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.