Newport Rhode Island to Scituate

Sunday 7/21 we left our mooring ball in Newport RI, ran over to the water dock for water and headed out into the Rhode Island Sound to Buzzard's Bay on our way to Boston.

The water is free and is accessed by a floating dock on the edge of the inner mooring field. 

We got into Onset, MA and stayed 2 nights.  It was a nice stop with a public beach and a island park right in the bay.  They had bus transportation around the area and we explored a store that we had never heard of before, Ocean State Job Lot....reminded me of the Odd Lots from home.  A little bit of everything! 

Tuesday 7/23 we left Onset on a cool dreary day.  The birds were hanging out on the bow rail shaking off the water between downpours.  

Going under the Cape Cod Canal Railroad Bridge. 

 

The current was crazy and Cheers reached 16 knots going under the bridge!

We made our way to Plymouth, MA.  It was still very dreary as we came into Plymouth Harbor mooring field.  

The Mayflower II replica is at the mouth of the harbor. 

By evening the fog started to lift and we had a great stay in Plymouth.  

Plymouth Rock!

Good thing we did our sightseeing and and dinner on Tuesday and provisioning on Wednesday after work because as we were coming back from the store the fog came back and didn't let up!  There was a free concert scheduled for that evening, but it was so foggy we didn't make it back into town. 

We left Plymouth Bay Thursday morning after topping off our water tanks and made our way to Scituate.  

We got a mooring ball and stayed one night. 

The weather finally cleared in the evening just before sunset. 

The tide changes 10 feet here!

Looking forward to the islands around Boston!  

New York to Newport Rhode Island

Tuesday morning 7/9 we departed Liberty State Park.  The skies were a lot clearer and our friends on Star Gazer offered to take a picture of Cheers as we passed by the Statue Of Liberty before we made way to the East River and under the Brooklyn Bridge. 

Passing by Manhattan headed toward the East River

Going under the Brooklyn Bridge

We made our way to Long Island Sound and anchored in Port Washington bay.  We have access to dingy a dock and groceries.  Enjoyed a quiet evening. 

Wednesday was very hot and windy with the temp at 87 and gusts in the low 30's!  It felt like we were in a convection oven!  We needed to get provisions in preparation for our tip north and ended up getting soaked by the waves coming back across the bay.  Luckily, our anchor held as did the boats around us.  The pictures don't show just how wicked it was!

Thursday morning we pulled anchor and had a nice 5hr ride in Port Jefferson.  Port Jefferson is at the end of a long narrow bay, with a small town at the end.  There is an anchorage close to the entrance but we took a mooring ball close to town that included a water taxi. 

Port Jefferson is a very touristy town and busy with shipping terminals, marinas and 3 car ferries that come and go every half hour until 10pm.     

 

While we were eating dinner at the Steam Room in town, I noticed folks walking with lawn chairs.....that's a good indication of something going on!  After dinner we followed these folks to the town park where they were setting up for a live band!  

Later that evening we enjoyed a beautiful sunset! 

 

The ferry got in the way of the best shot!  Of course!
 

The next morning it rained on and off until about 2 and the sun came out with a vengeance!   It was hot and humid and we decided to go into town for pizza.  We got back to the boat just in time to watch a storm roll in from the south. 

Saturday morning we left the harbor at 7:30 in the rain for a long ride to Montauk, which is at the tip of Long Island.  Lake Montauk has a large anchorage that offers a public dinghy beach.  In addition, from the beach you can walk about a mile over to the Atlantic side where there is usually high surf.  

On Sunday we walked over to the Atlantic side and stumbled upon a surfing competition.  The beach was packed!

Another magical sunset!

Monday morning 7/15 we pulled anchor and made our way in the open water to Block Island.  It is a little island with a large open bay.  The bay was packed with boats!   Just a short walk over the sand dunes and we were on Crescent Beach.  It was gorgeous!  

We stayed at Block Island for 2 nights and started our way to Newport Rhode Island on a hazy Thursday morning.  

Coming into Newport.  

Newport is very boater friendly and is probably the biggest and most crowded of any harbor we've been so far.  There are several marinas and a zillion mooring balls.  There is limited anchorage but the mooring balls were reasonably priced so not a problem.  We had access to multiple dingy docks all along the parks and town and free water on a little floating dock in the bay as well.  

We liked it so much we ended up staying 4 nights!  

In addition, Newport is the location of President Eisenhower's summer home, Ft. Adams and SSV Oliver Hazzard Perry.  We did the 2 mile hike around the fort and stumbled on the the summer home.   

The American Cruise Line docks here as well.  During our stay, I think we saw all 3 ships at port.  Out of curiosity I looked up the cost for a cruse, they hold 100 passengers or less and for a 7 night cruise....they average around $6,000!   I didn't see a casino on the floorplans! 

Provisions were easy to get, just a short walk away....made easy with our foldup cart.  Restaurants and shops galore!  Very touristy and busy.  We ate out 3 times during our 4 day stay.....The Red Parrot, Brick Alley Pub and the Landings Restaurant.  Everything was delicious!  

Looking forward to the trip to Buzzards Bay to stage for the Cape Code Canal.