Lady Royal

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

From Atlantic City, NJ to Hyde Park, NY

On June 6, We traveled across the C&D Canal, with the current, to Summit North in Bear, Delaware. Because of the current, we had the pleasure of traveling like a fast boat... at 14 mph! This was a good on-the-way stop, with a really nice restaurant, Aqua Sol. We continued our journey across Delaware Bay to Cape May, New Jersey on June 7 where we met up with John and Zita (Winndecks), took a cab into town, and had a nice dinner at Tisha's. Cape May is one of the oldest resort destinations with many Victorian structures. We stayed just one night, and headed to Trump Marina (being taken over by Golden Nugget) in Atlantic City on June 8.

Aqua Sol

Rob Enjoys his Captain's Beer at Cape May

Cape May Sunset

Cape May

Dinner at Tisha's in Cape May

John, Zita and Rob at Cape May

Atlantic City was a great stop. Although we weren't located on the boardwalk, it was easy to get around, either by Jitney or by Sheree, Rob's cousin, who was a great hostess during our stay. We walked the boardwalk; had dinner on the top level of Caesar's Mall on the pier; gambled just a tad; went to see Lucy the Elephant in Margate; saw the show Believe, a very entertaining drag show; went to the Irish Pub; toured the city; and had a few dinners at the Borgata where Sheree often plays poker. If any of you are interested in poker, be sure to check out Sheree Bykofsky's poker books! Sheree started her professional poker career by winning a seat at the World Series of Poker from an online poker tournament. She was also the grand-prize winner on Wheel of Fortune, is a rated scrabble champion, accomplished literary agent, and all-around sweet person!

Boardwalk from Caesar's Mall on the Pier

Fountain in Caesar's Mall

Atlantic City Boardwalk

Atlantic City Lighthouse

On the Boardwalk

Lucy the Elephant (Building that we Toured)

Lucy's "Pane in the Ass"

Marven Gardens (Note Spelling... Wrong on Monopoly Board!)

Sheree and Rob at Borgata

Atlantic City from the Inlet

We continued our journey on June 13 by heading to Brielle Boat Basin, near Manasquan, NJ. Earlier on our trip, we learned a new word from our Canadian friends, Louis and Louise, on General Delivery. They used the word “cauchemar” to describe their overnight journey across the Gulf of Mexico. Cauchemar means nightmare. Our trip, on the Atlantic Ocean, was definitely the roughest trip we've had. Up until this point, we had been traveling on the Intra Coastal, bays, sounds and interior waterways, most of which are somewhat protected. We cruised from the bridge, and the cabin was a mess when we docked, with all of the dishes and sundry items on the floor.

Our next stop was Atlantic Highlands in Sandy Hook, NJ. After docking, Rob called for me to come and see something... and to bring my camera! There was a boat ramp at the marina, and the pictures tell all. Thank goodness nobody was hurt. We went to dinner at Copper Canyon with some boaters we had just met, and left in the morning for our short journey to Liberty Landing, located in in New York City.

One of Three...

Two of Three...

Three of Three!

We got to NYC on Thursday, June 16, and cruising past the Statue of Liberty was amazing. We started talking with other loopers as we approached, and took pictures of each other in front of Lady Liberty. Once docking at Liberty Landing, Becky met us and stayed overnight. We had dinner at Maritime Parc, and took the ferry into the city in the morning. We walked around the city, and met Rachel, Becky and John back at the boat later in the day. Becky stayed overnight again, and I flew to Cleveland Saturday morning. Rob really enjoyed the time he spent in NY with his kids, and met me in Cleveland later

in the week in time to celebrate my dad's 75^th birthday – dinner at Red and a “ride down memory lane” on the Euclid Beach Rockets. We spent more time with family and friends, and were both back in New York in time for July 4th fireworks.

Cruising by the Statue of Liberty

Lady Royal in front of Statue of Liberty

Statue of Liberty

Becky and John at Liberty Landing

Rachel, Rob and Becky at Maritime Parc

Rob and Rachel

Rachel, Rob, Becky and John

View of Manhattan from Liberty Landing.
World Trade Center Construction.

One of Two Rocket on a "Ride Down Memory Lane"

Group Shot on Berkeley Road

Our initial plan was to watch fireworks from the boat, as they were shot off by the Statue of Liberty. The plan changed when we found out that the display was cancelled, and the display further up the Hudson would not be clear from the Marina. Becky and Mandy met us for dinner, and we took a cab to Hoboken to see the fireworks up close and personal. When being dropped off, we arranged for the taxi driver to pick us up at a designated time and location. All was good until the time came and went... and the taxi driver didn't show up. We called every service in town. No cars. After waiting almost two hours, we made it back to Liberty Landing, and continued on our journey up the Hudson the next morning.

Fireworks over the Hudson

Becky, Mandy and Rob

We stayed at Half Moon Bay Marina, in Croton on Hudson, on July 5. It was a perfect day for cruising and the scenery was (and continues to be) picturesque. The view of Manhattan was spectacular, and not far past the city, the countryside takes over with parks, trees, and mountains. Croton on Hudson was nice, as was the Italian dinner we had near the marina.

Manhattan with World Trade Center
Cruising to Croton on Hudson

Manhattan Skyline

George Washington Bridge

Sing Sing Correctional Facility
Ossining, New York

Sunset, Croton on Hudson

Just when you think the scenery can't get better, it does. Today we cruised past West Point on our way to Hyde Park Marina, in Hyde Park, NY, where we will probably stay for two nights since it is next to the Culinary Institute of New York and we have lunch reservations tomorrow.

Cruising to Hyde Park, NY

West Point

Cruising to Hyde Park, NY

Cruising....

Until my next entry, enjoy the scenery on this blog! (Thanks, Al, for the push to update!)

Monday, June 6, 2011

May 25 - June 6

Our continued journey down the Dismal Swamp Canal was beautiful. When in the lead, water ahead was smooth as glass, making it hard to differentiate where the land ended from where the water began. It was mesmerizing when looking ahead, especially when going around a bend. At the end of the canal is the Deep Woods Lock, and beyond that, scenery changed dramatically as we headed into Norfolk, VA on the Elizabeth River. We stayed at Waterside Marina in downtown Norfolk which was a great stop. The marina had the perfect floating docks and we were in walking distance from museums, shopping, restaurants and a movie theater. We toured the harbor on a narrated Victory Rover cruise and learned a lot about the harbor. Norfolk Naval Base is the world's largest base, and the world's largest military alliance, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, has its defense headquarters there. In addition to being the home of the Navy's largest concentration of naval forces, Naval Station Norfolk also hosts personnel from the Marine Corps, Army, Air Force and Coast Guard. It was cool to see all of the ships at port, as well as two returning ships as we were leaving. The government's Fleet and Industrial Supply Center/Defense Distribution Depot is the second largest government building, next to the Pentagon. We also saw the USS Cole which had been bombed a few years ago in Yemen. The weather was in the 90's, so we went to see two movies to cool down. The first night we saw Bridesmaids which was really entertaining, and the second night Hangover II, which wasn't as good as the first Hangover movie.

Dismal Swamp as Smooth as Glass

Cruising Down the Dismal Swamp

Heading Toward Norfolk, VA

Norfolk, VA

Waterside Marina

Chris Beats the Heat at Waterside Marina

Downtown Restaurant

Norfolk Waterfront

Downtown Norfolk

Naval Ship

Downtown Norfolk

Victory Rover Cruise

Our next stop, Deltaville, was Sandy and Bru's (Coconuts) home port. It's on the Chesapeake, and was hit by a tornado in April. The area was described as being like a war zone, and after the clean-up, we saw effects from the storm including the remains of Zoar Church which was torn in half. We had a nice dinner at Cocomo's and went back to Sandy and Bru's home afterward. The next day, we hung out before going to Gary and Robin's home on Rappahannock River for an excellent Memorial Day cookout. Their hospitality and home set a beautiful setting for the rainbow that crossed the river after a short rainfall.

Cruising on the Chesapeake Bay

Zoar Church

Calm After the Storm

Gary, Robin, Bru, Sandy and Billy

On May 29, we went with Bade Boomer to Solomons Island and stayed at Calvert Marina. The marina itself was somewhat rundown, and it was hotter than hot. We took the dinghy to the other side of the river, visited the Tiki Bar, Solomons' Pier, caught up with Greg and Barb on Gone Cruzin' III, and headed on to St. Michaels where we spent a few days (May 31 and June 1).

Sunset at Solomons Island

Bruce Blowing his Conch at Sunset

Getting Ready for a Dinghy Ride

Rob, Deb, Chris and Bruce at the Tiki Bar

Solomons' Pier

St. Michaels Marina was in the center of its cute town with shopping, restaurants, an excellent Maritime Museum, and a grocery store within walking distance. We spent a lot of time at the pool because it was super hot and humid. The Maritime Museum was cool. We learned about oystering and how so many of the oyster beds have been destroyed over the years and how the Maryland crab molts or sheds its hard shell to become a soft-shell crab. We toured a lighthouse in which families used to live, and saw how how historic ships are refurbished.

St. Michael's Marina

Rob and Bruce Inspect Vessel Freedom's Figurehead

Chesapeake Bay Information

Crab Pot With Baby Crab

Bruce Digs for Oysters

Corkscrew Lighthouse

The Inn at Perry Cabin

Hydrangeas at the Inn

Inn at Perry Cabin

Entrance to the Maritime Museum

Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum

St. Michaels

We got to Annapolis, MD on June 2, and docked at Yacht Basin Company. Shortly after our arrival, Mom, Dad, Darcy, Randy, Max and Sadie met us at the marina, and we walked around town, went on a cruise that left from Ego Alley to learn about the area, and had a crab fest at Buddy's for dinner. Friday night, Max and Sadie stayed with us on Lady Royal. Saturday morning, before cruising to Baltimore, we all went to Chick & Ruth's Delly, where it is a daily tradition to have everyone stand up at a specified time to say the Pledge of Allegiance.

Cruising to Annapolis Past a Sail Boat Race

Annapolis, MD

Breakfast at Chick & Ruth's Delly

Randy and Sadie in Annapolis

Ego Alley in Annapolis

Annapolis Marina

Dad, Max, Rob, Randy and Sadie

Max, Sadie, Darcy and Randy

Max as Captain in Annapolis

Sadie as Captain in Annapolis

Saturday morning, Randy drove to Baltimore to meet the rest of us, who cruised there from Annapolis. The cruise was about four hours, and the weather was picture perfect. The bay was calm and the sun was shining. When pulling into the Baltimore Harbor, we passed Fort McHenry where the Star Spangled Banner was penned. We stayed at Inner Harbor East Marina and enjoyed what Baltimore has to offer, including its aquarium, the Top of the World, Little Italy, and Annabel Lee's Restaurant, named after one of Edgar Allan Poe's works. Our next stop is the C&D Canal which is the entrance to Delaware Bay, then on to New Jersey. It's the first time in weeks that we'll be traveling on our own. We have been traveling with Bade Boomer, who is going back to Chicago for a week, and will miss them!