Sightsailing Around Newport Bay

Yesterday, we went on a 4 hour Sightsailing expedition around Newport Bay. It was awesome. – just the 6 of us on the boat, along with our Captain, Ed. Meet Captain Ed.
Ed was a very entertaining fellow, told us all about the forts, the houses, the culture of Newport, and the history surrounding Newport. MLH and I laughed, cut up with our sons Doug and Karen, and Ed. Ed is a neat guy – a Vietnam Vet, who sails May to October, then goes to Florida, where he makes his living as a tennis coach. We invited him to supper with us, but he wanted to go “celebrate the loveliness of his girlfriend” who was in for two weeks. Sweet.

And here are Younger Son (in the forefront) and Elder Son, enjoying the sights as we clip along the bay.

It was a really peaceful, great day. Some people even tried to take a nap. Ed let Elder Son sail the boat…and Elder Son has now found yet another love. He’s a guitar slinging, song singing, team roping, oilfield working, newfound lover of the sea, sailor. And the sailors of the day – Elder Son, and Doug, and MLH.
Younger Son kind of checked out. Went up to the nose of the boat and laid out, groovin’ to Bob Marley a la iPod and chillin'. What a cool kid.

We learned about Ida Lewis-Wilson, the famous lady lighthouse keeper of the Lime Rock Lighthouse. She is credited with saving some 18 lives, but unofficial reports say as many as 25 lives. After reaching some measure of fame for her heroic act, she was subsequently visited by President Ulysses S. Grant, who wanted to meet the brave lady.

In 1881 the Annual Report of the U.S. Life Saving Service reported that the highest medal awarded by the Life Saving Service had been presented to Mrs. Ida Lewis-Wilson. Ida's last recorded rescue occurred when she was 63 years old. A close friend, rowing out to the lighthouse, stood up in her boat, lost her balance and fell overboard. Ida, with all the vigor of her past youth, launched a lifeboat and hauled the woman aboard. Amazing stuff has happened in this Newport bay. Here's a picture of the flag at the lighthouse. The stars on it reflect the number of lives saved by Ida Lewis-Wilson.
This house was built in Brenton Cove for Stuart Duncan, a Midwest banker whose family imported Lea & Perrins. As you'll see, each chimney is different, but they all resemble Lea and Perrins Worcestershire tops. Interesting! We enjoyed the remains of The Robert H. Tiedemann Classic Yachting Weekend, which included a regatta of older wooden sailing craft. Here are pictures of some of them, coming home from the race.

This is the Tree of Life boat - it's world-renown, and has sailed around the world, and has only had two owners. It is a beautiful boat, and we were fortunate to even get to see it. It's for sale, and you can buy it right now. If you do, let me know. Maybe they'll pay me a finder's fee.We had a great day - it was beautiful, peaceful, and fun. I'd do it again in a Newport minute.

We're almost finished with this great journey - time to plan another. Thanks for bearing with me on my photo journal of our vacation! I'll be posting again soon.