Labor Day Week - Boating and Longtime Friends

           

For us, there's no better way to face the end of summer than to spend a day on Blue Chip before school begins. What would make it truly memorable? Sharing it with special friends on a day with picture perfect weather. Check and check!

Valerie and Alan Adler are friends of  Steve's, who have been living in Israel for decades. We were thrilled that during their most recent stateside visit, we found a day where they could join us with their New York and  Massachusets family - composed of Ruth, Alan's sister, along with son Michael, daughter Tina and son in-law Ted, along with their three amazing granddaughters who simply blew us away with their maturity and presence. Wonderful crew, great company and all three grand-girls dove inton the Salem Harbor waters with their Uncle Michael. Diving into the Massachusetts waters just for the fun of it? A Blue Chip first! (Us Kaufmans are renowned cold water wimps.) 

                                

 There are certain friends you truly wish were closer by. That would be Val and Alan. You may remember their generously hosting us a year ago in Israel and Petra. We know the flight isn't really that long, but it's a bit too far to drop by and share Shabbat, one of our nicest memories from the last Israel visit. But who knows? Maybe we can take turns?

   

Newport - Clifftop Cottages and Acres of Masts

If you are a boater, a pilgrimage to Newport RI is on your short list. Newport fame began as a commercial and whaling center, making the town unusually cosmopolitan. At its height of prosperity in the mid 18th century, all ended abruptly in 1776, when the British began a three year occupation and destroyed over 500 buildings. After the British departure, the French army used it as an outpost. Newport never fully recovered.  

However in the 1800's it continued as a commercial port, with ships as large as 200 feet, coming from far and wide. While sea captains began leaving the area, wealthy Southerners, and their counterparts from New York, Baltimore, Boston and the Carribean returned, building "cottages" on the cliffs overlooking the harbour as their summer retreat. By the llate 1800's, Newport became the unchallenged summer playground of the Gilded Age's ultra wealthy. World War I and stock market crash again changed the harbors character. The Navy to expand its influence but when it left in 1973, commercial businesses took over the waterfront and places like 'Blood Alley", where polite society had never dared visit,  have become wildly popular destinations for all. 

                                    

Approching the harbour today, one is inevitably heralded with racing sailboats and all manner of boats large and small funneling into the well marked opening  of this large protected area. The massive "cottages" from a bygone era dot the cliffs and, if you make it to land, are worth a visit for their diversity and incredible interior workmanship.  

Marinas and mooring balls are plentiful. There are literally acres of sailing masts. Some marinas specialize in motor boats, with many yachts well over 100 feet. Beautiful old schooners ferry folks out for day and sunset cruises. Water taxis provide cross harbour access. As you find your way, steeples along with other historical buildings dot the shore.  Boater or no, Newport is a pilgrimage worth making. 

PS - Technology can be a little too helpful. The previous Mystic post refers to a "vascular" bridge, when what was meant was a BASCULAR bridge. However, in reality, this is a "SWING BRIDGE". Bascular bridge's create an opening by hinging up from one side. The blogmiester will attempt to better check her future sources. 

OPB in Maine

There isn't much we look forward to more than boating in Maine. Varying from crayon starter-box bright landscapes to the illusive fog filtered colors that are both equally reflective of what it means to be "down east" in Maine, the views know no equal. Usually we encourage "crew" to join us in August as we dodge a labyrinth of lobster pots. 

Our friends are happy to have Blue Chip as their OPB (Other's People Boat) and we are happy to have them. But this year, Blue Chip in spending the summer in Maryland, getting her ten year "nip and tuck" by the team that built her. So, we were resigned to no Maine this year. 

Enter Abracci. Her 166 feet cut through the water, dodging obstacles with amazing agility. Paul and Judy were incredibly relaxed and gracious hosts, as only Texans can be. The crew of nine pampered the eight of us as we cruised from Camden to Pulpit Harbour, Booth Bay and Bath.  

Steve and I now have a sense of what it's like to be onboard an OPB.  We must agree with our crew these last ten years, having an OPB isn't bad - although even with the "nip and tuck" - our Blue Chip can't offer the experience of Abbraci!