Essex

Hi everyone,

We spent a week in Essex waiting for E winds to pass.  Lots of wind and rain initially then cloudy skies then finally a little sun.  We passed the time exploring Essex, training to Mystic and a day on a tour up the Connecticut River.  Essex is a great place to stop and explore.

Sea Shanties - every Monday night at the Gris

In Essex we visited the Connecticut River Museum.  Well worth a look.  Much more packed into it than the building's size suggests.  Essex was the site of an audacious raid by the British during the war of 1814.  Local legend says the British offered to spare the town while they burned the boats.  The locals accepted and the British had a drink at the Gris before escaping downriver, under fire.

Replica of Adriaan Block's 1614  'Onrust'

Connecticut River Museum

One day we took the bus from Essex to Old Saybrook where we caught a train to Mystic.  We had planned to sail there but the weather didn't stop the trains so we took that mode of transport instead.  In Mystic we explored the famous Seaport Museum and strolled around the pretty town.

New York to Boston Train

Museum Entrance

Amazing glass models of invertebrates

Figureheads

ex-Whaler

Whaler steering gear

Whaler 'tween decks

Visiting replica Viking ship

Cooperage

Printshop

Hooper

Forge

Rope walk

Serious renovations undertaken here

Refreshment

Mystic River Bascule Bridge

Another day we walked to the River Valley Railway and took a steam train and river boat tour up the river.  Twas interesting and fun.

River Valley Railroad

A ticket to ride!

Choo Choo!

All Aboard

Scenic Countryside

River boater

Gillette Castle

Largest Swing Bridge in the World?

Back in Essex the weather improved and we finally had a little sunshine.  On our last night we visited the Gris (yet again) for their Monday night 'Sea Chantey' session.  Twas great.  We had a wonderful stay in Essex.

Historic Essex Buildings from 1770s

Colour Coordination

Even yachties are ladies & gents at the Gris!

Last sunset in Essex

Thanks to OCC Port Officers Bob and Brenda for their hospitality!

Trust all's well where you are.

Port Jefferson to Essex

Hi everyone,

After overnighting at Port Jefferson we pushed on the nearly 50nm to Essex, Connecticut.  The weather was supposed to be unchanged but delivered much lighter winds.  We motored most of the passage.

Anchored on the Connecticut River

Here are the usual plots...

Track

Arrival Track

Graphs

The anchorage at Port Jefferson was good.  A little rolly when ferries came past but otherwise fine.  There's a better protected anchorage off the main harbour in Port Misery.  Didn't fancy it!

Port Jefferson Sunset

We had tidal current with us for the first few hours but most of the passage was into the rising tide with a current of about 1 knot.  On arrival the last of the flood helped us up the river to Essex.  We were lucky to have a flood since after rain the freshet overwhelms it.

Light marking the Connecticut 

There are two bridges on the lower Connecticut River.  One is a bascule railway bridge.  It appears to lift on request and stay up until a train is approaching.  Beyond it there's a fixed 81' (24.6m) clearance road bridge.

Along the riverside we saw plenty of bird life, including (we think) Bald Eagles.  We had to keep a close lookout for logs floating down river after a nearly sunken log came past.

View W from anchorage towards Essex

View W from dinghy towards Essex

Museum and historic ship

Essex YC

Visitors can use the Essex YC dinghy dock beyond their fleet of 19' keelboats.  With permission the showers and clubhouse can also be used.  It's a very friendly club.  We were introduced by Bob the local OCC Port Officer who is also President of the Salty Dawgs.

Since arriving we've been dinghying ashore daily to the club and to explore Essex village.  The village is historic, pristine and very pretty.

Lovely church

Very green park

Main Street

Toy Shop!

Tea & Coffee Shop

Definitely our favourite place in Essex is the "Gris", aka the Griswold Inn, established 1776.  It is famous for its Monday night sea shanty session with the Jovial Crew which we hope to see next week.  There seems to be live piano music each afternoon too.

The Griswold Inn

Inside the Gris Tap Room

Enjoying a pint of the Gris's own Federation Ale

Our second night here saw a front pass over.  It delivered 30 knot gusts and over 1"/25mm of rain.  The freshet from the rain has prevented the flood tide reaching us for two days.

Given the friendly welcome, excellent anchorage and historic village, Essex is certainly worth a visit.

Pretty houses and gardens

We'll be staying here until next week due to persistent easterly winds.  There's a stream of lows coming off the coast S of us.  Hopefully they'll either stop or move north over the coming weeks to give us the prevailing SW winds summer promises.  Mid-week next week we should have W-S winds for a few days which should get us to the Newport via Block Island.

Trust all's well where you are!