Good Bye Irene and Hello Cape Cod

HD relaunched on the Friday, 9/2 after Irene visited Norwalk, Ct. While she caused extensive flooding (Ali & Phil lost their road in Vt.) and local power outages (Jonathan and Family do you have power yet!) there was little to no damage in the marina parking lot where HD was sitting during the hurricane.

As it turns out everything worked out well; HD got her hot water heater replaced after a month of cold showers by the crew, a leaking sea cock was replaced which is far easier on land than in the water, and the leak in the rudder post's gaiter was replaced with a newer model less prone to springing a hole.
Before departing Norwalk on our way to Boston via Port Jefferson, L.I. NY, she got her rigging tuned by the folk's who used to do the same for the new Tartan's that were sold locally when the Dealership was located in Norwalk.
A very special thanks to Jonathan, Gail, Lily and Zach for their hospitality during our extended stay including sheltering the crew in their house the night of the hurricane. We now have a fully detailed list of "to Doe's" from Zach on how to fix our decorating including measurements he took while advising us.
HD has been on one nighters since Norwalk as she makes her way to Boston to meet Tara on Saturday 9/10: Port Jeff, to Shelter Island, at up to 9Kts, at the tip of L.I. ( where on arriving well after dark HD was a boat length away from hitting the jetty protect te harbor when the First Mate yelled " LAND HO" and we were able to back tract and anchor outside in the lee of Shelter Is.; The private buoys were not where the chart had them),  to Block Is. again at up to 8 kts. to Cuttyhunk Is at the tip of Cape Cod.
This was a memorable stop which was elongated into two nights due to stormy weather. The first morning as the storm hit dragged her anchor for the first  time. After much commotion in 30 kts winds she got reconnected to the bottom and stayed there until departure the next day.
While attempting to dock at the town docks and fill her water tanks she ran aground (in the charted channel) and had to call USBoat for a tow. However, the helmsman was able to shake hr loose 20 minutes after the call for help and the tow boat was cancelled.
Then while docking at the small ferry dock with better depths the wind pushed HD into the Ferry which was already docked and luckily only hit her rub rail which is there for that purpose and not real damage to report. HD probably won't stop at Cuddyhunk on her return south.
Last night rested comfortably at anchor in Onset Harbor at the west entrance to the Cape Cod Canal which is the trip planned for today when the tide turns favorable as there is a 4 kts current in the canal.
Lessons learned are many. Boat wise a new bigger anchor with an all chain rode has been ordered. this entails changing the gypsy on the windless for which Lewmar is gladly sending to our East coast address in Weston (Jonathan's) for a shamming $450. A small price to pay along with the ground tackle coming from West Marine for the security of a sound night's rest.
The lessons learned emotionally mainly by the Captain are many. Not the lest of which is acceptance and the continued requirement " to practice the principals in all of our affairs".

All in all, a very happy crew on HD continues their journey geographically and personally.