Friday 7 September: Sailing from Newport to Block Island Rhode Island, and visit Block Island.
We wake up to a dark sky, and weather forecast shows dull days till next week. Hm, we only just got used to the sunshine again, and now it’s gone for a while.
Over breakfast we have a good look at Predict Wind and NOAA forecasts, to see the prediction for hurricane Florence. And we find ourselves in a dilemma still, as the models show different trajectory.
In the meantime we receive a call from Paul who reports back on Linette’s viewing (our classic boat in the UK). And later on we hear from the agent to confirm that the buyer is offering the asking price. Glen is a little emotional. He didn’t really want to sell his beautiful treasure but on the other hand it’s not good to have a wooden yacht out of the water for so long, and goodness knows when we will next be back to race her. And the fact that she is going to be with other West Solent classic yachts, to be enjoyed by all who charter her will be a good home for her. Then he thinks of the money in the bank and his normal smile returns 🙂
Despite our hurricane blues, we decide to make a move anyway. We really need to be getting on westward if we are to see anything of Long Island Sound before Alex comes out and we make our passage to Annopolis at end of September. We will just have to watch the forecasts and head up a sheltered river if it comes our way next week.
So we upanchor and head for Block Island, 20 miles to the SW. Very little wind and dead behind us, so we motor out of the channel and into the Atlantic. And rolly-rolly we go. Uneventful journey, and at midday we arrive at Block Island, through the narrow channel and into the sheltered pond where we pick up a mooring buoy (for $25US, as opposed to $65US which was the rate in Jamestown!).
The dinghy trip ashore is very wet, even with our waterproofs on. But we dry quickly in the breeze, as we walk 2km to the only town on this small sandy island. Certainly a lot more here than we expected. Lots of boats, and the town is reasonably big. Quaint houses, restaurants, inns. We walk it back and forth and take our videos, despite the very dull light. The sky is very dark, not a ray of sunshine.
We stop at few shacks to inquire about rental bikes or mopeds. Outrageous prices. The mopeds go for $65US/hour! Or $125US/day. So we pass this activity. Quite a price hike compared to Europe where a very good scooter could be rented as low as 20 euros a day. And the bikes are not much less either, at $40 for 2 hours. No wonder all their bikes are standing there unrented. We guess they have to make hay while the sun shines (rip-off tourists while they can!)
Since we “saved” money not renting a moped, we treat ourselves to a very nice meal in town. The Beachead takes our fancy, and we have a delicious lunch. After which, we are very much struggling to walk, we feel so full. We stroll very slowly back to Cloudy Bay, where Glen naps off his lunch, and dreams of Linette. Racing Linette!
The evening is very much admin galore, with emails, paperwork, and editing videos (the chores of our life).
Block Island photo album