September 6-7                      Newport, Rhode Island

Morning presented a significant challenge:  The tide was low and the boat was now four feet below the fixed dock.  David had realized when securing the lines that this would occur and had wisely adjusted the lines to accommodate such a drastic change.  Joe wanted to somehow climb up onto the dock but realized this was not a wise move.  He could easily slip and fall between the boat and dock and if he had been successful, he would not have been able to get back onto the boat.  They called the dockhand who came through the pouring rain to help us cast off.

Shortly after passing through the hurricane barrier, the rain ceased and we had good weather for our trip to Newport.  We docked at the Newport Yacht Club to a very different scene than that of several weeks ago.  Labor Day had ended the summer crowds and drizzling rain was keeping Newport inhabitants off the streets.  The town seemed almost deserted.  We walked several blocks to the Visitors Center  and boarded  a trolley for an overview tour to acquaint the kids with the history and sights of the area.

Dinner was at The White Horse Tavern and was once again an exceptional dining experience.  The restaurant was uncrowded and we had excellent service and food.  Seated in a small private dining area, we enjoyed an intimate family occasion with an abundance of laughter and good conversation.

The following morning was a flurry of activity as everyone arose early to prepare for a busy day of sightseeing.  To maximize our time, Stephanie and Blake rented a car and with it we (David remained on the boat to work) were at The Breakers before 10:00 AM. Although I had twice been to this fabulous Vanderbilt “summer cottage,” I was as awed as the others by the opulence and magnificence of the house and its furnishings.  It is truly “what God would do if He had the money.”  The audio tour was very good and allowed us to leisurely see the many rooms on the tour.

After exiting the house, I returned to the boat with Joe and the others continued on their mission to see as many mansions as possible before closing time. Joe and David walked to an area where fishing boats dock.  They talked to an incoming lobsterman, who was off-loading his pots, and were sold sea bass and flounder that had been inadvertently caught with the lobsters.  To their surprise, he threw in fourteen crabs.  David paid thirty dollars for the entire catch.

When Joe and David returned to the boat, the hard work began.  They had to clean the fish (neither had done this task for years) and fillet them.  I had to find a recipe for cleaning and cooking crabs.  The internet was a valuable source and I found a method for steaming them with liberal amounts of Old Bay Seasoning.  I was glad Amanda was not onboard when I threw the live crabs into a pot of steaming water.  As an avid animal lover, she would have been distraught.  After the crabs were cooked, they were chilled for several hours in the refrigerator. 

Dinner was on the aft deck with a white sheet covering the table to catch the mess made by cracking crab shells.  Joe repeatedly stated, “This is a lot of work”--and it was—but we all agreed it was a fun experience.  The crabs were very good and had more flavor than any others we have eaten.  With boiled new potatoes, a great green salad, and home-baked chocolate chip cookies for dessert, it was an excellent dinner.  Afterwards, we threw the shells overboard, washed the sheet, and vacuumed the floor to remove all traces of our mess.