Fisher's Island

No, I didn't paddle there. We took the ferry.
I have tried to paddle to The Dumplings at least three times. Each time, I turned back because of rough water & boat traffic. Normally. when I have to cross a channel, I wait a bit for boats to go away, then sprint across. The problem is, that as the water gets rougher & more "confused", and I'm going slower, "sprinting" is not an option.
So, we took the ferry from New London, on a Friday. A nice little ride, got a closer look at The Dumplings. 
Fisher's is a different kind of place. I have always read that there is a ton of money there. Most of the folks on the ferry looked pretty "toney". The ferry pulls into a picturesque little cove, but is was different than  New English ferry terminals- no shops, restaurants, rentals, or other businesses. It seems as though they feel that if your'e on F.I. at all, you don't need anything, so no one is trying to sell it to you.
Most people in Connecticut act as if Fisher's Island doesn't exist. I have lived in Connecticut my entire life, and this was my first visit. I can't think of anyone else I know who has ever been there-strange for a place 3 miles away! The reasons I can think of are:
1. It is not the most visitor-friendly place. Its not unfriendly, but they don't seem to want tourism. Most visitors would conclude that there is "nuthin on it", and "nuthin to do". Although no one was unpleasant, I felt like I was interloping in a suburban neighborhood.
2. It belongs to New York. It is of new York, and about New York. It looks and feels much more Like Long Island than Connecticut. 
3. It has an "away from it all" feeling, that some would welcome, but other would find "stark"
We decided on a walk to the beach. Soon after leaving the terminal, were found ourselves on a rather peculiar avenue. For some reason, I expected it to be all winding lanes, with huge manicured lawns in front of mansions.  This street had sidewalks, and large, dull brick houses, some in need of a little maintenance. There was a odd theater, standing alone, with no parking lot:

We walked down a more winding road to the beach. Lots of vines and wild growth. My friend observed that all of the lawns looked as if they had been mowed the same day-like one landscaper had a monopoly on the business? 
Nice beach! Deserted, no footprints, super-clean. In fact, I think we saw a total of three pedestrians and two cars, all day. 

Nifty balanced cairn.

This shelter surprised us. It must not be all that hoity-toity here, if this is tolerated. On the mainland, it would be filled with beer bottles and graffiti
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Nice tide pool.

Heights & bluffs started to make it look more like Block Island or Martha's Vineyard.

These concrete thingies are trying to hold the hill back. I think they are losing.

Little Gull Island Lighthouse, with Plum Island to the right. Believe it or not L.G.I. is listed as a Geocache, on the premise that "a photo of it cannot be taken from land", and therefore, you must travel by water to take one. A photo proves that you have been by it. Well, I borrowed my friend's zoom lens, steadied on a rock as best as I could, and went for it.

In general, an okay little outing, definitely different.

We boarded the ferry at sunset. We were treated to the spectacle of a huge blood-red harvest moon rising over the water. It was the first time I'd ever seen the actual disc of the moon rise over the water. It rises fast!

I couldn't get a good photo of the Moon from the boat. This is how it look once back in New London.