Noank, CT, July 7 – 13, 2015

July 7 – 13, 2015

After dropping Caroline at the Providence, RI Airport, Clay and I returned to Noank Village Boatyard (NVB so stamped on dock carts, etc) by way of Wal-Mart for re-provisioning. He'd had the foresight to locate a couple options for our stop with a deadline of 10 a.m. to return our borrowed car to Tom. Thanks, Clay, for your research, and Tom, for loaning your car! When Caroline asked what she could do to repay Tom, I replied, "That's what boaters do for each other. My best suggestion is to pay it forward."

We spent much of this Tuesday regrouping after having a guest aboard. I managed to work in a walk during the wash and dry cycles of the lone pair of machines housed in the breezeway of NVB. Got 'detoured' (I never admit to getting lost) during the dry cycle after venturing too far from home without a map; but made it back just in time to fold sheets without wrinkles!

SixPenny, the Noank Village Boatyard Launch

SixPenny, the launch

Wednesday dawned with a day trip planned to adjacent community Groton, CT for a dermatology appointment for Clay (left pinkie still abnormal) and a Supercuts haircut for me. Tom dropped us respectively for cutting, then Clay and I rendezvoused on foot at a mid-point location (conveniently a Wal-Mart for Rx) followed by a Harry's Taxi ride home.
  
Thursday's morning walk took us to Carson's for Clay to order and then proceed to eat a hearty breakfast of ham and cheese omelet, hash browns, toast and coffee; he won't need lunch today! After composing a few blog emails, I off-loaded my bike and rode the winding and hilly road to Mystic, CT.

Sailboat departing the Mystic River

Mystic, CT is a major New England tourist destination, home to the Mystic Aquarium and Institute for Exploration, known for its research department and concern with marine life rehabilitation. The business district on either side of the bascule bridge where US Route 1 crosses the Mystic River contains many restaurants and shops. Founded in 1929, Mystic Seaport is the nation's leading maritime museum and one of the premier maritime museums in the world; among the many exhibits located here is a recreation of a 19th-century seafaring village. I found Mystic to be charming and crawling with tourists of all nationalities. My destination--just to have a destination--was the Seaport where an MTOA Rendezvous was being staged. 

Fiji brother, Kip Cosden, Clay and Sally

Two hours later I was back in Noank and checking in with Clay who had spent the day digesting his morning breakfast. An unexpected knock on our port door had me puzzled as to the reunion that soon followed between Clay and our guest. Ed (Kip) Cosden was a fraternity buddy of Clay's from Westminster and the guest in question. What transpired was a lot of male conversation catching up on the whereabouts and whatabouts of mutual college friends; I happily sipped wine in Ed's summer home on the point around the corner from our marina then dined on swordfish at the Seahorse second night in a row. I'm liking this dining out stuff! Amazing to have not one but two acquaintances in this tiny seaside village of Noank, both with boats docked at Noank Village Boatyard.

Cousin Kris Kinet

Capt. Clay and Cousin Kris Kinet

 

Clay with cousins Virginia and Kris Kinet

Sally and Virginia Kinet

Our reunions continued on Friday with the noon arrival of cousin Kris Kinet--another knock at our port door (this port door is getting quite a workout). After a brief tour of the SaSea Sally, we loaded into Kris' car for a road trip to Mystic for a delicious lunch and conversation with Kris and her mother Virginia. What an absolute delight to share the afternoon with these two lovely ladies who made us feel so welcome. The ambiance of our lunch on the shaded patio was pretty darn close to heaven, not to mention the delicious homemade (by Kris) gazpacho, lobster salad with huge chunks of lobster on a bed of greens (and pansies--edible--garnishing the plate), and chocolate chip cookies. Oh my, Kris, you're a hard act to follow!

Back in time for a brief swing through the local farmers market in Noank, we

The Blue Moon, a Ditling yacht

then prepped for docktails on the fly bridge which commenced with the reappearance of Ed. With Ed's wife in Alaska, I think he welcomed the company this evening before an early morning departure to retrieve his boat in Maine.

Tom and Gretchen (Wight) McKenzie

Earlier in the week Caroline and I had explored downtown Noank, but Clay had not had the opportunity. So, Clay and I poked around the shops Saturday morning then went our separate ways. Clay spent considerable time aboard Blue Moon with Tom briefing him on upcoming waterways (Nantucket and points along the way). I biked roundtrip to Groton Long Point which appeared to be a residential summer community with pretty streets, beaches, and lots of family activity underway. Seemed like good, wholesome family fun! Loved it!

Good lobsters!!!

With Monday our departure day, we spent much of Sunday regrouping and completing a myriad of household chores. Clay and I looked forward to dinner at Ford's for a repeat of our entrees of Asian Salmon (me) and Lobster Thermidor (Clay). Yum! We weren't disappointed. And, we remembered our OB for BYOB, enjoying wine and beer while sitting on level spots among the huge rock slabs along the harbor during the 45-minute wait.

As Monday dawns, and along with it our anticipated departure toward Narragansett Bay and Providence, RI, I bid you farewell and hope you enjoyed the details of our stay in Noank, CT.

Moored boats in the Mystic River