Aug 1 - Newport to Stonington

No pictures today. The digital camera has had some sort of malfunction. I don't know if it is all the rain, or something else. The other day, when loading batteries, the camera refused to turn on, then did. Perhaps it is just tired of the monochrome of the dismal weather we've been having.

In any case, after a short, damp, stay here, and a quick visit with family, we have decided to just go on towards Long Island Sound and, if additional waiting for (or recovering from) weather is needed, do it at the Mystic Seaport Museum.

Simply look back on any of the preceding pages for a description of the weather. I'm a little tired of describing it, I'm afraid.

As we prepare to leave Newport, we head for the gas dock. Both docks are occupied by overnight visitors -- large overnight visitors. I'm glad we're not desperate for fuel, and guess they've lost our 10 gallon sale. Given the fact that they've gotten more than $200 in dockage, with no cost, from these boats, I'm sure they aren't worrying about the lost sales!

Light rain, wind from the East, we head west around Point Judith with the Block Island rollers now astern. Does this sound familiar? Not bad really, but Marion is in a foul mood about the continued rain. If this doesn't clear up soon, someone is going to be in real trouble! We've got the tide with us, so we're doing between 6 and 7 knots over the ground. We'll be earlier than I expected into Stonington, and will miss the tide turning against us at Watch Hill.

As we head in towards Stonington, the rain has stopped, and it's brighter, but a long way from bright. We squeeze into the fuel dock at Dodson's Boat Yard and get diesel for Solace, gas for the dingy and water. Dodson's won't have a mooring for us, and we decide to try a tie-up at Skipper's dock. Skippers, a local restaurant, has a long pier for diners, and allows overnight tie-ups at a very reasonable fee. This looks like a good alternative to keeping the boat secure while we explore the town a bit.

Stonington continues to be a charming, if small, town. There are many antique shops, a couple of restaurants, and a few summer shops. No shopping of substance happens here, and the town continues to look like it is either just past or just prior to becoming interesting. On the dock, we meet a couple who we have seen cruising -- in Cuttyhunk, I think. They recommend Watch Hill as a charming stopover. This is a place we've skipped because it is so out-of-the-way. Perhaps we'll put it on the list for next year, if not this.

While on the way here from the fuel dock, the sun shone through the clouds for a few minutes, and it was like waking into an oven. It is now feeling warmer, and humid. The better weather on the way will likely prove to have its own problems. Ah, summer.

Good news! The digital camera seems to be recovering (here, showing our view of Skippers Dock restaurant from our place at the dock). This means that there is a chance there will be some more illustration to go along with the continual talk about the weather. I believe that two things are necessary for a better digital camera for the boat. First, it needs to be more water resistant. Second, it really needs a telephoto lens. Most of the seascapes I've tried to include have been just too small to work on the web page.

Well, we're off for dinner on shore. We're going to try to eat at Noah's, probably the nicest of the few places in town. If we strike out there, we'll probably give Skipper's a try -- that's the local by the sea place in town. In any case, a too late lunch has had both of us hoping for something light, but the day on the boat has us looking for a roll and pitch free environment for a short while.

We did get into Noha's, and had a pleasent, quiet dinner. At 9:30, we find ourselves almost the last people in the place, and walking back to the boat through Skipper's, the place is closing up for the night. Stoninginton is not what you would call a party town.

The air is still, the fog horns are blowing on the breakwater. It won't be the chilly night we've gotten used to; perhaps tomorrow won't be the usual either.