On 8 Jul 2017, at 17:57, Gabrielle Lyne <g {DOT} lyne {CHANGE TO AT} me {DOT} com> wrote:

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From: Gabrielle  Lyne <g {DOT} lyne {CHANGE TO AT} me {DOT} com>
Date: 8 July 2017 at 10:24:05 GMT-4
To: aqualuna+diary-459625 {CHANGE TO AT} mailasail {DOT} com
Subject: 41:28.8N  71:19.5W

4th July Photos.  Parade in Bristol up river from Newport.
We arrived in Newport on the 1st July at 23.00 hours.  Dropped anchor in Newport Harbour.  The following morning we headed over to the dockside so that customs and immigration could come on board.  We were on a pontoon near 'Oliver Hazard Perry' a sail training boat built last year in steel in the style of an 18thC Frigate.  It is to have school children out sailing for a week or so to allow them to experience the sea and get away from the classroom to instil discipline.  
Customs eventually turned up at 4.30.  We were not surprised as there were so many yachts arriving from distant shores to enjoy the July 4th festivities.  They, customs and immigration, were very good and very friendly, such a different experience from entering the USA on flights.  Once done we were able to take down our yellow 'Q' flag.  
We headed back out to anchorage and went ashore to explore Newport.  It was buzzing and such fun.  We went out to dinner and had a selection of fresh oysters, delicious.  
The following morning Jonathan went in to try and sort out our dongle so that we can get wifi on the yacht, but to no avail, meanwhile I did a bit of shopping, such joy!  The selection of interior design (wish I could have bought the whole shop) and ideas were lovely.  
On the 3 rd July we headed up river, sailing just under a genoa, to Bristol a very old port and famous for its 4 th July Parade to celebrate the independence of America after the war against the British. It is the longest running parade in America.  Carolyn and Andrew Bellamy had booked a buoy on our behalf and a table for the dinner/dance the night before at the Hershoff Museum, where the Hershoff brothers built some of the America Cup yachts.  We had huge fun, got pulled on stage to dance, ate the American delicacy of bbqed marshmallows sandwiched between chocolate and biscuits, VERY sweet and sickly....  The following morning we were up to go ashore to watch the parade.  Again it was incredible, it celebrated the armed services, different national cultures, different religions and everything that makes America and they are so proud of it regardless of their country of origin.  It pulled people together and I often feel that it would be a brilliant idea to do this in the UK so that all cultures who are British feel more integrated.  In the U.K. Not even our armed services are allowed out in Uniform for fear of being ostracised.  In America they are given discounts in stores and really cared for.  There was a parade of Korean ladies and Chinese ladies displaying dance and exercise.  There was the famous basket ball team, the guys were so tall!!  In the parade were also the Shiners, wearing strange uniforms they are a huge group who have set up a charity which set up and run hospitals for badly burnt children where the treatment is free. They run all sorts of events and really clown around.  The crowds watching were all dressed in patriotic colours and the houses along the route were all decorated in American flags and colours. It was truly incredible.  
The following morning we looked around the museum at the various yachts and motor boats the Hershoff brothers had built.  It was excellent.
We headed down river on the 6th July to Jamestown.  We dropped anchor just off.  We had a very good dinner at a restaurant called 'Fish' a delicious fish soup to start with and then I had scallops. The next morning we went ashore and rented bikes to explore the island.  Sadly they don't have many bicycle paths.  The country park to the Beavertail Lighthouse was good and the lighthouse history was interesting, it is the 3rd oldest lighthouse in the USA.  Back via the town to have a light lunch of Lobster Roll. Then on to find the Windmill built in the 1700s This entailed busy main roads but people were very nice and very cautious.  Also when you go to cross a road on foot all traffic stops for you regardless of whether it is a zebra crossing or not.  
Back to the yacht with rather sore bums as neither of us had cycled for a while.  
We motored across the estuary to Newport Harbour again to drop anchor.
The idea was to explore more of Newport Island and to victual the yacht and sort out our wifi access from the yacht.  We went ashore the following morning in pouring rain to do our food shop and wifi.   We were then going to explore the Mansions and the cliff walk but the weather was atrocious. So having sorted the fridge filled it up, cleaned veg etc. We stayed on board to do odd jobs and to do my blog.  We hope to explore more tomorrow before sailing to Martha's Vineyard.

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