5 July 2015. Bristol and the 4 July. 41.40.10N 71.17.16W

Alcedo
David Batten
Tue 14 Jul 2015 23:44
We left Newport in good time on the 3 July to motor up the Narragansett Bay
to Bristol Harbour Bay, so we could secure an anchoring spot somewhere near the
dock used by Jill and John who were hosting the pot luck barbeque at Bristol
that night. After a pleasant motor up the bay, we arrived in good time and
anchored next to Over Budget again, but this time with plenty of room and then
waited for the rest of the rally to arrive. Then it was prepare hors
d’oeuvres and pick up Alia Vita’s crew, Rob and Frances on the way to Jill and
John’s neighbours’ dock for the barbeque at Jill and John’s lovely riverside
house. A great evening with a chance to catch up with Gary and Greta from
Norfolk and meet Lydia and Bill who live in Deltaville where we are planning to
lay the boat up. The evening was made by Julian from Domini, who gave us a
rendering of his latest composition, “The OCC Rally Blues”. Brilliant and
very, very funny. The weather cooperated as well and it was a gorgeous
evening, perfect for the fireworks display in the bay when we got back to
the boat, enjoyed with Rob and Frances for company.
![]() Over Budget anchored in the Bristol, Rhode Island Bay
![]() Julian giving us rendering of “The Ocean Cruising Club Rally Blues”
at the Pot Luck Barbeque
![]() The View from Jill and John’ garden and....
![]()
...a perfect evening for the barbeque. Jim, Rachel, Tony, Rob and Bill
July 4 and we all polled up at the Bristol Yacht Club for a thoroughly
American breakfast, pancakes, maple syrup and bacon, followed by a walk to the
town for the 4 July parade. Not as entertaining as the Trinidad Carnival,
but still impressive and great to have done once and Bristol is the town to do
it in. The evening’s entertainment was drinks on Lily, with perfect hosts,
Ron and Ineke, not forgetting the cat, Boris.
![]() Pancakes in the Yacht Club with Rob and Francis before walking to Bristol
and...
![]() ...street scenes that looked like the
start of the New Year sales outside Harrods
![]() So this is what they are waiting for and......
![]()
The first of several Bands and the winners of the previous day’s
competition.
![]() One of the Patriot bands
and..
![]() ...a very smart turnout, one of the commercial ones.
![]() One of the smartest bands on parade and....
![]()
.....one of the most showy.
July 5 and we have had an easy day visiting the Herreshoff Museum, with
it’s history of a fantastically successful era of sail and steam, the America’s
cup, especially Reliance and a hawk that just happened to come into the museum
while we were there. Then a farewell drink on Alcedo for all our English,
Scottish, American and Dutch friends on the Rally who have made it so much fun
and who are going north while we go south.
![]() A Hawk in the Herreshoff Museum, possibly a Cooper’s or a Sharp
Shinned.
![]()
The model of Reliance in the Herreshoff workshop
![]() Last night of the Rally for us, from the left: Jinny, Francis, Julian,
Stuart, JW and...
![]()
.....Ron, Ineke (almost hidden) and Rob
It is time to give our livers a rest, so Newport tomorrow for a couple more
houses and then back to back down Long Island Sound to New York and
beyond. We will miss our new friends.
Alcedo
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