Vacation #3 - Seaports and Submarines

 

You may recall that ever since a car show last spring, my antique car had carburetor issues.  Getting them repaired was a major task, since most of today’s mechanics are trained on fuel injection systems and computer controls.  Being a 1967, mine has neither, and to complicate matters, it also has an intact prehistoric California smog control system . Fuel-injection and computer emission training is useless on old-fashioned antiques.  

And trying to make a 1,200-mile trip in a freshly-repaired car, without some significant shakedown runs, would be a "real fool's errand."  Thus I decided to take the daily driver on this trip, and extend our agenda exponentially.  What started out to be a simple antique car tour for my better half and myself, with a bunch of friends, ended up being an epic vacation.  We were gone for so long (two full weeks) that it was easy to lose track of time!

The above will introduce each  following section, as a prelude, for those who may not have read prior vacation entries.

Today the group started by visiting Mystic Seaport, in Mystic, Connecticut – a living history museum established in 1929 as the "Marine Historical Association". Its first fame came with the acquisition in 1941 of the Charles W. Morgan, the only surviving wooden sailing whaler. The seaport was one of the first living history museums in the United States, with a collection of buildings and craftsmen to show how work was done.

No “sir” comments,  as the only pants remaining in my suitcase were my feminine stirrup leggings, and I added my womens' Keds to help keep my ballerinas from getting damaged by the gravel. What I was wearing caused no issues for anyone.   Folks in our group addressed me by first name and, as happened at last year’s tour, took my appearance in stride.  No comments were made, it was just business as usual.

Mystic Seaport, preparing for Halloween

 

Mandy at Mystic Seaport

 

Water certainly was calm, and the sky was rich blue!

Water certainly was calm, and the sky was rich blue!

After a lunch break, we drove to Groton, Connecticut to tour the Submarne Force Museum, and among the displays is the actual submarine Nautilus, America’s first nuclear powered submrine.  It’s a great place to visit p simply fascinating....   

Submarine Force Library and Museum, Groton, CT.

Submarine Force Library and Museum, Groton, CT.

Seeing the interior evoked reaction from just about everyone that “I’m sure glad the USA built it, but I’m happy that I didn’t have to live in such cramped quarters..”

More sections (and more pictures) will follow in the days to come.