Sailing South aboard Lucy III: 2020-2021 (Day 15)

 Hoffman's Marina, Manasquan, New Jersey: September 18, 2020

Marc-  Our second day here in Manasquan was fairly nice.  There was a brief weather window to get out this morning but the rain came and we decided to stay on since we would only have gone to Barnegat Bay.  The day started with breakfast at the local diner called "The Capsized Cafe".  The food was excellent.  Michael Gilmartin suggested a New Jersey ham and egg sandwich called a Pork roll, aka Taylor's ham.  There is apparently a dispute about the proper name for this delicacy dependent on whether you live in North or South Jersey.  Our next stop was at the West Marine in nearby Brick, New Jersey.  Special thanks to Doreen Gilmartin for driving down here.  The car allowed us to get to the diner and get some shopping done.  And whenever we drive in the car there is a call from Michael's brother, Brian.  (Hint hint brother John, pick up the phone.)  I needed a new computer chip for the Raymarine chart plotter.  It appears that after three years the chip containing the charts degrades, showing lesser and lesser amounts of detail (depth information disappears).  All is back to normal now with the new chip.

Most of my day was spent in an online mediation involving a case concerning my brother's death.  We did get some closure today.  

The evening was spent at the marina at a nice picnic area at the head of the docks.  We enjoyed amazing Rosie's square pizza pie from Point Pleasant thanks to Greg and Eileen Helfrich, specialty cupcakes and cannolis from Michael & Doreen from Mueller's Bakery in Bay Head.  Michael had the Yankees vs. Red Sox game playing during dinner.  The final excitement was the exceptionally high tides tonight.  Our fixed docks are underwater at this time.  Tiny fish, perhaps smelt, were jumping on the docks or simply out of the water as larger fish pursued them.  By the time we were aboard the docks were under several inches of water.  All of the streets in this section of Town will be under water tonight.  The beautiful homes here that were built with storm preparation in mind will be spared flooding.

Fiddler's Green, the Gilmartin's Tugboat.

Commuter trains pass every hour with a siren announcing the bridge closing fast and then a toot on the horn from the train engineer.  Luckily this line is only for commuter trains.

Our dock covered in fish as the tide comes in.

Sue has started knitting mittens.  This has finger access for texting.  The cover pulls off from the front, the fingers come out to type, and the cap is held on the back with the buttons.  We may need mittens if we have to stay here much longer!