Day 268: Thursday, May 30, 2013
Port to Port: Surf City to Manasquan, New Jersey
Underway: 6:08 am Motor Off: 1:55 pm Miles Traveled: 38/35 Stayed At: Marina
Mile 36 to Mile 1: Our journey up the remainder of the New Jersey Intracoastal was mostly uneventful. It was a beautiful travel day – light breeze, warm and sunny. The boat traffic was very light (until we got to the Marina) and we had a favorable current for most of the day. The depth finder only woke us up a couple of times when we got a little off course. Our only white-knuckle excitement was traveling the 1.8 miles up the Pleasant Point Canal from the Intracoastal into Manasquan. No matter which way the current is going this run can be tricky. We randomly hit it with the current against us. We were only going between 2.0 and 3.5 mph in a very narrow choppy channel. Plus there was a lot of boat traffic. Add in two lift bridges that need to open. All in less than two miles and you can imagine our stress. (Plus all the other uncertainties like: Will Boris keep going?, Did I put in enough gas?; Will a huge power boat try to pass? Etc…). We made it and were extremely relieved when we popped out of the channel and passed through yet another bridge before getting securely tied up at Hoffman’s marina (right next to another railroad bridge that we will have to go through tomorrow morning).
No sooner than we got tied up by someone on a boat at the end of the next dock over yelling, “Mike, Mike, we’re glad you made it.” We were pleasantly surprised to find it was Ozel and Maryann from Freya whom we met in Delaware City. Well, it wasn’t long before plans were set to have docktails on their boat later in the afternoon and maybe go out to dinner. That didn’t take long.
One of the reasons we decided to stop at a marina was to get some boat projects done before we go to NYC and spend a week on a mooring ball. We scrubbed the boat, plotted our course for tomorrow, stocked up on ice and water and organized the main cabin. We also took much needed showers. What a treat that was. You never know what you are going to get for your $1, $2, or $3 at foot. Thankfully, this marina is brand new and has amazing bathrooms (it’s the simple things in life). Their shower will definitely win the award for “Best Shower on the Great Loop”. It was a large tastefully tiled room with two shelves (yes, shelves) and hooks to hang stuff. It was brand new clean. And, best of all, the shower head was about 1 foot in diameter and mounted on the ceiling so you could imagine standing under a waterfall – a nice warm waterfall. Nothing low-flow about this one. We didn’t want to leave. What a nice way to end our journey up the New Jersey Intracoastal and get ready for our last leg to NYC.
We had a blast spending time with Ozel and Maryann. They kept our wine glasses full and we enjoyed crackers, cheese and grapes for a pre-dinner snack. They are old sailors and they miss their old boat. Freya is a power boat – a much more practical boat for the Great Loop. We wandered over to a nearby restaurant for more conversation and storytelling. The food was nothing to write home about but the company was wonderful. (Thanks guys – lets do it again soon – see you in NYC).
When we got back to the marina, the current was calm so we used the opportunity to spin Aurora around to face the outgoing current early tomorrow morning. With all the bridges, docks, boats and other obstacles, I was afraid I couldn’t get off the dock in reverse against the full ebb tide without hitting something. One less worry to dream about tonight.
