Thames River Archives - Peter Otis Photos

: Sky Hotel Exterior- afternoon

: Harlem Globetrotters in their 90th year of excellence

: River Blue Sculpture by Dale Chihuly

Uncasville, CT

Members of our family wanted to create a surprise birthday somewhere with activities that would appeal to all 9 of us, ranging from age 4 to, now, 70.

The top choice for a birthday gathering for our family with multiple interests and limited time available in winter with its unpredictable weather turned out to be Mohegan Sun just 45 minutes from our home and not much further for two families from Massachusetts. Elements to consider when finding a spot started with needing a swimming pool for kids! Reasonable room rates were essential (helped by some discounted rooms). Then, we needed to find a spot during school vacation week and discovered that the Harlem Globetrotters were performing at Mohegan. Upon arrival and during our stay other parts of this location that made it special included the fact that the entire complex is a sensual display of sights, textures and sounds. We even managed to spend our time in the smoke-free areas. Our kiddos were fascinated by the escalators, the waterfalls and colorful pool in the hotel lobby, lighting effects, and “Robo-Wolf” near the the Wolf Den! Top it off with dinner at Pepe’s Pizza, gravity-defying displays and a “win” by the Globetrotters, gigantic breakfast pancakes and waffles at the Hash House A Go Go and extended water splashing time in the swimming pool. It made for a perfect visit!

: Tribal symbols and history display

: Hotel lobby water feature

: Favorite swimming pool

: Robo- Wolf

: Water and rocks

Pre-sunrise the following morning found me heading toward the cove way below our room and adjacent to the Thames River to capture these images.

Take a look at this slide show of inside and outside textures and colors:

: “stone”

: pool water

: water

: coniferous trees and glass

: “ice crystals”

: white birch

: ceiling

: interior floral glass by Dale Chihuly

: River Blue Sculpture

: lights

: corn mosaic behind concierge desk

: mosaic behind registration desk

: River Blue Sculpture

: textures above

: building exteriors

: deciduous trees and glass

: textures above

: Mercenaria mercenaria – hard wampum clams

: toboggan wood

: textures above

: dugout wood

: oyster shells

: outside buildings

: land, water and glass

Unexpected bonuses: (1) The towering glass sculpture by world-renowned artist Dale Chihuly. Titled “River Blue,” (10,000-pounds, 14 feet wide and 25 feet tall). ” Thousands of richly colored glass components, 2,500 in all, were hand-blown by a team of artisans in Seattle, then fully assembled on-site to make… the distinctive cobalt blue, silver and clear colored glass sculpture. ” (2) One of us had a chance to use the one quarter cent (yes 1/4 cent) slots and still come home with more that 1/2 of what she started with — $5.00. (3) The mini hallway-wide display of tribal symbols, history and natural and man-made objects located up the escalator from Pepe’s Pizza. (4) The Harlem Globetrotters who are still playing great basketball in their 90th year. (5) One grandchild saying this is now his FAVORITE place to visit! (6) And finally, the clarity of close-up and distance photos I captured using a new small camera with a prime 35 mm lens.

Who knows what fun family adventures will take place next, or where?

Peter Otis

Peter Otis Photos, LLC

PLACES… plants… people… PLUS OTHER GEMS…

Rowing Shells – Elite Old-Timers and Today’s Best Eights

Concord, NH and New London, CT

In the past 10 days I have been privileged to witness races using both classic and the most- ultra modern rowing shells. I have also had a chance to see buffed 20 somethings in top condition as well as my 65+ year old peers continuing their rowing for the gold!

A hiking injury prevented me from rowing #6 for the Shattuck crew at our St. Paul’s School (Concord, NH) Reunion last weekend. Instead, I was fortunate to photograph both our Shattuck and as well as the Halcyon crews in, reportedly, the first time that two fully matched, classic boats raced 500 meters for a 50^th reunion sprint.

While I took the S.P.S. photos with no pre-thought of writing this comparative blog article, Sunday my wife and I had a chance to watch the Second and First Varsity Yale and Harvard crews begin races (3 mile and 4 mile) in their sleek shells on the Thames River at The U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, CT. Before the final race I was able to admire and photograph the varsity Y and H boats.

My photos here are provided to show two beautifully matched 1972 Pocock wooden shells – best in the world for racing teams “in our day”- and the very latest of German Company Empacher’s shells used by both Yale and Harvard after Harvard introduced them with great success a few years ago. These images are primarily of the shells and oars but please also enjoy a few images of young as well as slightly older (!) rowers out doing what gets into our blood and never leaves. My blue team, the S.P.S. Shattucks, was trounced; but my other blue team (Yale) performed beautifully and successfully, setting a new up-stream record! On to Henley for these crews, and back to the Concept 2 ergometer for me for the next 5 years, preparing for 2020!

Peter Otis

Peter Otis Photos, LLC

PLACES… Plants… PEOPLE… PLUS OTHER GEMS

Please enjoy the additional slideshow images from both race days.