Day 12-13 Atlantic Highlands NJ

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After three nights at Barnegat it was time to move.  We found our way through the inlet with the tide helping us along.  The Atlantic offered us a perfect sailing day and we headed up the coast.

This day, July 12th will be a landmark day in our journey.   This is the day we broke out the light jackets stored deep in the cubbies for cooler weather.  We tried to resist but it was bit brisk for a couple hours out on the ocean morning.

This day kept getting better as the wind blew even more perfectly than the forecast.  The wind even shifted as we turned around Sandy Hook allowing us to sail all the way to Atlantic Highlands.  We dropped anchor earlier than expected, having made excellent speed throughout the day.

Atlantic Highlands is a well protected anchorage with a lovely wooded park with paved walking trails that run along the shoreline from 'The Hook' into town. This is the place the explorer Henry Hudson  stopped on his voyages to replenish water supplies from a nearby spring and whatever game he could find. The spring is up over a pretty steep hill; I always wonder how he knew it was there? 🤔

Sunset over the mouth of the Raritan Bay at the Atlantic Ocean.

July 13th
Big excitement- it's laundry day!  The next few stops on our trip have few or no "services" so we dinghied 1/2 mile  to a beach closer to town and walked about a mile to a nice laundromat. 

Another one of my boat upgrades this year was a lightweight, collapsible wagon to haul laundry, groceries, gas cans, propane bottles etc. It's great, since we always have to walk a ways to stores, and our purchases get heavy.  Another advantage is that Shelby will grudgingly ride in it. At 18 yrs old, she doesn't walk very fast or very far anymore. 

Across the street from the laundromat we were delighted to find a shady community  park where a farmers' market was in progress!  We stocked up on fresh veggies, some fresh spicy Italian sausage  and very fresh mozzarella cheese.  I'm thinkin' the next couple dinners will include some nice pasta and pizza!

Back at the boat we have been staying close to the ice machine as the afternoon is warm. With our morning mission complete we are just relaxing.  A flotilla of 6 power boats has surrounded us.  They all obviously know each other.  Music is playing and everyone is singing along in loud off key Italian.  A large passel of kids are floating in a raft behind the largest boat.  We can see what could be at least 10 family units or maybe just one depending on how you do the counting.  We don't mind being surrounded by all the joy.  


Comments

Unknown said…
Hi! Just caught up on the last several entries. Sounds like the trip is going wonderfully & I really enjoy reading about your adventures! B
July 14, 2019 at 10:11 AM
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