We left Portland yesterday at 10:40 a.m. local time intending to sail overnight and arrive here on the Cape around 9 a.m. today. However, winds were strong, and with two reefs in our main and a small hankie of a jib, we could not slow down. After a very spirited sail, and even after going less than 3 knots for the last 2-3 hours, we had made it into the harbour and tied to a mooring by 5:00 a.m. It was pitch dark, and we putted around lobster buoys at dead slow.
Not much sleep last night, but we did sleep from 6 to 9:30 this morning. It was quite a sail, and the boat is crusted with salt. We saw dolphins, and large whales, and neither of us really felt seasick. That is the last overnighter until we leave Rhode Island for the 4-6 day trip to Bermuda. Yaay.
A special thanks to John Fallon, who has helped us so much over the last 6 years in this dream. If you see him today, remember that it is his birthday! (a milestone, at that). Of course, we're also indepted to Herb Hilgenberg, who, with good weather predictions, has kept us out of trouble.
We're intending to stay two nights here, and look around before moving on to Onset via the Cape Cod Canal. If we're lucky, we'll get a sprinkle of rain to get all the salt off. We'll write to tell you about Provincetown. We know it to be a very interesting place. Maybe we can post some pictures at the next internet site.
We should tell you about the couple we met in Portland. Jimmie and Renee are fixing up a 36' monohull to take down the ICW and ultimately to Belize. With our bit of experience of the ICW, we were able to inject some info into their planning process. It works a lot like that, along these voyages. We meet people and pump them for useful information. Of course, we had a warm get-together with them and their extended family in Cat Tale's salon, during the process. Warm, because by then we had purchased
a heater and run a cord to shore.
Cheers,
Laurie
