Providence WaterFire

July 26 – This was our early day, had to be in at 9.  I got up at 7:30 so I could go to the post office when they opened at 8:30 to pick up our mail packet.  It’s only 5 minutes up the road so I left at 8:30 but wouldn’t you know, the post mistress was outside putting mail in the boxes there so I had to wait.  When I got back in the car I called Bill to fill my water bottle, pack my book and I’d be there ASAP.  I just made it to the office at 9.

It was a pretty busy day with check ins and calls for more reservations.  There were lots of kids in the park so they were in and out playing games and buying junk food.  The day went fast but it was only 4 hours!  

The closet pit by us

After lunch I did a load of wash, worked on the computer and read.  We were to pick Ron and Barbara up at 5:15 as they got off at 5 today.  She got off a little late so we left around 5:30 for Providence, RI for an evening at the Water Fire event.  Check out www.waterfire.org .  It’s about an hour drive into Providence and we wanted to eat first.  We attempted to find a restaurant on the hotspot of Federal Hill.  There is no parking and the places were packed by 6:30 with 2 hour waits.  Ron used to work in the city so he knows his way around.  Barbara suggested we get closer to the event location and park so we would be able to park.  There were a few spots at the Roger Williams park that isn’t far at all to the central part of the event.  The downside was there are not too many restaurants in the area.  The one we found most appealing was a 2 hour wait still so we headed on down to the event.  The worst case scenario would be eating from vendor stalls.  Right on the corner by one of the bridges over the river was a Fat Belly’s Irish Pub.  Nothing fancy (or big) but we managed to get 4 seats at the bar within about 10 minutes.  Other than the music was a bit loud for us old people, the service was good and the food was too.  It was typical pub type foods, nothing fancy.  Barbara and I both had the Shepherd’s Pie and it was delicious!  The guys had burgers and salami and both said theirs were good.  I was highly impressed with the Rum Punch special, to the point that I had to have 2!  HAD TO!  Yum!

From the bridge

We walked over to the bridge and happened to work our way into a great spot in front so we got to take good photos and see well.  We got to talking to another couple and took each other’s pictures.  We claimed that spot until the fires in 
that section were lit for a while, then we walked along the river behind us where there were sections with at least 12 fires going.  There were gondolas you could rent with the gondoliers in their black and white striped shirts moving you along the river beside the fires.  That would have been neat to do if we’d have planned ahead or knew the cost.  They keep the fires burning until 12:30 AM with boats of wood that travel back and forth along the river.  The staff wears all black so they blend in and keep the focus on the fires.  This weekend’s event was about finding a cure for Hepatitis C.  Barbara received a carnation from a boater in white with a note on it about Hep C.  Each of the 16 events held has different sponsors.  It was beautiful to see, that’s for sure.

The car was still there when we got back, with no parking ticket!  Ron got us out of town and on the road but Bill missed the turn he was told so we ended up kinda circling back around.  He wanted to stop at Cumberland Farms to fill up while we were NOT in CT as the fuel is cheaper and we get that extra .10 off there.  We had some good laughs going and coming home!  After dropping Ron and Barbara off it was almost 11.  I didn’t read many pages before I zonked out.