Just a really long day - we were underway at 7:40 AM and turned the engine off in Coney Island at 9:02 PM. It was, for the most part, a gently rocking day with pretty sun and seas. Not too much traffic. Fog much of the day. Dolphins. We plucked two more balloons from the water and missed another five that we couldn't get. We'd estimated getting in by 8 PM but were slowed down by a current push back. 5.8 knots rather than the 6-7 we'd estimated. But then we were pushed by 18-20 knot winds (also unexpected) up to 8+ knots later in the afternoon. Still didn't make the time we'd hoped.
All in all a good day but really tired from being alert all day. Both David and I took hour long naps in the late afternoon. One at a time naps. We didn't trust Amelia to be on watch. She has trouble pushing the auto-pilot buttons.
While being a great helms person and navigation person in the daylight as night descends my eyesight and my confidence wan.
I was at the helm coming upon Sandy Hook, NJ and crossing the shipping lanes going into our anchorage at Norton Point on Coney Island, NY. Me, watching the water and the electronic chart and steering according to David's direction.
By the time we'd ferreted out the "best" anchor spot I could no longer tell which direction was which. "You better stay inside and tell me which way to turn if you want me to hit that 'x' spot." I said and he did. I just could no longer "be the boat" and steer appropriately looking at that little bullet on the screen. And my poorer night vision plus the very bright lights, I just could not orient me, the boat, land. Pretty scary for me, and no doubt for David. I'm chalking it up to TIRED. I did manage to cook dinner, a good dinner, especially for 9:30 PM, without blowing us up.
We had a hitch hiker for about an hour. She fluttered on board then flitted or hopped, making multiple tours of the deck...looking for rest? food? water? She even came inside briefly. We didn't encourage this inside behavior knowing we'd be distracted. But there she was on the chart table eating seeds left over from our bagel breakfast.
Then she flew out again.
Sweet.
two ears ago we had 3 hitch hikers who stayed on the aft deck for several hours. Catching a break from all the necessary flapping of migration.
Crossing from Sandy Hook to Coney Island after sunset gave us a good view of the Coney Island "space needle." Amazing display of lights running up and down the needle. Candy stripe, all red, all blue, white, another combination of spiral strips that I couldn't quite make out. Ostentatious. I realize, again, that in all my years of living in and visiting NYC I've never been to Coney Island, to the park or the beach. Gotta do it. Sometime. and eat a Nathans Hot Dog and Big Orange. Well maybe not the Big Orange whatever it is called.
A couple photos from our Atlantic City visit and another sunset from the shipping channel off Coney Island.
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| Foggy night in Atlantic City. Casino tops cut off |
Another headless casino. A woman at the Aquarium said the town is really broke. Too many eggs in the gambling basket. There is still a fishing economy but hard to tell how affluent it is. Lots of clam draggers in and out of the cut we were staying in but.....
Fun to be there. Glad to leave and move onward.
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