Long Island Sound

Before leaving NYC, son Greg inspected HD, gave her the OK, tried to trick us into a chain restaraunt for pizza, and ended up joining us for dinner and apple crisp on HD instead! He has signed up for crew later this trip.
The ride around NYC and the infamous Hell's Gate, where the East River, Harlem River and Long Island Sound meet, was memorable. We reached a record speed of 11kts, helped by a 5+ knot current, as we rode the incoming tide into Long Island Sound.
After a brief stop at City Island to make arrangements for replacement of the broken hot water heater, we were off to Oyster Bay. Beautiful place with lots of sailboats.
Visited Teddy Roosevelt's home at Sycamore Hill. Very interesting hour long tour-one of the tidbits we learned was that Teddy always took the coldest shower he could stand to ready him for the events of the coming day. Since then, our cold showers have been more bearable... but, still anxious for the new hot water heater to be installed next week!
We crossed the Sound to the captain's childhood home in Greenwich, Connecticut. Enjoyed three days of the very pleasant town with dining choices everywhere to enjoy. Of course, visited Starbucks, our first since Cleveland a month ago.
We are now in Norwalk, Connecticut where we have sailed and dined with the Jonathan Mathias Family the last two days. This morning we made the decision to have HD pulled out of the water in preparation for the coming of "Irene" in a couple of days.
Not being the only boat owners with this idea, we had no luck calling all the marinas up and down the coast-they were all too busy hauling out their own clients! The first mate suggested a prayer by the crew and after a short talk with Him, our phone rang and the captain's brother, Jonathan, suggested we go down to a marina we had already called and were put on a waiting list to be hauled out.
The Captain biked the two miles and unexpectedly was met with, " fill out a work order and we will haul you out today". So we sit "on the hard" in the parking lot of Norwalk Cove Marina on the shores of Long Island Sound awaiting Irene. Unfortunately due to the work load at the marina they are not unstepping the mast which would be preferable given  the expected winds to come.
The crew is grateful for what we have been given and will be preparing HD  during the next two days to best survive the storm.
While we are out of the water we are able to have two maintenance items performed that would have been a challenge while floating.
The crew is hopeful that our next posting will be uneventful.