Old Saybrook, CT

Like almost any town in the Northeast, Old Saybrook, is well, old.  Its history dates back to Colonial times and has had a varied history.  Most seaports used to have active fishing fleets or boatyards to build the fishing fleets.  As the fisheries were over-fished and that industry took a nosedive, they have had to reinvent themselves much as the manufacturing centers in the upper Midwest.  Some places have been more successful than others.  Old Saybrook was a pleasant town with a free mooring for up to 72 hours for transient sailors.  We took advantage of this and did spend some time and money in town in repayment.  However, the mooring was too small to hold our boat in any kind of wind so we were off in 2 days.  Our major accomplishment was getting our dinghy outboard running well again.  David struggled for hours but in the end, made it work like new.  My hero remains my hero!

The town's crest reflects the old world source of it's charter.

Katherine Hepburn spent her final years on the shores of the spit of land.
There is a performing arts center in Old Saybrook bearing her name.

The jettys leading into the Essex River and the coves where we anchored were
really long.  They required a lighthouse at each end.  This was the
Long Island Sound end.  Solar panels provides most of the light's  power.

Storms wash up a lot of debris.  They may look like sticks but up close
you can see they are branches and trunks.

The lighthouse at the other end of the river entrance.

We have achieved our goal of finding cooler weather!

These lonely rocks with lighthouses dot the sound.  Can you imagine
living in such an isolated spot with possibly weeks between supply boats
can get to you?  With no ground for gardening or room for water cisterns,
you are completely at the mercy of the elements for deliveries of essentials.