Gusty northeast winds and rain

It's been an interesting day.. January 8th.  We had a calm beautiful morning watching dark clouds build to the north.  About 9 AM  a breeze developed and rain started briefly.. Then it stopped and for a while looked like the day would be sunny and bright...which was followed by clouds, harder rain and strong north winds.. Then that let up and it was partly sunny but the wind got even stronger and from the northeast.  It's basically 20 knots but I'm sure some stronger gusts.  We have heard gusts would be to 30 knots though so far we've not seen it.  

When we dropped anchor yesterday at the north end of Thompson Bay on Long Island we were the second sailboat anchored with many more further to the south a mile or more away.  No where near the number in Elizabeth Harbor near Georgetown but a couple dozen anyway.  Yesterday morning a 40' cat rigged ketch motored over from the south end and told us of the coming front.  They anchored nearby and dinghyed over to chat.  By cat I don't mean catamaran.  I refer to the rig with the main mast far forward and no stays or shrouds...self supporting masts, a main and slightly shorter misen.  We learned a bit about the town of Salt Pond and difficult times shutting a few businesses down listed in the chart book what to know about Salt Pond section.  Also an unlisted dinghy dock option.  Later yesterday afternoon and evening several other sailboats moved up to this north end.  Even once the front had passed and the winds were blowing 20+ knots a few more moved up.  Last I counted we are now one of 13 sailboats.  There are still a few that haven't bothered to move.

We watched a movie this afternoon.  It was the first time we've done that mid day.  I read more when volunteer crewing than while home.  This year it's been books by Tristan Jones, a favorite author of Walters.  He was quite the voyaging sailor back in the day and wrote a lot of magazine articles and books.  Last year it was Clive Cussler adventure paperbacks found in give and take libraries here and there.  

It's getting dark now after a day mostly inside the boat.  Although both breakfast and lunch were in the cockpit.  Dinner will be below deck as its cool in the wind with no sun.

I forgot to take a sunset photo.  Here's one from just after breakfast today when Candace was getting some swimming in while Walter escorted her in the dinghy.  You can see the dinghy and splashing from her swim strokes in the distance.  I was letting out 30 more feet of chain.