New London & Mystic
Today was the best of times from beginning to end. Daybreak found us entering the Thames River on our way to New London and Mystic. We received an official harbor salute from air, land and sea as we approached our landing for the day. Fife and drums played, coast guard planes flew and the Thames Tow Boat spouted water in our honor. The day dripped on us briefly as we entered our dock but by the time we disembarked, the sun was piercing through the clouds and sunglasses were pulled from cases.
The original dampness of the day glimmered off of the docks and rigging of the ships at Mystic Seaport. We marveled at previous arctic adventurers, learned the details of the lives of early whalers and gazed up at the mastheads that have travelled so far across time and ocean fetch.
Our own journey travelled across time as we entered the realm of Dr. Robert Ballard at the Mystic Aquarium’s Institute for Exploration. Here we had the insider’s view of the future of oceanic investigation. Meeting in Dr. Ballard’s private office, we were educated and inspired, each one of us, about the inner realm and the mapping of the deep ocean. With our base in the past and our minds in the future, we entered the present by touring the aquarium homes of Beluga Whales, Steller Sea Lions, Rays, Clown Fish and a spectrum of ocean anemone. Our time ashore ended all too soon, but soon we were in the lounge recounting our day with all of our new friends. Dr. Ballard, who found the RMS Titanic in her watery grave, joined us for a lively discourse about the ocean depths and stayed aboard for visiting and dinner. Captain’s Farewell Dinner got us all excited about our next day entering New York. Little did we know that there would be one more surprise that had been planned for us.
Today was the best of times from beginning to end. Daybreak found us entering the Thames River on our way to New London and Mystic. We received an official harbor salute from air, land and sea as we approached our landing for the day. Fife and drums played, coast guard planes flew and the Thames Tow Boat spouted water in our honor. The day dripped on us briefly as we entered our dock but by the time we disembarked, the sun was piercing through the clouds and sunglasses were pulled from cases.
The original dampness of the day glimmered off of the docks and rigging of the ships at Mystic Seaport. We marveled at previous arctic adventurers, learned the details of the lives of early whalers and gazed up at the mastheads that have travelled so far across time and ocean fetch.
Our own journey travelled across time as we entered the realm of Dr. Robert Ballard at the Mystic Aquarium’s Institute for Exploration. Here we had the insider’s view of the future of oceanic investigation. Meeting in Dr. Ballard’s private office, we were educated and inspired, each one of us, about the inner realm and the mapping of the deep ocean. With our base in the past and our minds in the future, we entered the present by touring the aquarium homes of Beluga Whales, Steller Sea Lions, Rays, Clown Fish and a spectrum of ocean anemone. Our time ashore ended all too soon, but soon we were in the lounge recounting our day with all of our new friends. Dr. Ballard, who found the RMS Titanic in her watery grave, joined us for a lively discourse about the ocean depths and stayed aboard for visiting and dinner. Captain’s Farewell Dinner got us all excited about our next day entering New York. Little did we know that there would be one more surprise that had been planned for us.
