"Hurry Up and Wait" - the Cruising Life

Every now and then it's time for a change. A new coat of paint, a new pair of shoes or maybe even trying a new hobby. Well for us, the change was prompted not only from the fact that we are ill-weather bound to the dock but from our need for a change of scenery and some mental stimulation. Weather, weather, weather and then some more weather. We needed something else to talk about!

Riverview Marina on the Hudson, in Catskills, NY has been our home for the past week and with our eye constantly peering at Joaquin's eye, we realize as our new found dock mates have, that we are not moving off the dock any time soon. With our mast securely fastened, rigging tightened, we are itching to get going - somewhere!



With that in mind, and after just 2 days here, Tony comes bounding down the stairs into the boat to say, "Hey Chris, let's rent a car and drive up into the mountains!" He had just come from chatting with Mike, the dock master here, about the weather system approaching (not yet from JQ) and how our anniversary plans may have to be put on hold; a few hotel nights in NYC with dinner. Mike started by saying to him how he knows we can't just sit in the boat for days, so he suggested the car rental and handed Tony the Catskills Of Greene County travel guide, complete with a pull-out road map.

Now, while Tony had been out chatting, I was in the boat wondering what I could keep myself busy doing. Why not bake something! I was skimming through my prize recipe collection when Tony had come down and passed me the brochure with a great big smile. What a sweetheart! The recipe cards went quickly back into their holder and we sat down at the table to look over the road map with circled areas of interest, courtesy of Mike.

It was just before 1 pm on Sunday, Sept. 27 and we were happily driving into the mountains in a decent Ford Escape for $35 U.S. for the day.

We stopped at a small diner along Route 23A, in the mountainous town of Tannersville along our way.  Tony really enjoyed the pastrami Reuben sandwich and I was totally crazy over the Egg Salad BLT Wrap!


With a few different driving route options up the mountain, I chose the one that leads us to the winery, of course :) But before we can actually find our way there, we stop at a liquor shop to buy a bottle of rum (for Bob) and ask more specific directions from the shopkeeper. She describes a 10 minute ride up, up, up the roads and around, and 'it's just on your left', she says.

Finally we arrive at Windham Vineyards, 2100 ft above sea level.  A corner lot with a rectangle-shaped wooden building is Doug's new place of work. He is a retired Wall Street guru, telling us his time was up, working 100+ hours a week, so he bought the winery from the bank and turned it into a place he feels the happiest! Just turned 52 years young, Doug has a great sense of humour (well he admits only those with a great sense of humour could see the possibilities for this forgotten place) and also admits he bought it without knowing anything about wine. After taking some courses and buying additional land at a lower elevation (600 ft elevation, with 10 acres to grow several different varietals of grape) he has turned Windham into a busy little place; selling out every Saturday since he opened over one and half years ago.

Tony and I take a seat at the tasting bar and after Doug tells us a bit about his wines, he also tells us there are only 2 kinds left from his sell-out weekend, the Diamond (Riesling) and Friends Riesling (Dry Riesling). Tony is happy, as he loves a sweet wine and for me, well it's chilled and sweet like apple juice and I can't resist.

The frost has already hit the vines at Windham, while his grape vines at his lower elevation property still show some sign of offerings before they feel the cold.

Doug is hoping he can determine what grapes do better at this lower elevation - 8 to 9 degrees warmer.

Pijou, the wondrous grape-harvesting pup welcomes us at the door with a jump and a hump and a quick run around the bar area, so happy we are here!

The day before the weather system hit us on the river.

SO we wait, wait for the storm to hit: securing the boat with spidery lines, watching the weather reports/updates on the tropical storm brewing in the Atlantic (Joaquin), washed the boat enclosure, filled our water tanks, chatted it up with a few dock mates (all Canadians)....light rain begins at 7pm.

It's Wednesday, Sept. 30: Happy 9th Anniversary Sweetheart!
A day we will not forget: pouring rain with an incredible 2+ knot current in the river! The river is turning mocha brown and debris consists of tree branches and full trees (roots and all) moving dangerously down the river to join the Hudson.

Full sized tree, roots and all flowing towards these 3 sitting ducks in the middle of the river.

Unfortunate 'duck' that caught the tree.

There is a forest missing one of it's huge trees!

Mike, the owner, suggests that we extend a long line, tied from the bottom of our mast to the steel pole that is on land. A few helping hands pull Deja Vu against the current to tie to the post.

The current is so strong, not the winds, but just the current, squishing us against the slip and Big Bertha (large fender) takes a lickin'.

The river is no longer mocha, but takes on the colour of the red, iron-enriched shale rocks from Hunter Mountain nearby. We are thankful to be at a floating dock.

 The tide is higher than normal, as the run-off and rain accumulations bring the levels too close for comfort. The locals say we are lucky it didn't rise much higher, or we may have been asked to leave the marina and anchor out in the Hudson.










The tropical storm is upgraded to a Hurricane, but too far away to affect us at this point. We walk just 3 minutes from the marina to Port of Call restaurant for a delicious seafood lunch for our anniversary. Did we have dessert? Of course we did!

The first of October is a cold one - just 9C. It's time for a sweatshirt, jeans, warm toque and gloves, rain boots and rain coat too. Summer dresses are put away - for now.  We stay indoors. I make a yummy dinner and we catch up on the Orange is the New Black series, streamed from the very reliable internet we've had all week.

Our trip down the ICW (InterCoastal Waterway) with approximately 20 boats is not until October 20, when we meet up with the host, Wally Moran, in Deltaville, VA. We receive an email from friends ahead of us, as they secure their boats in preparation of high winds and high tides in the Chesapeake area, just north of Deltaville.

It's Friday, the day before Bob joins us as we take a cool fall walk along the water into the nearby park.

Rip Van Winkle bridge in the distance, just north of of position.
It's named after the 1819 story, author Washington Irving, as he mentions the cities of Hudson  and Catskills.

Saturday, Oct. 3, and BOB arrives! He has had a long day, taking a flight to NYC then a train to Hudson station, which is just a short 5 mile taxi ride to the marina. 

FINALLY - more crew!

Tony is like a kid - waiting for his best friend to come over and play. We've missed you BOB!

Bob brings us sunshine today.
He is the first to use the sunscreen.

We have a great dinner at Port of Call the night he arrived, as we chat about the weather in the Atlantic and when we should get going. After some decent conversation, ahem, we all decide that we will leave in the morning, Sunday, October 4, after a quick pump out. It's been 9 days in the Catskills but it's time to move on!

The fall colours are beautiful and the maple trees remind me of home.
Missing you all.



Sailor Christine xo