Newport, Rhode Is. to Salem,Massachusetts

  We are writing this blog from our desk at home. We arrived home last Tuesday evening[17th].Leaving Boston/Salem area at 9 a.m. in a rented car-- we arrived in Buffalo at 4:30. From there our son Andrew brought us to our door in Markdale.We"re excited to spend these 3 weeks with kids and grandkids.We have Ian and Nadia and children home on furlough[from P.N.G.] and currently staying with us. And we've met our newest granddaughter Clara Johanna.
  Back to Newport, R.I.This is one of the busiest ports we have encountered. Since it was the week the tall ships were in this port, this tourist town was humming with people and tour boats. The mooring field we were in was packed with sailboats of all sizes.When we took our dingy to shore we had to work our way around these plus ferries, tour boats some being tall ships too.There was lots to see in this newport. We took the cliff walk past many old beautifully restored estates.One of these being the Breakers, the Cornnelius Vanderbilt estate. Some of these palacial estates have been taken over by S... Regina university. We left this mooring on Tues. July 10 out to Rhode Island Sound-- past the 6 or 7 tall ships that were on parade.At one point the coast guard put on their siren and starting heading towards us. we must have been  getting a little too close to the tall ships. I was still able to get some good photos. That afternoon we made it to a lovely anchorage near Vineyard Haven on Martha's Vineyard. This island has a great bus system. A day pass takes you to all the towns. So we visited Edgartown-lots of shops..  Oak Bluffs  drew a lot of tourists. This is where people would come for summer revival meetings. Bringing many belongings from home they would set up house in a big tent . Each year these places would become more sophisticated . today there are over 300 colourful homes on these tent sites. and a big open air meeting place they call the tabernacle in the centre of the compound. You can own the house but not the property.
On Thursday it was goodbye to Martha's Vineyard to Buzzards Bay on through the Cape Cod Canal and Bay to Plymouth. We again were on a mooring ball. This yacht club offered a great 'launch service' When you needed to go ashore they would come to pick you up right at our boat with one call on VHF radio. This worked out very well when David and Melissa and Marika, Calli and Esther arrived Friday afternoon.. What fun to have them aboard. Together we checked out the historical sites here. The replica of the Mayflower was docked in good view  not far from our boat. On saturday we were able to enjoy a nice sail out the channel and for a piece out in the ocean. We were looking for whales but can't claim any sightings. in the afternoon Plymouth Beaches beakoned us to soak in some sun and swim in the salt waters of the Atlantic. This included dingy rides big time-from our boat to the beach. Thank you , David
 Sunday was very special in that we could worship together with a OPC congregation in Barnstable on Cape Cod.The pastors mother, Mrs C. Labelle is member of the Jubilee Can. Ref. church in Ottawa.So David and Melissa could send regards.  It was sad to see the family go.But we knew we would see each other soon D.V.
 From Plymouth.we passed Boston to go to Salem,where we rented a mooring ball for a month so we could leave the boat there while we spend time at home..
Due to a computer technicality we will have to send photos later  .   .

New York pictures

Hello again.

Getting ready to sail "New York Harbour, Cindy W. on deck

Bill viewing New York from The Empire State Blg



Sailing in NY harbour

View over the Hudson River the Empire State Blg

Then foursome in the Empire State BLg

 Here are some pictures we tried to send last time re. New York.

New York, New York to Essex ,Connecticut

Today is Wed. July 11 and we are in a bay off the pretty island of Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, but we promised to tell you  more about New York first.We are relearning the new England States and   visiting them on Adriana 1.
 On Monday,June 25 th it was off to the big city  via the PATH, this time with Malcolm and Cindy and new experiences. The Empire State Building with it's view from the 86th story was amazing. The skies were clear and so were the 360 degree views.Besides seeing many of the same things as with Elissa and Ryan we went to the Guggenheim museum,a great architectural feat.We saw another part of the Central park- the lake.. We won't forget the 'bubble elevators' going up oh so high in the centre of the Marriot hotel. Cindy in front of the store' Forever 21' near Time Square and  Macy's. Dad's interview on Wall street.Cindy discovering  'Junior's restaurant and bakery'-One of the resources she had used for her baking class at home.Some more live theatre . This time  Disney's Lion King . All in all it was again a great time visiting New York City with great company. Somewhere in between we fit in a sail in New York harbour with Mal. and Cindy.
 Wed. eve it was goodbyes again. And Thursday around 10a.m. we took Adriana 1 out thru the  many ferries in the harbour to East river which has Manhattan on one side and Brooklyn on the other. We discovered Brooklyn is actually the bottom end of Long Island .We would be keeping this island on our starboard side for many days. We would also be sailing thru the waters along many of the New England states.. The waters were calm plus our timing was great to go through a place called Hell's Gate, which can be a treacherous spot if the waters are rough. We anchored out one night before we came to Essex,Connecticut. We decided to have our boat[engine] serviced here.This did result in a week stay because the engine mounts and a few hoses needed replacing. With the ordering of parts and July 4th holiday it all took longer. But Essex is certainly a pretty place to visit.History and museums kept us amused.Lots of lovely old, well preservered homes and lovely flower gardens kept luring us back for evening walks. We dingied up the Connecticut river for a piece one day. Our cove was enjoyed by families of swans, mallard ducks, canada geese and we even watched a family of mink[we think] swimming and chattering in our marina.We were thankful that Bob Osbourne took us to the grocery store for provisions.We had met Bob in a previous port. He'd said call when you get to Essex. Much appreciated.From Essex we anchored out at Fishers Island before we came to Newport, Rhode Island. Next time we will tell you about this busy harbour and city and the Tall Ships that were there.Martha's Vineyard will also be on the spotlight..

Due to poor internet connections pictures will follow.