Stuck in Port Washington

Well since our last post we have moved about 200 meters - we were at mooring ball 12 now we're at mooring ball 5 - I believe this is what they call "moving on up in the world". We had hoped/planned to be well on our way by now but something always seems to thwart us! First it was all the breakages on the boat, then it was strong wind, then it was Putin, now it's "Tropical Storm 11". How did Putin affect our trip? Well we had a good weather window that would have allowed us to leave yesterday and make it to the Delaware Bay for shelter before the storm hit. However, the East River was closed yesterday for what I assume was Putin's visit to the UN - man that guy can't stop screwing people over!! I guess this is why they say an agenda is one of the most dangerous things to have on a boat - you get so fixated on your plan and wanting to make headway and it's crushing when you can't leave!

So now we're waiting out the bad weather system at our cozy little mooring ball in Port Washington and there are far worse places to be stranded. It's a half an hour train ride to Penn Station, there are lots of restaurants, a movie theatre, three hardware stores (this is key when you have an old boat), a laundromat, a huge grocery store and two liquor stores (this is also key when you have a boat - old or otherwise).  The people here are genuinely friendly and helpful - like go out of your way helpful - I really love New Yorkers.  Being out on the water was also a great place to see the Supermoon Eclipse.

We took advantage of our elongated stay in New York and went into the city again this weekend. We got to hang out with our friend Corey again and she took us to see the Picasso Sculpture exhibit at MoMA - it was beautiful. Hard to imagine one person having so much talent. We also stumbled upon a street festival and had a delicious gyoza lunch! We all wanted to see "Hamilton" on Broadway but it's sold out until January!!! So we lined up for the "lottery" - if you win you get two front row seats for $10 a piece. We didn't win. But we did go to see Les Mis - I have been waiting more than 20 years to see it - it always seemed to be just about to arrive or have just left whatever city I was visiting. The wait was so worth it!! The costumes, the actors, the choreography were fantastic.

We also made friends!! We were working on the boat last week and another 1985 Endeavour 42 pulled in and the guy yells "Nice Boat" and as the stern passes us we see that the boat was from Halifax, NS! So we yell out "we're from Halifax too". We've been over to the Joyce's a couple of nights for drinks (they have a fridge that works) and some much needed boat commiserating and laughs. They also have a little kitten so I got my cat fix ;) Gary and Heather are also headed to the Bahamas so I'm sure we'll be seeing them along the way.

Things I have learned so far being on the boat: There is a reason sailors have enormous biceps - it's hard bloody work and there is a lot of hoisting. The expression "swear like a sailor" is grounded in reality- when everything feels like it's slightly broken, you feel like you're living in what smells like a port-o-potty, the weather just won't cooperate, and you hit your head, your toe, your elbow just one last time - the only thing that makes you feel better is a very colourful, creative, plethora of very bad language.  The above stands true for why sailors drink so much.