Day 1, September 11: Black Rock Harbor on Long Island Sound (#2)
We are on our way! The gypsy life has begun, and so far the weather gods have smiled on us. Beautiful September light, crisp air, calm seas and wind. It looks very like that day 11 years ago, which makes us both sad. We would not have chosen to leave on this day, but weather trumps all other factors.
As we left the Connecticut River yesterday, the only other boat out on the Sound was a small catboat under sail. This seemed particularly prophetic to us since it was virtually the same boat Bob and I first owned when we started sailing 33 years ago.
To end the day, we stopped in the port where we had kept that first boat, a catboat named “Tao.” We have friends who are still members of Fayerweather Yacht Club there. They had arranged for us to tie up on the dock and spend the evening together. Their son is now about the age we were when we bought that first boat and joined that very club, and he is now the dockmaster for the club, so he helped us dock. What a moment! We spent the evening with our dear friends and their son, and our own older son Rob joined us as well as Bob’s parents and another good friend who lives a bit further down the coast in Rye. What a lovely ending to our first day out! Thank you Chris, Travers, and Pat for hosting us and thank you to our family and dear friend Craig for coming to share such a memorable day!
Today we have sailed down the Sound past many familiar spots from our ancient BC past (Before Children). I was on the phone with Rob this morning as we passed Southport Beach, not far from where he currently lives! Then on past Wesport and the Norwalk Islands, Stamford, Greenwich, Mamaroneck….all our old haunts. Bob made a stellar lunch of Croque Madame with turkey and brie, enhanced with sweet red grapes on the side. Yum! Tonight’s first dinner on board looks promising: beef filet tips with mushrooms sauteed in red wine and served with rice.
The extent of my gypsy garden… rosemary, tarragon, chives and sage. I’m hoping the salt air will be good for them and keep them healthy through the coming months of cooking on board!
I spent a good part of the afternoon knitting the flower basket shawl. I have only one more repeat to go before beginning the 10-row edge border. It should definitely be done before we reach Chesapeake City, where I hope to mail it to our friend.
Day 2, September 12: Little Neck Bay (#5)
