Mystic, CT

The only signs of Tropical Storm Leslie that we could see were a few rolly swells and clouds so far off in the distance that it looked like bubbles on top of the horizon.  We were thankful she didn't come any closer.  The wind changed directions late Sunday night and the building northerly wind woke us up way too early.  The boat was rockin' in our anchorage that was perfect for the southerly winds but not so much for northerly's.  Craig and I reluctantly got out of bed in the cold morning light.  By 7 am we were on the road, so to speak.  We raised the sails and motored into the wind to get around the northern end of Martha's Vineyard.  Once we were able to turn south, the wind was on our beam and we were clocking 9 knots for nearly all of the 70 miles to Mystic!  It was sooo much fun.  The wind was opposing the oncoming swells, so we  never really felt them, which was a blessing.  But don't be mistaken, once we exited beyond the shelter of the islands of Buzzards Bay, the waves got sizably larger.  Fortunately, we were sailing parallel to them which makes for a comfortable ride.  The waves however, still crashed over the bow, through the trampolines and onto the cabin windows and dodger!  We were sailing so fast that a fine salty mist was kicked up into the cockpit.

Clouds on the eastern horizon as we left Martha's Vineyard

Passing by Vineyard Haven, the northwestern side of Martha's Vineyard

Is this Seattle or Massachusetts?  Seattle has very similar ferries

Olivia trying to hide from the morning sun as she takes a nap 

A hummingbird seeks refuge from the howling wind as we are sailing....poor thing must have been hungry too because it was trying to get the nectar out of the red, yellow and orange spots on the towel.

Almost there.....steering up the narrow, winding channel to Msytic

A nice layer of salt left behind from the many waves that crashed over the bow of the boat.  Some of them reaching the back of the cockpit!  After a nice bath at the town dock, she was looking sparkling clean!

Mystic is a small town up a long and winding channel at the northern part of the Long Island Sound.  At the end of a very long day of sailing, we were rewarded with an anchorage to ourselves in a very protected cove surrounded by homes and several small marinas.  We headed into town and ate pizza at the famous "Mystic Pizza" where the 1988 movie was filmed.  I remember watching this movie at least a couple of times, if not more.  How about you??  The girls thought it was neat that they played the movie on big tv screens in the restaurant.

Had to be a tourist and get pizza here

A dinghy ride up the Mystic river revealed this ship affectionately named "Mystic"

A view of the town from across the river

We spent a day at Mystic Seaport, "The museum of America and the Sea".  This is very much like Plymouth plantation in that it is a re-created 19th century coastal village.  Since we visited after the true summer season was over, we didn't encounter any characters dressed from 1876.  

This is a mast being made in the working preservation shipyard for the Charles W. Morgan.  The Morgan is the last surviving American registered whale ship built in 1841.  It sailed the globe for 80 years "in pursuit of leviathans, escaping fire and cannibals, Confederate raiders and Arctic ice".

The hot box used to bend the wood used to restore the ships hull

"The rope walk" building where the lines for the ship were made.  Pictured here are dozens of spools of single strands that were wound and twisted together to make very large, strong lines.

Inside a colonial home where mac & cheese are being made along with a salad made of swiss chard and onions from the kitchen garden.

The prosperous kitchen garden with lettuce, tomatoes, squash, herbs etc.

The beautiful gardens 

lunch stop

waiting for our fish and chips

We thought we should use this as our Christmas card!  Don't miss Maggie in the whaling boat and Kate falling out.  Ha Ha

We also went to the planetarium for a show about the night sky.  Above the door into the building was this quote:  "All hail to navigation, the art that reaches to the stars and bridges the globe to heaven." - Manilius's Astronomica (1st Century A.D.)

A comorant on the dock - he was so busy taking a bath that he was not bothered by us walking by

Our trip to Mystic was complete with a long walk to the grocery store, a visit to the local bookstore,  plenty of window shopping and a newly welded anchor.