6/8/25 - Atlantic City to Cape May

 Trying to beat the weather and ride the tide meant an early start. After Riva got to shore we quickly secured everything( not going to be smooth sailing today) and got ready.  We pulled anchor about 6:30am and headed out to the Atlantic for what will be our last ocean day for this trip! The predictions were for 2-3 foot waves with about an 8 second period, which was not too bad.  Because of our early start the winds were at our back. Most loopers were headed north and would be eased into the waves making for a pretty bouncy ride.  Lucky for us, we were going the “right way” today.  With following seas, the waves were at our back and almost carried us making for a fairly smooth ride( for 2-3 foot waves) with the only challenge being the constant steering necessary with the waves pushing us hither.  We decided to stay on the outside all the way to Cape May.  Many marinas were full due to loopers staying put (due to a combination of weather and the Erie Canal closure).  Renee found an opening at Canyon Club Resort Marina and we pulled into our slip just before 10 am. 

                                                Captain Renee riding the waves of the Atlantic 

After getting checked in and walking Riva, we threw the bikes off to explore Cape May. Just over the bridge we stopped into another marina were we had seen a fellow Marinette looper was staying.  They were not aboard so we left a boat card and headed into town.  We stopped at the Washington Street Mall, with lots of cute shops. Yes it was very touristy, but had the local architecture and small town feel. We had a slice of pizza for lunch and did some shopping.  Erik received a call from our Marinette friend who had gotten our boat card so we headed back to their marina for a visit.  We did not realize we had met this couple at the Spring Rendevous two years ago. They showed us their boat and shared some very interesting modifications.  

Sites of Cape May
A nice small town

Fellow Loopers Brian and Pam on their 41’ Marinette ‘Surf Rider’ (2’ longer and 1’ wider than ours)
They’ve made some nifty mods like bike racks on the flybridge front and and extended swim platform
Also turned us on to T-9 lubricant that he insists will keep our bikes from turning into piles of rust

Next we biked back into town for a meeting.  We were welcomed by a very small group, then quickly asked if we would share our story 🤪.  After the meeting we headed back to the boat. Erik was anxious to cook the fresh fish the boat across from us had given him this morning when we pulled in!  Fish for Erik and burger with shish-kabob left overs for Renee, yum!  It was too chilly to enjoy the pool and it was misty/rainy so we showered and did laundry and relaxed on the boat to round out the evening to rest our weary bodies. 

Canyon Club Resort Marina
A little posher than our usual with infinity pool and lots of nice boats
Also lots of dead horseshoe crabs!
We were told that many turn upside down during mating and then wash into the bays
Further research says that many aren’t actually dead but rather molted exoskeletons they’ve grown out of