NY- M and T Manasquam- Jackass Oct 3rd and 4th

Prior to this picture being taken Brittany wasn't happy being stuck on a boat with her parents. In this picture she had just turned to me and said, "this could be really cool"

Lady Liberty
Didn't sleep much past 4:30. Cat issues and the navigation of Hell's Gate has our anxiety levels up.
Left City Island a little after 8. Well, Hell's Gate turned out to be a little white picket fence. With Tom R., Larry W, and Gary studying the current and tide charts we got through it no problem.
The sights were just fantastic going through NY. We wished George(Pops) was with us to fill us in on the personal tour info. Maybe next time! We saw the Empire state building and went right past the Statue of liberty! ! There were helecopters overhead kicking up the water and landing right in front of us on helipads. NY water taxi's zipping past. As we traveled the East river, on FDR drive, people were jogging and there were people in cars dead stop at red lights near 63rd ave. Too much going on to list.......Just Fantatic!! Brittany was so excited and mentioned that her whole attitude about the trip had changed............she was loving it. WOO HOO. Going through NY was really one of the highlights that Brittany and I were looking forward to. It didn't disappoint.
We then made a run for Manasquam and paid $398. in gas to fill up.They were the only game in town. So we thought that was fair :-{ There was a really nice guy at the gas dock (huge guy reminded me of Hoss from Bonanza-you remember) He said it was 90.00 for the night , and then tipped us off........... "Go to the Wharfside restaurant and dock there-it's off season and if you eat dinner there they may leave you alone" We tried it , and it worked.We went in and had a lovely cheeseburger. Seeing as how we could see the VICTORIA from our table we were feeling pretty good. Then "BIG BOB" went by .........our hearts stopped because this vessel was immense. BOB's reflection completely covered the restaurant windows and dwarfted the VICTORIA by at least 20 times. We were parked right next to the docks for the Manesquam fishing fleet. So BIG BOB was the first of many to pass by us. See, our options were very limited and we are always interested in saving a buck besides, what the heck, we can sleep later. See the inlet is narrow and there is constant boat traffic which means waves ,so anchoring would at best be uncomfortable, and there were no moorings available. We ended the evening by having a night cap with a very nice couple from Maine. They docked on the same pier right next to our boat, bow to stern. We chatted, and gave each other the .25 cent tour. Steve and Jeannie have had the same sail boat for 25 years! Still a beauty.

Tuesday: There is always that stray JACKASS right around the corner They are usually some overzealous powerboater, I'm sorry to say. In fact, first thing this morning (we were already being banged against the unmaintained, covered in sea gull droppings dock ) some jackass went flying by and we had to literally hold the boat away from the dock for fear of the hull getting cracked. We definately need better bumpers..I'll add that to our list. Well I'd been saying all morning " we need to get off this dock" "we need to get off this dock"
After recovering from getting thrown around Gary finally listened to his WIFFFE , AGAIN !! We untied and got underway. (I'm rollin my eyes and shakin my head) We had to turn in cirlces waiting for this train bridge to lift and all the waiting boats to skeedadle, then we got started.

Our next decision was wether or not to take the Point Pleasant Canal or not. There are signs posted everywhere that the water and currents are dangerous and there's no where to turn around. Emergency rescue ladders are built into the sides of the canal and its not very wide.
The Victoria is not easy or responsive under good conditions. We said let's DO IT. Otherwise we'd have to go back past the gas dock and the Wharfside restaurant and everything and travel on the outside. Aint' Happnin. It was like looking at white water.....with the water going in all confused patterns. The Victoria sits so heavy in the water she took it all in stride. Hardly felt like anything at all. The houses all along the canal were beautiful. Flowers, swinging chairs, huge mature trees hung over there boundaries, glass patios and adirondack chairs were there a plenty. We came out on the other side the victor. More confident in our vessel and ourselves.

Then after motoring a little while , we came to a bridge that we couldn't clear. We need 16 feet and that's without the outriggers. This bridge was only 14. The chart had the name wrong too. But, we called the Winter Yacht Basin Marina (close by) and they gave us the # to call the bridge. The Bridgekeeper was very nice and opened the bridge just for us. We waved and said thank you and all the people waiting in their cars for the bridge to close"waved" too. :) They wave funny in NJ. ANYHOW, Just Makin friends and influencing people,...............and its only 10:30

Gary won't let anyone else drive for any real length of time, just as well. The ICW is very confusing so probably best that one person navigate and the rest of us support that effort. I'm sure his back is not happy about it. While we were at the last gas dock in Manasquam (I'm almost sure I spell it differently every time) we met a nice older couple from Poorhouse Maine on the "Hippocampus" . He ended up passing us at one point and we waved. Before you knew it we watched helplessly as he went aground in the treterous waters around Little Egg Inlet, NJ. It was awful to watch as his beautiful trawler heaved up at the bow, like a wild horse rearing at the end of a cowboys noose, and then slid to a halting stop. Who was just around the corner?? That's right.............Jackass. Name of his boat ............Bad intentions. He surely lived up to his name. Now at the same time this poor chap is going aground we are navigating (with much tention I may add) to save ourselves from the same fate, because whats on the chart is not whats happening. We are now in danger of going aground ourselves. So.................here comes JACKASS barreling past our poor stranded aquaintance, in a big sport fisher. Now he's headed directly at us. HUGE wake in his path . We had nowhere to go. He obviously new the waters and took full advantage. He blew right by us, sent us in a forward jolting motion , and then side to side , side to side that threw everything not battened down all over the place. Brittany was uptop on the flybridge. Praise God she did't get thrown off. As he went by we made eye contact and he snapped the stern of his boat and made the wake even worse. Off into the sunset he went. Leaving us flailing in the aftermath. Gary insisted that I stay off the radio in my present emotional state. I know that he was right, however, I'm sure I could have taken him DOWN at that moment in a hand to hand contest.

your in our prayers , keep us in yours
XXOO
Victoria