September 5                                      Fairhaven, Massachusetts

Following our plan to depart early, shortly after 7:00 AM we crossed Boston Harbor to the marina on the opposite shore where diesel fuel was available to fill our tanks for a long day of cruising.  Weather reports indicated we would have this one day of sunshine before encountering three successive days of rain.  We wanted to go through the Cape Cod Canal before heading into a marina.  Unfortunately, Fairhaven Shipyard was filled and we had to secure a reservation at Pope Island Marina, near the New Bedford-Fairhaven Bridge.

We spotted a school of black porpoises as we neared Plymouth.  For a brief time, they followed the boat, playing in the wake.  We enjoyed again going through the canal and watching the activity on shore. Leaving the canal introduced us to the turbulence of Buzzard’s Bay.  The wind changed and became a strong force against us, the waves buffeted us, and the rain began.  Fortunately when we reached our marina, the wind was blowing with us and we were able to dock easily to the fixed face dock.  Since the tide was up, we could step off the boat onto the dock without a ladder.

Blake, Amanda, Stephanie, and I walked the short distance into the downtown area and I gave them a quick tour of the significant architectural treasures of Fairhaven.  We returned to the boat and had a great dinner.  We had brought prime steaks from home just for such an occasion.  David grilled them perfectly and everyone was sated with good food and wine.  We watched one of our favorite movies, A New Leaf   before bed.