Voyaging America's Great Loop Aboard Still Waters II
Come join us on our boating adventure
Sweetness, Four in One
Hello virtual crew members and fellow adventurers!
I would like to offer a hearty Welcome Aboard to Jen and Mike O. of Atlantic City, our newest virtual crew members.
John Wooden often said that you will be the same person five years from now except for the people you’ve met and the books you’ve read. This past week, the crew met many very interesting people who have enriched their lives.
Now, the latest travel update of Still Waters II.
Summary of week:
Monday, the crew took a road trip thru the Amish territory around Lancaster on their way to explore Hershey, Pennsylvania. Wednesday, the crew sailed thru the Chesapeake & Delaware Canal and enjoyed a night on the hook in the Salem River. Thursday, the crew made it down the Delaware Bay and pulled into Cape May, New Jersey. The fourth state they have visited this week. Friday saw the crew out in the Atlantic Ocean on their way to Atlantic City.
Click on the link to read the day-to-day travel log.
Still Waters II VIMEO site
At the Box Office, this week is a three minute video showing Still Waters II negotiating 2-3 foot swells with a five second period. The crew got to enjoy this rock and roll motion for five hours, lucky them.
Click on the link to visit other videos at the Still Waters II Vimeo site.
Monday, July 24, 2017
The crew took a road trip today to Hershey, Pennsylvania to visit the birthplace of the mouthwatering milk chocolate Hershey Bar.
Milton Hersey’s story of failure and success was very interesting. He went bankrupt in his first adventures as a confectionary. He finally found success and developed a multimillion dollar caramel candy business. He sold the caramel business and then started experimenting with developing his idea of milk chocolate.
His family thought he was nuts for selling the caramel business and trying to start a new business with an untested milk chocolate bar. History stands on the side of Milton Hershey making a good decision though. What do you eat more of: caramel candies or milk chocolate?
The first Hershey bar dropped out of the mold in 1900. He continued to perfect his milk chocolate sweetness and added the Hershey Kiss in 1907. He introduced almonds to the mix in 1908 and really went nuts.
Mr. Hershey married but his wife fell ill several years after their marriage. They never had children, so in 1909 they put their fortune (60 Million) in a Trust Fund and started a school for orphaned boys, the Hershey Industrial School. His wife died in 1915 and he never remarried.
However, they had a near miss back in 1912. They had purchased tickets for the maiden voyage of the Titanic. A last-minute business issue arose and the Hershey’s had to cancel the trip back home until the business issue was settled. It is sometimes the little things in our lives that end up making the biggest impact.
in 1918, Mr. Hershey transferred control of his company to the Hershey Industrial School Trust fund.
The Admirals favorite candy, the Reese’s Big Cup, was also started in Hershey, PA by an employee of Hershey’s. Mr. Reese thought that if Hershey could make money selling candy, surely he could also. He continued his employment at the Hersey factory, but started making his peanut butter cups out of his garage. Eventually, Hershey bought out Reese’s in 1963.
The crew went to find Milton Hershey’s home, High Point. They went into a church parking lot that overlooks the mansion. While looking around, they found this home which was built CIRCA 1732. It is still located at its original building spot.
While driving back to the boat they passed several Amish folks out driving around the small towns.
The country side was beautiful green as far as the eye could see. This time of year back in Texas, the sun has killed most anything green and everything is a golden brown dead color.
Tuesday, July 25, 2017
The crew spent the day relaxing around the boat. Late in the day however, there was a little excitement. A 90-year-old man took his sailboat out of the marina and anchored in some shallow water. He was cleaning the hull.
Turns out he was prepping for the sailboat race on Wednesday night. His 92 year old wife begun to worry about him because it was taking so long. She got another fellow to walk out and keep an eye on him while he was in the water cleaning the hull.
After the cleaning job was complete he climbed back aboard the sailboat raised the anchor and managed to drop the anchor locker door on his foot. He went back below in the boat to treat his wound. He reappeared after 20 minutes or so and finally motored back into the marina just at dusk.
The whole episode reminded the skipper of his father who used to say “I am going to go full speed ahead in my life all the way to the end. Only problem is full speed is just not what it used to be.”
The 92 year old worried wife still teaches art at a local college. The Admiral was comforting the Art Teacher as she waited on her husband to return to the marina. As you can see, it was getting dark before he got back to his slip.
The crew will also give a shout out to Carrol and her two grand sons. She has been coming from Pennsylvania to spend her summers at the marina for 30 years. She stays on her boat The Big G.
Wednesday, July 26, 2017
The crew got back underway today. They were passing thru the C&D Canal when the skipper suggested that they pull into Chesapeake City for lunch. The place was packed last Sunday when the crew came and visited with Grace and Roger. The skipper wanted to find out what all the fuss was about. They entered the small harbor and tied up at the end of a T-dock at the Chesapeake Inn and had the local fish-n-chips.
After lunch, they shoved back off and completed cruising the canal.
When they arrived at the Delaware River, there were large ships coming from each direction. The skipper made it across the River and then turned up into the Salem River where the crew dropped the anchor for the day.
Thursday, July 27, 2017
The crew weighed anchor and began the trip to Cape May. The skipper timed the currents fairly accurately, so they got about a 2 knot push all the way down the bay. Unfortunately, the wind was out of the south which made for a lumpy boat ride. When the wind and the current are opposed, the wind causes the waves to stack up close together and make for rough seas.
They did see this Osprey eating breakfast as they left the Salem River.
Passing the Ship John Shoal Light about halfway to Cape May.
After about 60 miles of getting bounced around in the Delaware Bay, the crew finally pulled into the Cape May Canal and some smooth water.
Initially, the crew had planned to stay at Cape May for two nights. However, while checking in at the marina office the dock master asked the skipper if he had looked at the weather for Saturday. The skipper noted that he had reviewed the data early in the morning but not lately. The dock master informed the skipper that a large storm was now predicted for Saturday.
Decisions, Decisions, Decisions. The skipper paid for two nights and then went back to the boat to review the latest weather data.
Friday, July 28, 2017
When the skipper woke up, the first thing he did was check the weather again. The forecasted approaching storm was getting worse. The skipper and Admiral decided that it would be best to go ahead and leave for Atlantic City today so they began to make preps to shove off. Thank goodness the Cape May marina gave a refund for the second night.
These youth were out getting some sailing time in on their sunfish sailboats as the crew left the Cape May Harbor.
Looking back at Cape May from the inlet while headed out into the ocean.
The weather, wind, and wave conditions for an outside run to Atlantic City were not ideal, but were better than running the narrow shallow New Jersey ICW. The crew decided to take their chances out in the Atlantic Ocean. The seas were 2-3 foot swells with a period of about 5 seconds. These conditions made for a rolly ride to Atlantic City.
Seems as though every community along the beach in New Jersey has some kind of amusement or water park.
As the crew approached Atlantic City they noticed a helicopter about two miles off shore from the crew. Initially, it looked as though the copter was just sitting motionless above the water. As the crew got closer, they could make out a ship near the copter. They then noticed the copter haul someone up into the copter.
After this bit of excitement the crew turned their attention to finding the Atlantic City Absecon Inlet.
The crew maneuvered their way to the Gardiner Basin and got settled into a slip. The slip was in a great spot because it looks like the crew will be blocked effectively from the projected high winds and waves. The skipper took extra time and care in securing the boat. The winds are projected to reach 30 mph during the night, with gusts to 40.
About the time the skipper completed securing the boat, he heard a couple talking about Still Waters II. He poked his head out and asked if they were fellow Loopers. They responded that they were in the planning stages for the Loop.
The Admiral invited the ‘Planning” Loopers aboard. Our crew spent the evening discussing the Loop and answering questions. When the storm finally arrived and the rain began to fall Jen and Mike headed for home just around the corner.
Saturday, July 29, 2017
While Jen and Mike were leaving the boat last night they invited the crew to lunch. About noonish, Jen and Mike arrived and the four wore off for a fun afternoon.
First stop was lunch at the Wingcraft Restaurant. The conversation continued to revolve around the Loop and the boat that Jen and Mike have purchased. They have a love for old items in need of restoration. Their home back in Ohio is over one hundred years old and they have brought the property back to life. Such is their goal with their boat. They have bought a 1960’s Bertram Yacht in need of love.
After lunch, they went to the boat yard to look over their latest project. The boat definitely has character. They have a great vision for the restoration project and I am sure it will be better than new when they are complete. Good luck with your project boat and eagerly anticipate seeing her back in the water and cruising the Great Loop.
Boat Name of the Week
The skipper did not get a picture of the boat name this week, but the winner goes to Foster who is the Harbor Host for the upper Chesapeake Bay. Foster came by one night to visit the crew and answer any questions about the area. It was a wonderful visit. Thanks Foster!
His boat name you ask?
Quo Vadimus
Hailing port?
Nowhere, Oklahoma
Put it all together, and what do you get?
Quo Vadimus (Latin for – ‘Where are you going?”
Nowhere
OK
Did I mention that Foster has a great sense of humor?
Next Week –
The crew is on their way to New York City where they will meet their daughter, oldest granddaughter, and the guests BFF’s on Tuesday. The crew needs two good weather days to get to NYC from Atlantic City. Let’s hope these winds die down and they make it to New York by Tuesday.
Loop On –
The water goes on forever and the adventure never ends.
Eric the Red
2 Comments on “Sweetness, Four in One”
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Voyaging America's Great Loop Aboard Still Waters II 
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Daddy always told us “full throttle” not “full speed” which is a great metaphor regarding the man in your story.
Love the Hershey story…I wonder how many of his Hershey bars and Kisses we’ve consumed over the years?
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