0700 comes earlier than we think, yet we revel in the joy of complimentary breakfast at Hampton Inn. The dye in the waffle batter is somewhere between pesto bismol pink and and red 40–happy 250th America. By 8:45 we’re fully packed and ready to go, filling the lobby like sardines packed in a pannier.
Yesterday Julia’s rack somehow broke in the rain, so we tinker with it just enough to get to our first stop the Cliff Walk. On our way there we find out our ferry to Block Island has been canceled due to rough waters, so we find the next closest boat and plan to take the 5 o clock ferry from Point Judith.
By 10 we’re walking the famous trail, beginning at the tip of a crescent beach. Every few minutes a new view of the coast appears and the path rounds a rocky corner. At the 40 Steps we walk onto the oceanside rocks and pause. Waves batter the black rock periodically. A lone bird fishing for breakfast behind them.
Zach breaks off to get a new rack and the group continues to visit the manors, gardens, and grand views of the bay. We decide to finish the whole walk and take the trolley back to our bikes. In between a pizza lunch and grocery run. We bring in lemonade, Lucky Charms, and a carton of milk to accompany our two large pizzas.
We hurry back to our bikes (at the trailhead) and sprint back to downtown Newport where we plan on taking a bus to Point Judith. The bus supervisor asks us how we plan on getting there. We tell him we’re taking the bus. He’s skeptical yet helpful and tells the next driver to accommodate for us, but when our 14 bus docks we only manage to fit 8 bicycles on board. Zach and Lillian end up taking the next one while the majority head to Naranganssett early.
Eventually we’re all across the bay with varying amounts of ice cream in our stomachs.
Like morning, 7PM comes closer than we realize, but not yet. It’s 6:35 and we’re supposed to be on our ferry awaiting departure, however Zach and Lillian are still biking toward the port by Route 1A while the rest are biking through Naranganssett on another road. By stoke of luck we cross paths on a tertiary street outside of Point Judith and regroup. It’s 6:40 and we still have 2 miles to go.
A few of us disappear into the horizon hoping to stall the ferry and the rest keep pedaling to get there in time.
It’s 6:47 and only three of us are there. Each minute for the next ten we nervously celebrate as the group trickles into the ferry queue one or two at a time. By
6:57 we’re all on board and thrilled to have made the last ferry to Block Island.
The boys jump at the bow of the ship to burn off their energy while the girls snack and plan for their next day or two.
At the island we find our campsite within minutes, a lone clearing on a little hill. Chefs Aviva, Owen, and Will cook up the fastest burgers east of the Mississippi while all others put up tents. We spend some minutes trying at a campfire, but can’t find dry wood.
The burgers are simply delicious–American Flag red on the inside. Hotdogs come after and disappear in a moment.
We relax our bones and get to bed an hour later.
Tristan saying to Emmett, “I got a lighter!”
Will exclaiming, “quiet down!”
An echoing of shushes, Drake lyrics, and laughter repeats until we are all asleep.