DAY 9 and DAY 10: DELAWARE CITY, DE TO CAPE MAY, NJ

"In one drop of water are found 
all the secrets of all the oceans. "
Kahlil Gibran

And here we are, our bow gracing a sunrise. Clear weather is ahead and we make way to Cape May, New Jersey....my last port before returning to life normal. This has been a wonderful trip visiting ports I had always wanted to visit. My own sailing on the Chesapeake is usually a day or two and I am appreciative for a 10 day sail like this.

The Delaware Bay is fairly calm. With an outgoing current we are making 9 kt...incredible for a vessel like Liberty. We are making way nicely though I am aware that a changing afternoon tide will create some conflicting currents and rougher waters to deal with (and no more 9 kts!). But this will not be much to deal with. Cape May is about 55 miles. Not too bad and with the rate we are going this morning we should be there by late afternoon.

The Delaware Bay is a shipping channel with freighters  and commercial traffic coming and going. We stay clear of this traffic and stay on a relatively straight course to our destination.

I have been to Cape May several times, none by boat other than the transport ferry from Delaware to New Jersey. Cape May is the last port before heading into the Atlantic and John's final destination up the Hudson River where he will bed the boat for the coming Winter.

Upon reaching Cape May,  we find a slip at the local marina. Afterward we walk into town for a good lunch and a visit to the local marine supply to pick up needed items to fix the running lights. After our return to Liberty and some detective shakedown of the electrical system we solve the lighting problem and our afternoon is free.

My wife will not be here to pick me up till tomorrow evening so with time to kill I set to walking into town to catch some of the local flavor.....and maybe an ice cream. Cape May is a wonderful place, a real tourist type of place. Victorian houses line the streets lighted by old gas lamps. A step back in time until my distraction is met head on with an ATM machine....pardon me. Back to the here and now.

I visit the beach, bask in  the sun , shake the sand from my shoes and continue to walk. I know when I get back home I will have shop work to complete, dogs to walk, a lawn to mow, a truck to fix and a wife I missed terribly. It will be good to be home but I will miss the days on the water and a new port in sight.

Thanks for the adventure John.....

DAY 7 and DAY 8: BOHEMIA RIVER TO DELAWARE CITY

"LET US GO IN; THE FOG IS RISING."

Emily Elizabeth Dickinson Last words

Bohemia River is foggy this morning, perhaps a mile visibility. It will be a short hop to the entrance of the Delaware Canal. We are contemplating pulling off the canal in an anchorage on the South side at about the half way point. It is only a short distance but the weather is supposed to turn nasty by this afternoon.

After entering the canal, the fog has lifted somewhat and visibility is better. It is odd that we see no other boats. This is a through way of sorts to the Delaware Bay and on to the Atlantic or North to Philadelphia. Yet, we are alone. It's not until we dock that we learn the canal had been shut down due to deteriorating weather conditions. But, the boat radio was off so we missed the warning. A lesson learned. No matter, Liberty is on her way and the weather is holding so we decide to continue on to Delaware City and secure the boat for the coming weather.
It doesn't take too long to complete the canal (easy when you are the only boat). We enter the Delaware Bay only to be met with thick fog once again, only this time we have perhaps 100 yards of visibility! We have about a mile to go till we enter a secondary canal that borders Delaware City and our layover point for the coming bad weather.

Coming into Delaware City Marina to wait out a coming storm

Visibility being what it is, we have to rely on the GPS to determine course and buoy location. We follow the channel just outside the markers (hell, who wants to meet up with a barge with no time to get out of the way),  good decision considering our running lights have now failed due to a short in the system and we have no radar reflective device so oncoming traffic can't detect us....we are invisible in this kinda fog.
Before long we find the marker to make our turn to Delaware City and within minutes we approach the docking pier. We tie up and make our way to the Marina office to check in and assess the coming weather... which is not good. We decide to stay here for an extra day till the storm passes. And judging by the flotilla of boats docked here, we are not the only ones that are going to wait out the storm. A day off will be great. We have been going at a fairly fast pace and now I will have the time to explore and enjoy dry land for a day or two.
Delaware City (in Delaware no doubt) is a small wonderful water front town. Yet, when I mention this town to other people, this "wonderfulness" I am met with a kind of bewilderment. "Delaware City? It's a hell hole!"or "You mean Delaware City, that crime ridden place by the water?"

What am I missing? It looks tranquil with it's river walk, neighboring state park, coffee shops and quaint old Victorian houses. What am I missing? Will I be mugged if I walk alone tonight? Is the coffee shop actually a brothel and human trafficking hub for the mid Atlantic region? Do people ignore the posted dog leash laws? Is this place all that bad, or simply misunderstood? I will do a walk about and see for myself.
My first stop is at the local coffee shop called Cordelia's Bakery Cafe. I am met at the counter by Christine, the shop's proprietor. She is gracious and quick with a cup of coffee.....and a scone. I should say here that I have been on a lifetime quest for the perfect scone and usually purchase one with coffee when I get the chance. This is a blueberry scone, the largest scone I  have ever seen. And as far as my search goes...definitely a top 10. 

Canal walk

Christine tells me that Delaware City is entering a kind of Renaissance, a rebirth so to speak. Apparently is was a bit of a hell hole but is now at a point of change. And I like what I see.
After coffee I walk through the town. I come across a blacksmith shop with iron works and creative other metal endeavors hanging from the walls, ceiling and windows. This place is overstuffed with the tools of the trade and metal scraps and unfinished work. I love this place being a metal worker myself (did I mention I build custom bikes). I spend a lot of time here talking with one of the workers and looking about. All marvelous!
I go back to the marina after my walk to check on the weather. There is computer access here so I am able to check various weather information sites....it looks bad. Rain will be intense at times with unwelcoming water on the Delaware Bay for the following 24 hours. We will stay an extra day.
This makes real time to read, relax and explore Delaware City a bit more.....and sure, a scone or two. I had finished my book about the serial killing Amish dude (thank God! Oh Jesus, maybe I shouldn't say that.) I pick a fresh book from the lending library, a popular novel in a series about small town antics....no killing dismembering by candle light, at least not yet.
I talk to John about the weather and he agrees with the day delay and we plan on going to Cape May, NJ the following day if the weather holds. 

Blacksmith shop

The next day brings rain, a lot of rain! John puts a tarp over the cabin area to help stop the leaks. Seems to work well enough. I check in with the weather forecasts and the following day is starting to look good to set for Cape May.
We set sail early that morning to avoid the onset of boats that will try to get underway in this tiny canal entry. The weather is good as had been  forecast, and we are on our way to Cape May, NJ....and my last stop.