May 28th: Mystic Seaport

May 28th:  After traveling through a stormy day yesterday, we woke to a calm but overcast morning. Pulled up anchor and got UW early, motoring out of Oyster Bay onto the Sound and heading for Mystic Seaport. 

Far different from yesterday, Long Island Sound was calm, with just a few ripples. We were hoping for clear skies but within no time, fog settled in. Dense fog banks swirled around, sometimes so thick that visibility wasn't even 1/10 of a mile. These are the moments when you rely on radar and your fog horn and keep a sharp look out! Fortunately there were not too many boats on the water, and the radar detected those that were, so there really was no problem as far as us continuing travels. At one point a sailboat emerged out of the fog, looking like a ghost ship.

After a few hours the fog lifted and we were able to enjoy the rest of the trip under sunny skies. Just what the doctor ordered on what will be one of our last travel days before we reach Padanaram!

We arrived in Mystic after traveling about 80 miles in 11 hours. Turning to port, we entered the Mystic River which is such a lovely river to cruise on. Even this early in the season, the harbor was filled with boats. Folks were canoeing as well as relaxing on their vessels docked along the waterway.

The railroad bridge was in the open position but we had to wait about 20 minutes for the bascule bridge to open at 40 minutes past the hour. The bridge, built on 1922, connects the Groton side of Mystic with the Stonington side. Bascule bridges are always fascinating to watch as the huge weights are lifted or lowered, allowing the bridge span to open. The name comes from the French term for balance scale, which employs the same principle. 

The seaport's docks were lined with historic vessels, calling attention to its efforts to build, restore and preserve boats that represent an extraordinary array of design, purpose and materials beginning in the early 19th century to the present. 

We ventured up the river where there is a pleasant anchorage area just north of the seaport right along a cemetery and dropped the hook in about 7 feet. Another "Gold Looper" named "Willie Dawes" was also anchored for the night. We had just met run into these folks while anchored in Coney Island. It's a small world, for boating and otherwise. 

Of course, no trip to Mystic is complete without a trip to Mystic Pizza. A quick dinghy ride to the public dock and a short walk across the bridge was all it took to enjoy a delectable, cheesy veggie pizza at the iconic shop. 

Back to the boat before dark for a restful night.