We somehow managed to fit in lots of fun time in-between our numerous boat projects. Three driving trips brought us to Maine & twice to Vermont, as well as several boat excursions. While our week-long boat trip to the Vineyard was shortened due to weather, we made a few local trips.

We also joined friends at a speakeasy in Wallingford, disguised as an old timey video rental store.  But walk through the classic soda machine and you enter a dimly lit, beautifully appointed speakeasy. Fun cocktails- popcorn too of course!  Dinner next door was easy too!

Of course, every trip requires a few donut shop stops!

We made 2 trips up to Vermont to visit with Benj, including for his birthday – Happy Birthday!

The Dog Watch Restaurant in nearby Stonington is one of our favorites. We always get there at least once every summer by either boat or car.

Attending the Chester Fair on a perfect summer day. Our nephew (Matt – lower left corner) organized the 1st Timber/Lumberjack Competition to be held at the fair, with various cutting & chopping heats. The 2 women (to the right) using a ($2,000!) 2-person crosscut saw made the required 2 cuts thru that 10″ square of wood in less than 30 seconds – truly looked like cutting butter!

Turning back to the water, we hosted several friends aboard Twin Sisters. Even though we only went a few miles up & down the Connecticut River, Cathy & John had a blast!

Likewise, Linda & Tom thoroughly enjoyed a longer, overnight trip to Three Mile Harbor on Long Island.

Especially with perfect weather & a fabulous fireworks show.

On the way to our (abbreviated) weeklong trip to the Vineyard, it’s not uncommon to pass a departing or returning submarine to the New London Sub Base up the Thames River.

You’re looking at 1 of the 2 windfarms between Block Island & the Vineyard recently completed for 9 billion. Unfortunately, there was no wind, so no power being generated on the days we passed by…

Block Island never disappoints with fabulous sunsets.

While we shortened our trip & skipped the Vineyard due to a dismal weather forecast, we did enjoy other stops to Mystic, Block Island & Cuttyhunk.

Labor Day Weekend is here already, so we’ll soon be heading south for cruising season #17! While we have to time our transit thru NYC for favorable current through Hell Gate in the East River (up to 5 knots with or against you – both extremes are bad), the UN in session mid-month is even more of an issue as the Coast Guard completely closes down the East River to all vessels for certain periods – not always to the published dates/times. One year we had to idle in 4 knots of current for over an hour as the world leaders apparently wouldn’t stop yacking (if they were at least solving a few of the world’s problems we wouldn’t have minded as much :).

Departing in early September usually works out best for keeping warm temps. If we transit south at just the right speed, we can avoid changing from shorts into jeans except for the occasional cool morning – that’s our goal anyway!