The Thin BlueRide - Part 3 Day 9 - Newport, RI

Tuesday, September 19, 2019

Drive Report: None - Cheesy Tourist Day #3 in Newport (The last in the series - we move tomorrow.)

There were a several “life intervenes” things on the agenda today.  Susan had a call to make, I needed to check for some different tie-downs for the scooter as the old ones had become increasingly suspect, the tire on the trailer had developed some odd splits in the grooves of the tread and needed to be replaced.  That sort of stuff.  So naturally, we decided to sleep a bit later this morning.  What?  We had time to be lazy - at least that’s what Susan said.

When we got up we took care of the stuff mentioned above and then headed for a late breakfast.  And by late, I mean that it was 1100 when we arrived at the restaurant.  It was a converted old house, painted bright yellow and named “Cindy’s Country Cafe”.  Seemed like just the ticket.  When we arrived it was clear that it was frequented by locals and we may have been the only interlopers there.  But everyone was friendly.  Now understand that when we catch breakfast “out” this late, the plan is to eat a substantial breakfast, skip lunch and eat dinner when the urge presents itself.  In that vein, I ordered Portuguese French Toast (I had no idea), two eggs over easy and bacon.  Perfect breakfast - until it arrived...

This, readers, is a mountain of food.   And in case ya don't know, Portugese French Toast is a French Toast sandwich whose filling consists of a whipped, cream cheese and fruit filling.  Mine were strawberry and blackberry.  This is what I'd call a big breakfast.  Needless to say, I didn't get it all down.  Susan had to help.

After that, we waddled out to the scooter, crawled on and headed for today's planned activity - a sailing excursion out on Narragansett Bay.  It looked fun when we checked it out on-line so we signed up.  When we got there, this was our ride...

This would be the Madeleine - a 72 foot schooner - and our ride for the tour.

 On our way out of the docks, we ran across this sailboat.  Interesting, because when Susan and I were having dinner sea side two nights ago, I saw it and told her that in my opinion it was a very pretty boat with great lines.  Turns out that former New York Governor and later Vice President Nelson Rockefeller agreed - he owned it some time in the past.  I later saw a smaller one that looked similar and inquired of our crew how much a boat like that would cost - the answer, "Depending on how you have it outfitted around a million dollars."  Wow.

This tall ship still sails and is used to teach young people how to sail.   Apparently they take it to various ports around the area each summer as Newport's "goodwill ambassador".

Apparently the ones without masts and sails are called "motor yachts" when they get this big.  When we came back to the dock it looked as big as a building.  Note the door on the side.  It is hinged at the bottom and opens down.  Likely for loading all the stuff ya need to keep a building floating and moving.

This sailing ship happened by going the other way.  I know nothing about it except that it had cool (faded) red sails.

This is the "house" where Jacqueline Bouvier grew up.  You may know her better as Jacqueline Kennedy/Onassis.  After she married John Kennedy in Newport, the wedding reception was held on the back lawn seen in this pic.  2,000 people attended and it is said that the reception line was 3.5 hours long.  Ouch.

Susan and I aboard (sailor talk for "standing on") the Madeleine.  Susan was starting all her sentences while aboard with, "Aaaaarrrrrgh" and callin everybody "Matey".  It was embarrassing.

This is the Adirondack II - we thought about going out on her, but decided on the Madeleine.  I think this gives the reader an excellent idea of how these ships look under full sail.

One of two lighthouses in the harbor.  This one is so low because the property owner who permitted its construction on his place said he didn't want the light shining in his bedroom window.

Eventually Susan decided the crew needed some input on how best to sail a schooner.  The crew asked her to hold this rigging in place for the rest of the trip to make sure the sails stayed in position.  That would be the Adirondack II over her shoulder.

OK - I confess.  I got in on the act.  Next thing we knew we were both sitting at the front of the class.

This house was built on a small rock island in the harbor and they built a bridge to the island to aid in moving construction supplies.  The house survived when a huge hurricane came thru in the 30s and leveled most everything around.  But water had been running thru the first floor as a result of the storm surge.  It was later abandoned for over 30 years.  It has since been bought and restored.  Oh - and that suspension bridge in the background is the same one we used to get to the island.

The crew finally let us loose again - and just in time to catch this buoy as a backdrop.  I love this one.

The guy at the far end of the boom is the Captain of the ship.  He's helping stow the sail as he pilots the boat back to the dock with his foot.  Saves paying two guys, I guess.

And finally readers, what may eventually prove to be, "THE" pic of the trip.  Check it out...

When I asked Charlie (one of the crew) if he'd take a picture for us, he asked if we wanted all of the ship in the background.  When I gave him the camera and said yes, he proceeded to crawl out on the bowsprit, crouch down and snap this shot.  This is an amazing pic!  We're standing perpendicular to the water and the boat is keeled over a bit, though not severely.  On occasion it was keeled over so far that the ship's name (just below us in the pic) was just above the water.

And with that, I think we'll call it a wrap for today.  Tomorrow we head for Cape Cod.

Till next time.