Sep 20 - Sep 24 Plymouth, MA

We Love Newport, RI!

Monday, September 20, 2021 – Mattapoisett Boatyard

Lillian Gray Docked with the Coastal Queen on Bowen's Wharf, Newport, RI

Plymouth to Mattapoisett

Since we would be passing through the Cape Cod Canal, we had to time our departure for best advantage with the tide. We got to do some nice sailing before and after being in the canal. The tide was great and we got up to 10 knots--usually we are going 6-7 knots. It made for a great day on the water.

Buzzard’s Bay wasn’t bad at all today, it can be brutal if you catch the wind and tides at odds with each other. It’s neat going through the Cape Cod Canal, there is a railway bridge which stays open except when trains are coming through, well duh! It’s fun to people watch along the canal – there are nice trails with bikers, baby carriages, walkers, runners, and plenty of folks tossing a line on the edge of the water. This was our 4th time passing through the canal.

It was a good day to get some work done on the computers; there was plenty to do with the sale of the business being any day now. We frustratingly didn’t know then how long it would be with the buyer’s bank, the title companies, the SBA, the attorneys, and accountants each taking turns holding things up and constantly throwing left hooks. Roger says it was a true “Charlie Fox.”

When we got to Mattapoisett, we got Levi to some grass and walked to the nearest store, a 7/11 to stock up on potable water. I am excited to get to use our new e-bikes awaiting us on the new Lillian Gray! Turned out the water had a disturbingly weird taste, and we sent a complaint to Poland Springs who told us it sometimes happens when the water isn’t stored properly. What at 7/11? We didn't bother lodging a complaint with them.

The walk was through a nice neighborhood with a ton of historical houses, captain this and captain that going back to the whaling days (poor whales - no wonder the "right" whales (easy pickings for whalers) are going extinct now). There was a lot of shipbuilding in this town and dockside activity. There’s a really nice park right next to the Town docks where we came ashore.

Back on the boat, we had a chicken dinner and ate in the cockpit, it was lovely!

Bug Light, built in 1871. The is celebrating its 150 yr anniversary.

We shiver to see this gear knowing that it drags nets, messing up ecosystems on the bottom of the ocean and catching stuff they will just throw away. But people need to be fed.

Often, we pass or are passed by other sailors as happy as we are!

In the Cape Cod Canal

Eeee- yikes! Doesn't look good from this perspective but there's actually lots of headroom.
We squirm and we think about the ICW where bridges are going to be only a few inches taller than our mast. Other sailors have said it makes you "pucker."

The Cape Cod Canal Railroad Bridge, it usually remains up until a train comes through.

Outside the Massachusetts Maritime Academy, entering Buzzards Bay

This is one of the houses in Mattapoisett (on Pine Island) with a view of the ocean two ways. Lucky them! Looks like they're ready for high tide.

Still working.
And there's that foul tasting water in his hands!

A view from Shipyard Park out towards the Ocean. What a lovely park this is. Mattapoisett has done a nice job making the town attractive.

On the way back out to the boat, we took a photo opp with Lillian Gray in the background

On moorings and anchor, we often get treated to beautiful sunsets like this one

We capped off the day with a fine dinner in the cockpit

Tuesday, September 21, 2021

Mattapoisett to Bowens Wharf Marina in Newport

What a trooper Levi is - getting ashore to empty his tanks early in the morning

Castle Hill Light - Narragansett Bay in Newport, Rhode Island

Within sight of Bowen's Wharf in Newport, a neat little boat house

Yep on the phone again, checking texts and emails. Business is still not sold and even when it is, there will still be work to do. Retirement is around the corner though! BTW - check out that ancient tree. What a beauty!

At Diego's, at the bar, with the weird red lights. There were tons and tons of polaroid pictures of past patrons with fun captions. They can't get the film anymore though.
This place looked like an entity unto itself at night with the lighting, but during the day, it was just a tiny place with some outside seating.

Wednesday, September 22, 2021 - Thursday, September 23, 2021

Bowen’s Wharf in Newport, RI

It was a time of busy work on the boat - RPF work, really. There was a lot of frustration with getting the sale of the business to go through. Stupid, unnecessary left hooks coming from the bank and resolutions taking time to go between all involved parties.

There were only a few other boats on Bowen's Wharf, and there were a number of commercial tour boats coming back and forth. We were right in the thick of restaurants, some overlooking the wharf and busy little interesting shops. It was fun to tool around there and explore with Levi.

We enjoyed lunch at the Landing Restaurant and a dinner at 22 Bowen's which was a real treat. Kim and Levi had plenty of opportunity to walk around and explore the quaint little streets and shops along the way to the mansions but they were too far to walk from where we were.

One of the boats there on the wharf had blue lighting underneath and we, Levi included, stood and watched the fish swimming within the light after dark. It seemed like they were attracted to it. And so was a big bass! Was it attracted to the little fish gathered there, the light, or both?

One evening, we had beverages at the bar across from Diego’s – as the bar was closing at 9:00 p.m., we got free samples of Slow & Low Rock and Rye (too sweet!!), and Berkshire Bourbon Whiskey. Also there was a recently married couple from California who were travelling cross country. Also recommended by the manager at Diego's who came over to join us was High West Distillery Bourye limited sighting whiskey blend and Redemption High Tye Bourbon. They were all good!

View of the Harbor in Newport from our boat

On the dock with Lillian Gray

Levi all pooped after one of our long walks

Dinner aboard

Notice my clothes hanging in the background there? They will fit better in the new Lillian Gray. We're quite cramped right now!

An after dinner beverage at the Wharf Pub Right Across from Diego's

A couple of the drinks we were offered to try

Dinner at 22 Bowen's
Cheers, Roger!

A tour boat loading up for an evening cruise.
Does anything stand out to you?

Friday, September 24, 2021

On Friday, we were still not ready to move on yet, but Bowen's Wharf had a 95 foot boat coming into our spot at 11:00 a.m. so we had to find another spot. We ended up moving to Newport Yacht Club which was weirdly and practically empty - they hadn't taken any reservations for the week following the boat show because they knew they'd be busy taking down all the paraphernalia. A few more boats besides us drifted in as the day went on and there was set up happening for a big wedding there at the marina. It certainly put us in mind of Ben and Mattie's upcoming nuptials on October 9th!

We all three went for a shopping walk late in the day when Roger was done working and then stopped at Diego's because when we had gotten our free tastes last night we were given some wooden chips for 1/2 off beers. We soon found out that the chips were actually for an associated brewery outside of town, but we ordered some Modelo Especials and nachos (an extravagant treat for us!) .