Onward north & east......

Since we are having some new cushions made for the dinette it makes little sense to go too far from Essex until next week.  With this in mind we have made a few short trips.  This did give us a chance to see other harbors, some of which will be good down the road when we make our way back to this neck of the woods.  There is one thing we have observed so far...........THE WATER IS TOO COLD FOR US!

OK, 68 degrees is fine for the thick blooded folks but I have to say.......we have passed beyond that.  Give us 85 degrees please!

So we departed the Essex River and headed towards Mystic.  Out of nowhere we get hailed on the VHF and suddenly there is sv Kismet.  She's only a few miles behind us so we decide to head to Fishers Island to meet us for the night.  It was good to see Laurie and Jim as they have decided to head up to Maine for the summer but we are sure to catch up again later in September.  Fishers Island is a good harbor (deep) for fair weather and we did get to shore for ice cream.  Most of the island is for the "rich & famous", whoever they are.....

sv Kismet at Fishers Island

mv Dyad

International one designs going home

The next day we headed over to anchor in Mystic.  We didn't want to go all the way up the river since it was our first time in the area and the listed anchorages in Active Captain didn't look great so we decided to turn around and go over to Stonington.  The anchorage area is behind the outer brakewall so it is protected enough.  There were 100's of moorings but only us three at anchor.  While there we got a surprise call from YS2 from the old Hobie days.  It was great to see him!

Mystic

another view

sv Brillant 

sv Whisper

YS and Braydon

The next stop was Watch Hilll.  Good holding in mud and sand right on the beach.  We knew there were going to be plenty of traffic and it turned into quite a sight!  Boats of every type and right now as I write it appears to be a little regatta taking place in front of us with International one designs.  Very fun to see all the boating activity.  The only thing missing are multihulls..... in this anchorage the only other catamaran seen was sv Tribe.......a Gunboat 72!!

The guy on the boats is keeping everyone away...good fun!

Hundreds of boats on the beach

 Watch Hill is a very small tourist hamlet.  Not much to see if you don't want to shop for "tourist stuff".  Everyone is walking around looking for Taylor Swift.....she has a home here right on the top of the hill.  At least they have stopped asking me if I really am the "most interesting man in the world"!!!!!

The famous carousel

Watch Hill Inn

Ocean View Inn

Croquet!  Is Richard Gere there????

Advertised as the best beach on the NE coast.  Ms Swift's home in the background

I know that lady!

Watch Hill Light

Very pretty...mv Aphrodite

mv Miss Alice

a rear view

3rd of July and we had fireworks all around.  We also had an unbelievable sunset and can't make up our mind which one we like.  So because we can't................you can pick your favorite!!!!