Exiting the New River near low is rather exciting. The whole estuary funnels through a narrow channel and can reach high speeds with rapids. Daybreak gives us another hour before dead low, so we've got about a foot of drop through the channel, and with the engine at idle we hit seven knots without even trying. Crazy.
As usual the wind died, so we motored in to Boston Harbor. Online we have met Richard, who owns a MacGregor 25 and has plans for cruising to the north. Most Mac owners just do weekends, so we're excited to meet another cruiser. We meet on George's Island at the old fort. His daughter is playing with a horn group, and with some costumes they march through the stone walls with trombones, tubas, saxophones and more. Much fun. Afterward, we row him out to Eclipse for a tour. He's planning to sail his boat, Kymopoleia, up the Maine coast to Nova Scotia and to a little French-owned island nearby, Miquelon. As fellow cruisers on a small boat we offered some pointers.
Anchored off Peddock's island with a sunset walk along the shores and houses. We're off again at dawn, taking advantage of the falling tide to exit Boston Harbor. Once the morning doldrums are over, we enjoy good sailing past Gloucester and into Rockport. Serendipitously, my daughter is visiting in the area, and we rendezvous with her and her boyfriend along the quiet evening streets of this very touristy town.
As usual the wind died, but this time we were socked in with fog for three hours. Being a Tuesday and far from any busy harbor, we only encountered one other boat. But we did see a minke whale.
Around the NH line, the wind finally strengthened so we could turn off the motor. Quiet. Then as we’re approaching Portsmouth harbor there’s a minke very close. And he stayed with us for about twenty minutes, surfacing and blowing and diving. So exciting! We could smell him sometimes and see his markings underwater.
In the harbor we meet with Mark for dinner, then settle into Chauncey Creek for the night.
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