September 1, 2014 Plymouth Rock, Massachusetts

we left Gloucester around 6:45 and found the seas no too bad, once outside the harbour, only 2 ft, but the wind was on the nose, prevailing South to Southwest …. we thought about anchoring in the islands outside Boston, but the conditions were good for motoring so we kept going … this is Boston, at about 3 miles off shore

there was still some fog lingering ….

there was 2 freighters waiting outside Boston, both were empty, as we got closer their waterline was about 10 feet out of the water .. our AIS informed us that they were not moving and as we got closer, saw that both had their anchors down … I like them best when they are not moving .. ha ha

we had the sails up for part of the trip, in very light winds, and it gave us about a one knot boost

once again we had to be on the lookout for lobster bouys … so hand steering again, that can be very tiring after 9 hours …. we have noticed that the U.S. Coast Guard are very busy, a sailboat from the harbour we just left was taking on water …and another fishing boat had run out of gas

this is the entrance to Plymouth Rock, the channel is quite narrow and winding, we came in at high tide, and there was water everywhere, but at low tide it all turns to marshland …this area is full of beaches, as far as you can see, and on this Monday of the long weekend, they were all packed full of sunbathers

one of the lighthouses in the channel … we anchored off to the left in an area called the "The Cowyard" which is just north of Plymouth Beach, another anchorage to the west was where the Pilgrims first anchored

… a few days later we heard on the news that 2 women in kayaks, at Plymouth beach … were attacked by a shark,  the shark rose from the water then bit into one kayak, throwing the woman into the water, later both women were rescued by the Coast Guard, safe, and it was confirmed that the bite was from a Great White Shark … 

our days trip 9 hours, 44 km … we have now gone 750 km this year

unfortunately when we were anchoring Joe caught his finger in the windlass when we were backing down … not good

this is Cape Cod Bay area … the land of white sandy beaches, hugh homes and even bigger power and sail boats …. Modaki for sure is one of the smallest boats in this area …..

we are also noticing that it is dark by 8 pm now

August 31, 2014 Gloucester day 4

we had hoped to move today, but the forecast was not looking good for the direction we were heading in so … next best thing is to stay and watch the start of the Schooner Race.  One of the smaller Schooners was from Victoria, British Columbia, and the owners said that they would be looking for crew in this race, it was unfortunate that they moved from anchoring beside us and we lost them some where in the inner harbour … Joe would of loved to have been crew

they started with the largest ones and worked their way down to the smallest, and each time one came past the lighthouse a cannon was fired … I think about 20 Schooners were in the parade

What is a Schooner?  they were first built in Gloucester in 1713, with two or more masts, with the mainmast being the same height or taller than the foremast.  Fast and able, they were prized by fishermen because of their speed and seaworthiness.  At one time there were upwards of 17 shipyards along a small stretch of the Essex River, all busy building schooners for the Gloucester fishing fleet.  Over 400 schooners are said to have been built there.

well another day has pasted and we could not get off the boat again … and we spent another rolly night, and it is possible to be sea sick at anchor

August 30, 2014 Gloucester gusty day

lots of schooners were arriving for the festival, this long weekend

Joe was working on his to-do list, one of them was the installation of the new outdoor speaker for the VHF, we had a portable one that we plugged in each time on the water, so now we will keep it for a back up

we keep on board, a portable rechargeable drill, with all the bits and pieces that Joe needs to do projects

what we had planned to do was projects in the morning and then go to town to visit the displays and exhibits that was scheduled for the PM, ….. the wind picked up and the seas became unreasonable

we tied the dinghy to the side, so Joe could get in and move it to the back of Modaki so we could put the motor on, for our trip to town … unfortunately with the swells and high seas, I was thrown into the side of the dodger, and I heard a popping and grinding sound.  We continued to get the dinghy to the back, but now Joe was being thrown up and down about 3 feet …. enough of that we abandoned going to town … later we found that the opposite side of the dodger was ripped out of the cabin top … so …

about 4 hours later we had two new holes drilled in the cabin top and the dodger bolted back on …

we were glad we made the decision not to go to town as the winds kept building and we spent a very uncomfortable night rolling

I decided to rearrange the salon with my spare time, and this is in the process of removing everything and cleaning and putting things back were they belong

that night we sat in the cockpit and watched a fantastic fireworks show,  as the dinner cruise ship, went around and around in the bay

August 29, 2014 Gloucester, Massachusetts

the winds were to be SW over night we anchored amongst lobster pots under this castle looking house

this house was beside the castle and there was a massive retaining wall all around, and on the hill side (not in picture) an arched doorway into the hill  … the houses are starting to get bigger and bigger

this old factory was right on the water front, and looked like it was being restored, they use to make life jackets and paint

there was a schooner festival happening this weekend and there must of been close to 20 in the harbour

the widow walks

the main street of Gloucester … lots of restaurants, gift shops, and Italian Bakery for Joe to get some bread

it is hard to see in this picture, but this woodworker used different kinds of wood in his finished projects … I want Joe to make us a mirror for our front hall like this one

Atlantic Avenue leading to

Gloucester Fishermen's Memorial … Man at the Wheel

the US Coast Guard ship "Eagle" was in port for tours

I made this fantastic chilli, with lentil instead of beans … it was so good

we had to move across the 2 mile wide bay to get protection from the now Northwest winds, we anchored behind Ten Pound Island, it got its name from what it cost to buy it from the indians

there was a cruise ship that served dinner aboard and it went around and around inside the harbour all night long …..

August 28, 2014 Gloucester, Mass.

we had an early morning off the hook at 6am, these other boats let just before us and were headed in the same direction

it was actually a really nice day, we had the main and foresail up and it was giving us a boost of 2 knots

the lobster pots are getting fewer, but for some reason there is always a greater concentration of pots around red or green bouys, entrance to harbours, mooring fields and anchorages

 we pasted Portsmouth and now out of Maine and into New Hampshire …. which we were in this state for 2 hours, then on to Massachusetts

we did not plan this but the weather was so good we just kept going, we had some areas marked off for the night, but when we got close, we changed our mind … when the weather is good keep going

we were on the water for 12 hours, all but the last hour was good

when we rounded Cape Ann, the winds picked up and seas grew larger, we always stay outside the buoy's and never take a short cut, this shore line is riddled with shouls …. we saw a sailboat sailing, heeled over, in amongst the rocks … and commented he sure must know the area … just then a call came over the VHF … to the Coast Guard, sailboat being pushed on to the rocks, then about 5 minutes later the Mayday call came across the radio from the same sailboat

we are now in Gloucester, Massachusetts … we are the red upside down V at the top of the page …it sure looks like some nice areas ahead

August 27, 2014 Wood Island Harbour

we had another short day … because of all the strong SW winds the seas were lumpy and rough, and it was so hard once again to see the lobster pots    3 hours and 9 km

a lofty pyramidal monument on Stage Island, we could not find out any history on it

these are some of the cruising guides we are following

the winds kept picking up all day and about 6 other sailboats came in for refuge  … this guy was pushing his sailboat with the dinghy and wife steering … not too sure what was wrong

some of the areas we have stopped in at ... we passed thru New Hampshire in 2 hours

we did lots of maintenance today, cleaned and scrubbed the floor, Joe cleaned the head and varnished the back rail for the second coat … and I started stripping the hand rail on the cabin top

Joe did the duty again of calling in to Customs and Border Patrol … the officers main concern was

are we at a dock or anchor ….. we think we might get a visit from them if we are at a dock ...

August 26, 2014 Seal Cove near Cape Elizabeth

leaving Portland and the hot and humid city …. we slathered our selves head to toe with sunscreen and headed out to the ocean

it was  just before noon and the winds picked up, right on the nose, prevailing S to SW, 15 to 25 knots and gusting higher …. we soon put on long pants sweatshirts and winter hats …. what ever happened to all that sun and humidity

it was around this time that this barge came off anchor and two tugs started to push in into the harbour .. thank goodness it was just after we passed them  … the seas now were 4 - 6 ft and Joe commented if he knew these conditions 1/2 hour earlier we would not have left the dock

I'm not sure of the name of this lighthouse, but there sure were tons of people around it, and on good visibility days the air planes fly over, on their way to Portland Airstrip

we had a very short day .. only 2 1/2 hours on the water  and 9 miles

we tucked in behind Richmond Island for the night

one good thing about windy anchorages, our wind generator ran all day and night, supplementing our power

there is a stone causeway from the mainland to the island, at low tide it is visible and high tide you would think you can sail right thru

this was a very rolley anchorage, the southwest wind and waves wrapped around the island and little did we know this was the beginning of many rolley nights