WaterFire

Tom and I drove down to Providence yesterday to see WaterFire, a very mellow outdoor event -- I would even call it a ceremony -- that happens every two weeks during the summer. This was the last WaterFire event until October, and it was a really good day for it.

Near sunset, people all gather near the river.



See the pyres in the water? After sunset, people come along in boats and light them with torches. And before long, the scene looks like this.



The pyres run fairly far along the river, and people are everywhere. There are also speakers hung along the banks and gentle, mellowing music is piped through.

One unexpected part of the evening -- sometimes, a recognizable opera aria would be played over the speakers, and a singer with a torchbearer would appear out of nowhere and sing along to the music. Tom knew all the operas (he's an opera buff whether he likes to admit it or not!) and could always tell me the composer and the show it was from. The singers were all excellent, and it's probably the most I've enjoyed hearing opera music.

(The torch bearer had a tough job here, too!)

Tom and I strolled the river, stopping to listen to the occasional aria when a singer appeared nearby. The crowd was very content and peaceful, almost reverent.



We really enjoyed the evening. I recommend it.

This sign caught my eye

I've walked by this marker dozens of times over the years -- it's just off the shoulder of a street I walk on semi-often.


I guess the "Paint mine" has to do with ochre for making paints?

There's not much to see from the road, but when I looked it up on a map, it seems there's a nice bit of land back there.

Now I'm intrigued, and have to go back and check it out properly!

Along the "Atlantic Path"

If you follow the rocky coast away from Halibut Point toward Rockport and keep your eyes open, you can eventually pick up the Atlantic Path.


It's a walking path that runs along the coast, just higher up than the rocks.

I love the sea roses!

Notice how I've got jeans on now? I pulled them on over my shorts because the path had a lot of prickly things and after awhile I'd had enough of being scratched.

After following the path to its end, we walked the rest of the way back to Bearskin Neck.

We made straight for the first place that would give us an iced lemonade!

A tiring but gorgeous day! My kind of weekend getaway.

Rock scrambling in Rockport

Tom and I had a great hike along the coast, starting at Halibut Point State Park.

You first take a green, bushy little path like this.


And it leads you to this!



It really was a perfect day for this kind of hike -- beautiful sunny day, not too hot, absolutely delicious ocean breeze keeping things cool and comfortable.

And the rocks are fun to play on -- and in -- too.




Loved the rocks! We saw some people sprawled out on well-chosen boulders with a cooler, a beach umbrella, and a book -- they weren't going anywhere anytime soon!

We had our lunch out there -- but kept going!

"Public footpath" signs

I love signs like these.


You just have to follow them, don't you?


Especially when you're pretty sure the paths take you to the water.

I don't think I'd seen Rockport from this angle before -- especially not the red beacon at the end of the neck.

See it behind us?

The "public footpath" signs are irresistible.

Perfect weekend

Tom and I spent the weekend here.

"Bearskin Neck Motor Lodge"

This is the only inn right on Bearskin Neck in Rockport.

We usually make it up to Rockport a few times a year. But we'd never spent a night there, and I really wanted the full experience -- to fall asleep hearing the waves lapping against the shore, and to wake up with the activity of Bearskin Neck right outside the door.

This is the view out the back door of the room.

The deck just beyond the hallway belonged to the lodge, too!

It was just what I'd wanted ... and it was awesome! Relaxing, fun, peaceful.

Loved it!