August 25-September 7                     North Kingstown, Rhode Island

After the departure of our guests, we resumed our usual routine of reading, needlepoint, TV and completing boat projects.  Sloth was encouraged as the weather became cooler with sunny days and blue skies.  A favorite activity was sitting on the bow of the boat and watching departing and returning boats.  As the marinas in the area contain approximately 500 boats, the variety is amazing.  It is like a boat show!

Rupe and his helper came often to complete sanding and painting the dual engines.  Since touring the Britannia yacht, once in service to the royal family of Great Britain and now berthed permanently in Scotland, David has been inspired to make his engine rooms pristine.

On Labor Day weekend Sunday, we drove to Boston to visit boating friends, Jerry and Jill. Jerry is an original resident of the Prince Building, located on Atlantic Avenue and the site of a former pasta manufacturing building.  The neighborhood was once industrial with trains running down the middle of the street.

 In the sixties, the building was renovated into condos and Jerry has one at the top of the building with a fabulous view of boats in the harbor and planes from Logan Airport.  The lovely deck in back has a great view of downtown Boston.  Nearby is the North End and many Italian restaurants. 

Jerry is an accomplished wood craftsman and has extensively renovated his condo with beautiful cabinetry and furniture made in his basement woodworking shop.  We were envious! 

The cool weather was conducive for walking so we enjoyed a leisurely stroll across the adjacent park along the waterfront to Legal Sea Foods (which was packed).  We were fortunate to secure a table in a relatively quiet place away from the hordes of strollers and young children demanding attention.  As expected, the seafood was outstanding.

On Monday, we left the boat for a final day in Newport.  Traffic was light and we had a long, leisurely drive past the mansions on Bellevue and Ocean Drive.  I had a book on early Newport history and was able to do an “improvised tour” with all the scandals, divorces and financial failings of the past occupants and their families. Newport has made a fantastic effort to maintain these incredible mansions and with the help of the Duke Foundation has preserved hundreds of the earliest homes in the area.  It is a great place to visit, either by automobile or boat. 

The White Horse Inn, the earliest continually operating tavern in America, was once owned by a group from Fort Worth who were in Newport for a sailing event, probably had too much to drink and bought the inn when they discovered it was for sale.  A Texas flag was prominently displayed for many years in the bar.  Today, it is a renowned restaurant with a popular bar.

Rupe completed painting the engines and the generator covers.  We watched carefully the route of Hurricane Dorian and were assured it would go inland before traveling up the East Coast.  Once again, the weatherman was mistaken.  On September 6, it was off the coast of Nantucket with 80 mph winds and we were subjected to hours of turbulence as the waves battered the side of the boat.  Our great end docking place provided little protection as one side was open to the water. 

Rupe came early to take the luggage to the car so we would have little to carry when we left on the following day.  After a sleepless night (for me), we completed preparations to leave the boat for the airport hours before necessary.  I wanted to get off the boat and was concerned about walking down the dock without falling. 

At approximately seven o’clock, the winds died considerably, the water became calm and we were able to leave the boat, walk the dock without difficulty, tell Wes good-by and head toward Providence and the airport.  With a lingering look at our beautiful boat, we were headed home after a wonderful summer in Rhode Island.

August 19-24                  North Kingstown, Rhode Island

The weather continued to be sunny and pleasant so we planned a trip to Portsmouth, Rhode Island to the Newport Auto Museum.  Located on an expansive campus in a large building, this exceptional museum is privately owned.

The enormous interior is beautifully decorated in red, black, gray and white. Visitors are greeted by a model of the first automobile ever made, a Benz from Germany.  It is the only antique on display—the remainder are exceptional models from the past 70 years.  All are in pristine condition and shown like crown jewels with special lighting and raised platforms.  Most are American-made but there are several exceptional Lamborghinis, Ferraris and Jaguar XKE’s.  David owned three XKE’s in 1970-1980’s and he was heartbroken when he sold the last. The Shelby Mustangs, muscle cars and fin-designs from the Fifties were awesome. 

In addition to the automobiles, iconic seating by significant designers, Frances Knoll, Arne Jacobson, Mies van de Rohe and others was displayed throughout the museum.  The entire facility was beautifully maintained and everything was first class.  Blake and Winn were especially delighted to try the simulators which provided an experience of driving any automobile on a track or in a road race.  Neither proved to be a Mario Andretti or Dale Earnhardt!

August 20 was our sixty-fifth wedding anniversary.  To celebrate, I gave David a new stern thruster (already installed), he gave me a dozen beautiful red roses and we gave Winn a large box of Legos that included a boat similar to ours.  The Lego project was a challenge for both he and his dad.

That evening, we went to Fresco’s, a lovely Italian restaurant in East Greenwich for our anniversary dinner.  It truly was a special occasion and we were delighted to have with us two of our favorite people.  The following day, we drove to Boston and reluctantly left Blake and Winn at the airport.

August 17-18                North Kingstown and Newport, Rhode Island

The new plastic curtains were installed and the aft deck was now complete.  The old curtains were in place more than ten years and had become worn and inefficient.  Rupe, our very capable handyman, applied two coats of non-skid on the surface of the deck, varnished the trim and thoroughly cleaned the sides and ceiling.  With the new nautical lamp and red rug, the area has never looked better.

David took Winn to Walmart and bought more Legos to add to his extensive collection.  These kept him occupied and happy for hours.  In the meantime, we made plans to test the new stern thruster by going across the bay to Newport.  We booked at Newport Marina, a newly built facility in a great location.  We left Wickford on a beautiful day and dodged a regatta of sailboats which filled the approach to Newport.  As the sailing capitol of the East Coast, sailboats of all sizes and varieties are always in abundance in this area during the summer months.

Our allotted dock space was at the head of a channel lined with other boats.  David had to make a difficult turn to get into position.  With the help of his new stern thruster, he maneuvered easily into place and impressed the dock help with his expertise.  The main streets of Newport were crowded with hordes of tourists, cars and buses.  After perusing the shops, eating great seafood at a charming place on Bannister’s Wharf and buying toys for Winn, we returned to the boat to survey the harbor scene. 

Winn enjoyed the heated pool at the marina while we made plans to leave the following morning.  A 250’ yacht with a 36’ beam would be docked behind us and the channel exit would be too narrow for our boat to pass.  Heavy fog delayed our departure but cleared before the yacht arrived.  We were happy to return to Wickford and the active harbor scene opposite our dock.

That evening we ordered three dozen oysters from Gardner’s Seafood Wharf across from our marina for dinner on the aft deck.  We took the dinghy across to pick up the oysters and, as the evening was cool, we made a long dinghy ride past the marinas to the town dock before returning to the boat.

Blake, Winn and David  happily ate three dozen oysters, shucked and placed in trays of ice, for dinner.  Local oysters from Rhode Island waters are plump and tender.  I prefer mine to be fried but the guys were very pleased with the raw ones.  Two nights later, we had Gardner’s steam five lobsters  for another feast on the aft deck. 

August 5-August 16       North Kingstown, Rhode Island

We were delighted when wonderful friends, Jerry and Jill came from Boston.  Good friends from Southwest Harbor and wonderful company!  Our plans to again visit Matunak Oyster Bar were aborted when we arrived to find cars lining the road and hordes of people waiting.  An article in the New York Times only a day or so before had mentioned the place as one of Rhode Island's outstanding restaurants.  We opted instead for The Coast Guard House at Narragansett and enjoyed a delicious dinner and a beautiful evening.

The stern thruster installation was more difficult than anticipated.  Running electrical lines from the helm to the stern through a complex system of wires, pipes and walls took two weeks of work by three men who were often working face down in the bottom of the boat.  They persevered and finally the job was done. 

Simultaneously, we had workmen checking the five A/C units for sufficient Freon.  To insure the three heads would work properly, old lines were removed and new ones installed.  The boat was a hive of activity and we were eager to have the work completed before our grandson, Blake and his six-year-old son Winn arrived on August 13.

Logan airport in Boston is noted for delayed flights and Blake and Winn finally arrived after 10:00 PM.  We were delighted to see them and they were excited to once again be on the boat.  Both are easy guests who adapt quickly and happily to most situations.

On August 15, we woke early, breakfasted, dressed and were at the Wickford Junction train station an hour before departure at 9:15 A.M.  I do not like to be late! The trip to Boston was a little more than an hour and we exited at South Station near our destination, the New England Aquarium.

We were awed by the enormous displays of penguins, manatees and sea rays.  Winn was enthralled and listened intently to the guides who were placed throughout to provide information.  It was a great experience for all of us. 

Lunch was at The Chart House, located on Long Wharf in an historical building.  Winn ate his first raw oysters and declared them to be delicious. 

Afterwards, we visited the nearby Boston Tea Party Museum.  A marvelous cast of actors in authentic costumes were adept at engaging children. We had a great time becoming enactors who protested unfair taxation, disguised ourselves as Indians, boarded the boat and threw bundles of tea into the harbor. The facilities, church interior, boat, dock, and theater were beautifully constructed and the program was well presented. 

With only minutes to spare, we Ubered to South Station and hurriedly boarded the train for Wickford Junction.  Winn finally stopped talking long enough for the adults to have short naps enroute!

July 29-August 4    North Kingstown, Rhode Island /Quincy, Massachusetts

All the parts finally arrived to complete the repairs and install the new stern thruster.  The boat would have to be on the hard for three days.  We decided to use this time to explore the coast of Massachusetts and again visit the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.

Making a leisurely trip off the Interstates through small villages, we admired the pristine countryside, small farms and lovely colonial and Cape Cod style homes. We wanted to discover if The Bottom Line could go into harbors at Plymouth, Scituate and Quincy.  We had considered doing this several times rather than making the long route into Boston, however, our guidebook had indicated these areas were either too constricted or shallow for a 58’ vessel.  This trip gave us the opportunity to judge for ourselves.

Plymouth was a lovely surprise.  We had expected a touristy spectacle of Pilgrims and Indians but instead encountered a lovely little town, obviously proud of its importance in American history and desiring to display it in a tasteful manner.  The renowned Plymouth Rock was housed in a columned shelter open and easily accessible to all next to the beautiful harbor.  Shops, restaurants and homes maintained the colonial or Cape Cod architectural style.  The harbor was extensive and filled with boats; however, we determined there was little room for larger boats.  It could be done but might be difficult.  We would have to tie to a mooring ball and use the dinghy to go ashore.

The long, winding road, lined with tall trees and stone walls took us to Scituate, a typical small New England beach town.  Their harbor was scenic and expansive but also too shallow for our boat.

Quincy was our final destination and a Staybridge Suites hotel was a perfect choice.  With the Red Sox on a winning streak (which did not last) and playing at home, Boston was booked.  Quincy, only a few miles away, promised all the amenities we wanted:  a great hotel, free parking, easy access to historical sites and the T (subway) only a block away. The hotel shuttle took us to the Marina Bay area for a delicious dinner at Siro’s overlooking the bay and the Boston skyline.

With the heat escalating, we shuttled the short distance to the T station, studied the map and quickly boarded.  We made a change to another line near downtown and were soon standing in front of the MFA.  The current exhibition featured the work and times of Toulouse-Lautrec.  His body of work consisted mainly of sketches and posters of Parisian notables.  His life was brief and his work was limited.  Although the show was interesting and exhibited very well, its appeal was underwhelming.

The collection of the MFA is extensive and recent changes have been significant.  Enlarged galleries and new additions make it necessary to use a map in order to find one’s way through the warren of halls.  Getting lost can be fun, however, as an unexpected surprise may be discovered.  I was shocked when I stumbled upon a beautiful Botticelli painting discretely hung in a corridor.  A masterpiece by an Italian Renaissance legend displayed in a place to be easily overlooked!!  The Asian Galleries displayed several Yuan porcelains made in the ancient kilns of Jingdezhen located in interior China and highly prized by collectors.

We left for the T in time to avoid the afternoon rush and arrived at our destination station in time to see the dark clouds, high wind and rain approaching.  We quickly made it to the hotel as the storm reached our area.  For several hours, the rain and wind continued and the intensity of the wind caused Logan Airport to close for the evening.

On Thursday, we took a trolley tour (operated by the National Parks Service personnel) to the two early homes of John Adams and his son John Quincy Adams.  Another home on the tour was a grander house occupied by both Johns and their descendants from the early 1800’s until the 1930’s.  Filled with Adams memorabilia and furnishings, it was a wonderful introduction to this remarkable family.  A separate stone building, resembling a chapel, adjacent to the home housed the extensive library with volumes from generations of Adams.

We were pleased to return to Wickford and find the boat back in the water.  Although dusty from the work done in the interior, it was a welcoming sight.  David was delighted when later that evening, Pretzel came to the door.  She had  boarded with Shannon ( who kept her while we were in Europe) for three days and obviously had been treated well.  She spent time sadly looking out the door after Shannon left.

July 24-28                             North Kingstown, Rhode Island

Cool weather and workmen arrived when the rains stopped.  Rupe came to complete the repair and painting needed on the aft deck.  Dave came to remove the plastic curtains on the aft deck and measure for new ones.  We were notified the life raft and responder device were ready for pickup at the shop in Tiverton.  This provided another excuse to explore unseen areas of Rhode Island.

  

The life raft, formerly contained in a metal container mounted on the side of the bridge, was no longer certifiable.  A new one would cost at least $3,000.  As it is not mandatory to have a life raft and it is highly unlikely we would be able to utilize it in case of an emergency, we opted to throw away the old one and depend instead on the dinghy.  The responder was certified with a new $400.00 battery and remounted for easy access. 

The journey to Tiverton was interesting. We discovered the area was home to large facilities of General Dynamics and Raytheon, defense contractors with the navy.  We also found the impressive campus of the Newport Auto Museum and planned a visit when our grandson comes in August.  Their collection of expensive, unique domestic and foreign cars is renowned.

David is an avid fan of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives TV show and takes notice when a place is featured in our area.  He remembered seeing a recent program featuring Evelyn’s Drive-In in Tiverton and we found it on a back road near a lovely bay.  It was definitely a drive-in but a charming place with a patio and deck surrounded by lovely blooming plants.  The menu was mostly seafood and our orders of fried clam strips and fish and chips were outstanding.  Very casual, very clean and very good!  The waiter noticed Pretzel’s Baylor embossed leash and began rhapsodizing about Baylor and its sports teams.  His cousin has been a football player there under Coach Briles and he and David re-hashed the entire scandal scenario.

Our view over the bay from our dock at Wickford Shipyard includes a long finger of land with trees, homes and large commercial buildings near the point.  We assumed this was a naval facility but an afternoon drive provided different information.  Hidden in a densely wooded area were some lovely condos, charming neighborhoods and a road leading to a busy site dominated by huge buildings bearing signs designating them as belonging to General Dynamics Electric Boat division.  To me, the name implied some kind of toy but obviously this was not true.  Wickford and other nearby places are involved in a multi-billion-dollar contract to build nuclear submarines.  Impressive!!

July 11-23                                                     North Kingstown, Rhode Island

David returned to Texas for business but I decided to remain on the boat.  The cool weather of Rhode Island was seductive and I was eager to see some projects completed.  Before leaving, David learned of the death of a beloved business associate and long-time friend.  It was quite a shock as he had just spoken with her at length the evening before and they were planning to work together on a special assignment for a client. 

Pretzel and I settled into solitude quickly and the week passed without incident.  Weather warnings were dire for very high heat over the weekend.  I summoned the air conditioning man who worked to add needed pressure and adjustments to the five ac units on the boat.  The marina manager, Wes, answered my call to add extra power to assure more than one unit would work at a time.  Thankfully, they did a great job and we were ready for the heat.

David arrived home on Saturday evening after being feted by family for a week (I admit I was jealous!) and Pretzel was ecstatic to see him.  She remained glued to him from the moment of his arrival.  Dinner was on the boat with great salmon steaks from Dave’s Marketplace (our local gourmet grocery) that had been DEBONED.  I have designated David to be the head chef of The Bottom Line.  He will cook and I will clean (he also must do the shopping!).

The predicted heat wave, which engulfed the entire Northeast, was as horrid as we were warned.  Hot and humid days kept us in the boat.  Sunday evening brought cool breezes as we enjoyed a gorgeous sunset from the bow with a drink in hand to wave to the boaters returning to port. 

On Monday, we ventured out in lovely cool weather.  Rupe returned with his helper to complete some projects on the boat.  We are determined to take care of all “the little things” that contribute to the pristine appearance and excellent operation of the boat. 

The heat had moved on and we took advantage of the time before the expected torrential rains.  We made a leisurely drive through the charming neighborhoods of Wickford and were amazed at the exceptional number of Revolutionary War era homes.

Two of our expensive black dock lines had disappeared and we made a trip to West Marine in Narragansett to replace them.  This provided an opportunity to explore and learn more of this fascinating place.  We were surprised to see so much commercial activity hidden behind the tall, thick foliage lining the highways. 

After completing our purchases at West Marine, we had lunch at Two Ten Oyster Bar.  They allowed Pretzel to join us on the outside patio and she behaved very well.  David is determined she will become socialized and he loves to take her with us.  The restaurant was lovely with beautiful flowers all about and a handsome young man as our waiter who could not have been more solicitous.  My fried oysters tacos with avocado and cilantro cream were outstanding.  David ordered grilled octopus and though tasty, like others we have tried, was not to the standard we learned to expect from our friend Irma Leone in Long Island, NY. 

Predicted thunderstorms with lightening and wind brought a dramatic change in the weather.  We were safely ensconced in our nautical home  carefully secured to the dock.  With a stocked refrigerator, needlepoint, reading and good TV reception, we survived well.

July 4-10                               North Kingstown, Rhode Island

We arrived in Providence on July 4.  Miller had graciously agreed to meet us and bring us to the boat.  Our expectations of returning to a clean, repaired boat waiting in a slip with a beautiful view of the bay were quickly dispelled.  The needed parts had not been received, repairs were pending and the boat was on stilts “on the hard.”  The only nearby accommodation for us (due to the holiday) was a motel with 1950’s décor and dead plants in the flower boxes next to the door.  It was an adjustment from our lovely, elegant rooms in Oslo, Stockholm, Edinburgh and the Azamara cruise ship.  After a wonderful trip, we were again faced with reality.

The following day, we were allowed to return to the boat (via a 15’ ladder).  Work gradually proceeded, pumps for the heads were repaired, bottom was inspected and new canvas curtains were ordered to replace the cracked old ones on the aft deck.  It was not an ideal situation but better than the motel!

The boat was returned to the water on July 9 and we were docked at the entrance to the marina.  We have a great view of the harbor and bay.  Cool breezes provide natural air-conditioning. David will return to Texas on Sunday for a week to complete work for a client.  Although we plan to remain in Wickford Shipyard for the summer, we hope to continue making cruises to scenic places nearby or outside to Boston.

June 9-12                                                      North Kingstown, Rhode Island

We finalized plans to leave the boat at Wickford Shipyard.  All repairs and projects were scheduled to be completed before our return on July 4.  Suitcases for our 21-day trip to Europe were packed before leaving Fort Worth.  They were filled with clothing for the cool weather anticipated in Scotland, warm weather in St. Petersburg and festive occasions on the cruise ship.  At the last minute, I added even more (I like options!)

On June 10, David’s persistent cough became an issue that could not be ignored.  We went to a local clinic and tests indicated an infection and possible blood clots in his lungs.  We were instructed to go to the hospital for a cat scan.  The staff were quite concerned about the abnormal test results and David received considerable attention.  We were reluctantly reconciling ourselves to canceling our long-planned European trip when the doctor returned with the surprising news the tests had been incorrect.  There was no blood clot and the infection would be treated with medication.  He was released from the hospital with prescriptions! 

Miller arrived early on June 12 and we decided to depart for the airport to give us ample time to return the rental car, check in luggage and relax before boarding.  Miller hefted the bags, placed them in the trunk of the car, and slammed shut the trunk lid.  On his return to the boat, he stumbled on the boat ladder and dropped the car keys into the water.  We had no other keys and the rental car company informed us they had none.  Miller hastily made the journey to his home, retrieved diving gear and returned to make many futile attempts to locate the keys.  AAA was called to open the car doors and they arrived just as Miller, with David’s help, located the keys.  With joy and excitement, we left for the airport!

Several hours later, we boarded the plane.  We were astonished finally to be on our way!