Sunday, August 21st - lay day in Newport

The day begins at Starbucks followed by the 9:30 AM service at First Pres.  For the second Sunday running, we witness a congregation that is lamenting the imminent departure of its organist and choir director. 

[caption id="attachment_1335" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Newport's Cliff Walk"][/caption]

At noon, the wind is already  piping up in the harbor.  The upwind dinghy ride to Cutter Loose leaves us with two wet butts.   It is a warm, humid day with sunny skies.  The heat and humidity is made tolerable by the brisk wind.  Rather than transporting the bikes to shore via dinghy in the choppy harbor, we decide instead to hike Cliff Walk, a flat pedestrian trail along the rocky coast of Rhode Island Sound.  After lunch at the Greek restaurant on Thames Street, we walk 2 miles on Spring Street where we pause to visit the oppulent Breakers stable.  The Vanderbilt's horses and carriages were kept in style at this attractive building.  Continuing on Spring Street, we enter Cliff Walk trailhead at Bailey's Beach. 

[caption id="attachment_1336" align="alignright" width="300" caption="A cozy cottage alongside Cliff Walk"][/caption]

Cliff Walk itself is 3.5 miles of ocean views in the shadow of magnificent waterfront mansions.  On a pleasant Sunday afternoon, visitors flock to the trail.  It is an easy stroll where at every turn, we are treated to dramatic views of waves crashing on marble boulders. We return to the harbor via Memorial Boulevard, the International Tennis Hall of Fame and the local Shop and Stop foodstore. The sky is overcast and the wind is  humming along at 20 knots.  NOAA has issued a severe thunderstorm warning and a small craft advisory for Rhode Island Sound, Block Island Sound and Buzzards Bay.  Weather radar shows a pre-frontal line of showers and thunderstorms moving in our direction. The probability of precipitation in Newport tonight is 100%.

[caption id="attachment_1337" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="The grass courts of the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport"][/caption]