August 4, 2008

Monday morning at Bridgeport. Brian the Lobsterman was up, as he always is, very early! We managed to be awake and watching when he brought his first catch of the day to the dock. He maneuvered his work boat with the amazing skill that comes with long practice. Back the boat up to the dock, leave the motor running, step off and tie two lobster cages to the pier, then drive away so the cages fall into the water to keep the ‘catch’ fresh. Move two cleats up the dock and repeat. Repeat until all cages are under water. Pick up empty cages from the dock and be off again! We’re told that the fishing has moved much farther out in the Sound as insectacides that killed the annoying mosquitoes several years ago also did in the local lobsters. Brian says he manages about 1000 lobster cages--lowering the empty and hauling in the full every day. Hard, heavy work in all kinds of weather. He’s put a face on the ‘lobster pot’ markers we see all over the water, and we enjoyed his great good humor. As we explored the Bridgeport harbor, we found a tug pushing a coal barge into a slot at the base of an amazing array of long, high conveyor belts. The barge had been loaded from a huge coal carrier anchored out in the Sound--too big to bring in and offload--and as we watched the coal was scooped up by a circle of buckets and poured onto the conveyers. There were choices--one set of belts went directly into the electricity generating power plant. “Our” coal was not needed immediately and went off to a huge storage pile outside. I remembered when Dansgammer on the Hudson had converted from ‘dirty’ coal to use the less expensive oil to create electricity. Economics has re-created the use of coal, but technology has changed the smoke from the Bridgeport stacks from black, polluting soot to white and clean. Saw no windmills anywhere around Bridgeport. Perhaps that will be next! Our destination in the Sound was a place called the Thimbles. These are a group of rocky eruptions that are said to recall the Maine coast. (We’ve not been there yet, so can’t speak to that…) We chose a spot to anchor in a protected area, and after THE rockiest nights we’ve spent on the boat (think seasick pills. I slept in the upper level where the dipping of the bow was less noticeable--the head of our bed was going down 40 degrees or so. Often.)On Tuesday we motored the dinghy ashore to have breakfast at Creekers and pick up some fresh fruit at the Market. The town is Stony Creek in Branford, and it is indeed a picturesque stop. One nght only for us! Tuesday and Wednesday nighs we were tied up at Cedar Island Marina, in Clinton CT. The marina (we were told) was a college graduation gift to the son of a shirt manufacturer. Dad’s 115’ yacht was tied up at a nearby dock. Customer care was the watchword here. Terri, the swimming pool attendant (where Hannah was available to do arts and crafts with kids all day) said that when the marina closed it’s grocery facility they began to provide a shuttle to town. It worked for me. Judy, a quilter and really fun lady, drove me all around the historic district (much of Clinton was built before 1850) and we admired the gorgeous gardens and (locally provided) cedar siding and shingles. Thence to get groceries at Stop and Shop--one of the stores with a ‘Peapod’ service. They will deliver your online order to your home for a $6.00 fee! Fred and I enjoyed visiting with a couple of Power Squadron members who were on their way to a Rendezvous across the Sound in Greensport. they were off and so, after fueling the boat, were we. Diesel fuel here was $4.85/gallen--a far cry from the highest we've seen, $5.66 in Port Jefferson! We’d planned on several days in the CT river, and we are still here! Entering the river at Saybrook Point, we found lots of current and lots of traffic. We spent one night in Saybrook, and on our dinghy explorations found lots and lots of places to tie up and anchor that were not listed in our books. Five miles up the river is Essex, and we’ve been here all weekend. The CT river is wide and deep, and before picking up a mooring in Essex we motored up as far as the Goodspeed Opera House. So beautiful a ride was it that we ran at only 5 mph, not our usual 'hurry up and get there' 6! We made a note of Hamburg Cove as we passed, and returned in the dinghy Saturday evening to motor in. Hamburg Cove surprisingly went on and on and on as beautiful woodlands and small marinas and quiet anchorages opened up around each bend. Well, almost all quiet--in one spot 5 boats were rafted together and having a great time dancing to their boom box. In a small motorboat around a curve from them, we passed a couple sipping wine while anchored under the trees. Delicious. On Saturday we'd had lunch with Ann,(who was my sister-in-law many years ago), her husband John, and the girls’ Cousin Kay. It was great to see them, to catch up and to reminisce about the good times we had when the children were little and Ann lived in Niantic--a block from the beach! After our dinghy ride on Saturday evening we relaxed aboard (and gave boat tours to people the launch driver brought by) and enjoyed the music from a wedding reception in a tent on the shore. Finding no UU Churches within 15 miles or so, Sunday morning I walked to St. John’s Episcopal Church in Essex. A special prayer was said there for the congregation and victims of a random shooting at a Knoxville, TN Unitarian Universalist Church, and also for the shooter. Fred and I spent Sunday afternoon cleaning--this boat has lots of great features, but it isn’t self cleaning! Fred power washed the decks while I attacked the inside. We ‘launched’ to shore just in time to watch the docking of Quinnipiac, an 80’ wooden schooner that has come to the River Museum here for a few days. Impressive. Had a nice dinner at the Black Seal followed by ice cream which we ate while sitting on a bench outside the Historic Griswold Inn. The ‘Gris’ generously provided live music for our listening pleasure. Ernie, our Eagle kite (we’ve not seen a live Eagle here, although we’re told that many are sighted here, especially in the winter) is flying in the breeze, and telling us it’s time to move on. So we’re off--and will ‘see’ you next week! Fred and Linda