Fri June 18 & June 19: Newport Hiatus

In which we hob-knob with the millionaires of yesteryear ....

Before we set off on our Newport adventure, Rick insisted we buy a new battery for the genny - since the trickle charge had worn off.  So the old battery was removed and traded for a new one at the yacht store, unbelievably expensive chai/coffee/pastry was purchased, the new battery was loaded into the dinghy, then it was unloaded at the boat and installed.  All BEFORE 8:30am. AND ..... the generator still wouldn't start.  Of course it wouldn't...

Here is Rick trying to jump the generator battery from the main engine.  Which is the size of a VW Bug. Using tiny jumper clamps.  Is it just me, or does this seem like an episode of When Men Go Wrong or Florida Man in Action?

 

Sigh.  Instead of fighting the boat, we jumped on a tour trolley ( joining 30 or so other mask-less tourists) and proceeded to learn that Newport was basically a sleepy fishing village until about the mid-1800's. At that point it was discovered by newly rich industrialists and bankers from the "golden age" (when capitalism kicked in to high gear and people like the Vanderbilts got filthy rich) who worked to one-up each other with summer "cottages" where they could escape the big cities for a few weeks each summer. 

Newport has some stunning ocean views, and the mansions were built all along the coast to offer the most expansive views possible, and the best ventilation.  Today many of the houses have been donated to the preservation society and we were able to tour The Breakers, which was built by Cornelius Vanderbilt II (brother to George Washington Vanderbilt who built The Biltmore Estate in North Carolina - and don't forget the other two brothers who also built ridiculous mansions in Newport).  It is an amazing building with 70 rooms but it is hard to see it as a comfy single family home.  

 

This was our favorite part - probably because it reminded us of Downton Abby.

 

Apparently I was the only person in the family actually mentally present on the tour because Rick suddenly had a loud epiphany about the generator - he had forgotten to turn the battery switch back on! After having a dither-spaz about how 'dumb' that was (his words), we rushed back to the boat to flip the switch and indeed, the genny worked and, once again, all was right with the world....

The next morning we walked the "Cliff Walk", a wonderful trail that wanders 3.5 miles along the shoreline, showcasing the ocean on one side and the mansions on the other.

 

Many of the 'smaller' ''cottages'' have now been turned into fancy condos.

Jay Leno's 'cottage'.  He bought it when he found out how ''cheap'' it was compared to CA real estate.  He and his two millionaire buddies have moved a lot of their classic cars to Newport and jump-started (pun intended) that aspect of tourism.

The far beach was for those accepted into society; the near beach is - to this day - called Reject Beach for the 'other' people.

Just the upkeep on an ocean front home would be so much $$$.  Apparently Judge Judy's tax bill is around $120K/year.  I'm so sad for her.  I hope her gold Bentley brings her solace.

Of COURSE, you would build your own Japanese tea house, if you had the $$s.

Fun Facts: 

The founder of Oracle, Larry Ellison, has a house here.  He bought it in anticipation of winning the America's Cup (Newport is all about the Cup).  But then he lost the Cup and now he's dragging his feet on the renovation.

And - one of the smaller, but more opulent homes, Marble House, cost $11M dollars in 1890 - about $317M in today's dollars.  Also built by a Vanderbilt.  

Moneyed people need a moneyed tennis club - and the original one still operates as a club, and the National Tennis Hall of Fame.

 

Even the B-string houses are too big.

 

This is totally my cup of tea - probably Z-string.

After lunch we decided that we needed to do laundry -since we left our laundry staff in our 'cottage' in Atlanta.   One still needs clean underwear on one's 'yacht'.   While the laundry was going we stopped into the supermarket AGAIN, just to keep the streak going - and also the hardware store where Rick bought a wrench.  Since the other 45 on board are apparently not quite right.

I did not know this, but it appears that Newport is like the New Orleans of the East  Coast.  So. Many. Bridal Parties.  SO MANY PEOPLE. Pandemic, what pandemic...  The trolley guy told us that even at the height of it the mask mandate was 12pm to 10pm, and only certain streets.  Apparently the Newport Strain is a very choosy virus.

People doing questionable things...

This is a local landmark, and when thing really heat up the feet get decorated in 'clothing'.

Just before dinner this good boy stopped by for a visit - he was too obsessed with the water to bother with us:

Then we settled in for a night of pizza, Ben & Jerry's and Netflix.