The Swiss Mariners have landed, the muster field is being prepared, the ale’s are on ice, everything is in order for the Mariners to kick off their 50th Anniversary Celebration!

 

 
This photo is circa 1960 near Lake Qonapaug in North Guilford.

So fifers fife, and drummers drum
Your songs ’til hell and earth are done

Then send your message to the sun
And worlds that from where heroes come

The bold and brave that played these tunes
That echo now on older moons

Are glad their music has not fled
To other worlds as they when dead.

Back home to hear on Muster day

 The stirring songs that once they played

And view the Ancients grand parade

From secret shadow, silent shade.

by Bobby O’Brien 1929 – 1977

 The shrill of fifes with air did fight

And wrestled ears on whirling heads

The beat of drums did thunder run

To summon home brave heroes dead

Wednesday night saw a small group, a ‘Cocktail Corps’ out stalking the streets and making merry for the New London Food Stroll.  Our very own John Cook was the poster-child for the event, in this 2008 photo from the New London Main Street site:

And these photos were emailed to us from a spectator from the 2009 New London Food Stroll.  We’re out in front of Zavala’s Mexican Restaurant, home of the best Margaritas around, except for those made by yours truly, in my humble(?) opinion.

The event ran from 530 to 830.  Somehow the quarter mile march home from here took until midnight.

Saturday found us first enjoying breakfast at the Firehouse and then the Maritime Heritage and Hope Week Parade:

Next week: Memorial Day!  See ya then.  And Thanks for Ernst for forgetting his camera at the Firehouse so I could swipe his pictures early!

As promised, more wedding photos. And as Clint commented, what an attractive wedding party!

To Ellen and Andri.

More photos to come…