Our last shopping day in Milford!

 Today, Thursday 11 September may well be a poignant day forAmerica, but also for our BBF and us Bears as it is the last full day we have here in Milford. Sandy kindly took Alan on a major shopping spree before we head home tomorrow. The day was a great one, sunny and warm so the two friends drove with the top down.

Some of the shops are now getting ready for Halloween.

So needless to say we stopped in a couple. As one of the wheels had broken on Alan’s carry-on trolley he needed a new one and this was a main point of effort. Some of the prices were horrendous and even with the favourable exchange rate, more than he wanted to pay. Consequently a number of different shops had to be visited.  

Sandy is very patient with our BBF when they go shopping for he likes to look at everything even if he is not buying! They went first to the Boston Post Road area and even found a suitably suitcase plus a number of presents for family and friends back home. These Alan put in the suitcase. He also found some decorative items for the up and coming Phileas Fogg Club Thanksgiving Party later this year.

It now being Lunchtime they went to Lasse’s for a “hot roast beef sandwich” for lunch. After lunch they drove to the Trumble Mall the other side of Bridgeport. Here Sandy found a large tea pot she was looking for. The humans were now shopped out and drove back to Milford where they stopped to grab a coffee and doughnut at Dunkin’ Doughnuts. Then it was home to examine the purchases and have a G+T before going out for the last evening meal.

Tomorrow we fly home. We have had fun, been sailing with Brec and Pugsy, visited with family and friends and seen yet a bit more of the US of A and found a new friend ourselves in Bailey Bear who will now live with us.  Our special thanks go to Brec and Sandy for showing us a good time yet again, and we look forward to reciprocating when they come over to visit us for our BBF’s 80th next year.

The last sail home.

 Our BBF was awake before the rest of us on the boat. He put the kettle on to make tea for the Skipper and got dressed. The gas in the cooker was coming to an end, but he managed to make the tea and to warm  up the coffee he had brought back from Starbucks last night.

The men used the Heads ashore then cast off and Alan backed out of the slip and made for the open sea. The day was cold and overcast, but thankfully it did not rain. Our BBF was wrapped up well and once out of the channel and into the open sea they hoisted the Genoa which gave us an extra knot together with the engine. At one stage they throttled back to see if they could sail. Well we could, but if we did we would add at least two more hours on the voyage. So we motor sailed on.

Brec made breakfast and Alan was pleased that he had coffee which he had poured into a thermos cup which kept it warm for most of the voyage. Around 13:00 hrs we entered the Bridgetown harbour channel. 

Alan was allowed to bring the boat back onto the slip and he remarked to Brec that though his bones no longer allowed him to leap about the boat or tall buildings as he used to, he was pleased to learn that he had not lost any of his sailing skills.

Once they had made up, Brec went to get a couple of trolleys to carry their kit to the truck. While he did this Alan made a light snack lunch. The men now sat and reviewed the sailing week. They now packed up their personal things. Alan emptied the cool box and some of the dry victuals to take home.

Brec now offered to take Alan to Milford where he could begin the laundry and prepare for the evening meal. Brec preferred to potter about the boat on his own anyway. Back in the Milford home we now had a big surprise! We found a little Bear called Bailey in our bed! 

He came with a note which said, 

“ Dear Mr Alan, I heard from some of my friends  that you, as an human, were going on an adventure. Well, I have never been on one, having been born and raised in Maine and only played in the woods! Since a real adventure has always been on my bucket List I was hoping you’d take me along. I’ll be good boy! Thanks, Bailey Bear

We immediately took to Bailey and assure him that if he came with us he would be assured of many adventures.

Alan began the laundry and then had a shower. He did three washing machine loads in all.

Sandy arrived home and now added to the surprises by insisting on giving Alan an early Birthday present!

The presents were very thoughtfully selected. A pair of soft warm socks with a lobster motif, a small zipper bag with Santiago Compostella motif into which Alan immediately placed his Rosary for safe keeping and a small scallop shell with cocktail sticks also with shells! 

Brec arrived home and after his shower the three humans ate BLTs Alan had prepared and drank Prosecco, toasting their friendship and a great little sailing adventure.

 

We sail on to Guilford CT!

We were up early to sail with the favourable tide. Brec was on the helm  having dropped the mooring motoring away towards the channel and the open sea. Alan had stayed below to make tea. As Alan came on deck he remarked to the skipper that there was a squealing coming from the engine. He took over the helm so Brec could come below and see for himself. 

When he looked in the engine compartment he saw smoke and immediately ordered Alan to reduce throttle and to turn around and get out of the channel towards a moored boat. After a little confusion Brec dropped the anchor within the mooring area and we turned off the engine. The skipper thought the smoke came from the slipping fan belt between the alternator and the fly wheel.

The skipper now got out his tools to tighten the fan belt while Alan maintained an anchor watch. This whole process only took about 15 minutes or so. Once the engine was running again we set off again without any more problems!

The morning was cold but Brighton’s it promised to be a lovely day. Once out of the channel all plain sail was set, but as the wind was light we kept the engine running and motor sailed the whole of the way!

We had a fair tide with us and so made good time. Brec served up breakfast. Alan maintained the watch and kept a lookout for the navigation marks we needed along the way. As the sun rose in the sky it slowly got warmer and our BBF threw off various layers of clothing. 

Once they had sighted the buoy to make the turn for the sluice harbour Alan hand steered. This harbour is small and has a fishing dock and open air restaurant to one side and a very small marina mainly for small power boats on floating pontoons on the other. We didn’t initially find a slip where we could tie up, so we made up to a fishing vessel on the other side. However, when they heard we wanted to stay the night and not just stop for lunch we had to leave. 

We now made up on the wall at the back of the marina and the skipper went ashore to find the harbour master. When he returned he said the harbour master had agreed we could stay the night on the one empty slip we saw. We now moved there and once we had the harbour master came and gave us a key to the gate and the toilets ashore. There are no shower facilities here! 

Alan now made a salad with chicken for lunch while Brec tidied up the deck and secured the boat. Alan washed the dishes while Brec put the sail covers on. The skipper then said we could all take a nap which we did.

After the nap Alan had a wash and brush up. Brec had used the toilet ashore to wash his hair. He had also arranged for a school friend to have coffee with us. The men once respectable walked into the centre of town. A twenty minute walk or so. 

Brec had lived here as a boy and had delivered newspapers, as our BBF had also done. He pointed out various houses where years ago the occupants had given him tips and or cookies on his paper round. 

There was one stone house built in 1640 by Henry Whitfield. Sadly when they got into the centre of town the coffee bars were all closed it now being 17:00 hrs. The town had a large green in the centre which looked more like a park now with its mature trees rather than a cricket green! 

On the green was a Civil War memorial and one to those who had fallen in the Vietnam War from the town. Alan looked into a couple of the shops, but bought nothing. At the end of the green opposite the church they met Sally who now took them to Madison the next town where there was a Starbucks for coffee! 

The humans now sat chatting about this and that and enjoying their coffee. Brec had bought Madelines and Alan a chocolate Brownie. Sally remarked that she made the world’s best Brownies. Alan remarked that then he wanted her recipe!

Sally kindly drove the men back to the marina where Alan made pasta and Sandy’s Basil pesto for the evening meal which they washed down with a beer. Not long after Brec had washed up and cleared away we were all asleep! 

A day off in Noank and Mystic!

Brec had decided that today we would take Christine out for a day sail to Fisher’s Island. However, Christine had said in the night she did not want to sail all day she just wanted to tootle around! Brec complained that he and Otter did not tootle! Our BBF suggested that he take us up the river to Mystic and he would go shopping with her! 

In the end we did neither. Brec had invited his cousin Mark to come over and sail with us. Mark arrived at around 11:00 hrs on his lovely little boat and they rafted up. He had brought a couple of big sub sandwiches for lunch. The three men sat amiably in the cockpit and the sun came out and warmed us all and so the day turned out really well compared to yesterday!

Around 15:00 hrs Christine came and Brec went in the dinghy to collect her. She brought some bagels with flavoured butter for tea. So Brec made some and now all four humans sat amiably and chatted the day away. 

When Mark left it was decided to go ashore and get ice cream. Christine now drove the men into Mystic. Just by  the lifting road bridge is a great ice cream parlour, but before they went in, they went to the gallery on the other side of the road where Brec had one of his large paintings displayed in the window. 

Two men were sitting on the bench opposite the window of the gallery and Brec engaged them in conversation! What did they think of the two paintings. The men in fact were not sitting there to admire the paintings, but were waiting for their wives who were shopping! The wives now came to claim their husbands. 

In the ice cream parlour they chose their two scoops and Alan had a double espresso while Brec had a cappuccino. The bridge lifted and Alan went outside to took pictures. When it was all done and two boats passed through Alan went for a shopping walk around the Main Street. 

In one shop he found a great English conversation game to play with the Phileas Fogg Club and bought it for their next Christmas party! He the met Brec and Christine who had come looking for him.

As Brec and Alan were talking Christine took a phone call and learned that her cousin Johnathan had committed suicide!! The men now gave her a hug each and offered their condolences. It was decided to go for a stiff drink before going home. 

Christine walked them to the Shipwright’s Daughter Inn where they sat at the bar! They asked Pedro the barman to suggest a bitter strong drink! He suggested an Italian digestive called Braulio, which Brec and Christine took while Alan chose a Glenlivet Whiskey! They toasted the departed and Christine shared stories and photos of her cousin Johnathan. 

Christine recommended they try the crispy fried oysters in this bar, which they did as neither Brec nor our BBF had ever had them before. They were so good they ordered another round of them. Later Christine ordered Bucatini which they also shared. Eventually it was time to go. Christine assured the men she would be OK as she would go to her daughter‘s when she had dropped the men off. 

On the way back to the boat they went to a beach to look at the full moon reflecting on the calm water. Then it was time to say farewell till we come again.

Brec and Alan got in the dinghy which was wet with dew, so the men got a wet bottom! In the dark they motored slowly in the direction of where they thought Otter was. Back on board Alan made the skipper a tea and they had a snack of cheese and biscuits!  

Each of the humans were then glued to their iPhones! Brec found the site that broadcast the live concert that his brother Geoff was giving in Washington! Alan found it enjoyable to listen to. The concert ended just before midnight when we all went to bed.

Two deaf wet old salts on a boat!

We were up before the sun and Brec pulled up the anchor and we were off in the dawn. Alan took over the helm and we motored out of the harbour. A huge cruise ship, the Enchanted Princes slowly passed us to drop anchor in the anchorage outside the harbour. 

The day was cold and it rained off and on all day as we motor sailed with all sail up to Noank a town near Mystic. The oil skin trousers Brec first gave our BBF had a zip opening in the crutch which was broken and after awhile Alan complained about having wet trousers! Brec had never put his oil skin trousers on, so he had totally wet shorts and legs and showed little sympathy for Alan’s complaint. Brec gave him another pair, and so we sailed on. So now we have two deaf wet old salts on this boat! 

 The wind in the sails gave us at least a knot more speed which helped us get to Watch Passage before the tide turned. Taylor Swift has a huge house there, but the rain and cloud prevented Alan from taking pictures, we waved anyway! 

We made the turn into the Mystic River and picked up a mooring lent to us by a friend of friend of Brec’s, at the Ram Island Yacht Club! Once the engine was off the men threw their wet clothes off. Alan found two different tins of chicken soup which he threw together, not listening to Brec who would have mixed chicken soup with Beef Broth! The hot soup and hot tea revived the two men.

After the late lunch Brec did some boat chores while our BBF had a nap! As the sun set the wind died. On a flat calm sea we let go of the mooring and motored to the Yacht Club dock where Alan put the boat alongside and Brec took the lines ashore to tie up. 

They went ashore and in the club house people were celebrating a series of Herrishoff Yacht races. The men introduced themselves and said their boat would only stay on the jetty for the time it takes to eat dinner at the Heringes restaurant. 

Brec had kindly arranged a dinner party with his daughter Laura and Christine a friend of his whom we have met three times before on our sailing trips.

On the walk there Christine, drove by and stopped! Her car was full of stuff so she couldn’t give us a lift and so she drove on. Laura, Brec’s daughter came and drove us to the restaurant! 

The restaurant looked like just a shack on the jetty, but inside it was an interesting place with a homely charm. Being so close to the sea(one couldn’t get any closer) the menu was full of sea food. 

The party started with Steamers. These soft shell clams are a particular delicacy and we had them last in Province Town two years ago.

 The men ordered the catch of the day which happened to be Sword Fish, while Laura had a bowl of Lobster Bisque and then a Lobster Roll with fries. Christine also had a lobster bisque, some fries and a salad of greens! Christine also provided the wine as the restaurant did not have a license so you bring your own! 

Christine’s daughter had helped serve at a society wedding and was gifted  a Magnum bottle of Californian Chardonnay which Christine now produced for us to drink! Our BBF opened and served it and all found it delicious and the right wine for the meal. The two men drank most of the Magnum as the women were driving!

They had a dessert afterwards which they shared. Alan chose a peanut butter and chocolate mousse, while Christine chose a key lime pie, which all found too sweet, but the mouse was exceptional. Alan also managed to get a coffee as well. 

After the meal Laura drove the men back to the jetty. It was pitch dark now and finding the mooring in the dark would be fun. There was no wind and so Alan hopped aboard and started the engine while Brec handled the lines pushed off and also stepped aboard. We motored slowly into the night and the general direction of where we thought the mooring should be. We found it too, but in the dark we’re not certain it was the right one, so motored past it. We were looking for a small white lobster pot buoy with certain markings on it. In fact it was the buoy and when we now approached it from the other direction saw the markings we were looking for. 

Back on board Brec made himself a decaf tea while Alan drank water. After a review of the very wet day we all went to bed early exhausted but happy!

A day out in Newport.

Brec was up early around 07:00 hrs, but let Alan sleep on. He woke at 08:00 hrs made tea and then the showered on deck (Brec) or strip washed with a flannel below deck (Alan). Alan then made bacon and eggs with toast for breakfast.  

After the leisurely breakfast there were boat jobs to do, they are never ending! By the time these were done it was midday and the warm sun was out. The question now was dinghy ashore with the high wind the chance of getting wet when going up wind or get a water taxi! The humans thought it would be quicker and safer to get the water taxi! In the end it was not as the taxi guys forgot us and we had to wait an hour! 

The town was full with tourists and one could see that the town was getting ready for the in-water Boat Show next week. We walked first to the Seaman’s Mission where Brec has some family history! The humans bought a coffee each and shared a French toast muffin, which Alan thought he could bake when he got home as they were very yummy! 

Brec now ordered an Uber taxi to take them to the Breakers Mansion. This went array just like the water taxi! The first one was stolen from us! Eventually we stopped one after about 30 minutes! This one was not our Uber, but he was persuaded to take us anyway! 

The Breakers Mansion is the grandest of all Newport’s summer “cottages” and was designed by the American architect Richard Morris Hunt for Cornelius II and Alice Vanderbilt. It was modelled on an Italian Renaissance palace with an open air courtyard. The 70 room palace was completed in two years from spring 1893-summer 1895. 

We slowly walked around the sumptuous house taking lots of pictures. The opulence was astounding and we hope the gallery of pictures shows this.

The house has a grand view of the sea as it stands on a cliff top overlooking the sea. Alan wished he had a kitchen as large as the one in the house and was surprised at the number of dumbwaiters he found! 

Much of the “below stairs” was given over to a gift shop, where our BBF restrained himself and only bought a bottle of water. Brec bought himself a new set of reading glasses, but complained later that they were tinted yellow which he had not noticed in the shop when he tried them on! Not good for an artist studying colours!

We all walked round the mansion and took more photos of ourselves which pleased us bears as we were included in the photos! Back at the entrance we ordered another Uber to take us back into town.

Back in town the men parted ways, Brec to go to a gallery and Alan to go shopping! Sadly he did not find much to buy as they never had his size! He bumped into Brec and Brec mentioned a tourist shop which they went in! Here they found a few little gift items to take back. 

We walked back to Bowen’s Wharf where the humans bought themselves a coffee each and shared an almond cake! They looked towards the south and saw a band of dark rain clouds moving slowly towards us! As they had left hatches open we now went quickly to the water taxi landing to wait for the next available one!

There was none there when we arrived and so we sat to wait praying one came before the rain did! Also parked on this jetty was a pleasure boat for taking tourists around the harbour! The Captain of this vessel overheard the men talking and said he could take them, but he might crunch their boat! Apparently he was a happy teddy as he had just purchased a boat for himself and clearly wanted to share his good fortune! 

He had bought himself a 38ft motorised catamaran. He had found it in Texas and had flown down to see it and made an offer, but the owner had refused it! Now a week or so later as he had not sold the boat accepted the Captain’s offer! The happiest times of owning a boat is the day you buy it and the day you sell it!!

A water taxi stopped at the jetty and we all jumped in and we were off and happy that we would now beat the rain. It turned out that the taxi we leapt in only did this side of the channel and we were the other side! Fortunately he had one passenger who wanted to get off on a super yacht on the edge this side and we were on the opposite side! He agreed to take us and consequently earned himself a bigger tip! 

Alan began to cook the evening meal more or less as soon as we arrived. He still had much of the coffee he had bought earlier and now saved it to warm up for after dinner! The men enjoyed their meal and conversation after which Brec clear away we wrote the Blog and Alan read! As we write it is raining lightly and according to the weather forecast will continue all day tomorrow! So tomorrow promises to be a wet sail in light winds, but we only have approximately 35 nm to go so will cope! 

We sail on to Newport Rhode Island

We all woke around 07:00 hrs and so got up made tea and had breakfast! Brec worked on the engine and topped up with oil. When all was set they dropped the mooring and motored towards the fuel dock. On the inside was a floating pier and we needed to moor up on the floating jetty. 

We bears have to acknowledge that Brec trusts our BBF with his boat as he has allowed Alan to bring the boat alongside, motor into a slip etc. Alan told us afterwards that he did wonder if he could get it off this jetty as the wind was pushing the boat on. To make matters worse the twice weekly ferry had docked just behind us. There was now a bit little more than one boat length between us! Anyway we digress.

The humans filled up with water and fuel once they were on the jetty. Alan got rid of the rubbish and went into the islands only grocery store. Most residents he was told go shopping on the mainland via the ferry or with their own boats. Alan and Brec speculated whether the islanders left their main motorcar on the mainland and used a golf cart buggy on the island, as there was many of them but few real cars! Brec when he returned from the shop had discovered that they were giving away squash and avocados. He took two of each.

The ferry had now come in and moored behind us making it more difficult to get out as there was only a boat length in which to back up and turn to get out! This stress alone was enough, but half the island had come to see the ferry arrive, so if Alan messed up he would have many witnesses!

With Brec on the jetty managing the lines Alan slowly backed off the floating jetty until he could almost touch the stern of the ferry when he began to make the turn, letting the wind do most of the work! Then we were off!

We motored slowly out of the harbour while Brec put all the lines and fenders away! Outside the harbour we saw a large German flagged catamaran! Then once clear of all obstacles Brec pulled out the Genoa and we were sailing on a broad reach! The sky was overcast but the wind from the south was warm and we were sailing towards a blue sky.

With Alan on watch Brec was able to potter around the boat doing one job after another! 

Once clear of the cloud the wind picked up and we went from a broad  reach slowly to being hard on the wind as we got to the mark where we had to turn into Newport. Now we were on a run and just after the next mark gybed towards the harbour entrance! 

It was a fine afternoon and there were many fine yachts sailing about! Newport is also where the New York Yacht Club have a fine mansion on a hill overlooking the many moorings! Brec took the helm as he wanted to have a look around these mornings. We looked for the one CCA (Cruising Club of America) that was meant to be somewhere here, but never found it. He now motored us over to the anchorage and then handed Alan the helm to go forward and drop the anchor. 

Alan now looked at Brec to see what looked like a bandage on his right eye, but was in fact a repair as they had broken and fallen apart. There is always something to repair on a boat! 

Once the anchor had been set the skipper served up an anchor beer with some nibbles and the men sat and relaxed after a great day sailing.

A sunny sail to Cutty Hunk

Thursday 4 September the humans were awake early made tea and set off in brilliant sunshine but no wind at all. In the early morning there was much dew on the deck. While sponging down the cockpit Alan said, “we need a bigger sponge for this or that chamois leather!”  Brec understood, “we need a bigger sunscreen for the sunny weather!” Two deaf old codgers on a boat! 

Once clear of the harbour Alan took over the helm and more or less stayed there the whole way. Brec loves to just potter on boats and so once a course was set, that’s what he did most of the day.He spliced, he cleaned, he serviced. A happier Bear you would be hard to find. 

By around 10:00 hrs there was a light breeze and so Brec put up all plane sail and we motor sailed the rest of the way. The sails increased our speed by at leaset a knot! It was a beautiful day and at one point, once we could see Cutty Hunk Island Brec did ask our BBF if he wanted to turn the engine off, but he said no as then it would take forever to get there. Brec in his pottering pumped up the dinghy and then put it overboard to tow it. 

By 13:00 hrs we had the island well in view. Alan made bacon sandwiches for lunch. As we got closer Brec took the sails down. We followed the buoys and soon found ourselves in the harbour which was almost empty. 

Brec picked up the mooring and then there was silence. The humans tided the boat, put the sail covers on, the outboard engine on the dinghy then the went ashore. On the dock bear the harbour master’s office was a place where one could get any number of shell fish. Brec bought a dozen oysters (6 each) which they ate on the dock in the sunshine. The oysters were some of the best they had ever eaten! 

A lot has changed since last we were here! The grocery store was now down by the fuel dock and closed for the day! The souvenir shop was closed and had a big sign which said summer hours 09:00-17:00 hrs!

Brec took Alan back to the boat in the dinghy and then went to the top of the hill to paint. Alan prepared the evening meal and had a snooze. When Brec came back he showed Alan his sketches and they sat and ate their meal talking as usual till it was time for bed.

A tourist day on Block Island

 The men had decided, since we bears and Alan had not seen more of the Island than the Old Harbour they would spend one more day here! We were all up early and the men showered on deck (Brec) or strip washed with a flannel below. 

We had breakfast and the humans chatted amiably, you have to understand that Brec can talk the hind legs off a donkey and he uses 1000 words where our BBF uses 10! But between them they sit and chat and try and set the world to rights. There is also much laughter and leg pulling in their banter and camaraderie, which is why they get on so well.. 

After breakfast there was boat work to do. Alan made lunch after which we all went ashore. The two men hired bicycles and after testing them and adjusting the saddles we set off. Us bears were given seats in the basket on Alan’s bike and so we had a great view. 

It had been decided that we would all go first to the North Light which sits on the end of the peninsula. Our BBF complained that his bike was a wreck compared to his own, but he persevered! The brakes squeeked as if you had stuck a pin in a pig! 

It was a nice ride but with hilly parts which made the humans work. There were nice views along the way. As we were coasting down a hill Alan saw a sign to a Labyrinth and squealed to a stop. Brec misunderstood and sailed on bye.  

Supposedly it was a Sacred Labyrinth and one was meant to walk it with the right thoughts t sooth your soul.We bears walked a bit of it, took photos and then cycled on. Now we shot past Brec who was sitting in the shade texting! 

The end of the road was not far now. Here we found a mobile kiosk where Alan bought us all drinks. When Brec arrived we had a bit of a discussion as to whether we would walk to the Lighthouse! There was no road only a stony beach. Alan thought not as it was now four- o-clock and Alan judged it would use up at least an hour there and back. So after taking some photos we cycled into town and went to Ballards for a drink. 

Outside Ballards there was an ambulance and the paramedics were assisting an elderly gentleman who had tripped and fallen on the jetty! Our two humans went inside to look for a suitable bar! In fact there were many. A huge one occupied the centre of a large hall and in addition to the seats at the bar there were tables all around it. In one corner was a cocktail bar! Outside there were three more beach bars! At one there was a a music stand which was occupied by two guitarists! 

Brec ordered Alan an Aperol Spritz and he had a lemon and lime. They took a look at the dock from where Brec started and ended his circumnavigation and the returned to the Great Salt Pond. In the little shop there they bought ice and some cheese. 

Back on the boat Alan cooked the evening meal and then they chatted amiably before bed!