May 28-June 8                    North Kingstown/Wickford, Rhode Island

Rain kept us on the boat until Joe and Stephanie’s departure on May 29.  We were excited to discuss plans with them to meet on June 12 for our European trip.  Their visit to The Bottom Line had been different from that originally planned, as we did not travel to Maine, but they had graciously adapted.

We were surprised and delighted to receive a call from Jerry and Jill, our boating friends who live in Boston.  They drove through heavy traffic to visit and introduce us to a delightful restaurant on the south shore, Matunuck Oyster Bar. The place was crowded but we were soon seated and the food was amazing as promised.  Jerry and Jill are great conversationalists who have led interesting and diverse lives.  They sold their boat but still enjoy being with the many boating friends made through the years.  We encouraged them to plan a trip to Texas in 2020 to escape the harsh winter of Massachusetts.  We would love to show them Fort Worth.

I focused on cleaning the boat for another surprise visit from friends.  This time from Fort Worth!  Beth and Frank Wilson, who were visiting their son and family in Wellesley, made the short journey to Wickford to spend a few hours with us on the boat.  It was a windy day and we remained docked but enjoyed visiting with our dear friends, son Andy, daughter-in-law Miralee and handsome grandson John.  It was fun to show them our “floating summer home.” Unfortunately, camera malfunctioned so I have no photos to post of their visit.

David enlisted the help of Rupe Bodden and his crew to make many small repairs in the paint and fiberglass of the hull needed to restore areas of wear and tear.  They proved to be skilled and knowledgeable.  Painting was properly done and the exterior never looked better. 

Days were busy with projects but we often made short forays to explore other areas.  Jamestown proved to be an awesome experience with its many large, shingled mansions lining the waterfront.  Narragansett was a pristine village with magnificent beaches and hundreds of lovely homes and condos overlooking a vast ocean scene.  Here, we dined at the historic Coast Guard House, a lovely restaurant in a beautifully restored building.  It was next to a picturesque ruin, now a famous landmark, from a long-gone Narragansett resort.