New London, CT Sailfest 2015 Fireworks

Every year we spend the Saturday after the Fourth of July at Fort Trumbull for the annual Sailfest Fireworks Extravaganza. This year we returned once more for a family tradition that has been occurring for most if not all of my life.

We set up along the river bank just below Fort Trumbull in an area for many years was ignored and sparsely known providing amazing views of the harbor and the exploding fireworks above. This previously hidden gem of a location has increasingly found more and more visitors.

Being outside the park the rules and regulations about loud music and open flames allow grills and amateur DJ's to set up and blast music and have barbeques. These character's and their parties leave the air heavy with the wafting smells of burnt food and terrible vocals of wannabe heavy metal singers.

All that combined with inconsiderate people who show up at the last minute and stand along the edge of boardwalk blocking the view of many who came early to get great seats has turned this previously family friendly event into a much less appealing activity.

Thankfully the fireworks never disappoint and generally make up for the added and unpleasant changes we have witnessed over the years. Please take a moment or 20 to watch this years presentation sponsored by the Mashantucket Pequot Indians'.

NYC High Line

The HighLine was built by the New York City Railroad between 1929 and 1934 to eliminate the dangers of street level city rail traffic.  The elevated trains carried meats, produce and dairy to warehouses and factories at the third floor level and the route became known as the "Life Line of New York".

In 1999 a group of community residents rallied to safe the decaying structure. Today the HighLine is an urban oasis along Manhattan's West Side. The elevated track is now a city park winding its way through the trendy Chelsea and Meat Packing District where apartments go for between 2 and 20 million USD. It's tracks still remain but are now part of a mixed surface of wood, concrete and stone walk ways surrounded by lush green areas filled with grass, flowers, fountains, art installations and viewing platforms allowing visitors great views down many of the cities streets. 

We started at W 34th street. The path looped along the Henry Hudson Parkway until it went up W 30th St. We followed it all the way to the end at Gansevoort Street where we had a delicious lunch in the Gansevoort Market before making the track back to W 34th street.  Its a great venue to relax and enjoy on a summer day.

Meigs Point Nature Center Canoe Trip @ Hammonasset State Park

Named after Johnathon Meigs a American Revolutionary hero and recipient of a congressional sword for the Battle of Sag Harbour, Meigs Point Nature Center offers a weekly 2-hour guided tour of the Hammonasett River. The tour is by reservation

Dan and I brought our own kayaks for the tour while my parents reserved a canoe. The cost of the tour was $5 and departed at 12:30 from the Nature Center. After a brief drive down a trail we arrived at the launch zone. We were almost immediately uninvited by mosquito's and horse flys. Dan and I unloaded the Kayaks while tour leader Mike and his helper unloaded 9 canoes and related life jackets and paddles. As they reviewed safety rules Dan and I launched the kayaks to escape the attacking insects. 

Once on the water we were thankfully left alone and the first canoe to launch was my parents. Having canoe'd before they had no problem and we made our way out the small canal towards the Hammonasset River. As the remaining tour participants joined us we crossed the channel and followed the salt marshes with our tour guide Mike pointing out the various birds and other wildlife we encountered.  We traveled roughly 1.3 miles up river to the bridge at route 1. There Mike told us a story about the history of the area before we began the paddle back to the launch spot. 

It was a beautiful day on the water. When we reached the laugh ramp we quickly got the kayaks out of the water and on the roof rack.  We moved quick as the mosquitos and horseflies were still hanging out.   We thanked Mike the tour guide for the experience and headed out.