Let the 2024 Boating Season Begin!!!!

Yes indeed it is boating season again - the 2024 version.

It has been, again as last year, a cold spring. On average, the temperatures have been below average. But the winter was mild. We stayed home for the most part but enjoyed a week in Ocala to visit with Ryan and the family and our Great Loop friends Jim and Justine. We played pickleball most days indoors and recently have moved outside to play on our new (last year) outdoor courts. So we survived the winter nicely.

Even with the cold spring, we got our work done and the boat was launched on Wednesday May 8. It was a rainy and cool day. Before it was launched we were able to load all our stuff onboard. A much easier method than wheeling everything in carts down the docks one cart at a time. We spent most of the rest of the day moving a car to Robinhood to have when we reached Maine.

We arrived back to find Perelandra afloat. I fired the engines and generator and confirmed we were ready to head to Maine. I installed new risers this spring and was pleased to note that water flow from the exhaust was noticeably higher and with a pleasurable result of the exhaust noise being reduced a good deal.

Interestingly, the weather forecast for the next day had been very poor right up until Monday afternoon. I had even thought of asking if the launch date could be delayed a week or so. It then pivoted to looking like a cool, but calm window to make a dash to Maine on Thursday.

This was great. But there was one big problem. The dock location that they put us on is situated to be sideways to the current in the river. It would be running full strength when I wanted to leave in the morning. It would pin us to the dock. I had to return to Litchfield for a meeting of the School Facilities Committee (that's a long story) and on the way mulled what to do. Ah hah!. By the time I returned to the boat the current should be running away from the dock making it easy to leave. We can then go to a mooring and then depart as planned. One problem, it was dark when I returned to the boat and the Admiral was not sure that my plan was a good one. But we talked all the steps through and it worked as planned and as you can see below we were underway on Thursday around 5:45.

The current that would have trapped us against the dock until after 8:30 instead afforded us a great lift down river. We were doing nearly 10 knots with the boat only moving through the water at about 5 knots. I love it when a plan comes together.

Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (actually located in Kittery, Maine)

The lighthouses at the mouth of the Piscataqua River

The Isles of Shoals is just visible beyond the left over fog.

Calm seas and the apparent promise of a sunny ride while looking to the west.

But not so promising looking ahead

The clouds won for most of the day. The wind was light but on the nose making for an apparent wind that was very chilly. I did have on winter garb so it was not too bad. The Admiral was kind enough to bring hot coffee and snacks along the way.

We had traveled about two thirds of the 75 miles as we passed the Portland Light Buoy which is about 7 miles off Cape Elizabeth.

We are nearly across Casco Bay and looking at Cape Small - the landmark I always feel marks the "we are home for the season" point

The wind was swirling behind the boat, but I was able to capture this nice image of a fully flying flag.

A mile off Small Point. The wind is blowing from the land and things should get even calmer soon.

The small island, off the tip of Small Point, in the foreground is Fuller Rock and frames the wonderful Seguin Island in the background. "We are home for the Season!!!" and I feel a dramatic relaxation as we will be near land the remainder of the ride.