Update 31: Connecticut

Update 31: Connecticut   Sept. 19-25

We bounced down the highways from Plymouth, MA to Mystic CT. Following the Woodall Directory directions we exited the freeway and then wound around the rural roads and came across a missing bridge in the road. Orange detour signs directed regular traffic around the construction. However, we had to look carefully for smaller signs low on the ground for directions to the RV Park. Lynn and Jay lost sight of our rig and missed one of the RV detour signs.  Consequently we met on one road with us headed south and they were headed north. It turned out that the RV Park entrance was just a  little north of the bridge under construction. We were sent a different way than the rest of the people, because the turn from the street Lynn and Jay followed was too steep for an RV turn without dragging the back end. It was also impossible to see the entrance sign from that road.  Once we got into the park is was lovely. During our time there we watched the trees change colors.

Ashley likes her Uncle Jay.  He would take her around the park on her leash and then sit with her under the big colorful oak tree.

Mystick Village advertises over 50 stores and businesses, so we started there. The village resembles Seaport Village in San Diego, except it has a colonial motif. Lynn and I enjoyed checking out the stores. Some of the buildings smelled musty which limited my time in the store.  Several businesses cater to physic readings and  mystic things. Those shops usually had too much incense for me to even think about entering.

The guys are very patient waiting for Lynn and me to finish checking out the shops.

We ate lunch at Mystic Pizza where the movie runs in a continuous loop. We waited for about 30 minutes for a table.  The pizza tasted fabulous!  In fact I think my pizza ranks as the bests I've ever had. We learned that in some places Mystic Pizza is available in the freezer case at your local store.

For my family that has been in the optical business for three generations, we found that the optical business in Mystic had a cute name.

We visited the stores in Mystic and enjoyed watching the boats go through the channel and under the draw bridge.

Mystic Harbor boat traffic causes the bridge to open quite often as the boats move from the ocean into the harbor.

We drove into Groton and New London and looked around too. Groton isn't so different from Bremerton, another Navy town.

Later we drove into Stoneyton, a single road little town. At the end of the town is a park that faces the breakwater with an opening to the ocean.  At the time we were there, Hurricane Earl was spinning into the Atlantic and sending larger than normal waves crashing against the shore.

The Foxwood Casino of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe rises out of the landscape just north of Mystic. The Foxwood Towers and an MGM hotel provide lodging for casino visitor. In striking white and turquoise buildings cover several acres. 

The interior design with lots of plants, glass and lights emits a forest feel. A stunning glass sculpture and another brass one each fill an atrium within the interior. 

     

 Foxwood appears to have all the latest in casino amenities.

  

An estimate of 15-20 restaurants meet every one's preferences.  Although the casino smoke level may have been less than other casinos, it was too much for me.  So Derrille, Jay and Lynn toured it without me.

Next we went to the Pequot Indian Museum.  Jay was hoping to see what kind of research the tribe is doing. We were amazed that the parking lot was empty.  It wasn't until we got to the door to realize the museum was closed that day.  We never got back.





From here we drove to Hartford, the capitol.

These rock walls separate properties all over the North East.  Sometimes just the rocks are stacked on one another. Sometimes the rock fences have a smoother cap on top. I always think of Robert Frost saying fences make good neighbors.

 Then we went on to Bristol, CT the home of ESPN the worldwide leader in sports.  A huge array of dishes sits on the hill behind the main complex.

We stopped at the north campus to get a photo of Derrille and the sign. I snapped this one, before he told me the guard didn't want us to step on the property.  Apparently many people want the same photo op we did, and a new visitor center for ESPN is being planned. We completed a loop through the northern part of Connecticut before heading back to Mystic.



 

We found this in one of the small towns and got a kick out of it.

We followed Highway 1 along the Connecticut coast.   Salt marshes line coves throughout the Northeast. They fill the area between the ocean strands and the mainland.

Along Black Point nesting platforms dot the salt marshes while the feathered inhabitants of the marsh look for lunch.

Rock Neck State Park drew many people on this day. To our surprise both the park entrance and parking was free. A level path led from the parking lot, under a railroad bridge and out to the beach.

 I even waded here. Several people were swimming in the deep small calm cove.

Workers with their machinery worked at replacing part of a boardwalk.  This little guy in this photo seems mesmerized by the noise and the workers.

According to my notes, "cute" describes Saybrook. I can't quite remember this town. But I do remember driving around Saybrook Point, another fancy home area. A causeway leads out to the point with a lighthouse. The sign said private property, but a car came up to our bumper and the only way out was to drive down the road and turn around at the lighthouse.

Just down the beach from here is where we found the three private "members only" beaches.

Hammonasset Beach State Park ranks high in the tour books.  Three large beaches and a series of trails provide lots of area for the outdoor people.

We spent time enjoying the ocean from a view point, then we walked over to view one of the beaches. This concluded our touring of Connecticut.  We spent a couple days doing chores and then headed for Jersey City.

Next: New York City