Reunion at Atlantic Highlands New Jersey

We were awake and ready to go by 6:00 am on the dot; excited to be moving north from Atlantic City. We'll be cruising 100 miles from Atlantic City to Atlantic Highlands. The marina was quiet as we prepared to depart. It wasn't easy getting off the dock. A southeast wind was holding us in place. Dave and I worked together to back out and bring Mystic's nose around. We watched a glorious sunrise as we worked our way out the narrow channel and into deeper waters. Things started out rocky with turbulent water but improved throughout the day. Our long journey included sightings of dolphins, whirlpools of fish and fevers of manta rays, flying their way south.

Atlantic City sunrise

Good Morning Atlantic City

Leaving Atlantic City behind

DO Atlantic City sign

Absecon Light water view

Absecon Light

Absecon Light

Sunrise reflecting in Absecon Light window

Ferris Wheel on Atlantic City boardwalk

Atlantic City view from the inlet

Our Last Views of the City

Atlantic City evaporating into the horizon

We made it to Barneget Bay then Manasquan Inlet in good time. I'd hoped to stop at Manasquan to see the New Jersey town of Brielle because our daughter is named after it. Instead, we kept trucking north. The waves and wind were mostly behind us but we endured moments of confused seas, especially at each inlet. The wind was supposed to lighten up but it increased as we made the turn at Sandy Hook toward Atlantic Highlands. We had endured biting flies throughout the day but they become unbearable toward the end of our trip. Our cockpit was littered with dead flies, fly parts and nasty blood splats from the carnage. I sat facing aft while Dave was at the helm. From my seat, I could swat at the annoying flies that were determined to gnaw on Dave's ankles. The channel was plenty wide but I was alarmed when I look up and saw a huge ship had snuck up behind us. Dave maneuvered Mystic to the edge of the green side, then slipped just outside the channel to get out of the way.

Barneget Light

Light at Barneget Inlet

Passing Brielle, NJ

Passing Manasquan

Manasquan Lighthouse

We arrived at the jetty just inside Atlantic Highlands and sized up the anchorage. I kept my eye out for Andromeda Sol but I didn't see them. The anchorage was huge so I reasoned that they could be anywhere. We moved in place to drop anchor next to a funny looking sailboat without a mast. At the same time, Dave and I realized that this boat was Andromeda Sol. Trudi was sitting in the cockpit. Peter and their dinghy were nowhere to be found. Confused, we concentrated on anchoring safely but I snuck a few photos of the gorgeous sunset behind Andromeda Sol. Trudi saw us and began making hand signals. I heard a motor and looked across the bay, relieved to see Peter moving along in their dinghy. He stopped to pick up Trudi then came over to Mystic to tell us of their dismasting off of Cape May, New Jersey.

Peter in the dinghy

Peter fetching Trudi for a visit

Gorgeous sunset at Atlantic Highlands

Atlantic Highlands Anchorage

Andromeda Sol at anchor, Atlantic Highlands

As the sun set, Peter and Trudi motored home. We promised to get together in the morning to regroup. We decided to stay an extra day to see if there was anything we could do to help. We were tired after our long 100 mile day, and overwhelmed by the experience our friends had endured and survived.

We woke at 6:30 to a hot, sticky morning with heat advisories all up and down the East Coast. We'll need to stay hydrated in these conditions. We began our day by cleaning up all the dead flies in our cockpit. We inflated our dinghy so we could go ashore with Peter and Trudi. They need to do laundry and we need provisions. We walked to a grocery store in the heart of this lovely and quaint town. We had no idea New Jersey was so diverse and appealing. Atlantic Highlands is a great stop on the Loop.

Hillside homes along Sandy Hook

Biking path along Sandy Hook, Atlantic Highlands

Cinema downtown Atlantic Highlands

Edward's Way, Atlantic Highlands

Fire station restaurant, Atlantic Highlands

The Bayshore Trail runs along the shoreline around Sandy Hook. We could see it from our anchorage. It appears to be popular with bikers that continue to cruise by all day. While we were ashore, we went for a walk along the trail and took photos of Mystic anchored in the harbor. The view is awesome! The temperature continues to rise as the morning blends into mid day. It's time to hydrate.

Dave at trail head

Gorgeous flowers along the trail

Dave on the Bayshore Trail

Mystic anchored in the bay

Weekenders cooling off next to Mystic

Carton Brewing Company was only a five minute walk from the marina. We headed into town to give it a try. The brewery is housed in an old brick building that looks like it was once a fire station. We climbed up to the second floor tasting room and chose a flight of four beers to share. The beertender numbered our choices, but gives us only one beer at a time. There are two bars in the tasting room. We have to go back and forth between them to get our selections. After we've finished our flight, we turn in our flight card for a full pour beer of our choice. We choose one called a blue milk which is actually colored a greenish blue. It has a coconut flavor and is delicious! This is the first time a microbrewery has delivered a flight to us in this manor. We liked it and it only cost $10 per flight. It was a good way to enjoy each sample, individually.

Carton Brewing, Atlantic Highlands, NJ

 Always love trying out the Stouts

Our Flight List

Carton Microbrewery

Enjoying a Carton Brewing Blue Milk

Dave in front of Carton Brewing

When we returned to Mystic, we jumped overboard for a cool swim. The harbor was very busy with weekenders anchoring for the day. Mystic rocked constantly. Dave scraped barnacles off our hull while he was in the water. Later, we motored over to Andromeda Sol for dock tails. We watch as storms build to the west. It began to rain, but most of the storms passed northwest of us. We returned to Mystic around 9:00 pm, just before dark.

Sunset in Andromeda's window

Storms passing Atlantic Highlands

The sky turns a stormy yellow

NYC view through stormy skies

Dave fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow, which never ceases to amaze me. He's an early to bed, early to rise kind of guy! As I was settling in, I noticed a change in the wind. I nudged Dave to say I thought we should take the wind scoop in. Before we could even move, the wind increased dramatically and swung Mystic side to side. It sounded like it was trying to tear our sun awning off. I hung our wet dinghy chaps on the life lines with flimsy plastic pins earlier in the day. I barely got them off before all hell broke loose. The wind was so strong that Dave had to come to the port side, grab me and pull me back to the safety of the cockpit. We shut Mystic up tight as the wind increased. All I could think was, "This is what Peter and Trudi described during their knockdown." After about a half hour things quieted. Mystic stopped straining on our anchor and we settled on the water. I have to admit...I didn't sleep well.