CT River Cruise 2014

We had such a blast the previous year on Dan Nocera and Jeff Cohen's pontoon party boat, that Max was not to be deterred during the Middlesex Community College's 2014 fundraising auction to outbid everyone else and win the cruise yet again. Saturday's rain gave way to a gorgeous Sunday afternoon on the CT River with friends.
We had beautiful Fall weather as we set out from Riverside Marina in Portland, CT with Jeff Cohen and Dan Nocera on their pontoon party boat. Sep 14, 2014 5:49 PM : Dan Nocera, Jeff Cohen, Jim Hoffman
1 We had beautiful Fall weather as we set out from Riverside Marina in Portland, CT with Jeff Cohen and Dan Nocera on their pontoon party boat.
 Mapping out the plan of attack with Jeff Cohen, Dan Nocera, Karen Zabrensky, Jim Hoffman, Maxine, and (not pictured) Bill and Becky Laughlin. Sep 14, 2014 3:52 PM : Dan Nocera, Jeff Cohen, Jim Hoffman, Karen Zabrensky, Maxine Klein
2 Mapping out the plan of attack with Jeff Cohen, Dan Nocera, Karen Zabrensky, Jim Hoffman, Maxine, and (not pictured) Bill and Becky Laughlin.
Sep 14, 2014 4:04 PM : Jeff Cohen, Jim Hoffman, Karen Zabrensky, Maxine Klein
3
 Last year we headed South on the river, so this time we changed it up by going North, past the old Air Line Railroad bridge and underneath the Arrigoni bridge in Middletown. Sep 14, 2014 4:03 PM
4 Last year we headed South on the river, so this time we changed it up by going North, past the old Air Line Railroad bridge and underneath the Arrigoni bridge in Middletown.
The Air Line Railroad swing truss bridge seems to be a party location for locals. The bridge still supports the Providence and Worcester Railroad which services a few customers East of the river, but the bridge is normally kept in the open position. Sep 14, 2014 4:04 PM
5 The Air Line Railroad swing truss bridge seems to be a party location for locals. The bridge still supports the Providence and Worcester Railroad which services a few customers East of the river, but the bridge is normally kept in the open position.
 Just North of Middletown, we ducked under route 9 and headed up the Mattabesset River, a major tributary off the CT River that all of the ponds and streams around our own house eventually feed into. With the roaring highway above, it was like entering a portal to a pristine wilderness area that none of us had witnessed before. Sep 14, 2014 5:34 PM
6 Just North of Middletown, we ducked under route 9 and headed up the Mattabesset River, a major tributary off the CT River that all of the ponds and streams around our own house eventually feed into. With the roaring highway above, it was like entering a portal to a pristine wilderness area that none of us had witnessed before.
Into the heart of darkness.... or Cromwell, CT..... Sep 14, 2014 4:25 PM
7 Into the heart of darkness.... or Cromwell, CT.....
 Box and painted turtles were sunning themselves on every available log and branch Sep 14, 2014 4:35 PM : animal, reptile, reptilia, testudines, turtle
8 Box and painted turtles were sunning themselves on every available log and branch
Ducks everywhere amidst marshes filled with wild rice. We also saw several heron and the best was seeing a bald eagle swooping low over the landscape. Sep 14, 2014 4:37 PM
9 Ducks everywhere amidst marshes filled with wild rice. We also saw several heron and the best was seeing a bald eagle swooping low over the landscape.
 Ducks taking flight Sep 14, 2014 4:37 PM
10 Ducks taking flight
Becky's thinking "My what a big lens you have Billy!" Sep 14, 2014 5:49 PM : Becky Laughlin, Billy Laughlin
11 Becky's thinking "My what a big lens you have Billy!"
 Cuddling up for warmth as the sun gets lower Sep 14, 2014 5:50 PM : Becky Laughlin, Billy Laughlin
12 Cuddling up for warmth as the sun gets lower
Dave seems to have a big lens too! Sep 14, 2014 12:01 PM : David Zeleznik
13 Dave seems to have a big lens too!
 Karen starts bundling up as the temps dip Sep 14, 2014 12:01 PM : Karen Zabrensky, Maxine Klein
14 Karen starts bundling up as the temps dip
Everything seems better after several bottles of Jeff's homemade Cabernet Franc and Zinfandel Sep 14, 2014 5:54 PM : Karen Zabrensky, Maxine Klein
15 Everything seems better after several bottles of Jeff's homemade Cabernet Franc and Zinfandel
 Wheee!!! We're Having Fun!!! - according to Max and Karen Sep 14, 2014 5:52 PM : Karen Zabrensky, Maxine Klein
16 Wheee!!! We're Having Fun!!! - according to Max and Karen
Somehow Jim ended up with all the snackage in the stern Sep 14, 2014 12:01 PM : Jim Hoffman
17 Somehow Jim ended up with all the snackage in the stern
 Time to turn around and head back as the sky starts filling with color Sep 14, 2014 6:53 PM
18 Time to turn around and head back as the sky starts filling with color
The canopy goes down to give us a great view looking back towards Middletown with an awesome sky overhead Sep 14, 2014 7:04 PM : Jeff Cohen, Karen Zabrensky, Maxine Klein
19 The canopy goes down to give us a great view looking back towards Middletown with an awesome sky overhead
 Just as we pull into the marina, the sky lights up even more Sep 14, 2014 7:07 PM
20 Just as we pull into the marina, the sky lights up even more
A farewell shot for a great day! Sep 14, 2014 7:08 PM
21 A farewell shot for a great day!