June 16-22                              North Kingstown, Rhode Island

Our quiet, somnambulant existence suddenly changed on Tuesday when David looked out the door of the boat and yelled, “Wanda, quick call the police.  We are being invaded.”  I was in the galley and could only imagine protestors from Boston had come to Wickford Shipyard!  Fortunately, I was mistaken.  The invaders were Blake, Amanda and Winn.  They had flown to Boston, Ubered to Wickford and surprised us for a visit!  We were delighted and overwhelmed.

They quickly made themselves comfortable and pronounced they were starving.  With only a few minutes before closing, we called the seafood market across the channel and ordered two dozen shucked oysters and fresh swordfish for dinner.  Another great meal on the aft deck with the setting sun giving radiance and color to the bay.

A trip to Newport gave our guests another opportunity to see the mansions (exterior only).  Decreased traffic helped us make a journey on Ocean Drive before returning to Bannister’s Wharf for lunch at a favorite restaurant.  We were pleased masks and social distancing were being carefully observed.

As a Father’s Day gift, the Schoolers had arranged an afternoon of fishing in Narragansett Bay.  Captain Dave had an immaculate boat and hosted a four-hour fishing excursion which resulted in catches for everyone.  Winn caught the first and the most!   I remained on board with Pretzel and napped.

Evening cruises on the dinghy through the channel and to the neighboring beach area were fun for everyone.  Blake was adept in operating the engine and maneuvering in and around the many buoys.

Saturday was a special shopping day for Amanda and me.  Winn stayed with the other males and we leisurely perused the charming shops in Wickford.  Both of us made purchases but Amanda was more astute with bargains than I proved to be.  Dinner was a special occasion with steamed lobsters, shucked oysters and baked corn on the cob. 

With their usual organization and promptness, our guests were ready to depart the boat as scheduled and we easily made our reservations at a favorite local restaurant for a farewell breakfast.  Winn, who just completed first grade, amazed us by easily reading the comprehensive menu.  Despite the hiatus in regular school caused by the virus disruption, he obviously benefited from Amanda’s conscientious home-schooling regimen.  

We were grateful and appreciative of their visit.  It had been an exceptionally delightful time.  The weather stayed cool and sunny and there were no problems with heads or other mechanical boat features.  Blake, Amanda and Winn are easy guests who look after themselves and often us as well.  More than considerate, they are innately thoughtful and generous.  We are fortunate.

June 10-15                     North Kingstown, Rhode Island

The teak blinds in the salon have been a problem since we bought the boat.  Several of them would not adjust properly.  Efforts to find someone to come onboard and make repairs were not successful.  In addition, the metal facing at the bottom of the windows had been marred by salt invasion.  After considerable trial and error, we finally stopped most of the salt from seeping through but the discoloration remained. 

One of the quality features of our friends’ Fleming motoryacht was the teak facing on the windows.  I probably noticed it more than most because of the problems we had on our boat.  In an “ah-ha” moment while meditating over a second cup of coffee one morning, David decided to install teak facings on our salon windows.

Teak was ordered, received, cut, sanded, stained and varnished.  The new teak pieces fit perfectly and we are delighted with the improvement.  Before completing the project, David made major adjustments to the blinds and they work much better.

The hot water heater, original to the boat, began to leak and David suddenly had another project.  Home Depot in Cranston (about 30 miles north) had one which met the needed specifications.  We made the trip and found the desired product—on sale!!!  At 30” x 19”, it fit easily into our car after the box was discarded.  With Rupe’s help, David soon had it installed and working great.  Now he is demanding time off to return to his more leisurely routine!

May 27-June 9              North Kingstown, Rhode Island

We were saddened to see the terrible violence occurring in cities throughout the nation and distressed that it was a distraction from the peaceful protests against police misconduct.  It was difficult to watch but could not be ignored.  As our son lived within a few blocks of the Santa Monica riots, we were very concerned.  Fortunately, he and his wife remained safely distant from the turmoil.

Wickford seemed to be insulated from the problems elsewhere and we continued to enjoy pleasant weather and days filled with peaceful activities.  Reminders of the virus threat were masks seen everywhere and limited access to restaurants.  We became even more proficient in cooking on board and did not feel deprived!

Jill and Jerry, boating friends from Boston, joined us one afternoon in Wickford.  We chose to dine on the boat as the view from the aft deck was especially lovely.  We had the boat clean and ready for company and our guests were properly appreciative. 

Dinner was begun early with fresh shucked Narragansett oysters for David and Jerry and various appetizers for Jill and me.  The guys devoured 18 large oysters and constantly praised their quality.  After salads, Jill and I enjoyed grilled swordfish and the guys had steaks brought from Costco in Texas.  Roasted asparagus and tiny Yukon gold potatoes accompanied the entrees.  Desert was a gelato duet with almond cookies.  The food was great but the company and conversation were outstanding.  We regret we rarely see these special friends.

David enlisted Rupe to find help to polish the sides of the boat.  This is a necessary maintenance project as oxidation makes the paint look dull.  Two fellows worked several days to shine the hull.

We made a long drive to Narragansett on a Rhododendron Run.  These magnificent shrubs are at their height of beauty for a very brief time.  On the way, we detoured at Bounty Shores, a lovely upscale beach community and were awed by the huge displays of blooms.  Narragansett Beach was crowded with young people in groups and unmasked.  They were ignoring the virus and enjoying the sun, sand and water. 

We had a great lunch at Matunuck at a favorite restaurant.  Masks were required except when seated and tables were widely spaced.  David had Rhode Island calamari (fried with hot red peppers) and clams and chorizo stew.  I enjoyed New England clam chowder and Oysters Rockefeller, very rich and delicious.  It was great to have someone else do the cooking!

The dinghy is now in the water but we have not gone for a ride.  I am trying to persuade David to buy a console for it but he is intent on finding one at the shipyard that is already outfitted.  It’s a marital stand-off!