It's been a bit since I've done an update

It’s been a bit since I’ve done an update. I’m about a month overdue…

Let’s start with Long Island sound & NYC.

My Dad flew in to help me with the first leg of the trip, unfortunately the first day he was here they announced the Erie Canal would be delaying the opening for a month… So we altered our plans and spent a few days sailing around Sag Harbor. From there we dropped down to Mattituck NY, picked up a dinghy from a guy on FB marketplace, then continued on to NYC.

Going down the east river we hit 9+knots SOG running with the current through Hell’s Gate. Went under the Brooklyn Bridge, and the up the Hudson. We stopped in Ossining to deal with some plumbing issues, then my dad departed the next day.

I was solo for about a month and a week. Just spent the time slowly working my way up the Hudson. Spent 5 days at Bear Mountain State park, up to Marlborough, NY, then onto Athens, then Coxsackie for about 2 weeks. Finally on Friday June 13th, a month late, the Canal opened.

I’ve lived on boats, alone for many many months at a time. My last trip was about 8 months. Solo. This month was the hardest month on a boat I’ve ever had. While the upper Hudson is beautiful, there is not much (NOTHING) to do. Not knowing when the canal was going to open, and being stuck in what was essentially an endless purgatory, with rain seemingly every day was very tiring mentally. Especially when you factor in I was in Europe since Jan 6, flew home from Turkey May 6, and flew to Sag May 9. I’ve only been home a handful of days this year which has been frustrating to say the least.

Once we had a estimated date for the opening, Joe Kestler flew in to help me build braces, drop the masts, and transit the Erie Canal.

Feels so good to be moving again. So here we sit. After completing Lock 6. Day 1 on the Erie.

I’ll try and be more regular with these now that we are moving again and I’m not bored to tears on the Hudson River…