We have spent the last two nights at Hop-o-nose Marina, putting up the mast and getting the boat back together ready to head out on to the Atlantic coast in a few days.

The Hudson is still a commercial water way, we saw ships and barges in the short section we came down on Monday, this one is big enough to have helicopter pad on its cargo hatch.

Part of the cruising life is traveling in the company of others and making new friends.  We left Loyalist Cove in the company of Brad and Julie on Estrella Del Sur and we have seen them at a couple of stops, including here in Hop-o-nose.  We met a couple of other crews including RC Wings who are also joining the Caribbean 1500.  With the natural common ground of boat issues there is always lots to talk about.  I think we are going to make lots of friends on this trip.

Yesterday morning our mast went up with the help of the old crane.  As ever the process was painless and perhaps a little safer than the last time we were here.

We had a busy couple of days, but the boat is ready to go in the morning.  We will be in Sandy Hook, south of NYC by Saturday afternoon.