Connecticut Vacation

We took four days to drive to Connecticut, leaving Tampa on June 20. One objective was to stop over in Fredericksburg, VA, and go to the Blarney Stone Pub, which we had visited and liked on a previous trip to Connecticut. Fredericksburg being about half way, it seemed to make sense to divide the trip into four segments.

We were away fourteen days and drove a total of 3419 miles, including a quick trip up to Maine after visiting with Terry and family. We arrived in Chester, CT, on Thursday, June 23.

The first priority was to catch up on visiting with the grandchildren.

Quinn (with Savannah)

Nuala (with Grandpa Rollins)

On Friday, June 24, we all went to Gillette Castle, a favorite tourist site in the area. The "Gillette" was William Gillette (1853 - 1937), a celebrity actor who was best known for portraying Sherlock Holmes on the stage. No connection to the shaving company.

He was equivalent of a movie star in his time, and made a lot of money. He built this mansion on a choice site overlooking the Connecticut River.

We crossed the Connecticut River on the Chester-Hadlyme Ferry, one of many services threatened by budget cuts in Connecticut. I hope it survives. It is a real treat.

On Tuesday, June 28, we drove up to Boothbay Harbor, Maine. We had been there on previous trips and were eager to see it again.

One of Sherry's favorite sites is this little house overlooking the harbor.


It was foggy on Wednesday. Here is a view of the harbor from our B&B, near the north end of the harbor.


In the background is a footbridge that goes across the harbor near the end. Most of the harbor is on the other side of the bridge.

We had hoped to take a ride on a sailboat from the harbor, but all trips were canceled on Wednesday due to the weather. Instead we drove down the Pemaguid Peninsula, and visited the Pemaquid Point Light .

We climbed up the circular stairway inside the lighthouse into the little room at the top that houses the light. The light is still in use, but was turned off this day due to the fog.

Here are the rocks leading down to the ocean behind the lighthouse. In the fog, the ocean blends into the sky.

It was a good day to be on land!