Ridges,Troughs and Fronts

 Weather is the biggest factor when you're doing anything outside.  We have been in one howling wind pattern .  Apparently, this is due to ridges above us and troughs below us and fronts in Louisiana or North Carolina or something  There have been hours when the wind is less than 25knots but not too many of them.  The upshot is that we are still in Long Island . It is a great place and it is only in the last few days that we have really felt boat bound.  The anchorage is a bit far from groceries and laundry so dinghy rides for chores in high winds and choppy harbors have been a hoot.  By the time we got our laundry back to the boat yesterday; we had knee deep water in the dinghy.  Waves were breaking over the  bow of the dinghy; can you stand it? Happily, I had packed the laundry in sailors' lux luggage: trash bags inside canvas.  It was dry.   There are many ruins and old plantations here from revolutionary war days.  Some of them are very impressive and the old farm walls remind us of  New England  except the rocks are made of coral.  There are several limestone caves as well.  We ventured into one and spent almost 5 minutes there until the bats ,multiple bats, got too close to us .  I'd have run out but there were spiders the size of saucers near the entrance, so I had to pick my way. I gave up on the cave explorations no matter how extraordinary others say they are.  Rowdy Boys boatyard is here on Long Island too.  They make boats in the same class as the one pictured here, but this photo is from the Exumas.    Right now almost sixty cruisers are in the harbor.  Most came in about 10 days ago  and had planned for about 4 or 5 days here. The radio traffic after the weather report is impressive. Some people are really eloquent in their frustration.  Everyone is anxious to sail somewhere.  It should be a beautiful sight to see so many boats haul up sails tomorrow ( we hope).