One week out

Well it is almost a week and it feels like we just left.
I last wrote as we were heading up Barnegat Bay. We were heading for Manesquan and expected to find a dock. Well Saturday nite in Manesquan is a zoo. I started early and it seems that no one in the area answers their phones. I finally started to connect about 4:00 and found out that all of the slips were taken.
On to plan "B". We found in our guides that there was a small cove quite close to the inlet that had an anchorage. We motored through a small narrow channel and anchored in about 8 feet of water very close to a small beach by the railroad tracks.
Annie took her first Kayak ride. I was too lazy to inflate the dinghy so I lifted Annie down to the swim platform and got her to sit between my legs in the Kayak. We paddled to shore and she was really happy to get back in the Kayak and go back to the boat. Although when we got to the boat she was ready to jump back in the Kayak. Fortunately I was able to dissuade her - or she would have tipped the Kayak. It turned out to be a good spot and we had an easy night.
Next morning we headed out of the inlet and north to NY. We planned ot be in Tarrytown (Just north of the Tappan Zee Bridge) by evening to meet up with Viv & Mike. We caught a great ride on the tidal current and rode it al the way up to Tarrytown.
I must say that it seems that to NY boaters courtesy is not running you over (although maybe it was our size that kept them from trying). When we rounded Sandy Hook and entered Lower Bay the number of fishing boats was astounding. the freighters entering the bay were blowing their horns constantly to get these little boats out of the channel. Then we moved into the Upper Bay on the other side of the Verrizano Narrows Bridge, and every go fast boat tried to pass as close to us as they could without hitting us. This would rock us about and really get Annie upset.
We survived , arriving about 4:30. Had dinner with Viv and Mike at a great Portugese/Brazilian restaurant.
Next Morning we got a late start (0900) and got as far as Poughkeepsie, NY. Small marina with a really nice dockmaster. We wanted to visit Hyde Park (FDR's home) the next day and he offered to drive us there. He could not be more helpful. This is a local marina with almost all day boats (small runabouts). they wer coming home from a day or weekend out, and they loved to talk. It was a really nice evening.
One problem we had was getting Annie on and off the boat. The docks were very low and made of aluminum planks. It was a long jump for Annie and she did not like the aluminum at all. I put the kids sliding board (that I am making into a boarding ladder for her) from the rail to the dock and then spent ten minutes teaching her to go down it. On the way back she refused to climb back up (it has wooden cleats every 6") until I unrolled a golden carpet for her. Once she got the idea she went up and down very easily. I have great expectations for the final setup to get her up and down to the swim platform. Needless to say the dock residents made her repeat the trick several times so they could all see it. I will post some pictures as soon as I straighten out the phone card hookup. I can currently get about 1 minute time before I get a disconnect.





















This morning we got a ride to Hyde Park. We toured the House and grounds. Carole being a retired Park Service person got us a complimentary tour pass. I proved to be interesting in that the focus of the tour was Franklin and Eleanor's personal life and how the house and grounds were donated by the family at his mothers request. It has been preserved as it was left by him at his death. Eleanore (and Franklin) actually lived in other houses on the property. The house was lived in and run by his mother until her death in 1941.
We left Poughkeepsie at about 1:00 and headed upriver to Catskill Creek where we are currently sitting. Had a really good dinner. I have made it my mission to evaluate the hot wings at as many places as possible on the trip. My criterion are (in order of importance) plump and juicy, tasty, hot, and crispy. So far C-View in Cape is at the top. Port of Call in Catskill is in second place. Of course it is only the second place I have tried.
I expect tomorrow we will be in the Erie Canal at Waterford City Dock.