Fishers I, Thimble Islands, Port Jeff

We left Block Island once the rain stopped and headed for West Harbour, Fishers Island. We decided to go through the channels on the eastern side of the island instead of trying to make “The Race” on the western end because we didn’t think we’d make it before the tide turned. That was a good idea. All we had to contend with was the current from all the water emptying out of the various harbours on the Connecticut side. Pete, on the other hand, ended up in “The Race” and encountered freighters and a submarine! At one point he was only doing 0.5 knots against the current. We both picked up moorings. Nobody was around and no answer at the Yacht Club. So our night was free.

Pretty spot – sand beaches and a family of four swans came by for food – which we happily obliged (see picture). Although they hissed at the gulls competing for the bread, we still enjoyed seeing them. I have never seen swans except in parks.

Since it was giving good weather for Tuesday, we set off for the Thimble Islands – down the coast on the Connecticut side of the Sound. Flat seas and calm winds brought us to a little anchorage amongst the islands. There were moorings there, so we picked one up. This place reminds us of Dover – not far from Peggy’s Cove – except that there were houses built on the rocks on every island. Very picturesque. I figure if these people saw how barren our islands are back home, they’d go nuts! There’s no room between the houses here, either along the shores or on individual islands!

Wednesday morning we planned on leaving early again, but the weather forecast was calling for imminent thunder storms, so we waited a couple of hours. Around 9:00 a.m. we decided that the threat of storms was done so we set off across the sound to the Long Island side to Port Jefferson. It was quite a rolly passage, but about half way the chop subsided and we motorsailed into Port Jefferson, met the ferry on the way in, and picked up a mooring at 2:00 p.m.

Port Jefferson is really nice. The people we’ve met so far have been very helpful. There’s two big ferries that travel in and out. There’s also nobody on any of the boats around here – just us! There are swans here too. Two came up to the boat and Albert fed them Ritz crackers. Check out the picture of the swan with a Ritz in his mouth. His neck was stretched up to our cockpit!

They’ve just built a new building with showers and washer & dryer. I think I’m the first to use the washer & dryer. We walked around town yesterday, stopped in a pub for late lunch (early supper) and Papa watched a bit of a World Series game. There’s not much for groceries, so we only picked up a few little things.
Today, we’ll take in a few more sights and, because it’s giving wind on the nose again today, we’ll probably stay another night on the mooring. We’re close to shore there, so can get back and forth to town easily. Tomorrow night, we’ll most likely move to the head of the harbour where there’s a little cove where we can anchor so we can make an early start on Saturday. Not sure where we’ll be going, depends on the weather. We’re trying to get to Port Washington which will be the starting off point to go through Hell’s Gate & the Narrows in New York City. We have to time the tides right for that passage which will then take us on to Sandy Hook, the start of the New Jersey coastline.