Tag Archives: postaday

Day 238/365: Last Day on Block Island

23 Aug

Sachem Pond, Block Island

Sachem Pond, Block Island

My last Block Island post, sad and reflective at the same time. Was the trip what I expected? Yes. Do I wish I had more time to sit and relax? Yes. Will I be back? Yes. Block Island is a mixture of personalities, the wild untamed Mohegan Cliffs to the calm water on Sachem Pond. It’s invigorating and calming at the same time.

I ate amazing food, took a moped around the island and found out that yes, mopeds can go 50 mph, laid in the sun and did absolutely nothing. There is nothing like salt air and open skies to cleanse the mind and rejuvenate the spirit.

Narragansett Inn

Narragansett Inn

When I return, and I will return, I will head back to the Narragansett Inn. It was the perfect place to stay on a perfect island.

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Day 236/365: It’s All About the LifeGuards

16 Aug

It was about lifeguards in high school

It was about lifeguards in high school

Ok, who is going to admit it first? I guess I’ll step up to the plate. As my friend said “It was all about the boys and the beach back then wasn’t it?” Yup, no doubt about that. Twenty something years later we plopped our towels down in the same spot on Block Island. In front of the life guard stand. Heck why not.

In high school our summer destination trip, which included girls and boys, consisted of riding the ferry over from Point Judith Rhode Island to Block Island. We got off the ferry in Old Harbor, walked five minutes to Crescent Beach and spent the rest of the day there. Didn’t leave. Why would we? We had everything we needed. Boys, beach, sand, and ocean.

Beach Babes 25 years later...

Beach Babes 25 years later...

This time our trip budget was a little more than the $20 we stuck in our pocket. Some things have changed, but some things stay the same.

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Day 235/365: Crescent Beach on Block Island

16 Aug

Crescent Beach, Block Island RI

Crescent Beach, Block Island RI

Crescent Beach is the most popular beach on Block Island, it’s within easy walking distance from the Ferry Docks, has a full service beach house complete with showers, bathrooms, and a wonderful concessions to eat lunch. Block Island is an oasis in New England. The soft white sands are a contrast to the rocky pebbly beaches of Connecticut and the water is sparkling blue.

Much of this is due to Block Island being twelve miles off shore and away from the sheltered waterways of Long Island Sound which tend to “trap” pollution, debris and make the beaches a little foamy and dirtier. Block Island reminds me of the Caribbean, a little slice of heaven.

Relaxing at the beach

Relaxing at the beach

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Day 233/365: A Sunset Worthy of Applause

11 Aug

Sunset on the Porch of the Narragansett Inn

Sunset on the Porch of the Narragansett Inn

Another sunset deserving of applause. I just about starting clapping to honor the tradition in Key West. The sunset was a perfect back drop to our dinner at the Narragansett Inn. Our trip was nearing a close and just one more day lay ahead for shopping and exploring.  I couldn’t of asked for a better ending to a day.

There is just something about a sunset over the water with the smell of ocean air wafting in the breeze. To someone born and raised in Connecticut now living in land locked Nebraska this is shear bliss.

Sunset over New Harbo, Block Island, RI

Sunset over New Harbor, Block Island, RI

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Day 230/365: Playing in the Surf

9 Aug

I little water on my toes...

I little water on my toes...

This rock was handy for sitting and getting a little water on my feet. What was I thinking? I know better than this.

OMG, the water is COLD!

OMG, the water is COLD!

By the way, this will be the first and last time I will ever be in a bathing suit and posted on the internet. But heck, it was Block Island, anything is possible there.

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Day 229/365: Photo Opportunties Right Out the Door at Block Island

8 Aug

Narragansett Inn at Dusk

Narragansett Inn at Dusk

I didn’t have to go far on my Block Island vacation to find photo opportunities. The Narragansett Inn had plenty of scenic areas with boats, water and breath taking sunsets. You might remember that one of our lodging requirements was to be near the water.

The Narragansett Inn has it’s own private beach on the Great Salt Pond. Where the ocean  surf  is invigorating and hypnotic, the Great Salt Pond was calm and relaxing. Two different personalities for different times of the day. Another plus was the water temperature. It’s more relaxing at the end of the day to float in water about 70 degrees Fahrenheit than the 65 or 66 F of the ocean that pushes you around.

Who wouldn’t be able to relax with a view like this? Amazing and simply breath taking. It was one of two fantastic sunsets we watched from the Narragansett Inn. The perfect place to stay.

New Harbor Sunset on Block Island

New Harbor Sunset on Block Island

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Day 231/365: Stacks of Stones on the Beach

8 Aug

Stone Towers on Block Island

Stone Towers on Block Island

A new tradition on Block Island. Stone stacking. I don’t know how this tradition started, or when, but it was a wonderful surprise when I saw my first stone tower. Some people called them stone cairns, a delicately balanced stack of stones used to mark “I was here”.

From what I can understand cairns were first used by settlers, pioneers, or Native Americans (Indians) to mark a cache of supplies, either to remind themselves where food was hidden under the rocks, or to leave supplies for fellow travelers.

Whatever they are called, I was enthralled by them. One person told me it was good luck to add a stone to the pile, so I did my part.

Stone Carin on Block Island

Stone Carin on Block Island

I wasn’t the only person captivated by  The Cairns of Block Island, seems others are fascinated by the smooth stackable rocks on the beach. See how many you can count in this image below.

Cairns on Mohegan Bluffs

Cairns on Mohegan Bluffs

My favorite shots are those with the ocean and surf  in the background. There is solitary about the image that draws you to the location.

Stone Cairn on Block Island

Stone Cairn on Block Island

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Day 227/365: Crabbing With a Piece of String and a Hot Dog

6 Aug

I had never been crabbing before and these kids taught me how,  with a few simple tools: a string, a weight and a hot dog. The crabs grab hold of the hot dog and you just pull them up. It’s so cool and so much fun!

Crabbing on Block Island

Crabbing on Block Island

Blue Crab at Block Island, RI

Blue Crab at Block Island, RI

Catch and Release Crabbing, it was all in fun

Catch and Release Crabbing, it was all in fun

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Day 228/365: Graces’ Cove, Block Island, RI

6 Aug

During our stay on Block Island we rented bikes for three days. So glad we did, one late afternoon I took my rented bike, from Aldo’s, and explored the west side of Block Island. The road isn’t near the beach but a sign pointed me to Grace’s Cove and it sounded inviting.

Heading down a 1/2 paved road on a bike, Grace's Cove

Heading down a half paved road on a bike, Grace's Cove

After bike riding a half mile, I hiked down a rocky path and the following oasis is what greeted me.  A view straight our of the Caribbean but in New England.

Yes, this is Rhode Island

Yes, this is Rhode Island

I could have stayed for hours, but the sun started going down and I had promised my room mate we would eat supper and watch the sunset. Here is the beginning of the show before I left the beach.

Sun setting over the ocean

Sun setting over the ocean

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Day 225/365: Grilled Swordfish Steak

5 Aug

Grilled Swordfish Steak

Grilled Swordfish Steak

In keeping with my regional food experience I can now say I’ve eaten grilled swordfish. Thanks Steve for going all out and adding to my culinary experience.

Connecticut Swordfish Dinner

Connecticut Swordfish Dinner

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