09/26 - 10/10 - Fishermens Memorial State Park

FISHERMEN'S MEMORIAL STATE PARK, NARRAGANSETT, RHODE ISLAND

September 29th to October 10th

Welcome back. Thanks for taking the time to share another trip with me. It's my second trip this summer back to Rhode Island and the beautiful, well kept State Park in Narragansett. The link for that blog, if you missed it is HERE.  Difficult as it is many times trying to grab reservations via Reserve America, I've been fortunate both times I've tried and have secured two 2-week periods of time. This trip however will be a special treat because other members of my RV group, the Hudson Islanders, were also able to secure some time. They include Walt/Fran, Ray/Kathy, Tony/Doreen and Dan/Mel all relatively close to each other.

I drove a little more than three hours, 162 miles, through the historic deluge of 9/29 that left parts of southern Westchester and New York City flooded. Other than slow going, I arrived safe and sound and took up my two week residence in Area 1, site 79. Light rain and drizzle continued for another day. Tony/Doreen had to overcome their bout and quarantined status with Covid before arriving on Monday. Everyone else was already settled.

Having been here in August I looked forward to but wondered if the Farmers Market would still be at the campground. It was, but October 8th will be the last.

Although a smaller number of vendors were present, my favorite, the Italian bakery was and I picked up....

...a fresh loaf of Italian bread...just $5.00.

...which became my lunch. A fresh home grown tomato from another vendor and slices of mozzarella on the Italian bread with a bit of pesto spread and sprayed with Balsamic vinegar.

Before Tony/Doreen's arrival, eight of us dined at Mariner Grille a short distance north.  Click on the link to view their terrific website that gives the full scope of offerings.

L. to R. Walter, Dan, Ray, daughter Amy, Kathy, Melanie, Fran

Mariner Filet Mignon

9oz USDA Choice Sirloin with Cabernet Dei-Glace; buttermilk fried Onion Rings and sides of a Vegetable medley and Mariners Smashed Potatoes.

Done to perfection.

With the autumn chill making its presence known by driving temperature down to the low 50's, each evening, our favorite camping past time of gathering around the campfire helped make the evening more comfy. 

The mornings were chilly as well. Here, Amy is out drinking with the boys...in this case fresh brewed hot coffee. For Winnie, having FIVE adults seated comfortably (?) was a first. Each morning my visitors determined indoors or out. Once the sun made its appearance over the trees to our east, hot coffee, warm clothing gave us a taste of autumn. When I was here August, sunset was around 7:42 pm. Now it's around 6:30.

With the arrival of Tony/Doreen, Dan/Mel and I went to the famous Iggy's Doughboys and Chowder House. 

"It all started with a promise and from there it was built on a vision. Gaetano Gravino was a hairstylist who had found part time work at a doughboy shack in Oakland Beach. This part time work turned into an opportunity that spoke to his entrepreneurial spirit - the same spirit that lives on in his wife and children: Sally, MaryAnn, David, and Guy. When the chance came to lease the establishment, Gaetano and his wife Sally took it. And in 1989, Iggy's Doughboy and Chowder House was born - coined after a nickname given to him by his son, David. The featured dish at the time was the red chowder - the recipe a family secret created by Sally herself."

"We started out in 1989 with a menu consisting of doughboys, Clamcakes, and chowder. Presently we have over 50 menu items such as; seafood dinners, sandwiches, burgers, appetizers, salads, ice cream, specialty sodas, and much more." (credit: Yelp)

My choice for this evening was the Lobster Roll dinner which included fries, Cole slaw and clam chowder soup which Melanie enjoyed.

On one of the nicest days of our stay, the gang boarded the Block Island Ferry in Galilee and spent the afternoon visiting the shops and attractions. Credit is given to sources of photos.

Block Island Ferry departs Galilee 8:30 AM, 11:00 AM, 3:00 PM, 5:00 PM. Fares: Senior round trip $20.60.

By Timothy J. Quill - Timothy J. Quill, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=41893608

The 9.3 square mile Block Island is named after Dutch explorer Adriaen Block. The link provides an impressive and varied history of this ship captain, explorer and privateer. The island is 9 miles from Rhode Island and 14 miles from Montauk Point.

By Timothy J. Quill - Timothy J. Quill, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=41890252

By Billy Hathorn at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=17667944.
This local iconic Victorian structure burned down during my last stay here in August, 2023. Questions as to the cause are aired in this news broadcast. The demolition process begins HERE.

L. to R. Tony, Doreen, Dan, Melanie, Fran, Walter (Thank you, Tony)

Thought I'd share a delicious breakfast I made for myself with a frittata blend of peppers and onions on slices of the Italian artisan bread purchased at the Farmers Market.

  

     

Our 'last supper' together was in Wakefield at Pasquale's Pizzeria.

   

     

Pappardelle al Pistachio

Pistachio pesto, crispy pancetta, and parmigiana cream.

On the Friday of their departure, I whipped up some bacon and pancakes for my early morning coffee boys. The timing of a brief chilly rainfall and the cold combo made for an underwhelming breakfast treat for three of the five: Ray, Dan and me. Best part for me was the company and the well done, crispy bacon.

  

Kathy/Ray, Fran/Walt and Melanie/Dan left on Friday. Doreen and Tony hadn't been to the Mariner Grille so, I revisited and enjoyed the Baked Stuff Shrimp. 

Baked Stuffed Shrimp

Baked Shrimp, house Seafood Stuffing with drawn Butter and sides of a vegetable medley and Smashed Potatoes.

An unexpected treat was getting together with my Massachusetts/Maine cousins, John and Barbara. I missed seeing them this year at their summer place in Maine (the first in years) due to my eye procedures. Their home base in Medfield, MA, is an hour-ten minute ride. They arrived Sunday and were able to visit the last Farmers Market of the season here at the Campground. That gorgeous loaf of Italian bread was my last purchase from The Original Italian Bakery, Johnston, RI. Afterwards, we lunched at Mariner Grille. Although it was my third visit, their menu is so varied, I had no trouble choosing. 

My last purchase till next year. (Lime to show size)

At Mariner Grille, French Onion Soup and

Drunken Pork Bruschetta

Pulled Pork, Bourbon BBQ Sauce, Caramelized Onions,

Goat Cheese, Scallions, Balsamic Glaze

Here's another taste treat I made: I mixed a remaining portion of whole milk ricotta with some pesto sauce and spread it on toasted Italian bread (a). Slivers of roasted red peppers next (b) with strips of mozzarella (c). After spraying with olive oil, I grilled for fifteen minutes (d).

(a)

(b)

   

(c)

(d)

In past years, this would have been my final, end of the season trip and the cumbersome task of winterizing the motorhome would be next on my agenda. As I posted in my September 5th blog, I'll be leaving for points south beginning November 1st. Here is an updated itinerary I'm hoping to enjoy.

 Then, the journey back home.

Taped to a wall in Winnie, the itinerary looks like this. I have a constant reminder of "things to come." Maybe all the rain we've been getting is nothing more then God's tears of laughter watching me plan my future. We shall see.

April's calendar is waiting in the wings and it'll bring me back to CPP where I'll begin my Summer 2024 Camping Season. It's ambitious but listening to my friend, Jack Q, "Damn the torpedoes, full steam ahead!" I'm excited to be able to encounter my second total solar eclipse which will occur on my son's birthday, April 8th. For those who don't remember, here's the blog I posted during the week I was at Table Rock State Park in Pickens, South Carolina for the August 21, 2017 Eclipse.

I hope to continue sharing my encounters as I move from campground to campground. I'm looking forward to it and hope you do too.

“One's destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.” ― Henry Miller