Last free day: Newport, MA

We were very fortunate to be able to extend our trip to Boston for two extra days. One of these we decided to spend sightseeing a place where, in all my years in Boston, I had never been…the playground of the rich and famous, Newport, RI.

The day we chose to drive down was one of the hottest days of the summer so far in New England (though it would have been a below average summer day at best in North Carolina.) It took us perhaps 80 minutes of driving to reach Rockport from Quincy, MA. We actually found the drive easier and less stressful than the trip to Rockport. 

First stop was to check out the shopping downtown. Sylvia pronounced the boutique stores to be mostly worthy of her interest. 

About the only thing you will find for under $10 in Newport except maybe the air.

After several minutes of luxurious shopping, or standing around in closet size boutique stores impatiently waiting for this to wrap up (depending on which one of us you are talking about) we moved on to the waterfront. 

Sylvia expressed approval for several of the watercraft moored here.

Sylvia pronounced the boat above to be a 'bit much' but said the one below was 'just right.'

After looking at the boats we’ll be buying as soon as I strike oil or uranium in the backyard, we went for dinnuh on the haaaabuhside.

Sylvia looked fashionable in her hat purchased a day earlier in Rockport. She looked like she belonged in Newport.

After a couple of Narragansett Ales, I was pretty much done, and might have passed for an overmedicated schizophrenic.

A case of an over indulgence in the finer things...aka Narragansett Ale.

After a fine dinner we moved on to that there lobster corral down yonder. The lobster wrangler let Sylvia rustle up some dinner. Sylvia was of a mind to take this one home with us but…it’s a pain even getting shampoo through the metal detectors these days.

After spending time with the lobster, it almost seemed as if, for a brief time, Sylvia became one.

After touring the harbor we went for a stroll on the famed Cliffwalk overlooked the bay. It was late in the day and starting to cool off and just an excellent time to do this.

We walked about as far as Salve Regina University, in the midst of the gilded age mansions that line the cliffs. We did not go down as far as the rougher sections as we desperately short on water.

Sylvia pronounced several of the mansions to be adequate fixer uppers.

All in all, this was an outstanding time. Sylvia awarded this four Fu’s on the Fu Fu scale. A cast iron octopus weighting about ten pounds was purchased (and carried around by me for half the day) however no additional hats were bought. We also had to save the mansions of Bellevue street for another day. Sylvia pronounced them to be “Not really that great” to begin with and “not the main attraction here.” Sylvia did see several yachts which she might condescend to purchase. And as for myself, I was glad to make it back to Boston without getting lost.

Stay tuned for a YouTube/GoPro film of the trip!!!