The Wednesday tour to Western Rhode Island and Connecticut Lighthouses departed the Westin with a first stop to view Conimicut Lighthouse about one-quarter mile off shore in Western Naragansett Bay, We motored down the peninsula a bit to see Warwick Point Lighthouse -- through the chain link fence that guards the driveway. The house is currently a residence for a CWO coastie. But we missed connections on getting permission to have the gates open for a walk-around so we used up film stock TTF (through the fence).

Next was our most excellent adventure - viewing Watch Hill Lighthouse in the town of Watch Hill. This is a cute little summer town with giant summer mansions dotting the sand dunes that lead to the peninsula.

The hidden entrance to the lighthouse is down what looks like a driveway "Private" between two tall narrow hedges. The street area where one would park has "No Parking Except for Vehicles Showing City Permit". But we had arranged for someone to meet us and who said it would be fine to bring the bus (40') out the lane to the lighthouse and that there would be room to turn around.

I got out and walked the lane just to make sure the two gates were open (they were) and the bus moved slowly down the lane just wide enough. There were cheers on board when Bucky, our driver cleared the last of the narrow path and found himself and all 40' of the coach in a wide paved parking lot.

The home is now two apartments so we didn't have access to the dwelling or attached tower. But we could roam the grounds and visit the one-room museum in the former oil house. Mrs. Burkhardt had came out to meet us and told the story of Watch Hill well.

(Watch Hill looks a lot like Beavertail - same kind of granite blcok tower.)

I called ahead to Stonington to let them know we were coming and the lady said she knew it already - she'd used her binoculars to spot the bus out on Watch Hill. She couldn't believe her eyes at first!

Stonington is a neat little lighthouse that with a combination museum and gift shop in the base. The tower was open to climb. We broke out the box lunches at the city park a block away and enjoyed the view and the day.

Next stop was Mystic Seaport - we made a quick stop from outside this historic village to shoot photos of the reproduction of Brant Point Lighthouse that is on Nantucket.

The coache moved down the coast to Groton and New London where we viewed New London Ledge and New London Harbor from both sides of the entrance to the Thames river -- home of the Electric Boat Works, Pfizer and the Sub Base. From the East shore, we also saw a private lighthouse at Avery Point - built by one of the barons of old.

We made one more stop at Fifth Avenue Collectibles (Hi Sara Morton!!!) and headed back to the Westin in time for a dinner out.

That was our Wednesday -- or at least it was for 49 of us. Ray Jones was our guide and did a terrific job.

More coming on The Cape Cod Tour we completed today - and look for pictures of both posted on Friday.

I'll be demonstrating the web site most of the day on Friday - check the chat room or use the AOL buddy list and look for "Chidester". Expect to be on line from 8 am to 5 pm anyway.

John