Last Monday was our last morning at Crocker’s Marina. We’re off on a leisurely ride up the Thames River. Went as far as the Mohegan Sun Casino, which suddenly rises up along the shore, with it’s humpteen story parking garage bearing a sign that says in huge letters “Park here and win a car like this!” That was sort of in keeping with our feeling about the Thames. Although there are lovely stretches with trees growing down to the water, those areas are outweighed by Electric Boat, the Coast Guard Academy, the Navy Submarine base (with huge bumpers and signs suggesting VERY strongly--along with a patrol boat to enforce--that you keep your distance) We didn’t get ashore to tour the Nautilus, the first ever nucular [spelling intentional] submarine, but waved was we went by. We just didn’t have that pastoral, serene experience we’ve found on other rivers. Interesting, though.
Back in the Sound, we passed (and photographed) three tall ships--including our friend the Mystic Whaler--carrying, according to Cap’n John, 70 students on an educational tour. It was after 5 when we tied up at the 400 foot long concrete wall called the North Parade inside the Mystic Seaport. Had an outdoor dinner at the Seaman’s Inne, and enjoyed fireworks from across the bay. On Tuesday we were up before the sun rose and walked to the Kitchen Kettle for a highly touted breakfast. Turned out the walk was the best part! Mystic Seaport’s many colonial volunteers make the village fun, and we visited many of the exhibits--their rope making isn’t nearly as manageable as Fred’s--they use a 250 foot long shed! To exit Mystic, one must catch the bridge that opens at 40 minutes past the hour, so we aimed for, and caught, the 12:40 opening. Just as we got near the mouth of the Mystic River, amidst a bazillion boats doing their best to hide the marker buoys, both navigation computer screens went black. Fortunately, we had the paper charts ready and were able to continue our course, until Fred reset the GFI outlet that had blown for some reason, known only to the gods and goddesses! Computer navigation is awesome---when it works!
It was a hop, skip and a jump (figuratively speaking) to the artsy, cute village of Stonington where we picked up a Mooring. It was hot but windy, and I took the launch to town to explore, while Fred flew Ernie the eagle kite from the dinghy deck. What animal lovers in Stonington! Many stores advertised doggie treats inside and filled puppy water dishes were kept along the sidewalk. We both later launched back into town and walked to Noah’s Restaurant for dinner just as the annual 5K race around the green took place. Fun.
In the morning we headed for Block Island. What a treat! Block Island, shaped like a pork chop, has a ‘hole’ in it’s center--the Great Salt Pond. To say it was packed with boats is an understatement. We caught the last available public mooring ball and had a ringside seat as boats of all sizes--many dinghies with teens at the tiller-- zipped in and around the Pond. We enjoyed fresh baked goods form Aldo the baker who peddled his wares from his little boat as he yelled “Andiamo!” at 8 am. I walked a couple of miles over the hills to the Old Harbor port side of the island and came home with a fabulous lunch from the Spring House, recommended by the Harbormaster (a year round resident) and not listed in all the ads for the Island. Magnificent. Our dinghy exploration took us into quiet corners of the Pond, and all in all, we hated to leave. By the way, our mooring was already captured by it’s next inhabitant when we finally let it go!
Back across BI Sound to Newport--I called it Port Jeff on steroids, Fred insists it’s just Newport! He went to Navy OCS there (the other day)….and we enjoyed strolling to the local Stop ‘n’ Shop--and wheeling our groceries back (downhill) to the boat amidst the many many bustling shopping laughing dancing drinking dining tourists!
Next morning (Saturday) we were off to Vinyard Sound where we tied up at the Falmouth Town Dock. Daughter Linda Lee drove to Falmouth to meet us. We took the nostalgic auto trip around town (Linda and Alan were born in Falmouth) and enjoyed revisiting the points of interest here and at Woods’ Hole, where Fred’ spent 14 years in Management at the Oceanographic Institute..
Sunday was, again, a magnificent summer day--bright sun, light breeze and moderate temperatures. The weather was perfect for ducking into the Great Harbor at Woods Hole, Hadley’s Cove--WAY more boats there than 30 years ago--and across Vinyard Sound to Martha’s Vinyard. What a hoot to tie up at the town dock in Vinyard Haven and join the other tourists for lunch and ice cream (yes we did stop at Mad Martha’s), and return to find Julie the harbormaster rafting another boat to Young America! They untied so we could leave, and by 3:30 Linda was auto bound back to NY.
And now it is Monday, and we’ll see you next week! (Happy b’day, Fred!)
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