September 17, 2003
Sandy Hook - Atlantic Highlands

Today we're going to stick around the town and the harbour. About 11 am we have decided to split. I would leave Johannes all by himself with the boat. He would sail out of the harbour and would drop the hook for the rest of the day and come and pick me up later. Now, I don't know who was more nervous. Actually I think I do. I was. Johannes did great, picked a good spot to anchor as I was able to witness few hours later on my hike up the highlands overlooking the bay.

I had a great day. Enjoyed the hike and the new scenery immensely. Before I knew I had to be back for my rendezvous with Afterblue and her new helmsmen. We didn't even touch the dock. We were out before some insecure security thugs of Atlantic highlands marina sunk us with the load of their BS and try to unload our wallets for touching the dock for few minutes.

In the evening we had beautiful sunset. The weather was getting heavier though. By now we had some 30 mph winds with some heavier gusts coming from direction that rendered harbour's breakers useless. We got really rocked that night. Wind was howling and one of our anchors lost it's grip. The other one was holding us good so we just kept our watch around. The sea was getting heavier, even though we were in the bay. Isabel is coming. Now I am thinking we don't want to anchor tomorrow night when she comes down on New Jersey shore. Forecast was upgraded to include 70 mph gusts. No one could sleep in such a weather on a 25 footer. We'll cough up some more cash for the mooring and I dunno, pitch a tent or pray someone would take us home for tomorrow night. So long.

(M)