Our major excitement last night was coming in to a dock we anticipated was like a “normal” dock only to find it was more like a dock for a large ferry, no decking floating on the water to jump to and tie up at, it was more like a pier for a commercial boat. Tying up to it in the dark and with the current of the river was challenging for us and entertaining for the stray cat who decided to sit and watch. It was not without some struggle that we managed to attach all 4 lines (stern, bow, and 2 spring lines) and at one time I watched with horror from the dock as the current began it’s inexorable and methodical pull against the stern of Passages while Boyd, Paul and I struggled to handle the lines. As I watched I realized that only Nicole was still aboard. Fortunately Paul jumped aboard and Boyd gave him expert instructions on how to turn the rudder and throw the boat in reverse and my vision of Nicole floating down the Connecticut River, the only Morse on board a 47′ sailboat were quickly dispelled. We were successful after a brief time and managed with Boyd’s expertise in knot tying not to loose the boat to the rivers persuasive pull. Thank goodness, how would I explain that to: my folks, the insurance adjuster, DHS, and the Coast Guard (not necessarily in that order)!

The weather was the only other noteworthy aspect; a mere 8 hours earlier we had been in the protected harbor of Point Judith Pond but as one of the locals pointed out all of the leaves were already gone. Here in the mouth of the Connecticut River the temperature is at least 10 degrees warmer and many of the trees still have their leaves. Last night the temperature never got below a balmy 50, which is nice considering that most mornings I’ve had to bribe the kids out of bed with hot cocoa or tea. Can’t really blame them when you can see your breath from your bunk it’s hard to think of a great reason to get out of the sleeping bag. This morning after a quick breakfast of coco and bagels we went on a mini walk and found Saybrook Fort Park, which turned out to be the sight of the first fort in Connecticut.

Interesting to think that this area was once one of the first settlements and all of the marinas, restaurants and buildings we now see were just marshy riverbanks without signs of human habitation. Somehow coming to the shore by boat makes me nostalgic about what that might have been like hundreds of years ago both for the people on the boats and the natives on the shore. Nicole and I had a little history of the colonies lesson as Paul picked up sticks and stretched his legs and then back to the boat.

Today’s highlights have included more home schooling, a lunch of hot nachos with salsa, sour cream and guacamole and more home schooling. The weather we have now is quite mild, no real wind, no waves and limited visibility but again we have to be grateful, as it could be less accommodating. Coming to a page here soon will be our anticipated low pressure blow (Wednesday) and our experiences going through New York City and a place the charts refer to as “Hell’s Gate”. I’m sure by then I’ll be happy to look back on this log and note it’s rather propensity to the boring and mundane.