The Mariners, looking good across the Mystic drawbridge.  The current incarnation of this ‘bascule’ bridge dates to 1924, and counterweighted by 460 tons, requires only 80 horsepower to open and close.

Live webcams without the Mariners are available here, though I much prefer this view:

Here we go!

Before all the parade festivities seen in the Mystic photos below, the Mariners have started a brunch tradition at the Firehouse as sort of a pre-game warm up.

Frivolity follows, and Little Dick on the griddle comes up with pancakes like this:

We then began a rousing game of ‘Who’s under the bear head?’

Play along at home!

Exhibit A:

Another view:

A little more challenging?

Exhibit B:

Another view:

Apparently, she could reach that high.  Actually, I’m a little bit scared of bears with swords, let’s go to Mystic.

Once in Mystic, we found the little people still about:

Oh, and here’s the littlest!

Well, that pretty much wraps up what was St.Patrick’s Month for the Mariners.

And all the good little boys and girls went sleepy-bye.

A beautiful spring day, and a nice big Mariner sound.

Thanks to Sally Rothenhaus for use of her photos.  She has quite a collection of past summer festivities, that, she tells me, will be up and running on their very own page shortly.  We’ll look forward to that.

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Wow, what a great day!  The 50th Anniversary year kickoff continues! A crisp-blue-sky Spring afternoon, huge crowd, big, full Mariner sound.  More photos are being collected and processed to be posted, but our prolific, prompt and photographically capable friend Sally Rothenhaus got these great ones, which needed to be shared sooner rather than later.

And who doesn’t love a sailor and his bride?

Stay tuned.