Erben Renewal Completes a Bermuda Triangle – sort of

Erben Renewal Completes a Bermuda Triangle – sort of

On June 10^th we left Charleston, SC and on September 21^st we returned. Over the summer we traveled 2926 miles, spent 24 nights in marinas, 4 nights on the hard, 8 nights on moorings, and the rest of the time we anchored out.

Tuna on our run into CAZ

appreciated calm seas between hurricanes

When Maria passes our coast, we will head to Jacksonville our marina home base.

An active hurricane season!

An active hurricane season!

We knew getting back to Florida in September could be a challenge, but three named storms have added more than enough spice to our lives.  After watching with sadness Irma destroy many lives on the islands and then in the southern USA, we cautiously moved on down through North Carolina with our eye on Jose.  

We chose to go slowly and keep inland by visiting Washington and Bath before finally making our way to Morehead City Yacht Basin. Washington or Little Washington as it is known locally, is up the Pamlico River about 30 miles from the ICW route and offers many shops and restaurants to entertain visitors.  

Free Blues and Jazz at historic theater

restored buildings

for Paul

Their welcoming waterfront was popular with locals who entertained us as we seemed to entertain them.  The tidy boardwalk was populated from early morning to late evening but also well patrolled by the city and marina staff. 

In Bath we found the state docks empty and very quiet.  The T-head was just large enough for our boat but did offer plenty of depth for our 5 feet of draft.  

The town is more of a village but well maintained and signposts educated us on the history of this town – the first in North Carolina.  A few buildings remain from the earliest times. The Palmer House is one that the historical society maintains but by visiting on a Sunday we missed the tours. 

The Visitor Center/museum was also closed so other than a walking tour and stop at Blackbeard’s Grill – yes, the famous pirate used to live here – we relaxed and watched football. 

With Jose pulling away and Maria looming we are taking the chance to run offshore to Charleston.  From there we will wait to see about getting further south…..

Interesting birds on the ICW

Irma delays our travel south

Irma delays our travel south

Leaving NYC we ran overnite to Cape May and rested one night to enjoy the Lobster House good eats from their deli/fish market. Nothing like fresh scallops!  

Always interesting to cruise the East River through NYC

his next move was to turn in front of us and take off!

gives moving a whole new meaning

just a few boats?

passing Atlantic City about 2AM

hunting dolphins????

Taking a good weather window, we headed back out to get into the Norfolk area before deciding where to wait out Irma. Most of the local boaters in the southern Chesapeake had locked up the options for hauling the boat so we watched and dawdled our way into the Elizabeth River.  We stopped at Top Rack for fuel and the next day locked through to the free dock at Great Bridge.

With Irma taking a westerly turn, we were able to get hauled at the Atlantic Yacht Basin. Since further travel south was unwise with Irma causing havoc we decided to get some maintenance done while we waited. Our bottom is now sporting a fresh coat of paint and other assorted fixes are underway.  When the dust settles (or winds and waves die down), we hope to continue on down to Jacksonville where we will spend the rest of the year.

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dry land access

puzzle entertainment

In the meantime, our eyes are focused on South West Florida – especially the Tampa area where our kids are in the process of relocating.  Hoping everyone in the path of Irma is safe, and there will be a quick recovery after the storm passes.

North Fork – still an island

North Fork – still an island

Passing Orient Point Light as we crossed Plum Gut, we turned west and headed down Long Island Sound to the protected anchorage off Mattituck, NY. We visited there last year and again found this a great stop with all the necessities a cruiser could want and then some. A special treat is the Lombardi Market on Love Lane and the Cheese Shop opposite. All the ordinary needs are also nearby the handy and spacious public dock. Since this anchorage is a few miles up a narrow creek, it is worth the effort.

Mattituck yard art?

Last time we stopped to visit our friends, Steve and Irene, but this time we met them further west in Mt Sinai Harbor where we got a mooring at the Mt Sinai Yacht Club. They picked us up for a delicious dinner with family at the Martocello home – or home farm – with an abundant garden and even bee hives. The next morning, brother-in-law Jack, came with Steve for a tour before we continued west to Oyster Bay.

This stop was on the advice of cruisers we met on Block Island. They told us of the best location and dinghy landing for a visit to Teddy Roosevelt’s home at Sagamore Hill. We dock the dink and hiked up the hill where our Senior Park Pass got us four tickets for the house tour.  Steve and Irene joined us by car and we got a peak at the home and grounds with expert guides from the National Park Service.  We also made a stop at the modest cemetery where President Roosevelt and his wife were laid to rest.  The site overlooks our peaceful anchorage at his beloved Oyster Bay home.

Our island touring has been fun, but it is time to find a dock for our break from cruising….. off to Port Washington and then the West Coast.