Voyage has resumed.

Dear Faithful Friends and Family,

After a great week-end in NYC we flew to Bangor, ME (July 22) where the weather was awful. Arose the next morning to a flat tire. Launched Gratitude on Tuesday, July 23 and began provisioning. Weather was cold and foggy with drizzle. Left Thursday for Tenants Harbor, ME. Foggy. Oil leaking from oil filter fitting when we arrived. Tightened oil filter. Great dinner in Tenants Harbor. Left Friday morning bound for Boothbay. As we approached open ocean (in the fog) low battery alarm sounded on instruments. Back to Tenant's Harbor. Called boatyard in Rockland. They brought out new battery but we discovered they had neglected to connect alternator cable this spring. No charge. Connected cable and problem solved. Off to Boothbay the next day (in patchy fog). At mouth of harbor, we were hailed by a power boat with no power and drifting for the rocks. With shallow water and fog we knew we could make only one pass by the boat to throw a line. Susan took the wheel, swung the helm and headed directly for the boat. She turned at the last possible moment allowing me to throw a line. We began towing them into boothbay harbor. As we approached Boothbay, a small power boat came over to investigate as they thought it was ironic that a sailboat would be towing a power boat. As we offered to allow them to continue the tow, our engine alarm went off. Small power boat towed large power boat into harbor and then came back and towed us. I inspected engine compartment and oil everywhere. I check into marina and told tale of woe and the owner told me I had been double gasketed. He said to remove oil filter and I will discover that mechanic had failed to remove old gasket when he installed new filter. I removed filter and there, hanging on the engine block........old gasket. So we are furious with boatyard. Cleaned up mess, put in new oil and the old Gratitude has performed flawlessly ever since.
Weather forecast in Boothbay was for fog and drizzle for next week so we got our car and drove to the Cape to visit dear college friends and celebrate Barbie's (college pal) birthday. Cape was delightful. Had a great time and we dried out.

Returned to Boothbay, re-provisioned, parked car in a lot, and sailed to Portland, ME. Beautiful day. Next day sailed to York Harbor, ME. Marina operator told me over the phone on the way that we would be docked next to HW and Barbara. Thought he was kidding. Arrived and discovered we would have to parallel park boat in a space 3 feet too short and it was indeed next to HW's monster power boat and a black secret service boat. Managed to get boat in without ramming either HW or SS. Later, HW and entourage hobbled down the dock, got in their 900 horsepower (not kidding) boat and sailed off into the sunset with SS following close behind. York Harbor is beautiful.

Next day, sailed to Salem, MA. Marine forecast, which is usually quite accurate, was way off. Rain, wind, rough seas. Stayed in Salem the next day to rest. Explored Salem Essex Museum, etc.

Next leg was to Cape Cod Canal. Nice day with following winds. Next day through the canal to South Dartmouth, MA and the New Bedford Yacht Club. An absolute jewel. More later