- So our journey begins….Finally, a partly sunny, not-too-cold, fairly calm day. Friday, May 2. We cast off the lines on the Charles River in Cambridge around 8:45 AM. My Dad and my friend, Jake Mycofsky, are on board. We went through the two draw bridges and the Charles River Locks into Boston Harbor, then turned south toward the Cape Cod Canal, heading to New York. The passage was routine, until we got to the Canal entrance, where we were greeted with 20 knot winds. We entered the Sandwich Marina at the eastern end of the Canal, fighting wind and current. Docking was eventful – we are tied up and tucked in, but it wasn’t very pretty.
I just looked up “adventure” in Webster’s Dictionary – it defines “adventure” as “an unusual and exciting, typically hazardous, experience or activity”. YIKES! One on my goals is for this adventure NOT to be hazardous! Another goal is that it not be TOO exciting. But it certainly will be interesting, and it certainly will stretch the envelope and be challenging. This is boating, so there will surely be unexpected twists and turns.
Our immediate goal is to reach New York by next weekend. We plan to leave early Saturday morning and transit the Canal and enter Buzzard’s Bay in calm water before the wind kicks up. My friend Paul had a very different experience when he went through the Canal a year or two ago in his 30′ sailboat. He was greeted at Buzzard’s Bay by 5-6 foot waves, and told me later “If someone had come along and offered to take me off the boat, I would have sold the boat to him for a dollar”. I’m not quite ready to sell yet, so I’m trying for a less “adventurous” passage.
I plan to post an update to this blog once or twice a week, depending on what’s happened and what I think might happen. I’ll include some pictures when I can, provided I can master this blog website. The pictures above are of the crew for our first leg, Boston to New York – Jake, my Dad (90 years old) and I. The other picture shows us heading down the Charles River, toward Boston Harbor – the beginning of our journey. I have two others that I wanted to include, but they are upside down and I can’t figure out how to turn them in the blog. Another adventure in the making…. I’ll try to include them next time if I can,
I hope you enjoy the blog! I think you can post a comment on the blog if you’d like, or feel free to send a message by replying to the e-mail if you’d like to do that as well.
Think sunny skies and fair (light) winds!
Jim K
Great Loop Adventure 
Good morning Jim, Hank and Jake,
Love the pictures! Have a safe passage through the canal. I’ll be looking forward to following your adventures.
Janet
Dear Captain Sandbar…
Seriously,
Fair winds, favorable tides and sunny skies to you! We look forward to your blogs. Is there a stop along the way that you pick up “care pkgs” from UPS or post office? We don’t want you to get scurvy or other ailments.
Jimmy, Tommy and Dad….
Be well and have a great experience.Trip of a life time. Especially with your dad..How great is that…
Question: Which one is older your dad or Tommy??
Be safe
Jimmy Walker
So glad you created this blog! No one can say you don’t live life to the fullest!!!
As you sail to foreign shores, As you anchors aweigh,
May God’s breath fill your sails When you sail at break of day.
May honor, courage, commitment Be written on your heart.
Much more than a motto,
It’s where you end and where you start.
May your Band of Brothers Hear your nation’s call With faith, courage and service And honor over all.
Heart of a warrior, soul of a patriot,
May you be victorious and prevail! Tradition and honor go before you
As you voyage where sailors before you have sailed.
May your heart be forever brave, May you be strong and courageous,
As you navigate the oceans, And forge a legacy for the ages.
In the blue of the mighty deep,
May you be protected by God’s own Son,
Until we meet once more on these sacred shores When the battle is won.
May the Lord be ever by your side. This is our unending plea:
May His Spirit be your shelter and guide
As you sail the seven seas.
Why do you need fair winds? You have a motor.
Best of luck to all of you! Have fun and enjoy the grand adventure! Thanks for setting up the blog. We will look forward to your updates!
Jim & Crew,
Forgive me for stating the obvious, “you are doing is every boater’s dream”. A clear distinction from the weekend warriors like myself. I will live my dreams as I follow you on this blog.
Fair Winds & Smooth Seas
Frank Foley
What’s a trip with Jim that isn’t an adventure!!
Good Morning, Boys!! I awoke today thinking of you all…blessed with a beautiful day albeit a bit windy! You are in the thoughts & prayers of many : ) Enjoy your travels & have a grand time! Looking forward to your many tales from the “road”.
xoxo
Best of Luck! Keep me posted when you get close to Baltimore/ Annapolis/ the Southern Maryland/ Northern Virginia coast.
– Scott S.
Jim, thanks so much for the blog. It’s going to be fun sharing your adventure – from the comfort of my couch. I hope your first week goes swimmingly, so to speak. Hi to Jake and Hank too.
Chrissie
We wish you all a wonderful adventure. We’re quite jealous. In June, we will be at our home in Cheboygan, Michigan. We will only be there for the month of June. Should you get that far north at the same time we are there, we would be most happy to help you re-supply or anything else that you might need that will require a vehicle, other than your boat. Fair winds to all of you
And the salty language begins! And you are
only talking about the &^%# website!
I love reading about your adventure!! So jealous you get to share this with your Dad, what a wonderful time for the both of you. Enjoy you adventure!! you are certainly living life to the fullest.
Tom’s Picture Title
Found this while on trash patrol in the Charles River. Figured we can use this on the trip.