Cruising The Thimble Islands

People are there, living less than a mile from Branford, yet totally isolated. It’s pretty cool. And we were riding by, looking at them as if they were on exhibit at the zoo!

My biggest fear (and Helaine’s too) on my parent’s trip to Connecticut was they’d sit in front of the TV and veg out. They’re active at home in Florida. That’s part of the reason they’re younger than their chronological age. With that in mind we’ve tried to have things for them to do. We’re willing to entertain.

After Helaine and I returned from another jaunt up Sleeping Giant&#185 and I showered, I took my folks to the Town Dock in the Stony Creek section of Branford. In this sedate like harbor lie the Thimble Islands. We were going on a Thimble Island cruise.

A little science first. When the glaciers retreated at the end of the last ice age, much of the debris that had been pushed forward was left in place. That’s how Long Island got there. It’s also how many of the craggy rock faces of Connecticut came to be. Some smaller deposits formed the Thimbles and other islands in Long Island Sound.

We got a good parking spot close to the pier and walked on-board the Sea Mist, a 44-footer that does hourly tours of the nearby islands. A few minutes later, we were underway.

What makes the Thimble Islands so interesting is they are mainly populated–even the ones that are little more than a rock barely jutting out of the water at high tide. Some have a single home. Others have a small cluster of buildngs. There are no year-round residents.

People are there, living less than a mile from Branford, yet totally isolated. It’s pretty cool. And we were riding by, looking at them as if they were on exhibit at the zoo!

The water off Branford tends to be smooth and on this day with little wind it was glass-like. For 45 minutes we threaded our way between the rocks as Justin, at the wheel, told the story of each.

This will not replace Disneyworld. Today it was very nice… very relaxing… very Connecticut. I’m glad I got to share it with my folks.

&#185 – I’m glad to say Woody, who many of you have seen commenting here, has also begun to walk the mountain. It continues to be a rewarding experience for Helaine and me.

2 thoughts on “Cruising The Thimble Islands”

  1. Yeah, well, Woody took the easy route this morning and to offset my guilt upped the distance to 5 miles on the Canal Line. I’m reserving the mountain for low humidity days.

  2. LOVE the Thimble photos. What great shots of such a neat place. Geoff, your parents are just too cute for words… The photo from the other day just epitomizes love and marriage…what an inspiration… Wish them happy anniversary and a belated happy b/day to you. Evi

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