For the last 3-4 years, I have said that I am going to travel while Christine and the kids are in NJ and I never do. Not once … until this year.
I communicate with Michael more than anyone. Both long before and since the pandemic, we have developed this really, really nice friendship. Usually we hang out every year in San Diego, but that didn’t this past February and probably won’t happen this coming February, either. It had been too long since we hung out and that needed to change.
I had initially asked him if he was going to be around one of the weekends that the family was in NJ … I approached him under the guise of making a photo-trip to Rhode Island and was hoping to maybe get to see him if he was around and could fit me in for a couple drinks one day. In short order, he was inviting me to his home for the weekend and I was gladly switching from a solo-photo trip to a pleasantly social weekend with a dear friend.
I landed in town near dinner-time and he was waiting for me to arrive when I go there. Soon after settling in, we were on our way to dinner at the Apponaug Brewery. We carbed with home made chips followed by Poutine before digging into our a Chicken, Bacon, Ranch flatbread. Of course, I also had a flight of beers and another glass of what would be my favorite (now since forgotten). After dinner, Michael took me to another brewery, Proclamation, to hang out a little while longer before going back to his place to have some more beer and watch the Vuelta.
After a good night’s sleep, Michael took me for an impromptu tour of the state, crossing over/past Conanicut Island and getting an extensive look at the Aquaidneck Island, first on the cliff walk on the eastern shore, then driving through Newport, which is a such a stereotype, the quintessential small New England city. I couldn’t help myself and had my camera bag with me throughout and busted out the IR camera for some images on the cliff walk.
After crossing west and back to mainland Rhode Island (I don’t know if that is what they call it, but it works for me), Michael drove along the eastern shore through Narragansett where I had a chance to see more expensive houses with expansive views as we walked the shoreline at the Newton Road access point.
After walking the shore a bit (and Michael’s humoring the bloke with a camera), he took me to Judith Point to watch the surfers for a bit.
While I was at Judith Point, I had to take a picture of the lighthouse as well (to be later cleaned-up in GIMP to remove the all-too-many distracting elements, e.g. wires, cones, signage).
After the unofficial tour, it was time for some more drinks and food so we went to Shaidzon Brewery for a quick drink before traveling to Tilted Barn for lunch and a few more beers.
As the afternoon passed it was time to head back to Michael’s to install his and Linda’s new washing machine (I didn’t help at all), eat a nice homemade dinner, drink some more beer, prepare for the impending hurricane, play with Hana (their Japanese Chin who predictably warmed to my presence after a day), and watch some more cycling. While Linda was doing as much laundry as she could before losing power from the storm and Michael prepared dinner, I investigated what would prove to be the best way to avoid the wind, rains, and crowds returning home to evade the storm.
In the end, I cut my stay a bit shorter than I had initially planned; I elected to hang out as long as I could on Saturday night and then depart for home that night at 10 pm. I wish that I could have stayed a little longer, but the decision was the right one to make. I arrived home safely at 3 am before the winds and rains began in the early morning in Rhode Island.
It was my first COVID-era trip and it was worth every minute that I spent in the car getting there. Good weather, beer, and food, but even better company. I’ll have to be sure that it doesn’t take us another 18 months to do this again.