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.