New Neighbourhood Friends

It's been a great couple of days here in Safe Harbor marina while our alternator was being rebuilt.

Being at a dock means you see your liveboard neighbours more often because you're literally just a few feet away.

Friendships form fast and furious when you're cruising. You already have so much in common. The pleasantries are often skipped and one can really start to have a serious conversation from the get go.

We have met so many new people in our few days here, cruisers and land-dwellers. We met as strangers but we part as friends. It really is one of the best parts about cruising.

Tuesday was rainy, cold and foggy. We stayed inside and took advantage of the fast WiFi here.

Aila made her Halloween costume, we played Catan, we went to visit some other liveaboard neighbours on their boats, and basically chilled out.

A new local friend Antonia Fthenakis came onboard with her two boys to meet us. Laura put us in touch because we are both homeschoolers. So lovely to meet you to share, exchange and learn from!

Wednesday was a glorious sunny day.

Thanks again to Laura Stulbaum for loaning us her car, we were able to get a lot done: provisioning, laundry, filling up our 20lb propane gas tank that was gifted to us from Robert, a dock neighbour. The closest place to fill the tank was a 45 minute drive away! Fun to drive again but definitely don't miss traffic!

Back on the boat, we hoisted the dinghy to store on deck for our upcoming passage.

Tai caught a fish too which he was super proud of!

The alternator came back and was installed in no time. It's all systems go now!

For our last dinner in Port Washington, we had another new local friend Matthew Straus and his kids come on board, as well as Laura's family.

Our kids mentioned afterwards how interesting it was for them to see other kids' reaction to the boat and certain things which they consider normal.

For example, when one of our guests needed to use the heads (toilet), Tai took him down and asked him precisely "so what are you going to be doing in there?"

Perhaps a bit rude and direct to ask such a question but completely necessary to know in order to explain how to discard toilet paper and flush.

I'm happy to be moving on again but am sad to be leaving Port Washington and all her wonderful people.

I'm feeling bit anxious about this passage.

There is a lot to consider in this next leg: getting through Hell Gate at the appropriate slack tide and sailing down the New Jersey coast which can be unforgiving in terms of sea state and waves, and rounding Cape May with the tide going in.

We have a plan and we will tuck into designated anchorages if we need to. So right now we cannot say how long this passage will be because it depends on how it goes when we're out there.

That's probably why I'm feeling more apprehensive than usual. We will be doing another marathon passage but we don't know how much to pace ourselves since there is no set finish.

The big picture is to get down and round Cape May and into the Delaware River. It would be awesome to do it all in one go, a passage of at least 24+ hours. But we'll see.

For now, we focus on the next few hours. And that means pushing off from the dock and sailing through the East River in New York City!

More whipping today!

Shiny newly rebuilt alternator... Drool!

Bought and fastened the new poppers for our dodger. No more worrying 
in strong winds if the entire thing will just lift off now. 

Aila walking back on the dock in the rain.

Fishing!!

Dock neighbour Robert helping Tai with the striped bass he caught.

Just a boy and the fish he caught. He was SO proud!

Having new friends over for pizza!

Feeling so blessed to have met some incredible people in Port Washington.