Sunday, June 12, 2016

Mystic, CT

The weather cooperated with our desire to see Mystic and the Mystic Museum - it was too windy to go anywhere else!

To back track a bit, a wedding party was going on at a venue close to the boat.  At 7, the wedding was done and the DJ and party had begun.  Of course, we could hear it all....First, "young" music, today's music that I recognize very little of.  But - by 10 pm, the DJ was playing "Shout" by the Isley Brothers, almost 60 years since it was released. Hurray for the oldies but goodies!

The winds did indeed keep us at this anchorage, so we put down the dingy and took a splashy ride into Mystic.  The bridge is like ones I've seldom seen before - the bridge span lifts via huge counterweights.

 
The bridge may open for tall vessels, but we dinghy sailors have to go under it. At high tide, that is not trivial...Here is an oncoming small boat for reference.


We had plenty of head space, but it sure didn't seem like it as we approached.  I am "not fond" of height impaired spaces...


As we approached the Mystic Museum, we spotted traditional "cat boats" giving rides.

 
And then a schooner!
 
 
And 2 schooners! The second one gives sails around the area.
 
 
Sitting around the corner were 3 beautiful, restored square riggers.  Note carefully on the right most ship, the folks working atop one of the masts.  The little people atop the very tall masts...
 
 
No, not a job I would want...
 
 
We tied up at the museum dock for a few minutes - long enough to get a couple of shots of the restored town. It is a wonderful museum - 17 acres - but we didn't stay -we've been here before and wanted to see the town of Mystic this time.
 

 
Back to town, we were "impressed" by differences along the waterway - there are many older homes, New England style houses.
 
 
But a good portion of the water front property is taken up with relatively new, modern condos, etc.
 
 
Yes, it is a Sunday, and the place is busy, busy!!
 
 
Luke liked the 3 dogs sitting on a bench where we tied up the dinghy.  By the way, Mystic has wonderful facilities for boaters, including dinghy docks, making it easy to visit the town.  These 3 good boys were with their master.  He has taught them to sit quietly in chairs so he can take them to outdoor restaurants with him.
 
 
I liked the dragon with her pearl of wisdom (sitting above a knitting shop... wise dragon...)
 
 
Luke, ever the tourist, got some good video!
 
 
Back to Latitudes, just in time.  The winds picked up again, this time to gale force strength (over 31 mph).  Latitudes is anchored securely and hasn't budged from her spot, thank goodness.  The winds have died down to the mid teens with higher gusts for the night. Travel tomorrow is questionable as the winds are supposed to pick up and blow hard again in the morning.  We have to time our departure so we can take advantage of the proper ebbs and floods of the currents.  We have to catch the ebb east out of the Race at the eastern end or Long Island Sound, and the flood into Buzzards bay. We can gain more than a knot in our favor for a 70 mile trip -- a free 15% boost! Tuesday will probably work well for us.  oh, well - another day of sightseeing!  We would like to visit the Ender Island.
 

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