Newport Rhode Island is one of our favorite sailing destinations. This cozy town welcomes sailors and cruisers from all over the world, The town offers several marinas and a couple of anchorages. The anchorage south of the island is more suitable for smaller boats, up to about 40 feet. It provides easy access to the beach dinghy dock and a little farther away, the city dinghy dock. It can get quite busy on weekends during summer. Larger vessels find more space in the north anchorage, but it is more exposed and a bit farther from the town center.
Once in town, there are numerous restaurants, bars, ice cream and souvenir shops among the main road. Bigger shopping stores like Walmart or Aldi are a quit Uber drive from town. On weekends, the locals come out and enjoy the beach and water sports. Plenty of walking and hiking opportunities, especially the waterfront walk which takes you across rocks and thru a small tunnel.
Newport is also a very convenient stop if one is sailing from New York to Boston or vice versa.
On the way from New Bern to the Chesapeake Bay, we pass by Chesapeake city. The city provides a free dock right before and after the Great Bridge. Each side fits about 5 average sized boats, and enables easy access to town.
The city dock provides easy access to get our bikes off the boat.
First arrival in New Bern, it was summer just past 4th of July. We quickly learned the name of New Bern came from Bern, the capital of Switzerland. There are many lovely bears around just everywhere you go, they are different color, size, dress and shape. A small gift shop in the town center carries all the special Swiss products and gifts.
From the marina, the town center just 2 minute walk, besides many nice restaurants, bars, there is also a lovely hardware store carry items both boaters and house wives want list, from candles to find dishes, bowls and special signature kitchen towels.
There is a farmers market with 2 minute walk from the marina, opening every saterday morning, we can find organic veggies and home made products. We often buy some coffee, eggs and veggies.
With bicycles our daily routines are expended to the out circle. With 15 minute ride, we pass a nice neighborhood and street to the shopping center, including Walmart, Panera, Aldi and other fast food restaurants.
There is a nice park by the water called Jack’s Island Lawson Creek Park, while you find a bench to sit and soaking yourself in the sun, listening gentle river waive pat the tree roots and mini yellow sandy shore. Ducks and water birds swim by, butter flys and bees add more smell of spring and summer. I even enjoy winter time with warm sun light. once a while couples or family with kids visit and make picnic, then I realize this place is full of livelihood.
Holidays make this town more colorful. Most boaters are lighting up with beautiful decorations, the parks are putting out holiday figures. The Air show is another attraction for both local and tourists. The marina is generously catering Thanksgiving meals to share appreciation of boaters enthusiasm.
During our stay in the marina, we rented a car driving up to Raleigh, the capital of North Carolina, and Virginia Beach.
The end of the season, we hauled out our boat to Duck Creek Marina, where is out side the town with Food Lion super market where about 7 minute bike ride. Just before summer arrival, we completed the boat refit including the bottom paint again.
Finally settled in our first marina since we left Linton Bay marina in Panama. We were happy to have found a new home in New Bern Grand Marina for the coming winter months. After half a year living full time on anchor, we appreciate a nice shower, shore power, television, internet and making new friends on the docks and in town.
First arrival in New Bern, it was summer just past 4th of July. We quickly learned the name of New Bern came from Bern, the capital of Switzerland. There are many lovely bears around just everywhere you go, they are different color, size, dress and shape. A small gift shop in the town center carries all the special Swiss products and gifts.
From the marina, the town center just 2 minute walk, besides many nice restaurants, bars, there is also a lovely hardware store carry items both boaters and house wives want list, from candles to find dishes, bowls and special signature kitchen towels.
There is a farmers market with 2 minute walk from the marina, opening every saterday morning, we can find organic veggies and home made products. We often buy some coffee, eggs and veggies.
With bicycles our daily routines are expended to the out circle. With 15 minute ride, we pass a nice neighborhood and street to the shopping center, including Walmart, Panera, Aldi and other fast food restaurants.
There is a nice park by the water called Jack’s Island Lawson Creek Park, while you find a bench to sit and soaking yourself in the sun, listening gentle river waive pat the tree roots and mini yellow sandy shore. Ducks and water birds swim by, butter flys and bees add more smell of spring and summer. I even enjoy winter time with warm sun light. once a while couples or family with kids visit and make picnic, then I realize this place is full of livelihood.
Holidays make this town more colorful. Most boaters are lighting up with beautiful decorations, the parks are putting out holiday figures. The Air show is another attraction for both local and tourists. The marina is generously catering Thanksgiving meals to share appreciation of boaters enthusiasm.
During our stay in the marina, we rented a car driving up to Raleigh, the capital of North Carolina, and Virginia Beach.
The end of the season, we hauled out our boat to Duck Creek Marina, where is out side the town with Food Lion super market where about 7 minute bike ride. Just before summer arrival, we completed the boat refit including the bottom paint again.
New Bern is a lovely small town that calls itself sister city of Bern in Switzerland. We enjoyed many beautiful days riding on our bicycles and explore the neighborhood. This area offers such a nice balance between society and nature.
It was early June and with hurricane season approaching, it was time to start moving north. After so many days at sea, we appreciated the protection of the ICW. And it was a new experience since it was our first time. Little did we know about the countless bridges and shallow spots waiting for along the way.
We made it to Juniper inlet on our first day. We promptly got stuck in the middle of the inlet and after a couple of attempts to cross it, we decided to anchor by the side and do some more research. It turned out that the ICW is by no means the reported 10 feet deep at all times. Luckily we found Bob’s ICW tracks on Facebook which from now on became our reference.
After a week in Key West, we were craving a bit more society. West Palm Beach provided us with exactly that.
The first joy is walking on the bicycle line along the water. It was such thrill, my heart was dancing and my feet were bouncing with the palm trees in gentle breeze. After 3 months on the boat, a little thing like this made me so happy and grateful, I was a happy baby just learned how to walk. As we anchored outside of the marina, we thought riding a dinghy to the shore is very convenient. Lift the dinghy on the rocky shore with calculation of high tide and low tide, we straight down to Publix, our favor place to go.
Everything in Publix is delicious to me. The store is clean and cool with good selections. We ended buying lot and sitting in the park next door enjoy our roast chicken, cold drink and fruit. That moment is a million dollar worth.
In the morning we sat on the deck listening birds watching boat passing by, and even more fascinating thing to see is helicopters taking off from next door neighbor super yachts.
We soon moved to the city dock where the city provides generous anchorage to boaters by the city center. For transit, boaters can tie up their boats for one night stay. With a short dinghy ride, we got on the land with water supply, grocery, restaurant and shops. The city started showing some lively signs of normal life in peace.
Now since we did not need to use water make, I needed to replace barring. The trip taken me one hour to Grainger by foot. Okay, one to do list got checked.
A few days later I found my right foot go swollen, and it got worse after, I could not walk anymore. Was it sandal? Later the discovery is the feet were sitting with no motion too long, calcium deposit cumulate and cause pain. This issue occurred for several times for a year, one of the life transition leave behind us.
After some rough days sailing around the west cape of Cuba and enduring some of the most vicious storms we’ve ever seen, we arrived in Key West, back in the US where we could finally go on land, stretch our legs and and buy food.
Little did we know what awaited us upon entry into the US. About 10 miles offshore, we got boarded by the US Coast Guard and Homeland Security. The two guys from Coast Guard were friendly and inspected our USCG requirements (flares, vests, fire extinguishers etc). Not so with Homeland Security. They wanted to search and inspect us for the entire afternoon.
After we were searched the entire afternoon for drugs, narcotics and other illegal stuff, the finally let us move on. The sun was already starting to wet when we finally dropped anchor and settled in for the next few days.
After a good night sleep, we started exploring Key West and got some groceries and a sim card for our phones. Funny how we appreciated the little things so much. The town was pretty deserted with Covid in full swing. A lot of restaurants and bars were closed, but the most important stores were open for business.
After an overnight sail from San Blas we arrived in Cartagena. It is necessary to ask permission from the Port Captain to enter the port. We were told that we could not enter due to Covid lockdown. I asked once more in surprise, and yes, we had to leave the port entrance.
As we had spent the past night in a very protected lagoon circa 15 miles south of Cartagena, we decided to head back there and reconvene. The whole situation came as a big surprise, as we had very limited news while staying in the San Blas Islands.
The second day after anchoring in the bay, the navy boat came and approached us. Besides routine checking, they also asked if we had water and food. We were lucky and very thankful to the Navy to be able to stay in this lovely lagoon. Other boats were asked to move to the nearby islands.
As navy informed that we were allowed to stay in the water without going to the land. Realizing we were totally isolated with no resources at all. I had decided to drive the dighy around to get help. Fortunately I met a Colombian-Austrian couple who help us get a sim card and groceries.
Several days later, a young man came with panga introduced himself and asking us if we needed food. God sent us a real angel, we ended up having a delicious snapper and home made cold fruit drink. We were in a little shock, tears running into our eyes and hearts.
Soon we learned more about this beautiful young man. His name is Eric, went to Miami learning helicopter pilot program and returned home for gold mine business. He and his wife, sister in law and parent in law came from Medline for quarantine. Their vacation home in on a little island where about 200 feet from our boat. Veer soon we became friends and were often invited to join the family dinner even mother-in-law’s birthday celebrations.
Invited for dinner.
Our sail boat Providencia is the only boat left in the bay for two and half months. Without options of going on the land, anxiety and worries slowly climbed up while resource of food and water declined.
The San Blas Islands lie on the northern coast of Panama. The area is inhabited by the Guna Yalas and maintain and manage the islands autonomously from Panama.
Most cruisers will travel downwind from Cartagena, Columbia, while others choose the route from Colon via Portobelo or Puero Lindo. As we traveled from Colon, the first islands along the path are Chichime. Chichime is very popular and easy to approach, even at night.
Provision in the “Swimming Pool”, an area of super clear water in the Hollandes Cays. Once a week, a panga circles the area with fresh vegetables, fruit, fish and chicken. Special items can be ordered for next week delivery.
Crossing the Panama Canal starts early, for us at 5:30am. For some friends as early as 4:30am. The Panama Canal Authority requires boats under 65 feet to have an advisor on board, over 65 feet a pilot is required. Here the advisor arrives via tugboat.
Once the advisor is on board, the journey begins and we pass under the bridge of Americas and head towards the Miraflores locks. The Miraflores locks contain two chambers and the visitor center.
Passing under the Bridge of Americas that connects Panama City to the north is quite the experience. It was very early in the day and the sun slowly makes its appearance.
Safely tied up in the first lock. Water enters the lock and slowly we ascend roughly 20 feet. This process takes about 20 minutes.
The Pedro Miguel lock is next, one chamber only. Then off to crossing the Gatun lake. For most sailboats this takes all day and a night at the lake is required. Unless you’re lucky like us. We caught up to the last tanker to go thru the Gatun locks at 4:30pm, three chambers.
Just as we exited the last chamber and dropped off our advisor, a major storm with tremendous rain welcomed us to Colon. We managed with limited visibility to enter Shelter Bay marina around 8pm. Whew, what a day!
