So this will be the final vacation post, as the title indicates, and it's likely to be a long one. This is all the miscellany of activities and sites that didn't get into the other posts. So prepare yourself for some jumps through time and between topics.
First off, we have ostentatious displays of wealth. The harbor was crammed full of incredible yachts and schooners and whatever else rich people call their boats. This one had some incredible lines and woodwork. Next, we have ostentatious terrestrial displays of wealth. Again, what can I say... the houses were beautiful. It's pretty cool what a few million bucks can buy.
At the end of Watch Hill, there is an operational lighthouse. Both the point and the structure itself are amazing. Very picturesque. Although I would be willing to keep this house if it was the only one available, I would prefer something much more remote. Still, it was a neat feeling to watch the light blink and to hear the horn blow at night.
These wild roses were everywhere. I suspect that they are deliberately planted and pruned by a legion of underpaid migrant workers just to perfume the atmosphere of Watch Hill.
On Monday Sarah, Veneta, Zhora, Jenn, and I went to a restaurant called Mews Tavern in Wakefield, Rhode Island. They had a nice offering of various seafoods and pizzas and burgers; better than average pub fair, but we were especially excited that they had 70 beers on tap. Now, be assured that I am bragging when I say that I had tasted all of the beers on the menu except a handful of local brews. It's pretty cool to have all those flavors in my taste memory. For better or worse, "Tasting" is not a learning style. Neither is drinking beer, for that matter. I may have missed my calling.
Zhora was a great part of the crew. She was well behaved, enthusiastic, and curious pretty much simultaneously, pretty much all the time. We played a lot of games, made a lot of believe, read some books, solved some puzzles, and ran around an awful lot.
I don't remember exactly what the deal was with this carousel, and I'm too lazy to look it up, but I do remember that the hair is from real manes and tails and that it's one of the few remaining carousels where the horses hang from chains. The horses themselves struck me as rather grotesque, and the eyes in particular gave them the appearance that they might turn on the young riders or the surrounding crowd if given half the chance. Still, the kids seemed to enjoy it, especially the end when they got to try to grab the rings on their way past.
Zhora won a ribbon and a ring one afternoon, ostensibly for grabbing a bunch of rings on her way by, but I suspect all the kids get rings after their parents dump the equivalent of $20 in change on the ride. Still, I was happy for her, and it was nice for Bob to see some tangible results from buying so many tickets and standing by and watching his kid go round and round.
I think this one might not need a caption...
It was very nice that the house had a fire pit. This crew HAD to take advantage.
It was the 195th anniversary of the birth of Herman Melville, and since we didn't go to Mystic to hear the marathon reading of Moby Dick, we read the first few chapters around the campfire. It was pretty awesome. I realized how rarely we, as adults, read aloud or to each other. I really enjoyed hearing everyone's voices.
Veneta was really excited about going on a train ride and purchased tickets for us all to get on-board a Pullman car for a little scenic tour. Though short, the ride was very enjoyable.
We enjoyed watching the scenery go by and looked for egrets, osprey, and other birds as we rode past rivers and marshes and inlets. It was quite relaxing. At the far end of the line we disembarked to get on a river boat and ambled up the river a ways before returning to the train and, ultimately, back to the rail yard.
Engine 3025
One of the big events of the trip was Sarah's quest for her first lobster. We had tried and failed to accomplish this task on our trip to Maine last year. We were too far out of tourist season, apparently. But this summer; success! We ate at a restaurant in the old coastguard barracks. There was a SUPER swanky part inside, downstairs, so we proceeded upstairs. As an aside, while waiting for a seat, I had the best local beer of the trip. A really well balanced, flavour packed Belgian.
A little help from Mom!
This is the two headed monster! Scary.
This is my dream boat. Seriously. If I had to have something bigger than a canoe, this is what it would be. Note the Coors Light tap handle attached to the throttle lever.
This is from one of the final days where it rained and we walked around Stonington, went to the "fair", visited the farmers market and the wharf, and did a little shopping. I wish this was more in focus, but it was a moment and a vision and I snapped it on the fly.
Thanks for this picture, Zhora!
