TTM Phoenix

New London, CT  2016

This ship was built in 2010 and is registered in Panama.  She's a bulk cargo carrier and was docked in New London for a few days recently.  I always wonder when I see these ships what the brought?  

Anne

Mystic, CT  2016

This looks like it might have been a fishing boat at one time.  Perhaps it still is, but it doesn't appear to have all the equipment one sees on a working fishing boat.  I think now it is strictly a pleasure craft. 

Evacuation Route

Mystic, CT  2016

There are a lot signs like this around this area.  I hope someone has these routes well thought out and I hope I never have a reason to have to follow these routes.  

Healthy New London

New London, 2016

Readers of this blog might have guessed by now that I walk this trail quite a bit.  I'm not sure I'm any healthier because of it, but I do enjoy the scenery, the ferries, and trains.  

Amtrak 661

New London, CT  2016

Normally these trains sneak up on me and I'm woefully out of place an unprepared to take any photos.  I knew this one was coming and saw it off in the distance so I was able to be a little more prepared.  

Seagull

New London, CT  2016

They are not the prettiest of birds, but they're so used to man, that you can get  pretty close, and they won't fly off.  I think he was looking for a handout.  

Munnatawket

New London, CT  2016

This ferry provides service between New London and Fishers Island, a small island just south of New London, which is actually a part of New York.  

Sculpture

Transcontinental by Carol Eisner

East Hartford, CT  2016

This is another sculpture along the Lincoln Financial Sculpture walk.  The sculpture is said to represent Abraham Lincoln's  support for the building of a transcontinental railroad.

Founders Bridge

East Hartford, CT  2016

Great River Park Benches

East Hartford, CT  2016

Under the Founders Bridge

East Hartford, CT  2016

Hartford Skyline

Hartford, CT  2016

Sculpture

East Hartford, CT  2016

I found this interesting sculpture along the Lincoln Financial Sculpture Walk at the Great River Park in East Hartford, CT.   There are a series of sculptures on both sides of the river depicting various events in the life of Abraham Lincoln.  This sculpture is entitled "The Circuit Rider" and is by Peter Busby depicting Lincoln's time as a circuit rider.  The transparency gives the sculpture a ghostly appearance which even is more apparent when photographed.  

Historic Bell

Mystic, CT  2016

Mystic Country

Mystic, CT  2016

Mystic Train Station

Mystic, CT  2016

Amtrak trains run through Mystic daily on the Northeast Corridor Line between Boston and Washington DC.  I even believe some trains might actually stop at Mystic once or twice a day.  Most, however only stop in Westerly, RI or New London, CT.  As a result, this tiny train station doesn't see much activity.  It has served many functions, in addition to being a train station during the years I've lived in the area.  It currently looks like it's being remodeled on the inside.

Update

Long time followers of this blog might recall the picture of this granite house, posted back in March 2014.

At the time I wrote what little I was able to find about the history behind this structure.  You can read about it here.  Recently I happened to drive by this house again, and I couldn't believe what I saw.  

Old Mystic, CT  2016

Someone is restoring the house.  You can see a roof has been added, along with doors and windows.  Other structural modifications are being made as well.  It's still very much a work in progress, but I was happy that someone is bringing this home back to life again.

The house has been in the same family for 160 years, and the current family members are restoring it.  More information about the history and restoration can found in this article.

Providence Place

Providence, RI  2016

Rhode Island State House

Providence, Rhode Island, 2016

This building has been pictured in my blog before, but not from this angle.  This is capitol of the state of Rhode Island.  The current State House is the seventh state house of Rhode Island, and second state house to be located in Providence.  It was built between the years 1895-1904.

Hole in Wall Beach

Niantic, CT  2016

At each end of the Niantic Boardwalk there are some nice beaches which are very popular in the summer time.  This is the beach at the west end of the boardwalk, known as the "Hole in the Wall Beach", since in order to reach it, you have to walk through the hole in the wall, otherwise known as a tunnel beneath the railroad tracks.

Then and Now- Niantic Boardwalk

Niantic, CT  November, 2011

This is what the Niantic Boardwalk looked like after Tropical Storm Irene came through back in 2011.  The walkway was primarily a gravel path running along the rocky beach. From this photo, you can't really see the damage.  It got worse after Hurricane Sandy in 2012.  You can see for yourself the improvements made to the original boardwalk below.

Niantic, CT  2016

Steel piles were driven along the boardwalk to reinforce the now concrete walkway.  It looks very nice now.

Boardwalk

Niantic, CT  2016

I've been waiting for this for a long time.  The Niantic Boardwalk was heavily damaged, first by Tropical Storm Irene in 2011, followed by Hurricane Sandy in 2012.  This year the remaining repairs have been completed and the entire 1-mile length has been re-opened for walkers and joggers.

Norwich Arts Council Gallery

Norwich, CT   2016

Bench

Norwich, CT  2016

A lot of benches one finds these days are made from recycled plastics, as is this one here.  The look pretty nice, and I'm sure they'll wear pretty well and will require less maintenance in the long term, but I feel they lack a little character.  

Main Street Plaza

Niantic, CT  2016

Just a few of the many, varied businesses that call Niantic home.  

Pardon the Interruption.....

New London, CT  2016

The photography gods have conspired against me lately.  I haven't had the time to get out and photograph lately, and on top of that,  I've been recovering from a nasty respiratory virus.  As a result, my blogs posts have not been as regular as I would like.  I hope to resume regular posts this week.  This sculpture on the grounds of the Lyman Allyn Museum is by Allyson Holtz and is entitled "Star and Sea".