Where has the time gone? How have we been living on a boat for 10 days already!?! Well I'll tell you where the time has gone ... into fixing things! So far we have sorted out our water tanks, our wind generator, fixed 2 faucets, a shower, 2 toilets, 1 outboard two-stroke motor, and have trouble shot countless other things on our boat. The Raymarine Depth Sounder is still winning - why won't you work!?!?! I thought there was going to be more relaxing - when does that part start ;)
I'll be honest, I didn't really know what a two-stroke motor was 11 days ago but I can proudly say I at least vaguely know how it works and know where to look when it stops working! Thank you SO much to my brother for his MANY patient texts and chats talking us through how to fix our little 18hp motor! It works!!
How did we know our engine wasn't working properly? I'd say when it died and left us stranded at sea :( We decided to take the dingy out for a spin to make sure everything was working before we left the marina. We didn't want to leave the marina without an operational dingy because it meant no way of getting ashore. So one evening after dinner we took her out - everything was going great - it started on the first pull and we were having a blast motoring around in some fairly decent swell, then it just stopped and wouldn't start! That fairly decent swell that was so much fun with a motor was now a little rough and started smacking us into moored boats. At least the current was taking us to shore - I suppose the one time leeshore is a good thing! We did have our life jackets but we did not have a radio or a paddle (lesson learned). Thankfully a lovely man out for an evening ride saw our situation and towed us back to our slip- I'm sure just one of many times we'll rely on the kindness of strangers.
It's not all work and no play, we met up with friends and went to a New York Yankees vs Toronto Blue Jays Double Header on Sept 12 - the Jays won both games and we were on TV!! Who knew 9 hours of baseball could be so much fun!
After fixing the outboard motor we left Glen Cove and motored the boat to Port Washington - about 2 hours west. It's much quieter here but still very convenient to get ashore and get supplies.
It's also only a half an hour train ride to Penn Station! We spent the day yesterday taking in the sights of the Big Apple - breakfast in Central Park, a little shopping along 5th Avenue, lunch in Eataly, and some sightseeing along the Brookyln Bridge. In addition to the amazing views of the city skyline, the view from Brooklyn Bridge also gave me some insight into just how busy New York Harbour is and also the strength of the current along the East River we aim be sailing this weekend - I guess they don't call it the "Hell Gate" for nothing!
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