Not many people have heard of Prudence Island, a small island that sits square in the middle of Narragansett Bay in Rhode Island. Prudence has a year round population of under 100, 88 total as of the last census in 2000..maybe a bit more these days. Over the years we have even talked to many Rhode Islanders who have not heard of or been to Prudence. We are fortunate to have friends that have a house on Prudence, as Prudence always provides an escape from the world on this side of the water. Our friends were gracious enough to invite us over for the weekend to hang out with them and their family, and this is always a treat. Getting to Prudence Island is can be a bit of a mini-adventure, a small adventure to be sure, but always just different enough each time that it feels like an adventure. Often we are able to park in the ferry parking lot in Bristol where you catch the ferry, but from time to time we need to find street parking. Bristol seems to be extending 'Resident Sticker Parking' signs further and further afield from the ferry landing so as it happens, this time I parked about a half a mile or so from the ferry. I had dropped Carol and the luggage off at the landing, parked and walked back.
Carol had bought the tickets while she waited and we boarded straight away. Spring hasn't exactly arrived here in New England yet, but the sun was shining and it was about 40 degrees and we found a spot on the upper deck that was out of the wind. I brought no photo gear nor any paints or sketch pads as this was going to be a social weekend. So the pictures you will see in this post are all iPhone pix. The ride over was a very pleasant ride. We even chatted with Frank Coletta, a local TV news personality that seems to be in our kitchen each morning as we eat breakfast. Frank has a place on Prudence as well and we see him from time to time.
I had baked a bread which was still a bit to warm to wrap so I let it cool on the seat next to me on the ride over. Our friends met us at the dock on Prudence when the ferry arrived and it was a quick ride up the hill to the house. Their house is a great spot on the North side of the island and has a view of Providence, Bristol and the Mount Hope Bridge as well as Portsmouth.. amazing. We had a great reunion with everyone as the weather began to really deteriorate. What a great way to spend a weekend, with friends in a warm house and a fantastic view of the world catching up on everything, eating and drinking and just hanging out. By days end the east wind had whipped the bay into a froth and the temps dropped..felt like winter was back again.
Sunday morning we all had a wonderful breakfast, the ladies went for a walk and Van and I walked the dog on the beach in the cold 'Spring' wind. We were speculating if the ferry would run, but we spotted it coming in from across the bay. We ended up catching the late afternoon ferry back to the mainland fully refreshed and thankful for such great friends. So now we are back home and in our routine, Carol had gone off to the gym and then to do some grocery shopping and I am continuing on with the kitchen renovations. We are both still waiting for some signs of spring. Today is another cold rainy and windy day.