The Cape of Cod

We said farewell to Jane and Providence, Rhode Island, and pointed the RV eastward.  Our destination was Cape Cod, or the Cape of Cod, as Tim enjoys calling it.  The sun was shining, and it seemed to be a perfect day to make our way out toward the Cape.

We detoured through Newport, Rhode Island, just so Tim could see the grandest of the grand “cottages.”  We decided not to take the time to walk around, so Newport became a “drive-by” destination.  The height of the RV, however, did give us a great perspective from which to view the mansions on Bellevue Avenue, so Tim at least got a taste of how the barons of the Gilded Age lived.



The End of the Cliff Walk in Newport

The day somehow slipped away from us as we made our way to the end of Cape Cod.  Thank goodness we were going east, as the traffic heading back into the city was backed up for miles.  We drove all the way to Provincetown, Massachusetts, and will explore the Cape tomorrow.

A Family Dinner

The sun came out today, and it was glorious.  Mary had graciously given us the use of her car during our visit to Providence, and Tim and I headed out on our own today, without having to worry about finding a place to park the RV.  Mary had told us about the John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor, so we decided to check it out.  This is a different type of national park, since the Federal Government neither owns nor manages the land.  Instead the National Park Service works with a local commission to protect the identity of the corridor and prepare for its future.  I continue to be impressed with the way the National Park Service develops new and innovative means to preserve the nation’s heritage.

The Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor is considered to be the birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution, and the corridor extends from Worcester, Massachusetts, to Providence, Rhode Island.  We visited one of the sites, the Slater Mill, which was America’s first factory.  It was interesting to establish the link between this early mill and the ones that were built a short while later in Lowell, Massachusetts, which we visited last week.

 

Wilkinson Mill at the Slater Mill Museum Complex

We made our way to downtown Providence where we visited the Roger Williams National Memorial, one of the nation’s smallest national park units.  Williams was the founder of Rhode Island, which was based on religious freedom and the idea that religion must not be subject to state regulation.



Roger Williams National Memorial

After a great deli lunch at Geoff’s on College Hill, we made our way down historic Benefit Street to the Rhode Island School of Design Museum of Art, southeastern New England’s only comprehensive museum of art.  The museum dates to 1877 and includes a wonderful collection from ancient to contemporary art.  We found Jane’s favorite mummy from her childhood years, and I discovered works from several favorite American artists.  Jane met us downtown and gave us a tour through the historic neighborhoods of Providence.

Chiluly Chandelier Against a Palladian Window
at the Museum of Art



Roger Williams Overlooking the City He Founded
(What Kind of a Dance Is He Doing?)



Providence State House



Why Are Tim and Sarah Posing With a Cow In Downtown Providence?

The main event, however, was dinner at Jane’s mother’s home.  Jane’s mother is one of the nicest women I’ve ever met, and she makes the best lasagna and apple pie.  Five of Jane’s siblings, as well as spouses, nieces, nephews and a few friends, were present, and Tim and I just sat back and tried to listen to multiple conversations going on at the same time.  It was a bit overwhelming since I’m not used to such a large family, but everyone was wonderful to us, and we enjoyed the evening.  Thanks Mrs. C.



Pumpkin Patch



Pumpkins Are Everywhere



Rain and Fog

Rain and fog, rain and fog . . . a typical New England day.  Why hurry to leave the campground when you can barely see more than a few feet in front of you?

The weather cleared a bit by mid-afternoon, and Jane wanted to know what we wanted to do today.  Tim suggested Conimicut Point Park, which was nearby, to see the lighthouse in Narragansett Bay.  Apparently, that’s not a very popular tourist attraction since the universal reaction to Jane’s request for directions was, “They want to go where?”  Anyway, we met Jane there and did enjoy the view of the bay, and the lighthouse in the distance.  Happy hour with Jane and Mary, however, was much more fun.



Conimicut Point Park and Lighthouse



Tim On Narragansett Bay

Unfortunately, the constant rain has caused our interior leak to rear its ugly head again.  We had hoped that the leak had miraculously sealed itself, but that is not the case.  We’re looking ahead to a possible stop at a Leisure Travel Vans dealer in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, where we hope to take care of the few issues that have developed.

Norman and the Caporelli's

We began our day at the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, where we were joined by a huge crowd of people.  If the museum was this crowded on a weekday morning, what must it have been like on Columbus Day weekend?  Like him or not, Norman Rockwell had a vision of America and was a master at capturing American values and small town life.



Sarah at the Norman Rockwell Museum



Norman Rockwell Museum

The museum, which was designed by Robert A.M. Stern in 1993, was built on the grounds of Linwood House, one of the early Berkshire “cottages.”  That house has been preserved, although not open to the public.  Rockwell’s studio was also relocated to the museum grounds.



Linwood House



Norman Rockwell's Studio

The museum includes not only the Norman Rockwell permanent collection, but also exhibits not related to Rockwell.  Ice Age to the Digital Age was on display, celebrating the 3D animation art of the Blue Sky Studios.  Fanciful sculptural robots dotted the museum grounds.

Robot Sam - A True Ameri-Can, by Chris Spollen

I Can't Get Enough Fall Color

After a brief stop for lunch in Stockbridge, we headed east.  The drive across Massachusetts was not particularly exciting, since we didn’t have time to stop, but we did make it to Rhode Island and the Wawaloam Campground in West Kingston.  The campground is really nice, with huge sites, and the sites in our area are even partially enclosed with low stone walls.  To top it off, we are next door to a historic Rhode Island cemetery.  I love it!



Downtown Stockbridge

Our Campsite at Wawaloam Campground

We spent the evening with the Caporelli clan.  Jane and her mother picked us up, and we drove to Providence for a quick tour.  We met Jane’s sisters Mary and Patricia, and her beautiful nieces Torrey and Tessa, for dinner at Angelo’s, an Italian restaurant on Federal Hill.  We spent a wonderful evening catching up with friends and enjoying fabulous Italian food. 

We ended the evening at WaterFire in downtown Providence.  Both a work of art and an event, WaterFire is a uniquely Providence experience.  A series of bonfires in the Providence River illuminate the river and bridges, music fills the air and gondolas carry visitors among the fires.  WaterFire celebrates the renewal of the downtown area and the rebirth of the river.  It was an amazing experience.

Amazing WaterFire

WaterFire with a Gondolier and  Downtown Providence in the Background