Newport, RI

WOW! This is without doubt the busiest harbor I’ve ever entered. Large and small sailboats under sail (inside the harbor), huge ferries leaving for Block Island, tourist schooners sounding a horn and then backing out of their slip right in front of us. Crazy.

But we managed to refuel and dock without drama (or trauma).Today, Guinness and I walked the town for an hour. Newport Harbor is centered around a series of huge wharfs that jut out into the harbor: Bowen’s Wharf, Bannister’s Wharf, etc. There are marinas at the end, but the wharves themselves are dedicated to restaurants and retail. All upscale.

It’s very interesting blend of people here. Authentic sailor types, and tons of tourists. This is , after all, the heart of our America’s Cup challenges.

This evening, our marina offered Free Beer Friday, and Guinness was wandering around, making friends, as usual. One of the sailors who was there said: “This must be Newport; even the stray dogs are Labradoodles!”

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Our wharf is a working shipyard, and they have some AMAZING yachts here. I saw an 85′ Maxi sailboat up “on the hard” with a keel deeper than my boat is long. I have never seen anything like it.

I am docked directly beside one of the biggest mega-yachts I have ever seen. It absolutely dwarfs Freedom.

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Thinking back to yesterday, we really had a great stay at Saybrook Point. It is a lovely inn, with the marina and complete resort facilities. Indoor and outdoor dining. If you ever consider visiting the Connecticut River Valley (Essex, Old Lyme, Saybrook), this spot should be on your shortlist. Not cheap, but close to perfect.

I ate lunch and dinner outdoors, overlooking the marina and the river. During dinner, Guinness met a lovely woman in a sundress, and she joined us for post-cocktail cocktails (cranberry juice and soda). She was very charming.

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It was a good ride up to Newport: morning fog, so we had to use the radar. But the seas were calm.

We are spending two days here, and I plan to devote tomorrow morning to housekeeping chores (check the oil, coolant, strainers, etc. Do the laundry.

Maybe we’ll have dinner in one of the fancy waterside restaurants. Maybe a dive bar, if we can find one in this lovely town.

I seem to be having problems downloading even small photos; nevertheless, tomorrow I’ll try to take some photos that capture the Newport scene.

Guinness sends his love to you all!