Saturday June 11: Back to New York

     Dan gets husband of the year award - this morning he let me sleep in.  He got up at five and I put on my noise canceling headphones.  He weighed anchor, made breakfast, and set off and I slept in till seven-thirty.

     The plan was to get as far as Old Saybrook Harbor and get all tucked in before the forecasted rain and possible thunderstorms spread over Long Island Sound.  The water was glassy and the winds were light, but the horizon was gray all around, and as we traveled we could see the storm clouds darkening.  About mid-morning Dan suggested we head for the tip of Long Island instead of Old Saybrook.  We’d never been to any anchorage on Long Island, and this would be closer to Block Island, where we hope to spend the next couple of nights.  He found a marina on Navionics and called to inquire about a slip.  Yes, they said, they would have room.

     Just before we got to Orient Point - the end of Long Island before Plum Island and Montauk - the rains came.  And the tide turned.  This area was already listed as a “rip tide area”, so we were prepared for a little rough water, and we were very grateful that we only have about thirty minutes of it all before turning into the small and very narrow channel that led to the even narrower entrance of the marina.

Orient Point Light

Plum Island - rumor has it the government tests anthrax here.  Whatever goes on, the whole island is government owned and visitors are prohibited.

     Orient Point is a very small town that sports a state park and this marina and restaurant.  It’s really more of a marina for fishing charters, (i.e., not fancy, and without much in the way of amenities) but they happily accept transient cruisers and the people here are exceptionally friendly.  We spent a little time at the outdoor bar, meeting Willy from across the Sound who had come over with his buddies for an afternoon of drinking, and watched the local fishing charters filet their catch off the sterns of their boats. The bartender handed over keys to the showers and gave us the wifi code.  Bob, the owner, lent us his truck to go to the next town - eight miles away - for a small grocery run.  After our run, we went back to the restaurant for dinner, and the accommodating staff allowed us to order from the smaller lunch menu because we just weren’t hungry enough for the gourmet dinner entrees.  (Although, we did find room for the peanut butter pie, which was as excellent as the rest of the meal.) What this place lacks in yacht club-type ambience, it makes up twofold in character, friendliness, and food.  

The entrance to the marina - about forty feet wide.

Orient Point Marina & Restaurant.