September 21, 2003
Manasquan Inlet

Mr. Winky had a cold. We couldn't start the darn engine for good few hours. We weren't happy campers that morning. We wanted out of this bay badly but nothing we did to this engine seemed to help. Not having any spare parts or tools for that matter didn't make it any easier on us. So we were bobbing in the water pondering on life and what to do next. We eliminated few possible problems and realized we had a clog somewhere in fuel distribution inside of the engine. Johannes saved the day by giving our priming bulb healthy German squeeze and the we heard the puff and Mr. Winky came alive again.

So we got off the bay some time before lunch and experienced mad New York traffic. I mean boats of all shapes and sizes were zipping madly right and left. Water was like a bathtub with a 5 year old in it. We were glad to leave the bay behind and experience some coastal cruising.

The wind was weak and blowing from behind which wasn't too comfortable for us, but that didn't last for too long. Soon we were cruising at half decent speed and I cast my fishing rod which after awhile either got snag at the bottom or I caught something a tad too big. The whole fishing rod got yanked and before we knew end up in the sea and disappeared from our sight. This is how good fisherman we are.

After awhile we were approaching Mansquan inlet where we planned to hide for the night. I couldn't believe my eyes. That was the very same place where Big Bob took us to the beach few times we were visiting him in New Jersey. The sight of the beach, restaurants we ate at etc. made me totally homesick and missing all my friends. To top all this off we anchored few yards from the seafood place where me, Jason, Susie, Dave and Rob ate some $25 US worth of seafood before most of us returned it back to the sea during our deep sea fishing charter few years back.

(M)