Mystic (cross-post from Xanga)

For those who aren't familiar with Mystic, you can think of the movie "Mystic Pizza" if you want, and have the correct town, but historically, it was a whaling port. It's almost on the Rhode Island border, but doesn't really have the same flavor as Newport.



This shot was taken in Olde Mystick Village, and is fairly typical of the perhaps two-square block pedestrian-only shopping area. Candle and handicrafts stores, along with the obligatory jewelry and clothing stores. All I bought was a new ultra heavy-duty canvas briefcase/satchel at the Army/Navy store. The one I've used for the past few years is starting to tear at the seams; I got it for free at an industry conference a few years ago, so it's no loss.



As you walk down the hill past the sign in the first photo, you see this view as you approach the seaport.



This is the Charles W. Morgan, a whaling bark. Built in 1841, this is the last wooden whaling boat still afloat. We had quite a bit of fun climbing around the deck and poking around down below in the crew's quarters and blubbering area.



Here's SJ at the till.



Here's a view of the shipyard entrance from the waterfront path. It's a working shipyard, alright, but it restores historic wooden boats. We actually got to view the work area from the second floor, looking down into the hard hat area. The tools used are modern, but other than power drills, the tools are mostly the same hand tools as the old ones, except not rusty: planes, axes, chisels, gouges, saws, etc. The current restoration is an Eastern-rig fishing boat called the Roann. I'll see if I can get a picture of it from the catwalk tomorrow.

More pics and historical tidbits later . . .