Waterford to Brewerton, NY

We left Waterford on Monday morning and arrived in Brewerton, NY on Thursday. We stopped overnight in Amsterdam on the Mohawk river, Little Falls, and Sylvan Beach on the Erie Canal at the junction with Oneida Lake. I realized I did not take many pictures, likely because this is familiar territory and landscape.

We went through 21 locks in 3 days, and we were glad we had our friends Vickey and Fran help us through the locks. It was pouring on Tuesday while we were locking...not that much fun.

And the night in Amsterdam was not very restful: the wall tie-up is located 400 yards from a very busy railroad with an intersection right there...every train honks at the intersection, and it seems that they kept coming all night long. Felt like a train was rolling over you while you were trying to find your sleep: a night to remember!
The temperatures have been rather cool since we left the Hudson, particularly at night. Which was a good thing since we did not have a working generator and no A/C.
We are in Brewerton near Syracuse until Sunday as we have a wedding to attend. Our generator is repaired: new fresh water pump assembly. We are going to Oswego on Lake Ontario on Sunday. Our friends will depart Sunday evening. They have been a pleasure to have onboard, fun and very helpful. We are planning on crossing lake Ontario on Tuesday at this point, as Monday does not look favorable. So we should be on Canadian waters by Tuesday evening.
Until next time,
Annick & Michael cruising on Sirocco.

New York Harbor to Waterford, NY on the Hudson

New York City to Waterford, NY on the Hudson

New York City
We spent 3 days on anchor in NYC harbor. Actually, the anchoring basin is on the Jersey side, in Jersey City, immediately South West of the Lady. Although convenient, the basin is located in a rather industrial and seemingly impoverished area, with nothing of interest to walk to. We could see the Lady from the back, but not the Manhattan skyline.

As you all know, the heat wave reached this area by Thursday. And as you would have it, our main generator broke down Wednesday evening…this means we endured 2 full days and 3 nights of extreme heat without air conditioning. We have arranged to get it serviced in Brewerton, NY in a week. Our little backup Honda generator saved the day as we are able to keep the inverter batteries charged to keep the refrigerators and freezer going…all this frozen meat and wines. So we did enjoy cold water/ice tea, ice, and cold wine! Friday was particularly oppressing, as there was zero wind. We “slept” on the bow cushions 3 nights, as this was the only spot on the boat where we could get a faint breeze!

Now, to top this timing of events, the largest wastewater treatment plant in NY/Upside Manhattan experienced a serious fire on Wednesday afternoon, the day we arrived. By Thursday Noon, all the beaches and access to the river were closed, as raw sewage was discharged at the rate of about 140 million gallons a day. By Friday morning, with the extreme heat not helping the situation, the stench had reached us. Glad we left on Saturday as soon as we could. It was getting pretty bad.

Our friends Vicky and Fran arrived as planned later on Friday afternoon after a 5 hours train ride from Rochester, NY and multiple ferries/ rides to the Liberty Park basin (good experience that is – they even met folks who gave them free car rides in the heat, and a bus driver who took them around the World Trade center site!).

Picture the 4 of us, exhausted from the heat and travel, laying down on the bow for the night! We left at dawn Saturday to start our journey up the Hudson River. We all enjoyed the sights of Manhattan under the golden light of dawn from the water, including the 2 new World Trade Center towers being erected, more of Lady Liberty, and the George Washington Bridge. What an amazing experience it was to drive our own boat through these venues!

Up the Hudson to Kingston, NY
The ride up the Hudson was smooth, and temperature a bit more bearable. I did not know The Hudson was that picturesque: high banks with beautiful estates, some narrowing passages and bends. Passed by West Point too!

Overall quite scenic. However no good, or at least what we would consider safe, anchoring along the river.

After 10 hours travel we stopped in Kingston for the night, a little town of 30,000 right off the Hudson. There is a very nice public marina right off the historical downtown area which has been redeveloped. Nice restaurants/bars and nightlife.

After seriously washing the boat (from salt but mostly the sewage contaminated NYC water), we had a superb meal at a bistro ran by a graduate of the American Culinary Institute located just down the river (the ACU that is).

We docked right behind a beautiful Hinkley, which we found out was owned by no less than …the Expedia’s CEO! Did not meet him, as he was visiting a friend in town. Our dock master, a woman, seemed to know everything…

Service at this marina was so good that they even come and help get your garbage off the boat: I have never had this service!

With power and water, we all had long showers, ran loads of laundry, and slept like babies with A/C throughout the boat! YEH!

Up the Hudson to Waterford, NY
Left Kingston on Sunday morning. We definitely will stop by there once more on our way back down in a few years. Drove to Waterford, NY (just pass Troy) where the waterway takes you to either Lake Champlain up North or to the Erie Canal West. After morning rain showers, the sky opened up to a beautiful day. This part of the Hudson becomes gradually less scenic. However, Waterford is an interesting stop. FREE docks, with water AND power and Wi-Fii (fast too), BUT you have to get a space! It seems that the Quebecois (French Canadians) have made it their own … we could not find a spot when we arrived at 3PM. A very nice couple, Bob and Fran, from New Bern/Fairfield Harbor (figure it out), let us raft with them.

Another night with A/C and water privileges onboard: more laundry, regular showers (extra long for Annick), watering the herbs pots in total abandon, and 4-burner stove usage. YEH! Annick is could not be happier: A/C and internet, can't beat that.
Tomorrow, we are taking the first lock getting into the Erie Canal. We are sitting right in front of it.

To more (really) chilled wine! (and it is chilling)
Annick & Michael cruising aboard Sirocco

New York here we come!

We had the perfect plan to leave from the Manasquan Inlet at 5:15AM for the run to NYC on the ocean. This was important since the forecast called for calmer waters in the morning. We enthusiastically rose at 4:45AM but found ourselves socked in by dense fog. Fog finally lifted by 9AM and we had an uneventful ride to NYC harbor.
Entering NY harbor from the ocean was an experience to remember: it is not just the breathtaking Manhattan skyline, but Lady Liberty stands right in the middle with all the tall buildings as a backdrop, and she is surrounded by container ships coming and going, or simply waiting. We toured a bit before following a small channel taking us to the Liberty State Park anchorage basin. This was not easy to find, especially as we had to cross the main channel as well as negotiate our way with the numerous ferries who run around like they are the only ones on the water...

Michael's daughter and grand-daughter will stop by tomorrow. Our friends Vickey and Fran are arriving Friday to join us on our journey up the Hudson and the barge canal in NYS. Oh, and I am pr
oudly flying my French flag on the bow in front of Lady Liberty ...

Wish I could attach a few pictures, but again no internet here.
Until next time,
Annick and Michael on Sirocco

Brielle, NJ (North end of Barnegat Bay - near Manasquan Inlet)

We left the southern end of Barnegat Bay on Monday morning and headed to Toms River about 15 miles North, still off the bay. Dropped anchor in a nicely protected cove there for one overnight.

We drove this morning further North on the bay to get positioned to get out via the Manasquan Inlet at the crack of dawn Wednesday morning. We are at a marina in Brielle since this end of the bay has no anchoring option. It certainly is not as pretty as the southern portion (around Barnegat Light)and very built up. We know we are getting closer to NYC!

We saw lots of sea creature carcasses on the white sandy beach on the southern end of the bay. Crabs like I had not seen before: delicately spotted, small and elegant. And blue crab claws of course, so very blue it was almost blinding in the sun.This area is known for its scallops fishing industry. There are also zillions of very small mussels. In the 48 hours time we were anchored, the anchor chain was covered with these tenacious little creatures.

The ocean has been rough since we took refuge on the bay last Saturday. Tomorrow morning looks like the best bet. So it will be a very early ride into NYC harbor. We plan on anchoring at the Liberty State Park (on the Jersey side) just South West of the Statue. This should be quite a sight, with the Manhattan skyline. Hope it works out and the winds are not too stiff, as they have been here for the past 3 days; gusts up to 25 knots.

Since we are at a marina, laundry is going full blast, AC is ON, Michael is washing the boat with fresh water (Sirocco has seen only salt water since we left a month ago), and LONG showers are on the schedule this evening.

By the way, I got a promotion...(long overdue if you ask me). Michael maintains his Captain title!

Cheers to all,
Annick & Michael cruising on Sirocco

Barnegat Bay, New Jersey

We arrived yesterday Saturday in Barnegat Bay along the Jersey Shore. The 70 miles run on the Atlantic ocean was rather perfect. We left Cape May at the crack of dawn in anticipation of quiet seas early in the morning.

Perfect timing, as we experienced small swells all along. At times, the water even looked like a mill pond. So we skipped Atlantic City and pushed further taking advantage of such calm conditions. Barnegat Bay is described as a very pristine area, with beautiful aqua blue waters and white sandy beaches. It runs about 25 miles N -S and we will stay on it until Wednesday when we plan on making the final ocean run up to New York harbor.

Cheers to all. We are having a blast!
Annick and Michael
585-749-5102

Cape May, New Jersey

We have arrived in Cape May! It was a great day to go through and cross the Delaware Bay. No bad waves, and we were able to go with the tide most of the way. Winds were mild enough to not interfere with the tidal waves.
We are anchored in a large basin where boats wait for good weather to do the 140 miles on the ocean to NYC harbor. The weather game has started...tomorrow looks decent, Sunday not so great.
The basin is really uninterestingly ugly. Hope we are not here any longer than we need to. Funny how it seems that as soon as you cross the NJ state line, the surroundings are just plain ugly. Flat, industrial, boring.
Typing this from my droid phone so I'll keep it short and no pictures to attach. These would not be picturesque anyway...
Time for a Mojito, made on board with my very own fresh mint. My herbs are doing great!
Annick & Michael cruising on Sirocco

Chesapeake City, MD

HAPPY 14th (Bastille Day) to all my French connections!

We arrived just in time (as planned)...before the thunderstorms on Wednesday early afternoon. Actually, there hardly was any right here in Chesapeake City. Just a little spit here and there.
This is a very small town located 5 miles or so before the official beginning of the C&D canal. There is a fairly sheltered small harbor with a town floating dock. This is where one waits for the right conditions to go thru the C&D canal and the Delaware Bay to Cape May. The Delaware Bay can be very nasty. One tries to time the run to go along with the tide (outgoing tide) and the natural current, and preferrably pick a day when the winds are also in a favorable direction to the tide current. Today was not that day, so we stayed put. Tomorrow Friday looks fair to good, yet the winds will be South but no more than 10 knots and the forecast is for 1 ft waves on the bay...we naturally multiply the waves forecast by 2 to 3, as it seems to often be necessary... So we'll leave at 8AM to hit the outgoing low tide starting at 10AM. We'll have 7 miles on the canal and 55 miles on the bay.

Chesapeake City is a little gingerbread town. Very, very cute 1840s houses mostly well maintained. Mostly B&B, a few restaurants and gifts/antiques or otherwise old stuff shops.

No grocery store though. Our dock neighbor who lives here on his boat and has a car is giving Michael a lift later on to WalMart! YEH! Wonder if we can buy Lucky Duck vino there too??? In addition to my official duty as water nazi aboard Sirocco, I have had to appoint myself as the TP nazi...we (someone?) use(s) way too much TP here. Micheal is the electrical energy demand nazi...

I hope to write next time from Cape May.
To fair seas and cool wine!
Annick & Michael cruising aboard Sirocco

Hot Annapolis

We spent 2 1/2 days in Annapolis. And hot it was! The harbor and adjacent anchorage spots were very crowded, yet we got lucky and found a great spot on Back Creek. A bit tight, close to boats off 2 marinas, and 2 other boats at anchor; but it turned out great.

For a city priding itself in catering to boaters, there was no reliable internet access, and the dinghy docks along Back Creek were rather poor. We ended up dinghying back to the main harbor both days, a 25 minutes ride due to an enforced 6 mph limit.

We toured of the Naval Academy, which was a true disappointment for both of us. Our guide was totally monotonous, did not articulate his words, and overall, the tour was uninteresting. I remember visiting the Academy 20 years ago and was impressed then. Things have changed.

As we were returning to our dinghy, we asked a man who was at the dinghy dock with his dinghy for information. He said "No English" with such a strong French accent that I asked him if he spoke French. "Oui, bien sur"...and the rest is history! He was the one man crew on Francis Renard's 80ft prototype power catamaran that we had noticed (wouldn't you....80 ft massive cat flying a French Flag?) anchored in the channel to the harbor. Diarra invited us to visit his boss because they both were sooooo pleased to find someone who spoke French. So we did and met Francis, a very amicable French man from Southern Brittany who does not speak a word of English. He had crossed the Atlantic via the Maderes Islands and went up the Caribbeans, Cuba, Florida, and now Annapolis. We (Annick) got so involved talking with him on his 28 ft aft deck that we forgot to tour the boat! We parted after drinking Perrier (no alcohol before 18:00 per Francis). Francis came visit us on our boat a little later (drinking time then...) that evening as he was interested in getting information on the St Lawrence River to Montreal (which we did 2 years ago). His family was arriving from France and they were headed to NYC. So we likely will hook up with them at Liberty Park. Then we'll visit his bar and boat for sure! Too bad he and Michael cannot communicate at all.

We visited the State Capitol the next day, and this was a very worthwhile tour. Annapolis served as the Federal Capital between 1783-1784 until about the time when the Treaty of Paris was ratified there.

Downtown Annapolis is quaint with all red bricks buildings and paved streets.

That night, a horrendous thunderstorm hit right above us. Winds were not too bad but the lightning was like Zeus himself was throwing the bolts. Holy Cow! Lasted quite a while, Michael camped out on the bridge ready to start the engines just in case, me on the aft deck monitoring the surrounding boats getting closer...we held.

Left Annapolis on Wednesday early morning headed to Chesapeake City to beat thunderstorms forecasted for that afternoon. More crabbers, lighthouses, container ships.

To fair weather and cool wines!
Annick & Michael cruising on Sirocco