“Newport, Rhode Island,
that breeding place —
that stud farm, so to speak —
of aristocracy.”
Mark Twain

Yesterday we spent the entire day in Newport, Rhode Island. Kathy and I began the day with a bus tour of Newport, highlighted by views of countless mansions of the rich and famous. Some passengers on the bus were hoping to catch a glimpse of Jay Leno, who lives in and among the locals and can occasionally be seen at the local grocery store or walking through the neighborhood. I have no interest in celebrity sightings, but I enjoyed seeing the impressive homes around town. 

Lunch today was served at Fort Adams, located a short walking distance from our ship. It featured a traditional New England clam bake. I had heard the term before, but I’d never given much thought to what a clam bake entailed. Today, I found out.

In reality, a clam bake is not a “bake” at all. It’s a boil. The meal is prepared by steaming seafood and other food items in a pit over a bed of hot stones and seaweed and covered for several hours with tarps. Settlers along the New England coastline learned the art of the clam bake from the coastal Indians. Our lunch consisted of clams, lobster, smoked sausage, chicken, potatoes, and corn on the cob. (See photo above.)

It has been said that a clam bake is “the high tide of culinary experiences.” Um,… okay.

While Kathy participated in the afternoon excursion with some of the other cruise passengers, I opted to take the afternoon off to do a little writing and to take a nap. The temperature was warm, but not oppressive today, yet the high humidity definitely took its toll on me. The afternoon break in our air conditioned room was exactly what I needed.

After another amazing meal at dinner, Kathy and I attended a performance by a stand-up comedian in the lounge. I had no preconceived expectations for this event. I am well aware that we’re on a small cruise ship with only 85 other passengers. The possibility of the comedian being a complete dud was on my mind, but I wanted to check it out anyway. Both Kathy and I were pleasantly surprised. He was funny, quick-witted, and perceptive throughout his routine. He possessed an impressive ability to interact with members of the audience with insightful humor, but without insulting anyone. It was a pleasant surprise for both of us.

Our ship departed Newport while we were sleeping last night. The swells on the Atlantic Ocean made for an interesting ride. I woke up about 1:30 and we were rockin’ and rollin’. I carefully navigated my way across the room, searched through Kathy’s purse, and found the Dramamine. It got me through the night without feeling nauseous. We arrived safely at Martha’s Vineyard at 7:00 this morning.

A light rain has been falling through the early morning hours, but it’s beginning to clear up now. We’re off to explore Martha’s Vineyard.