New Jersey

We got settled at Utsch's Marina (I never could figure out how to properly pronounce it)  We spent the last days of May exploring the town on our bikes, getting groceries and doing chores (laundry, wash the boat, etc.). Then the weather turned lousy with strong NE winds. There are quite a few other boats here waiting out the weather (one sail boat has been here for over 10 days) and fellow cruisers get together for "docktails" (drinks on the dock), a nice way to get to know other boaters. There are five other boats here doing the "Great Loop". We had one group lunch and were joined by Kathie and Werner (on "It's About Time") who have elected to wait out this weather at anchor.

Our little fold-up bikes have proven to be really handy for getting around.

And we found side roads with farmer's markets.

We even came across a wedding at an old mansion.

And a historic firehouse.

Beautifully restored fire engine.

The downtown had a pedestrian mall that was pretty busy on the weekend.

The weather forecast continued to be bad for the next several days so we rented a car Monday afternoon and on Tuesday morning we drove to Connecticut to visit my Dad who is going to be 100 this August and is not feeling well. We had a good visit with him and Sandra and then drove to NYC to spend the night with our daughter Suzette who is now back living in the upper east side of Manhattan. And of course we didn't take any pictures!

Back to Cape May on Wednesday morning, last minute errands, drop off the car and get the boat ready to leave. We have decided to take the inside route up the Jersey coast. It is reputed to be very shallow, twisty, and shoaled in because of Hurricane Sandy. But Werner and Kathie have done this before and we are all tired of waiting this out.

So we pushed off from the dock at 6:45, met Werner and Kathie and headed off up the NJICW - they took the lead, thankfully! Cold, drizzle and NE winds 15-25. In the populated areas there were houses lined up on the water.

 Not a fun day, lots of stress in shallow areas but we never saw less that 6 feet and made it just south of Atlantic City and anchored in the Ventnor City Basin.

Woke up to more drizzle and wind and left at 7:00 for a series of bridges to get past Atlantic City.

Anchored just slightly off the ICW at Haven Beach but we found it a bit rough and left in search of a more sheltered anchorage. Backtracked to one that looked great on paper but there was no water so we went back past It's About Time and found one slightly further on. Not too bad; anchored next to another trawler, Venture, who traveled with us yesterday. So damp and cold we even turned on the generator and ran the heat pump!

Off early the next morning, we wanted to get across Barnegat Bay before the winds came up. Woke to fog but it cleared and then had an uneventful ride in more drizzle but light winds. It's About Time was a bit behind us. We anchored right before the start of the Manasquan Canal near a yacht club.

New construction of a McMansion nearby.

With a large wedding party taking place at another club next to us.

And a boat ride for the bride and groom back to the yacht club for partying late into the night.

But we are ready for an early morning start down the canal (5 miles to the inlet).

Werner and Kathie had passed us that afternoon to go to a marina for two nights near the inlet - they needed groceries and laundry. We got an email late that night that there was no laundry there, contrary to website, and said they were ready to leave with us.

Up and off at 6:15. Down the canal with the current, we were almost idling the engine and doing over 8 MPH. Zipped into the river headed for the Manasquan Inlet. 

One bridge we can get under and then a railroad bridge (3' clearance) to get through. As we approached we saw the RR bridge was open so off we go. We no sooner cleared the bridge than the siren went off and the bridge closed for a train. Whew!

It's About Time had to go to the fuel dock first so they were behind us as we went up the coast. No waves but a large swell that caused the boat to shift around uncomfortably but nothing to really complain about.

Up the Jersey Coast in light winds; lots of fishing boats out there.

Around Sandy Hook and there it is: the Verrazanno Narrows bridge - the entrance to the NY harbor. Whew, is that the end of New Jersey?

Up the busy NY harbor with lots of traffic and light houses.

Container ships.

 Lighthouse with NYC skyline in the background.

Lots of ships anchored between the main shipping channels, even this tall ship.

And finally - Manhattan. And the new trade center tower.

We are headed for an anchorage behind the Statute of Liberty.

These are all the tour boats taking people to the Statue; you can't land a boat there, you must arrive by one of these ferries. High security zone.

We finally anchor with the back of the statute just visible.  

And the Verrazanno Bridge the other way.

Took the dinghy in for a walk around Liberty Park where hundreds of families were enjoying Sunday afternoon picnics.

You can't get much closer to downtown.

That should be the end of New Jersey as we plan on heading up the Hudson to stay at a marina in the historic town of Croton-on-the-Hudson. We had a long string of lousy weather and are hoping for a new outlook as we pass under the George Washington and Tappan Zee bridges.