USA - New York, Catskill, Another Catskill River Flood Alert

Another text from Bob, alerting us that our area is expecting thunderstorms, and although we’d only get 1-3 inches of rain, up in the Catskill Mountains, they’re expecting 4-6 inches of rain, all of which drains into the Catskill River, and once again we were on 24 hours Watch of Flash Flood Alert!

It was high tide and I rushed outside to take photos as a reference to ‘see’ how high the water was getting.

This is the strut which ‘ties’ the walk-on pontoons to the shore. At high-tide, the strut is slightly ‘Up’ on the walk-on side. During Hurricane Irene in 2011, these walk-ons rose so high that the floated off the shore side pins, and docks and boats floated down the Catskill River into the Hudson River and South……, not something we want for Meshugga, as our Mast is SO tall (120 foot),  that we’d hit the Kingston Bridge 20 miles south with any rise in Hudson River waters. Hence our stress with Flash Flooding. We need to be aboard so that incase of ‘floating off’ the pins we can go into the Hudson River and anchor Meshugga out of the main current, and be Safe!

For reference, this is the Boardwalk at Low Tide

A close up of the Pin side at HighTide, as a reference for Flooding.

Time is important too, to determine the state of the tide.

We were most surprised when we got to the Catskill Marina to find that, although we knew it’d be tidal, it had a HUGE tide of over 1 meter, which we did not expect as we’re 120 miles upriver from the sea.

All ended well with the rise in water coordinating with Low Tide, and no discernible difference at High Tide. Quite a strong river flow kept up all day and next with logs and tree trunks flowing past us.

However, today is a sunny but cool Sunday
 

The Catskill Cruisers facilities, a Tent with tables, BBQ’s, Firepit, Rest Room and Shower facilities

Nicholas on Wifi

Unfortunately my MacBook Air, has some problem. He is online to Kieran to help with computer stuff. Seems like my MacBook Air is stuffed and needs a total reboot, clean out etc etc. This will take many hours at this Cruisers setup where there is a good wifi signal.Unfortunately on  Meshugga we are too far away to get a strong signal. I guess I’ll be sitting here tomorrow for 5 hours, whilst my MacBook Air updates, ……. reading Outlander book 5…… I can’t think of anything worse…. Just saying 

USA - New York, Catskill, Sea Planes and Cat’n Around

What fun to see a Sea Plane land and cruise by Meshugga. It ‘sailed’ past us to the Jetty at the Creek Restuarant for lunch.

 Going out, I couldn’t help taking more photos. Such an unusual sight.

An awesome afternoon spent with Bob and Susan, our neighbors in the Condos next to our Marina at the Cat’n Around Charity Auction. A Meal and endless supply of Wine and Beer, for a reasonable Entry Fee, saw us sharing a table with Bob and Susan and checking out these amazing Cats. 

This one is my Favorite, raised $3000 for charity

Unicorn Cat went for a good price, at over $2600

Bob, Susan’s and their grandson.

Bob kindly sent us numerous texts when we were in South Africa, and two weather systems were coming through, and the Catskill River was under Flash Flood Alert. We were so worried about Meshugga, as we stick out into the River with our wide beam, and Bob was most kind in keeping us up to date of the status of the River, and that the Marina had put extra ropes onto Meshugga to the shore to ensure we did not put undue strain onto the walk-on pontoons. Thank you Bob!

Condos (photo taken from Meshugga’s deck), along the Catskill River overlooking Meshugga. Bob is the Condo with the American flag flying outside. So Bob has an excellent view of Meshugga and the River!

Cruisers get together for Drinks and Snacks, at the Catskill Marina BBQ pit. So nice to catch up with these folks which we met when we arrived at the Catskill Marina a couple of months ago.

Don, Laura, Dean, Bill, Susan, D, Nicholas (L-R)

South Africa - Cape Town to USA - New York, Catskills, Home to Meshugga

And with that our Trip to South Africa is over, and we are back at the Airport waiting to board for a long flight on Qatar Airways via Doha to New Yorks’ JFK Airport.

We found due to Covid, the Lounges at Cape Town International Airport closed, and the terminal very empty, so was easy to find comfy seats at a Bar/Restuarant to while away the couple of hours waiting for boarding to start.

Our flight arrived at JFK at 10pm, which meant we were too late to catch the Amtrak Train north from New York City to Hudson, so we hired a vehicle and did the 2 and a half hour drive to Catskill arriving home to Meshugga at 2am.

Meshugga is fine, and just as we left here. Next day we did some shopping to stock Meshugga with Fresh Produce at the local Walmart, and a few other chores before handing the vehicle back to Hertz.

Our trusty Hertz vehicle

We found we have a family of Ducks living off Meshugga’s back step. Very cute but Oh so Messy!

And Yes, we couldn’t help ourselves, so we feed them too now, so it just encourages them. Thank fully the mess is easily hosed off.

 

South Africa - Cape Town, Our Last Week

 My feet are healing well. This foot, I had a screw from a previous Bunion operation unscrewing from the bone and pushing out against the skin, making it really sore to wear shoes. A small incision, and the screw was taken out. Stitches have dissolved and healing nicely.

My left foot. I have just had a Bunion operation and it too is healing well. Still many more weeks in an orthopedic shoe and then into Sneakers with orthotics to ensure the Big Toe heals into a straight line.

A fabulous luncheon at Simon’s Restuarant, which is located on the Groot Constantia Wine Estate. Absolutely beautiful decor, superb food, wonderful wine and excellent company.

Me, John Martin, Nicholas, Jeanne van Rooyen Martin, and Jenny Lloyd

Me and John

Nicholas, Jeanne and Jenny

One last visit to our Home Club, the Royal Cape Yacht Club for an excellent meal and beers

I loved the King Proteas on the tables, South Africa’s national flower

Nicholas’ old racing boat! It was called Gumption, but the new owners changed her name to Gryphon. She still has pride of place at a slip directly outside the Club House patio. A real Go Fast boat! I used to love going on her as an unneeded Crew during races, and the guys would have her surfing down the swells at 25 knots, with spray flying up on either side like a Speed Boat! 

South Africa - Cape Town, A Trip up the West Coast

Our good friends Derri and Richard Crockett invited us to visit and stay with them at their wonderful Shelley Point home, which is up the West Coast north of Cape Town.

We took a drive up on a superb winter day with temperatures devine and sun shining.

We  stopped in Langebaan to look at old haunts of years gone by, and did a little shopping for summer shorts for me. All this effort walking around on my Bunion foot we were in need of a beverage.

Langebaan Main Beach

An unusual windless day in Langebaan.

We drove to the Langebaan Yacht Club, always welcoming yachtsmen from other clubs, we were welcomed and enjoyed a good bottle of chilled white wine and excellent pizza on their deck.

The Crocketts Place in Shelley Point, Diningroom with an awesome view

Derri and Nicholas

Richard, Nicholas and Derri

Us, with an amazing sunset behind us

Richard and Derri making a delightful Prawn Coconut Curry for dinner

Thank you Derri and Richard for hosting us in your wonderful Shelley Point home !!!

On our way home, we went via Darling, and was amazed at the HUGE Wind Farm

In Darling, we had to make an obligatory stop at the iconic Darling Brewery for an ale