Newport, RI to Port Jefferson, NY
Tuesday morning arrived with a blanket of fog covering the entire harbor and the entire neighborhood. Slowly but surely the sun was peaking through in the effort to burning through the early morning fog. With success it cleared some of the for out of the harbor but as soon as we ventured out into more open waters leaving the lieu of land behind there it was right back surrounding us from all directions. Surprisingly I was at peace that all is going to be well and that there is nothing to fear but fear itself.

Yes it is very uncomfortable moving cautiously into the direction of our destination without any visibility whatsoever. Again and again we met a clearing which increased our visibility from feet to a couple of miles just to bring us right back into the uncertainty of no visibility at all. Just as we thought there is light at the end of that tunnel the wind picked up and went from some 9 KN to 22 KN in an instant and here we were surrounded by heavy clouds laden with thunder and lightning in not such a far distance. There goes our visibility again but this time because of heavy rain and low lingering clouds. Thank God it does not last long and the sky opens up in the distance with the light separating the gray sky from the gray sea.

It is a long run today and we are pushing forward and onward threading the needle between storm and rain clouds surrounding us on both sides of Long Island Sound. At least we can move at a better speed now than what we started off with slowly and cautiously creeping along with our eyes peeled to the radar screen and the most immediate surroundings of our Contessa.

Just as we thought it is clearing a bit and our visibility has improved stormy clouds gather all around us. The water is as gray as the sky and there seems to be no separation between the two. With God’s grace we seem to skim the one front on our port side and after a good shower and some lightening in the distance we make it through and follow the stream of light that seems to be pushing the heavy laden clouds to either side of us and away from us. Finally can we increase our speed and move more swiftly towards our destination being Port Jefferson. As the skies clear we reach the inlet to Port Jefferson just about mid afternoon. We made good time for initially our ETA was showing as 7pm.
The inlet is a narrow channel which also serves the Port Jefferson Ferry boats as we soon discover for there is a large ferry leaving her port and pushing her way through on her way to Connecticut. With sandbars on both sides and the ferry in the channel there is not much room for other boats but we make it and all is well.

Now comes fueling up and docking inside the well protected marina next to the ferry dock. Josh, the young dock master is of great assistance with it all as we are able to fuel up right at our dock and don’t have to dock the boat twice.
Port Jefferson is also the home domain of Cousin Buddy and his wife Sylvia who graciously come to meet us for dinner right here at the marina. It is nice to see how those two older men still like to tease each other and play with each other as they so often did growing up. Once a child always a child, one should never forget the innocence of those worry free days of our childhood.
Catching up on life’s events and family affairs is the topic of the evening crowned with the detailed description of our trip on the Contessa. Every one we see along the way is eager to listen to our experiences and the beautiful places we have visited. Thank you Buddy and Sylvia for your visit! Hope to see you at the family Reunion in October!
We decide to stay a full day here at the marina and enjoy the day! I have discovered a Spa and am taking full advantage of that discovery while Joe is doing his engine room check and fixing or cleaning what needs to be done for the boat to continue serving us well for the duration of our trip.
It is a sunny and warm Wednesday with no clouds in sight which at the end of the day creates a magnificent sunset bathing the entire bay with vibrant colors of orange and red. Red skies at night, sailors delight, they say and I pray for it to manifest tomorrow as we embark on our decent towards the Jersey Shore.
Tomorrow is Joe’s big Birthday and he is expecting to celebrate it with all his children around him. Happy Birthday, my Love, may your every day every step of the way be a blessed and happy one!