Returning across the SEA – the good and the not so good

Returning across the SEA – the good and the not so good

Our return trip was shorter by one day since we headed for the tip of Long Island and the Block Island Sound – however, the return trip was not as smooth….both figuratively and literally.  Leaving the safe and calm harbor at St George’s we encountered a persistent ocean swell that followed us most of the way home – just enough motion to remind our stomachs that we were on the water.  In addition, our crossing of the Gulf Stream – more than 100 miles of our 740 mile trip – included a confused and choppy sea.  

rough enough to duck tape the InReach

In fact, it was so confusing our stabilizers finally refused to function. Well actually one of them broke apart – filling our bilge with hydraulic fluid and leaving us rolling even more.  Fortunately, the failure occurred less than 60 miles off shore. The journey’s end was in sight and the waters were calming to more manageable swells so we managed to roll on into an anchorage behind Jamestown, RI in Dutch Harbor. Originally, we had hoped to stop at Lake Montauk on Long Island, but since we had Rob with us – we were advised to go to Newport where we could clear customs physically if a boarding was needed.  Of course, all that was needed was the phone call which we normally make with our local boating cards. However, it turned out to be fairly simple to send Rob off to NY via Uber, train to Penn Station and then the Long Island Railway where his uncle was able to meet him.  (When we finally visited Lake Montauk, it became apparent that getting to the train would have been much more difficult and the train service into the city was also infrequent…. More in that a later blog.)

The good news was the boys managed to overfill our freezer with tuna – caught on the return trip.  So we just had to eat fresh tuna.

Reflections of The Good Life

We were also able share some with good friends, Mark & Mary, on The Good Life who were also anchored in Dutch Harbor. Our trip to Bermuda precluded our attending the 40^th Anniversary Kadey Krogen Rendezvous just breaking up in Newport, RI. Although we missed that fun event, we were able to touch base with several KK friends and enjoyed their photos.

After sending Rob on his way, we did lounge about the Jamestown/Newport area.  For the fireworks and traditional reading of the Declaration of Independence in Newport on July 4^th, we safely hung on a mooring belonging to Krogen Friends on Laurel Ann – Dave and Trish. These fine folks also supplied us with the loan of a car so we could take our ailing cat Frankie to a vet in Newport.  The bad news is never easy, but after tests and exploratory surgery, we had to let him go.  He was such a central part of our lives – more dog than cat in the way he made sure to be with us – even at night.  He has left a big hole. The Princess who was much older seems to carry on and unlike Steve and I, hardly seems to have noticed Frankie’s absence.  She has, however, become a little more affection seeking which might just be her way of helping us move on or letting us know that at her advance age she might also be leaving us soon.