiked up to the road where Phips came to pick us up. Saw Phips' house, had a little lunch at a hole-in-the-wall diner and then back down to the boat right on time. The shock was when we went to give them a few bucks for the tie-up. Three mortgages and a bridge loan later.... we got in the boat and pulled away with Phips waving and vowing that he would see us later, (maybe after the football games). Lesson learned here: always negotiate the price UPFRONT. Yikes!

Back down the Thames and out to the sound we went, excited for our evening plans with our son and thrilled that we had such good weather. The run to Old Saybrooke was a quick 40 minutes. The entrance to the harbor was interesting. It is very shoal on the eastern side of the Connecticut River. There is a light marking the entrance to the west and a causeway/jetty on the east side of the channel. It is narrow and there are speed restrictions. Although apparently those restrictions didn't apply to the 65 footer that barreled past us and buried our bow in it's wake. Hhmmm! Where are the speed patrollers when you need 'em? The Saybrooke Point Marina Inn and Spa is between North and South Cove on the western shore of the river. It is a "green" marina, the first in CT (or so they say).We fueled, pumped out, iced up and went on our way to our slip. The marina is very nice. And although you move quite a bit during the day, it's quiet at night...water-wise. Off to the pool for Hillary with book in hand and Nip stayed on the boat and relaxed/napped. This place has a fitness center, indoor and outdoor pool, a dockside bar and a fantastic restaurant with terrace dining over looking the marina. So after football games were over, Phips and some friends came for cocktails on the boat and off to the restaurant for a delicious dinner. We said our good-byes and nestled into our air conditioned  berth. Love that shore-power!

Monday, September 14th:

It's a beatiful day and we must say "good-bye" to THAT boat again. Work, work, work! We will be back and look forward to our next leg, moving Rum Drop to Manhattan!