We entered the long narrow harbor leading to the yacht club passing Sasco Beach. As we entered the yacht club area we saw all the boats lined up each secured to moorings at both the bow and stern. We had never moored in this manner but we were able to tie up with no problems. We were perfectly positioned directly across from the clubhouse and launch.
The reviews of the yacht club were uniformly positive and so was our total experience there. The dock master was warm and welcoming and the dock hands friendly and patient. They needed to be because we made very frequent use of the launch service to accommodate both our dog walking and the large number of visitors we hosted onboard during our stay! The yacht club welcomes transients with reciprocal club memberships. They also have a very active youth program and it was delightful seeing all the children learning to sail throughout our stay.
Lisa joined us again, staying onboard for her last two nights of vacation. What a treat it’s been to spend so much time with her!
That night Jonny’s cousins Steven, Abby and Steve’s wife Ann joined us aboard for drinks and apps before we all headed over to Fairfield Center for a very nice dinner at Sinclair’s. The restaurant was very busy on a Monday night and we shared a large array of tapas and had a grand old time. It was particularly special because Lisa and Abby had been in school together but hadn’t seen each since our wedding 35 years ago! They are both recently retired teachers with two grown daughters so they had a lot to talk about.
On Tuesday morning we took Archie in on the launch for a walk through the beautiful village of Southport.
The homes are so lovely as are the large gardens surrounding them. Ann, who is a landscape designer and master gardener, worked on several of the homes in the area. The brick colonial overlooks the marina and was directly in our line of site from our mooring.
Unfortunately, upon returning to Zendo, Archie decided to relieve himself on Lisa’s berth for no good reason. What a brat! That determined the rest of our afternoon since we had to strip the bed from the comforter down through the mattress pad and bring it all to the laundromat. Fortunately, Lisa had a car and the laundromat had giant washers and dryers so it didn’t take that long.
Shortly after we returned and remade the bed we were joined aboard by Mark and Barbara armed with all the ingredients to make the traditional sailor’s drink, a Dark and Stormy! Jonny met Mark while solving the issue of the solar panel controller that was too small for our needs. Mark works for the company that sold us the controller and he was very helpful in resolving our issue. Although the company is located in Fort Lauderdale, Mark lives in Branford and they had promised each other to get together when we were in the area. We had a fun time chatting with them and enjoying those delicious drinks!
I was planning to make a marinara sauce for the ravioli we bought in Little Italy, but it got too late so Jonny, Lisa and I walked into Southport to have a quick bite at the local tavern. It turned out to be not quick and not very good but we got a good walk in and a taste of an establishment frequented by community members who clearly were not those living in the earlier referenced homes!
Wednesday was our last full day in Southport and Jonny had committed to helping Lisa’s friend Michael, go through all the mechanical, electrical and rigging systems on his newly acquired sailboat. Meanwhile, Lisa and I met his wife, Jane at a local breakfast spot. Afterwards we walked over to Southport Harbor where we waved at Michael and Jonny aboard Michael’s boat. Lisa had stayed with Jane for much of her vacation and they had even traveled up to Maine to attend a memorial event for their friend Dara’s mother who had passed away earlier this year.
Lisa was flying back to Chicago that afternoon so we headed back to Zendo so she could pack her things. We said our tearful goodbyes but were happy to know that we’d see each other soon when Lisa and her family come to Miami for Christmas.
Later that afternoon our good friends Peter and Paula came onboard. I’ve known Peter since fifth grade and Jonny, Peter and I met Paula when we were all freshman at the University of Connecticut in 1970! Peter and Paula live in Longmeadow MA and they have a ski house in Vermont where we visited them last year. Their son Eli and his family leave in nearby Westport and Eli has a new boat. Their younger son Zach lives in California. He and his family were visiting Eli so they all came over to Zendo on Eli’s boat. We then proceeded to follow him out on our dinghy and all eleven of us plus Archie went swimming off of Eli’s boat in Southport Harbor. It was so much fun!
They then came back to Zendo where they all climbed aboard to check out our summer home. The kids were especially impressed that we slept and ate and showered in this small space. They were adorable!
Peter and Paula stayed after Eli, Zach and the kids left and we discussed what we might do for dinner. Happily, we got a call from another of Lynn’s childhood friends, Billy, who we were hoping would join us. He and his daughter Julie helpfully picked up our to-go Lebanese dinner and brought it by so we could all be together. The fun just doesn’t stop! It is so great being with dear old friends. There is really nothing quite like it. Peter, Billy and I will see each other next at our 50th high schools reunion in October (delayed by one year due to Covid). And coincidentally, Julie is in the process of moving to Philadelphia near to where Stephanie lives, so we will encourage them to get together. As we finished eating, the weather changed with lightening and shifting winds. Billy got a call from his son alerting him to a big storm about to hit the area so we called the launch and everyone scooted away to avoid getting caught in what was supposed to be a big rainstorm. Jonny and I rushed around to close all the windows and the Stratoglass but it turned out to not be as bad as expected. This was another event that was so engaging I completely forgot photos!
What a wonderful time we had during our stay in Southport! It was truly a great home town visit! And we would definitely return to the friendly and accommodating Pequot Yacht Club.
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