Lee and Peter Sailing Trip was for Four not Two Years. Now an Italian adventure

We left Sandy Hook and had a good 4 hour sail to Manasqan where we anchored and left at 5 am for Atlantic City. It was wonderful sliding out of Manasquan in the dark and seeing the sunrise. It is amazing how fast the sun rises, first a very bright dot on the horizon and then in about 15 seconds a crescent that is too bright to look at.

We decided against going to Atlantic City and anchored in a small cove just across the inlet from the City. Basically in the marshes but development is encroaching. We took the dingy ashore and walked along deserted beaches. When we got back there was a motor boat anchored near us. The cove was large all that space and they were within 100 ft. We thought it was the old adage boats anchor together, if one is there it must be safe. However there was another reason that we found out later.

At Cape May, a lovely picturesque town we stopped in a marina for 2 nights and a woman came and asked if we enjoyed our Gemini. She and her husband Patricia and Ray had just sold their Gemini and bought a motor boat, it was them that anchored near us in Atlantic City. We invited them over for drinks and thought we may meet again in Florida.

We left Cape May deciding on the Atlantic route rather than the Chesapeake Bay. Conditions were so good, 20 knot wind just behind the beam that we skipped Ocean City and sailed through the night. At times doing 10 knots down the front of a wave which for a 34 foot sailing boat is good. We did 140 miles in 24 hrs and had lunch in Norfolk.

Stayed 3 nights at anchor in Norfolk visiting the town, the museum and Portsmouth. Portsmouth is very quaint.

On the second night there was a power boat near us, Pat and Ray in First Lady again. We had Korean Barbecue on our boat and drinks with another couple on theirs. We said farewell again with a may see you in Florida and headed for The Great Dismal Swamp!