July 26th,

Anchoring for now north of Crescent Beach in the Great Salt Pond of Block Island. We are not the only one. The place is packed and getting a mooring at 2pm ...well we will see. Right now time for a lunch break. The wind is fine but expected to build up all day tomorrow. Even if we have to stay anchored, we should be fine in this protected pond.

We handed staying put and not request a mooring. We dinghy to the new harbor dock and walked to town. Nice old hotels by the ferry. We bought a sorbet and rented bikes for three days. At the Paynes marina we stopped for beer before heading back to the boat.

Thursday July 27th,

Strong winds are predicted in particular for the afternoon and early evening, so we opted for a morning ride to the Southern bluffs with its 140 steps. After that we rode to Rodman Hollow park for a nice walk to view the cliffs and a picnic lunch.

We returned around 1:30pm. We are glad to be on the boat as we can keep an eye on the wind which is strong as predicted.

July 28th,

Rode our bikes to the northern light house. Loved the view at the cape, and sighted many seals who were feeding where the sound current and the ocean meet.

We were thinking about a hike but given the humid heat we returned after a picnic lunch at a small sandy shore. We had a quick splash to cool down (a quick one for me as we sighted some moon jellyfish.)

The pond is getting very busy with new boats anchored since we left this morning. The wind picked up again late afternoon but not as much as yesterday.

July 29th,

Pre dawn storm woke us up. Quick closing of all windows and hatches. The wind was incredible, but anchor held just fine. Early morning light and the storm has past and we are having coffee and donuts.

We got caught in a small rain shower before reaching 5 mn outside of New Harbor. The good thing was the farmer's market. We walked around, admired the selections but found the price a bit steep. We bought 2 scones for tomorrow's breakfast. Two minutes out, we stopped under someone front yard tree as another shower came upon. After all this stop and go we did reach the Nathan Mott park and walked a bit, the humidity is quite high and it takes no time to be sweaty...don't want to complain in this beautiful place but it felt good when we were in the shade of the trees. We continued our bike trip to the southeast light house with a few walking up the up slopes for me. Again I am not complaining but it is a hilly island with very few flat parts:)) the light house is unusual from the access it looks like a twin house, with steeples like a church made of bricks. After a picnic lunch, we opted not to pay $50 to view the museum and climb a few steps to the top of the lighthouse. Again not complaining, but it shouldn't be that expensive, after $2 million paid by the federal government to move in 1993, the whole building, as it was set too close to the cliffs by the said government in 1870.

Okay it is my grumbling day.

We rode back to town, returned the bikes and stopped by the ice cream place, the grocery store, the wine shop. The lady at the rental shop gave us a ride back to New Harbor...things were looking up.

We took a quick dip, in a strong current and relaxed for the rest of the day. More storms are possible this evening and windy night but it looks not that bad now, who knows? Our anchor is doing fine. Thank you

July 30th,

Really liked Crescent Beach which is just across the road from the Great Salt Pond. Easy going day on an nice weather day..Can't ask for more.