last summer I took 10 days off to go sailing. I had no real plan as to where I was going, nor did I have any time to get there. so Friday afternoon I went to the bank, stop and shop, o'neils (had to get some
beer and wine) then went down to my boat. I left my slip at about 5, and was in new harbor block island by 8. after I got my
anchor set I hopped in the dink and went in to see some of my buddies that work out there for the summer. had dinner at charlies house and was back to the boat for 1030. I woke up around 7 and decided that I would sail to
long island for some lunch and those delightful iced teas they are so well known for. by around sunset I was feeling pretty good and decided it was time for some dinner. i set up my
grill, get the charcoal going and go below to prep my steak. now i guess somebody saw the charcoal burning from the beach and thought my boat was on fire, so they called the fire department. now by the time they show up (about 5 minutes after i start my grill) my charcoal went out (must have gotten wet somehow) so i was on the stern with my
outboard gas can re
lighting the
grill. they didn't seem to think it was the best idea but the match was already on the way to the grill and they couldn't stop it. after being told that i was not supposed to be using open flame in a harbor they left and i had some tasty steak with grilled vegies. i got up around 7, and left Montauk around 830. i had no real plans as to where i would go but ended up in Clinton Connecticut. it's actually a nice little town, and as luck would have it they were having a concert that night so as i sat in my
cockpit catching some blue crabs i got to listen to a local band that covered jimmy buffet really well. when i left the next day i figured i would continue going west down
long island sound and maybe see the statue of liberty and
new York. going thru hells gate was an experience and slow as i was going against the tide, but man, seeing
new York from the water was well worth it. if you have never seen the statue of liberty up close you should, it is something i will never forget. i spent a couple days in
nyc and decided that i would go back and spend another day in Clinton. after a night in Clinton i figured i would go to mystic and check that out. they have a really cool seaport and aquarium that was worth the admission and i would recommend to anyone. when i left mystic i went back to block island for a couple days and was home in time to catch the lines on the
fishing boat i work on. it was a great trip and i can't wait till this summer so i can have another
vacation like that. (although i think i will go north and hit marthas vineyard,
Nantucket and then
cape cod.)