August 27-29                               Greenport, New York

After three days in Port Jeff, we were ready to move northward.  Greenport, a major boating destination on Long Island, was our destination.  This lovely town has retained many of the homes and buildings that existed almost two hundred years ago when whaling ships filled its harbors.  Nestled on the North Fork and shielded from the winter storms of the Sound, it was easily accessible to the Atlantic Ocean.

Our first and second marina choices were unavailable, but we secured a slip at Townsend Manor Marina, tucked into a small cove and only a few blocks from the downtown area.  The channel was narrow and fitting our 63’ boat into the assigned place was a challenge.  With excellent dock help, David again responded well and docked us without a problem.  His years of “shoehorning” our boat into the narrow space at Eagle Mountain Lake in Fort Worth gave him the experience and skills needed.  A fellow boater on the dock told us later he had watched and assumed we had a “hell of a good captain.”  He was surprised when he learned the captain was David.

We enjoyed walking into town and perusing the many shops.  At the used book store, we were greeted at the door by a thin, scraggly-bearded man who barely raised his head from his book to offer help if needed.  The store was a shambles with books, records, picture cards, and junk strewed about.  I was surprised to find a great collection of art books.  I chose one but did not think it was a bargain at $50.00 (later checked Amazon and found it was priced at $55.00).  The fellow was obviously not interested in selling.  He probably owned the building.

Another shop was packed with Italian and Spanish ceramics and resembled shops we had visited in Ravello and Seville.  Beautiful dishes, decorative items, and chandeliers tempted every shopper.  Restaurants were everywhere and enjoying good business.

Most of the lovely two and three story Victorian or Steamboat-style houses appeared to be privately owned.  We saw only a few bed and breakfasts and they were located in very large houses on spacious manicured lawns.  Greenport is meticulously clean despite the many tourists who descend there each summer.

The magnificent Greek Orthodox Church was near the marina and we were fortunate to get a glimpse into the interior.  It appeared to be very traditional with a painted ceiling and walls covered with pictures of saints.  A decorative screen obscured our view of the icons near the altar.  It was a beautiful place and one that was obviously cherished by its congregation as everything, inside and outside, was pristine.

We were pleased to be docked at Townsend Marina.  We liked the friendliness of the staff and the other boaters who preferred, like us, to be away from the hustle of the downtown marinas.  Like Danford’s in Port Jeff, Townsend Manor is a hotel located in several lovely white buildings adjacent to the marina.  Its grounds are spacious, shady, and well-maintained.  We enjoyed the quiet ambiance.