July 5, 2016
For the past two weeks we have enjoyed beautiful days and gorgeous sunsets. We have visited parts of Newport we have never been to before, as well as those places we have come to know very well. Our time aboard the boat is relaxing and peaceful and the days go by much more quickly than I thought they would.
A walk to the Point Section of Newport one day brought us to Newport Shipyard and a stop to watch a sail being lifted aboard a boat with a crane. Later on the launch we watched as they lifted and placed the mast of that same boat in place.
We watched the start of the Newport to Bermuda Race - the highlight was seeing Comanche, skippered by Kenny Read (a former crew-mate of David's on Challenger) at the starting line early (he did that once before at the beginning of a J-24 Race that David and I were Race Committee Chairmen) and then hearing the Newport-Bermuda Race Committee tell him to stay away until his start. He then sailed over in our direction well behind the line, and we were able to get some great pictures of this phenomenal machine. The result of the race is that she broke the record time for the Newport to Bermuda Race.
Only in Newport do you see ships to carry ships and twelve meters sailing by. We went to the Chowder Cook-Off - David's school Bristol Plymouth Vocational Technical School won top honors in the seafood division.
The Strawberry Moon provided many photographers a wonderful opportunity to photograph this unusual event - my iPhone did not do it justice, but it provides me with an image to remember this unusual sight.
Nevertheless, we have had to live spartan-like. The new and better alternator was installed along with the new batteries, but for some reason the batteries are not being charged properly. Even the solar panel doesn't seem to be able to help. Previously we were able to sit on the hook in Cuttyhunk for days, watch an hour or 2 of TV, wash dishes, take showers, and run fans in addition to the refrigeration. We have put a second call into the electrician, hopefully he can get this situation remedied soon. This is the boat that he arrived in - an electric boat that he and his partner designed.
We had our first real trip of the season to Cuttyhunk. A visit to the Cuttyhunk Mall, a lobster salad roll from the Cuttyhunk Cafe and a visit with Lexi and crew, Raw Bar and anchor antics too. Kenny and Amanda joined us for an overnight and although the fog crept in, thick as pea soup, they managed to laugh the night away, take a swim and enjoy oysters, littlenecks, fresh swordfish and stuffed scallops.
Back in Newport the weather continued to be just perfect. The sunsets have been beyond spectacular just about every night. The harbor is full. We spend hours in the cockpit reading and listening to the radio and watching the boats come and go. It never gets boring. I truly think I would be an excellent launch driver. Maybe in my second life. Perrin and Kenny and all the crew at Oldport do a great job.
Obsession Constellation lights up the skies every night, but July 3 and 4 we were treated to Fireworks from not just Jamestown and Newport, but other points south and west of us. We had ringside seats and managed to stay up late both nights to enjoy them.
And today we experienced another reason why cancer is so often described as an insidious disease. Just yesterday David said to me, "Today I feel normal again." Although this is good news, and even better that he shared it with me without me prompting him, I couldn't help but think "Isn't that like cancer, you start feeling good, and the very next day you have to go and have chemicals pumped into you that will make you feel yucky again very soon." Today was to be round 3 of chemo, but his white blood count was too low and it was put off for a week. So, all the preparations you make, all the plans you make, all the routines you make have to be changed. That's an insidious disease. It affects you on all levels. Physically, emotionally, socially. We make the best of it though. Today we are sitting at the Landing at South Park, doing laundry, and other housekeeping chores in an air-conditioned room, on soft couches and chairs and will head back to Newport just in time for a concert and lobster rolls at the beach.
