All Aboard WishBone

We finally made it!  Saturday, September 14th, we left the mooring in Pepperrell Cove headed for Gloucester, MA.  It was fun to be back in the boat on the water and our trip to Gloucester was just fine.  We love our new engine and the work to the transmission seems to have solved the problem.  I called the harbor master and reserved a mooring in Gloucester Harbor.  April did just fine.  We gave her a good walk around the town and she was ready to settle into her new environment.

Sunday, around 8 AM we left Gloucester for Plymouth, MA.  We again today had the wind at our nose, so no sailing was involved, however we did have the tide with us and the wind didn't blow up too hard.  Our day was uneventful and April again settled in for the ride.  I had forgotten about the narrow channel into the harbor along the very long sand  bar.  We picked up a mooring in Plymouth Harbor and again walked April all around town after our visit to the harbor master's office.  April has really taken to harbor masters.

Monday we were off the mooring early with the tide through the Cape Cod Canal.  The wind picked up during the trip through so the decision was made to head for Onset Bay - near the end of the canal - and avoid Buzzards Bay.  We saw a very strange huge fish with a BIG eye on the way down the canal.  Don't know what it was.  Onset Bay was a very shallow hurricane like hole to get into, but we finally navigated it and again picked up a mooring.  The marina had showers and best of all they liked dogs.  There was a long beach where April could finally get some running time in.  We sat our the strong winds on Tuesday and did a lot of beach walking.

Wednesday we headed out into Buzzards Bay.  We had the tide with us, but the winds were still off our nose and the sea was rolling.  So, no sails up and it was a rough ride to Newport, RI.  I had to make a few calls to get a mooring, but we finally got an answer and were directed into the mooring field in Newport - quite the trip and what boats!  We were almost run into twice within a few seconds with boats crossing directly in front of us as we approached the mooring.  They seem to think nothing of it.  Our daily trips have been between 7 and 8 hours and about what April is happy with.  Once we start into a harbor, she sits up and watches the entry event.  Once we are all tied up, she knows it is her turn to get into the dinghy and find land.  The Newport Yacht Club let us tie up our dinghy at their dock and use their dog walk facility.  Then we had a nice walk around Newport, taking in the sights. 

Thursday, we head for Block Island, RI.  Again, a rough ride with the tide but again the wind.  We have a rigging problem and cannot put up the sail today.  Our punch list is getting longer.  We arrived in Block Island safely and a little earlier in the afternoon and again talked with the harbor master and picked up a town mooring.  We did our usual walk around the town, April did a little duck hunting off WishBone, and we treated ourselves to take-out at the local restaurant.  We were tired today.

Friday we left Block Island and headed for the Thames River to visit our friends the Bishops in Quaker Hill, CT.  We picked up the wrong buoy as we left the channel in Block Island, but soon realized it, and between the charts and GPS managed to correct our course, and didn't lose too much time.  The fog built a wall as we neared the harbor going into the river.  Fortunately it cleared as we approached and the railroad bridge gave us an early opening for our approach.  Jerry met us at his mooring with the painter and there WB sits.  We spent Friday afternoon in Defenders for supplies and Saturday Bill and Jerry were on the boat taking care of that punch list.  April is being spoiled and loves it here.  Great squirrel watching and walks!  We have rested, been treated like royalty and caught up with all the news.  Last night we were reacquainted with Jerry and Sandy's son, Dana, and met his wife Amy.  Dana helped me get back on the blog.  Yeah!  It was a nice evening.  The weather is rainy today, but it looks like we can get back under way on Monday.  Thanks for checking in on us.