Re: Connecticut River questions
Black Snow Slide,
Here is the best place for you to put in. The other ramps further up the river, that I am familiar with anyway, probably won't support your express cruiser.
http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=41.31858,-72.350925&spn=0.00172,0.005284&t=h&z=18
I am not sure how to get to the ramp coming from your direction, but it's pretty easy coming from RT9 which is the way I come (coming from the north).
This is a great ramp because there is a lot of parking and I have seen the local performance shop there pulling Formula 40PC's out their so I am sure you will have enough space.
I do know that this ramp is a popular one, so I would get their early on Saturday / or even better friday afternoon.
What is also great about this ramp is that you are very close to entering Long Island Sound, I have not ventured in there (16ft Open Bow), but heading up the river there are some great spots to anchor.
Our favorite area to anchor and swim is right across from the essex marina here:
http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=41.349527,-72.376084&spn=0.006878,0.021136&t=h&z=16
Basically due east from the Essex marina there is an island and lots of people anchor out of the main channel and swim to island or play in the shallow water. There are lots of mooring / transient slips at the Essex marina, lots of shops and places to eat, it is a very quaint town. If you have a dingy you could cross the channel from where you would anchor near the island and go into the town as well.
If you head further up the river about 8-10 miles you come to the Goodspeed opera house, where there is an AMAZING bridge and some beautiful areas, you also pass Gillette castle, you can look it up online it's quite the site to look at and being it's a state park you can visit the grounds / tour the castle.
If you keep going up river you eventually get to middletown where there is a nice restaurant right on the water, never been there but I have seen a lot of boats on it.
Keep going up river you eventually can come into Hartford.
I am looking forward to when I can upgrade my boat to something we can spend the night on, so I am envious of you..... I have heard to that there are some great places across the sound in Long Island to anchor / moor.
There is a great link on boating up the river, I'll try and find it again.
Hope this helps.
