![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/June-2012-206.jpg\" "\\"OLYMPUS")
<\/a><\/p>\nWhew!!! \u00a0So far, so good. \u00a0 In the water and without a scratch. \u00a0Oh yea, I should mention that at low tide, this area is just a mud flat so she had to go in at the tippy top of high tide.<\/p>\n As we approached the bridge we could see that some of the cables were not pulled up fully so my helper\/crew\u00a0gesticulated\u00a0wildly\u00a0for me to head more to the left where the cables seemed a bit higher. \u00a0 Indeed, it was VERY, VERY CLOSE as the VHF antenna, the highest part of gear on the top of the mast, plinked from cable to cable as we passed under the bridge ever-soo-slooowly. \u00a0My heart was just pounding, as I had visions of all my gear being sheared off of the top of the mast, but we made it. \u00a0After that fun was over we passed through two more bridges, a Metro North train bridge that required an appointment with dispatch and eight guys to open it. \u00a0I have to believe that moving through that bridge cost over $1,000 in labor. \u00a0Amazing! \u00a0After those two bridges calling the Norwalk bridge tender to get the third bridge to open was a piece of cake. \u00a0No issues there. \u00a0Finally, out in the harbor and on our way.<\/p>\n There’s no doubt that we will have plenty of practice with bridges as we head down the ICW this fall. \u00a0More to come on that. \u00a0Perhaps I should drop a tape from the top of the mast to confirm exactly how tall the rig is. \u00a0Yea, a good idea.<\/p>\n Our run from Norwalk took us up to Mystic where Pandora will be for about a month prior to moving her to Wickford RI and on to Maine. \u00a0 The weekend also included a wonderful rendezvous with fellow Corinthians at the Watch Hill Yacht Club. \u00a0What a great way to start the season aboard Pandora. \u00a0And, yes, we even were able to sail for a few hours. \u00a0It was a picture perfect day out on LI Sound.<\/p>\n After a night in Mystic aboard \u00a0we headed to Watch Hill and our rendezvous at the Watch Hill Yacht Club. \u00a0The yacht club has a great view of the harbor to the west. \u00a0Here’s the entrance. \u00a0The entire clubhouse is out on pilings, above the water. \u00a0 Access to this wonderful place is just another reason that being a member of The Corinthians<\/a> is a good idea. On Sunday morning, I stopped at the Ocean House,<\/a> a wonderful resort up on the hill overlooking the ocean and harbor, for coffee and a\u00a0leisurely\u00a0read of the NY Times. \u00a0How\u00a0decadent.<\/p>\n What a grand entrance. \u00a0 The Ocean House was designed to look very much like the grand structure that it replaced. \u00a0A wonderful piece of work. \u00a0Brenda and I will be visiting for lunch in a few weeks. \u00a0 Dinner would be terrific, I am sure, but it’s a bit out of our price range. \u00a0We can also afford to indulge in a cup of coffee on the veranda.<\/p>\n Can you imagine a more serene spot to have coffee while listening to the surf? \u00a0Not me. Oh Muffy, you must join us for a round of croquet out on the lawn.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>Anyway, Pandora ended up in the water without incident and on Friday morning, to coincide with \u00a0dead low we were off. \u00a0Oh yea, we almost weren’t off as Pandora was hard aground in the mud. \u00a0It wasn’t until after much back and forth along with enthusiastic pushing from three yard guys that we were able to power off. \u00a0Never a dull moment. \u00a0 So off to the bridge we went.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>Some of the locals, you know, Muffy and her pals, \u00a0have money to spend and the taste to do it with style. \u00a0How about this beauty?<\/p>\n