Silver Sands & Milford Point

After we left the Milford Oyster Festival, I drove around the shore areas of Milford and reminisced  about the times when we lived at the shore (when Richard was a child). We were amazed and saddened at the number of gigantic mansions being constructed in the Fort Trumbull Beach and East Broadway neighborhood. The quaint old beaches cottages are disappearing and being replaced by expensive castles for the wealthy.

Map of Silver Sands State Park. At the right you can make
 out the sandbar (in gray)  to Charles Island (not shown on the map).

Panoramic view from the boardwalk. If you click on the picture, it will enlarge
and Richard (in orange shirt) can be seen at the right.

A little further on, we stopped at Silver Sands State Park and got out and walked the boardwalk. There were only a few people there (due to the weather?) and the stillness was awesome. The sky was cloudy and threatening and occasionally we could see spectacular lightning off towards Long Island. The water was flat as glass and the sea and the sky almost appeared to merge seamlessly in the distance.

View of Charles Island from Silver Sands State Park (Milford CT).

The beach was essentially deserted except for a few stray gulls.

At high tide, the sandbar to Charles Island is submerged.

Another view of Charles Island from farther west along the boardwalk.

Looking east, the sea and the sky blend together.

At one point along the boardwalk, we encountered a stretch of mysterious mounds of sea stones . They appeared to be arranged by hand but the purpose was obscure but appealing. So we added a few stones in order to continue the joke (?).

The mysterious rock garden.

          

We walked all the way to Walnut Beach Park (City of Milford) and turned around to return to our car at Silver Sands.

Richard and me with the Long Island Sound in the background.
If you look carefully, in the water at the right are some swimmers.

Unfortunately, Silver Sands is in the process of being developed by the State into a more formal park which will mean an admission charge to offset the new snack bar and restrooms and expanded boardwalk. The people of Milford begged the state not to do it but the state felt the need to spend the taxpayers money anyhow.

Coastal Center at Milford Point.
[Obviously this picture was not taken on the day of our visit. I found it on the web.]

Continuing our trek along the shore, we bopped over to the Walnut Beach area and drove along Broadway through the Wildermere Beach neighborhood  to visit the Connecticut Audubon Society Coastal Center at Milford Point. I have always enjoyed this place even when it is closed. The views are awesome (on one side is the marsh and the the other side is the Sound), especially from "the tower."

View of the marsh from the tower at the Coastal Center at Milford Point.

We continued on to the Stratford side but due to the approaching dusk we did not stop and take pictures.  We drove past the train station, library, Shakespeare Theater (we continue to be amazed that it is still standing after been abandoned for so many decades), Short Beach (remembering mini-golf and the skateboard park), the seawall, and  Sikorsky Airport. On the way back home, we drove past Two Roads Brewery and were stunned at the scale of operations. A return trip for a tour may be warranted.

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Links:
http://ricketwrite.blogspot.com/2018/08/milford-oyster-festival.html
https://www.ct.gov/deep/cwp/view.asp?q=325262
https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/cursed-charles-island
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Island
https://www.ctaudubon.org/coastal-center-home/
http://www.ct.gov/deep/lib/deep/gis/coastalaccessmaps/Coastal_Access_Site_515.pdf
http://www.townofstratford.com/content/39842/42086/
http://bridgeportct.gov/airport
https://tworoadsbrewing.com/
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Written Wednesday 31 October 2018.

Milford Oyster Festival

When we lived at the shore (Stratford), we enjoyed attending many of the events in the adjacent town, Milford.  Even though we are not oyster fans, we enjoyed attending the Milford Oyster Festival due to the food, arts & crafts, and exhibits. Since we experienced many fine times there in the past, we decided to attend again this year.

Map

As in the past, we parked the car at Law High School and took the (school) bus shuttle to Milford center. For some reason, we always have enjoyed this rather than finding it a bother. It is a lot easier.

When we arrived, it seemed like we were the only ones holding umbrellas (rain forecast for later in the afternoon). But the sky was clear and blue and sunny and the heat was brutal.

First thing we did when we arrived was to go for the food. We each had a lobster roll and split a crab cake (sandwich).[No pictures] While the lobster roll was tasty, it was not as good as the one at Lenny & Joe's Fish Tale.. 

We were slightly disappointed that there was not a BMX stunt bike demonstration as previous years. I also missed the Library book sale (perhaps the weather forecast scared them). In any case, we enjoyed walking around downtown Milford, watching the fire department dunk tank, and the arts & craft and public services booths. The AHL Sound Tigers had a booth and Richard won a voucher for free tickets to the upcoming Home Opener.

As we were walking along the Green, we noticed a strange looking vehicle. Richard recognized it as a "party bike." This was a freebie (for the festival) operated by Elm City Party Bike.

Party Bike

Richard at the front

While we both thought it looked cool, Richard was not very interested in trying it.  We walked around some more and just as we were about to leave for the bus stop, I took a few more steps and fouond that there was room for us on the 4:30 pm ride. Fortunately, Richard was game and off we went.

Wow! was it hard. My thigh muscles quickly told me they were tired and sore. However, I realized I did not have to pedal hard or fast but just do it. That made it easier.  We  didn't go very fast and we only went about 3/4 mile. Fortunately the terrain was flat (it is an amazing thing about biking that you notice the slightest inundations in terrain). 

Remember my earlier comment about umbrellas and rain? Well during our "ride" it rained. But oddly, the downpour only occurred at the other end of the Green. We could see the line where the rain stopped and we were on the side that barely got a drop (thank God!).

This is what the sky looked like shortly after we got to our car.

After leaving the Oyster Fest, we fueled up the car and then drove around our old haunts in Milford and Stratford-but that is another post (at least the beach part).

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Links:

https://milfordoysterfestival.com/

http://ricketwrite.blogspot.com/2018/07/saturday-at-shore.html

http://www.soundtigers.com/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Party_bike

https://elmcitypartybike.com/

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Written Friday 7 September 2018.

Wow! 96 Years of Age

Fr. Gene celebrated his 96th birthday on July 18th, 2018.

Letter from Fr. Hattie-received August 2, 2018 via email.

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Despite his age and ailments, the above letter is evidence that Fr. Hattie is still typing his own letters. Based on the darkness of the type, he apparently got a new ribbon. Therefore, the letter is pretty readable (and you can make it even bigger by clicking on the image) but in following my usual approach, I have transcribed it (below) for those who don't want to suffer through deciphering the original.

My Fr. Hattie page contains a list of Father's letters that I have received and transcribed for this blog. It also contains contact information for Fr Hattie as well as how to donate to help support his orphans in Nsumba, Uganda (in Africa, ya know).

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Saturday July 28

My dear Rick:                               Peace of the Living/Loving Christ!

     WOW!  WOW!  WOW!  Don't Ever get old!  It has its special problems. Just a week ago today I took a shower and slipped on the tiles even though I had towels spread all around. Unluckily, there was no one to help me to get up. I shouted until I was blue in the face. In great pain I dragged myself to my room, but that was it! More shouting brought one of our workers who got me onto the bed. I was immediately taken to the hospital to see if any bones had been broken. Thank God, nothing had happened, but fierce pain took up residence in 1 [one] shoulder and my hip.

     The Doctor came and, by twisting & turning, quickly sent me on the road to hell. When he was massaging both spots I must have been heard all over the neighborhood. Jokingly, I told him to read the Instructions which said, 'Rub GENTLY!' or I was going to hand him over to the police for causing undue agony. At first, he did not know whether I was serious or not...until laughter, and then he continued on his merry way. That was a week ago & I still cannot walk, so, down on those chubby knees and get me walking!

     Last Saturday I reached 96, a miracle I thought would never happen. It has its special problems: I must use a 3-wheeled walker to retain my balance & keep from falling; my sight, hearing, and memory have lessened considerably. But, thank God, I can manage reasonably. But, I am on about 16 pills daily even though I have not the slightest idea what they are for. But, I thank the Lord for all His many, many gifts so far. Which reminds me of the little old Indian gentleman on the occasion of his Retirement for the beautiful Watch he had been given, 'I thank you most heartily from the very, very bottom of my heart& from my dear wife's bottom too.' How's that for the King of Kings' English that he was so proud of.

Fr Gene Hattie (96 years of age).

     Sometime ago, a little fellow was sitting on my lap & I noticed that he was very cautiously trying to lift up my sleeve.  When he noticed that I was watching him, he was embarrassed. 'What in the world are you trying to do?' I asked. His answer: 'Father, are you white all over or just the parts we can see????'

     The cold here has been bitter & I feel guilty as I wrap up in my heavy quilt UNTIL I think of the 10s of 1000s who sleep on the pavement or in the fields with just a thin sheet of plastic after the recent floods have washed away their homes. God help them.

     You must be asking yourself just what am I doing back in Nairobi after just a year of Retirement at Columbiere in Clarkston, Michigan. One morning I woke with a shock & asked myself just what was I doing there. In '47, when I left for India, it was for life. So, I asked the African Provincial if I could complete my Vow by retiring there. So, here I am freezing to death with no hope of respite.

     But, that must be it for the present as it is extremely difficult to type with frozen fingers & make so many mistakes.  Be sure that you & yours have a special remembrance in my daily Mass and prayers. And, in the meantime, keep smiling and spreading His & Her love, joy and peace in every nook and cranny of the City.

     Tons of love [&] gratitude simply for being you. Till next time.
P.S. I've racked up 78 years as a Jesuit, 65 as a priest, 30 years in India, 2 in Southern Sudan, 35 in Uganda & 3 in Kenya. Why not come over & join me.

Fr. Gene, S.J.                                        

 Fr Gene, SJ                                        

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Links:
http://ricketwrite.blogspot.com/p/letters-from-fr-hattie.html
http://blackchristiannews.com/2018/05/floods-in-kenya-devastate-hundreds-wounded-over-200000-displaced/
http://colombierejesuits.com/about_history.html
http://www.easternafricajesuits.org/
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Written Saturday 11 August 2018