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JULY 22-24 NENTOA NORDIC TUG RENDEZVOUS
Essex, CT
We left our marina on Monday, July 20 to spend 2 days at Brewers Dauntless
Marina before our 3 days at Essex Island Marina. It was a good day to travel
and we had 2 free nights at Brewers. We needed a change of scenery after
spending a month at our own marina. Joan and Neal took a ride with us and we
had a great day together. We ended the day with a cook out supper.
On Wednesday, July 22, at 9:00, we brought Golden Lily just across the
channel to Essex Island Marina. We were greeted by the couple aboard Papa
Whiskey, the Krogan Whaleback that we traveled with from the C&D Canal.
They are here for the summer. By the afternoon, there were six Nordic 42's!
We had a great carry-in supper that night and hot dogs and hamburgers. I
gave a short presentation of our Great Loop trip.
Essex, CT
We left our marina on Monday, July 20 to spend 2 days at Brewers Dauntless
Marina before our 3 days at Essex Island Marina. It was a good day to travel
and we had 2 free nights at Brewers. We needed a change of scenery after
spending a month at our own marina. Joan and Neal took a ride with us and we
had a great day together. We ended the day with a cook out supper.
On Wednesday, July 22, at 9:00, we brought Golden Lily just across the
channel to Essex Island Marina. We were greeted by the couple aboard Papa
Whiskey, the Krogan Whaleback that we traveled with from the C&D Canal.
They are here for the summer. By the afternoon, there were six Nordic 42's!
We had a great carry-in supper that night and hot dogs and hamburgers. I
gave a short presentation of our Great Loop trip.
| CLICK ON THE PICTURES TO ENLARGE FOR DETAILS. |
Thursday we had a great breakfast at 8:30, followed by 2 sessions of different discussion groups on
various boating topics about Nordics, safety, engine maintenance, and cooking on board. After a wonderful
lunch, Gil Simmons, meteorologist from Channel 8, came to give a talk about weather and answered many
questions about weather forecasting. It was a great discussion. He told us we would be getting 1-4 inches
of rain starting today and going through the night with gusts up to 30 MPH. As he was talking, it began to
rain and before long, it was pouring! I should have tied up the flags and burgee, but didn't think about it
at the moment. Now as I am writing, the rain is pelting down, and the flags are flying wet and soggy!
various boating topics about Nordics, safety, engine maintenance, and cooking on board. After a wonderful
lunch, Gil Simmons, meteorologist from Channel 8, came to give a talk about weather and answered many
questions about weather forecasting. It was a great discussion. He told us we would be getting 1-4 inches
of rain starting today and going through the night with gusts up to 30 MPH. As he was talking, it began to
rain and before long, it was pouring! I should have tied up the flags and burgee, but didn't think about it
at the moment. Now as I am writing, the rain is pelting down, and the flags are flying wet and soggy!
Gil Simmons from channel 8 news
AUGUST 12-15 TRIP TO ESSEX
It was difficult to plan trips this summer with inconsistent weather and lots of rain, however, there
appeared to be a weather window this week, so we too advantage of the sun! We left Pilots Point Marina
early on Wednesday, August 12. Our ride to Essex only took 1 1/2 hours this time since we did not get
stuck waiting for the Old Lyme Railroad Bridge. We had a slip at Brewer's Dauntless across from a
Nordic 32, Isle of Barra. Our dock was closer to the sights of the 2 marinas, but a longer walk to the
grassy spot to take Lily for her walks. At least we got to see some of the actions of the little ferry
crossing to Essex Island and there were more people on the dock. The sailboat, Feather, which is right
across from us at our home marina came in right next to us!
Our second day, Margie and Larry, from Wanderin' L & M, who we met on the loop and live on Long
Island, were moored at Hamburg Cove, just up the river from us. They came over with their tender and
we spent the day having lunch at Marley's on Essex Island and walking through all the shops on Main
Street. It was great to see our looper friends since we haven't seen them since Elizabeth City.
The next day we visited with Connie from Nordic Tugs and took her to lunch at Marley's. Marley's has
the best homemade chicken salad which I had on top of a garden salad. They put pecans and cranberries
in it and it's delicious.
We left Essex Saturday, August 15 around 11:00 and headed north on the CT River until we reached
Gillette Castle. There's a little car ferry that crosses from Route 148 which is the street that goes
past our road back home. It goes to the base of the castle on the east shore.
We then headed south to the mouth of the CT River, only this time we got stuck waiting 15 minutes for
the Railroad Bridge to open. We rounded the point by the Old Saybrook Lighthouse to find Long Island
Sound very smooth and we had a nice ride back to our marina. We didn't see anyone on the dock to help
catch our lines, but I was able to lasso a cleat with the bow spring line and we were all set. It was
then that our neighbor came out and didn't realize we had even docked!
The weather has remained very hot and we are watching Hurricane Bill. I'm sure we will be tying the
boat with extra lines this weekend as it will be passing very close to the New England shore.
It was difficult to plan trips this summer with inconsistent weather and lots of rain, however, there
appeared to be a weather window this week, so we too advantage of the sun! We left Pilots Point Marina
early on Wednesday, August 12. Our ride to Essex only took 1 1/2 hours this time since we did not get
stuck waiting for the Old Lyme Railroad Bridge. We had a slip at Brewer's Dauntless across from a
Nordic 32, Isle of Barra. Our dock was closer to the sights of the 2 marinas, but a longer walk to the
grassy spot to take Lily for her walks. At least we got to see some of the actions of the little ferry
crossing to Essex Island and there were more people on the dock. The sailboat, Feather, which is right
across from us at our home marina came in right next to us!
Our second day, Margie and Larry, from Wanderin' L & M, who we met on the loop and live on Long
Island, were moored at Hamburg Cove, just up the river from us. They came over with their tender and
we spent the day having lunch at Marley's on Essex Island and walking through all the shops on Main
Street. It was great to see our looper friends since we haven't seen them since Elizabeth City.
The next day we visited with Connie from Nordic Tugs and took her to lunch at Marley's. Marley's has
the best homemade chicken salad which I had on top of a garden salad. They put pecans and cranberries
in it and it's delicious.
We left Essex Saturday, August 15 around 11:00 and headed north on the CT River until we reached
Gillette Castle. There's a little car ferry that crosses from Route 148 which is the street that goes
past our road back home. It goes to the base of the castle on the east shore.
We then headed south to the mouth of the CT River, only this time we got stuck waiting 15 minutes for
the Railroad Bridge to open. We rounded the point by the Old Saybrook Lighthouse to find Long Island
Sound very smooth and we had a nice ride back to our marina. We didn't see anyone on the dock to help
catch our lines, but I was able to lasso a cleat with the bow spring line and we were all set. It was
then that our neighbor came out and didn't realize we had even docked!
The weather has remained very hot and we are watching Hurricane Bill. I'm sure we will be tying the
boat with extra lines this weekend as it will be passing very close to the New England shore.
Essex Harbor Gillette Castle
SEPTEMBER 7 LABOR DAY
We again took a trip to Essex for the week to get some warranty work done on the boat. The dealer is
across from the shipyard. There was a crack in the gel coat above the ladder that needed repair. It
takes several days to fix since it take quite a few coats and sanding to complete the job. We have had
nice weather for the past few weeks, and two weeks ago took a ride around Falkner's Island. Our
friend, Mary Anne, from our CG Auxiliary flotilla came along and helped with our deviation table.
Today, September 9, the wind has picked up and will continue to blow. The forecast is wind 25-30 knots
with gusts higher, waves 3-4 feet on the Sound. Waves on the Sound are usually very close and steep
when they build, so hopefully we can stay here until it calms down.
We again took a trip to Essex for the week to get some warranty work done on the boat. The dealer is
across from the shipyard. There was a crack in the gel coat above the ladder that needed repair. It
takes several days to fix since it take quite a few coats and sanding to complete the job. We have had
nice weather for the past few weeks, and two weeks ago took a ride around Falkner's Island. Our
friend, Mary Anne, from our CG Auxiliary flotilla came along and helped with our deviation table.
Today, September 9, the wind has picked up and will continue to blow. The forecast is wind 25-30 knots
with gusts higher, waves 3-4 feet on the Sound. Waves on the Sound are usually very close and steep
when they build, so hopefully we can stay here until it calms down.
Falkner's Island
| DAY AT THE DURHAM FAIR September 24 |
Jim and I haven't been to the Durham Fair in quite a while since it is now the largest fair in
Connecticut and has become very crowded. We thought going early on Friday would have less people, but
we were wrong. All the parking lots hear the fair were full. Years ago it only cost a few dollars to park
there, but now the price is $10. We drove a few miles down the road to park at a large farm where
they have a shuttle bus and were the parking used to be free. However, now they charged $5. We
both got in on senior discounts, but we had already paid $30 before we even got INTO the fair!
There were many people, but at least there was space to walk unlike going on Saturday or late Friday
night. We managed to get around and see just about everything and had some of the fair "junk food"
and also met up with friends. I entered 2 pictures from our great loop trip in the photography
exhibit...one sunset at Panama City and one of a pelican eating a fish. There were so many sunsets and
only 2 won. My picture of the pelican was the ONLY one entered, and we won a third place ribbon and
$5.00! It is a very competitive exhibit and it was an honor to win even a third place. There were
hundred of pictures!
Connecticut and has become very crowded. We thought going early on Friday would have less people, but
we were wrong. All the parking lots hear the fair were full. Years ago it only cost a few dollars to park
there, but now the price is $10. We drove a few miles down the road to park at a large farm where
they have a shuttle bus and were the parking used to be free. However, now they charged $5. We
both got in on senior discounts, but we had already paid $30 before we even got INTO the fair!
There were many people, but at least there was space to walk unlike going on Saturday or late Friday
night. We managed to get around and see just about everything and had some of the fair "junk food"
and also met up with friends. I entered 2 pictures from our great loop trip in the photography
exhibit...one sunset at Panama City and one of a pelican eating a fish. There were so many sunsets and
only 2 won. My picture of the pelican was the ONLY one entered, and we won a third place ribbon and
$5.00! It is a very competitive exhibit and it was an honor to win even a third place. There were
hundred of pictures!