Rhode Island and Connecticut

It was time to visit the smallest state of the New England states…. Rhode Island. We knew little about this state, we heard that there’s a beautiful town called Newport and also we learned that we’d see a few magnificent mansions, that was it!! so off we went to get to know the city.

The campground was as close to a town as you can get… and it was packed!! Still quite a few campers are enjoying the last few weeks of gorgeous weather

And here’s Scotty saying HI!! to a few coaches also spending the fall in RI . The coach on the left belongs to a super nice family from California.

CLIFF WALK

Rhode Island has been known as the summer retreat for the rich Newyorkers for decades, particularly for those who own properties in Newport ( such a lovely town indeed). During the so called Gilded era ( golden era) of the 19th century, the rich would escape from the heat in NY and move north to rest and party on the island.

The fashion at the time was to own a mansion by the sea, mansions that resembled the architecture of the European aristocracy!!

A good chance for you to get a glimpse of those nice homes is to walk the Cliff Walk ; you can also pay and visit the interior ( we were not very keen on doing that ☺).

The actual trail is a 2 1/2 mile long path, some sections are easy, well protected but some other areas are rocky and uneven but in general, a great walk that we thoroughly enjoyed

And here’s an interesting ( and sad at the same time ) story:

As we were walking the Cliff Walk, we saw a helicopter on approach to land in one of the mansion’s garden ( Miramar ) Spanish for Sea View. The story of this mansion involves tragedy!!

George D. Widener, a Philadelphia streetcar magnate, began building the Newport estate in 1911 along with his wife Eleanor. The home design was based on european mansions and decorations.

On a trip to Europe in 1912 to acquire furnishings, George and his son, Harry, boarded the Titanic for the return journey. Both died in the disaster, but Eleanor was rescued in a lifeboat.

After the tragedy, Eleanor continued the construction, completing the mansion as a memorial to her husband and son. The house opened to friends in August 1915. The design was heavily influenced by 18th-century French palaces, and the grounds featured elaborate gardens. 

Eleanor Widener remarried Dr. Alexander Hamilton Rice Jr., and they continued to use the mansion as a summer home.

After Dr. Rice’s death, the estate was sold in 1956.

Miramar has changed hands several times since, most recently being purchased by Stephen Schwarzman in 2021 for $27 million. Stephen owns a private equity firm ( Blackstone).

The current owner is reportedly planning to turn the mansion into a museum

The closest we got was the distance needed to take a picture of the helicopter at rest!! What a story really….

NEWPORT

There was a seafood festival in town, perfect excuse to visit the city and try something to bite from the local restaurants!!

Sir…. the Rolls Royce Silver Shadow is just outside waiting for you…..

On the way back to the campground we were surprised again by luxurious treats!!

And a Lincoln Continental 66′ convertible driven by an elegant lady…

And of course, a millionaire’s island has to have a few yachts on display at the local marina….. WHO SAID LET’S GO AND SEE SOME YACHTS???? ME!!!!!!

TREE # 39

Diane ( campground manager) made our day by allowing us to plant a nice tree at the location. This tree will one day embrace both hot summers and snowy, rainy winters!!

Time to leave nice Rhode Island behind and head to Connecticut!!

Connecticut

Many many years ago when I was a kid, I found an american publication (a sport magazine perhaps) and in one of the pages a saw a picture of a car with plates from Connecticut….. the name got stuck into my memory; it’s funny that years later I am setting foot in the same state! I like the sound of that name…. Connecticut haha

Based on recommendations, we found a campground in Mystic, a small but lovely port town by a river that bears the same name… Mystic River.

As we walk on the street of Mystic, we met a couple of interesting chaps, one wearing a Scottish kilt ( great conversation we had) and then a local fan of professional photography ( Chris) …. we spent like an hour speaking about his shots particularly to the outer space…. the firmament…

While we were busy chatting, Claudia took a nice sunset pic

And yet again another classic car ☺

According to the information we gathered, Mystic was a very important town back in the 1700s and 1800s in the shipbuilding industry ( over 500 ships were built ).

Not a fan of the Halloween decorations but the point here is that this house belonged to the Mallory’s family, the most prominent ship builders in the region.

And this tugboat is now exhibited right in front of the Maritime Museum, but why? It was built in Mystic and it was used to maneuver the first nuclear submarine in the world!! Nautilus

TREE # 40

Time to plant another tree; this one will have a companion… well, at least temporary… a skeleton 😂

And these were all New England states toured! Pretty hard to describe the beauty, geography, the people you meet…. the colors, the cool temperatures, etc…. truly a great experience