July 27th The Benjamin’s
The forecast was for the winds to die down about 10 am and we only had a two hour cruise to the Benjamins, so we started the day with some exercise. I rode by bike and Charlotte got a run in. We were at the town docks, the inside or even numbers on the “C” finger dock. We had learned this is Coffin Corner at dinner the night before. We saw why that morning as a Grand Banks that was leaving side swiped the stern of a boat. We were waiting for a little less wind and current. This place got its name from the current that the winds creates. The slip next to us became empty so we would have it easy when we left, about noon I heard the dock master directing a 50 Express cruiser to that slip, so we hustled and got out of Coffin Corner quickly.
We did not hear from Next To Me by email and they were out of Radio range. I had heard them the day before on cruisers net and their last blog post indicated they may be in the area. As we approached the anchorage I called them on the radio, to my surprise they answer right away. I asked “are you going to waive as you go by?”, they were nowhere in sight but I thought they might be underway. Turns out they had just pulled their anchor in the Benjamin’s to head out but would stay if we were anchoring there tonight. Well it was a great afternoon and evening. We explored “the ski slope”, the gradual granite slope up to the summit.
The Benjamin’s are just beautiful, small islands of granite that are very accessible to explore. The color and formations are beautiful. I can see why they are one of the top destinations for cruisers in the North Channel. Then BYO dinner on Next To ME. We had not seen them since Solomon’s, back in early May. We shared stories, their story of 8 foot waves off NJ made us appreciate the FOG we went through. Then watched an incredible Sunset together, we look forward to seeing them again.
