The glamour that is cruising
I know there will be no sympathy forthcoming from our land-based friends but everyone does need to be aware that the whole cruising thing is (sadly) not sunsets and umbrella drinks. Case in point… our first day in Cape May involved nothing but (lots of) laundry, a multi-mile hike with 10 bags of groceries and numerous other boat-related chores. It needs to be said… all of the crap that land dwellers have to do, we have to do too. It is just less convenient and often done on a moving platform!
Woo hoo! We made it.
We enjoyed the facilities at Utsch’s Marina. Let me tell you, Hub at Collins Bay has some serious competition for the best bathrooms and showers!
Rebecca running back to the boat for the key, which we forgot. This was the second trip back to the boat from the laundry facility. Yes, I made the first trip back!
Glamourous!
With that off my chest, we still had a great day today. First, we were “interrupted” in the middle of our chores by internet friend and fellow PDQ 32 owner Drew Frye. He previously told me that he would be in the Cape May area but we never expected him to just show up at the marina. I even forgot to ask him how he knew we were there (at Utsch’s). I was very happy to chat with Drew as he has a lot more knowledge of the whole boating thing than I do. He gave me some cool tips that I’m sure will help us in the future. Drew’s daughter Jessica, who is frequently mentioned in his blog and his cruising guide, also dropped by to visit which was very cool. Thanks very much guys! We were very happy to finally meet you in person.
After leaving the marina, Rebecca and I set off across the small bay to anchor in what we knew would be shallow water. We are still coming to grips with the whole tide thing but we knew that once low tide came around, it would be REALLY shallow. How does 0.1 feet under the keel sound? I actually got in the water to touch bottom to verify the depth. Yes, the depth gauge was about right! Good thing it’s soft mud!
Good bye marina…
Hello (free) anchorage!
We were anchored just in front of the Coast Guard station, just in case. 😉
It doesn’t get much more shallow, unless you are aground! FYI, our boat draws 3 feet and the depth gauge is offset for that same amount so when it reads zero, we are aground.
In addition to meeting Drew, we were also visited by another gentleman, Angus, who told us that he is one of our blog readers also. Too cool! Angus had a boat on a mooring nearby and also owns a condo in the area. He gave us the scoop on where to tie up our dinghy which was very helpful because of course, we just had to do our 5 mile hike to nowhere! Thanks for coming by to visit, Angus. It was a real pleasure to meet you!
Out for a tour in our dinghy.
Yes, the cormorants are here too!
The nice yacht club which Angus suggested we tie our dinghy up at.
They didn’t seem to mind (no one noticed actually).
Today’s journey will involve going from the bottom to the top of the Delaware Bay. We’re leaving here at 6:00 AM to make it through the canal and be ready on the other side to catch the flood tide. So many things to consider!
Hey M and R……
You guys are doing great…Fun to see you guys doing so well….Not that I had any doubt…You guys did your due dillegence in preparation…..I read it every morning with my coffee….Watch Danielle and take safe harbor until she passes…..it wont be so much the wind as the seas……..
Thanks John. I guess now we’re looking out for Earl instead of Danielle.
hi mike, i am glad to see you made it to cape may ok. i am sure it is a lot of work shopping and cleaning of your clothes while trying to enjoy your trip but that adventure will be with the rest of your life to enjoy, sooooo don’t sweat the small stuff. you guys are great and a lot of us wish we could join you. anyway there is a lot of storms out there so take warning! they are saing EARL which is now a hurricane will be hitting the caralinas by the weeken and there is another one behind that. with that have a great day and be prepared.
Thanks Kenny. We’re looking into the Earl thing right now.
fair winds
🙂
Thanks!
How did I find Zero-to-Cruising? I was walking toward the marina store (I was in a different marina with a poor marine store), looked up, and saw Rebeca in front of me, with a duffel of laundry. I think the surprise was equal.
As for the walking, we are using the bikes we carry every other day, it seems. Of course, we were always riders. But we are finding they greatly increase the spontaneity of our shore-side explorations and make chores (buying a replacement salon fan from West Marine, ~ 1-mile distant) simple. We look like the Clampitts, with bike strapped on, but it works, and we’ve sailed through some weather with the rack.
LOL at looking like the Clampitts. We took a tour over to your marina and saw your boat (from a distance). It looked nothing like that.
Now I know why I keep looking at folding dock carts! No way I could do that walk and carry stuff. I’m not sure I could do it and NOT carry stuff! I bet both of you slept well that night! Beautiful pics, though. Makes all the work worth it. New scenery, new friends, it’s all good!
Try this!
http://sail-delmarva.blogspot.com/2010/01/tiny-cart-for-serious-hauling.html
I remember that post and will be using something similar.
We have a good cart that we bought at Home Depot. We just keep omitting to bring it along. Next time…!
Somehow your way of doing laundry and errands does seem so much more glamorous! Heck, visits by fellow bloggers and followers, too. Glad the past few days have been going so well.
Laundry is never glamorous although we were just able to do some in our friends’ house, with air conditioning.