We cleared customs in time to celebrate our wedding anniversary at the Black Pearl restaurant that is renowned for its clam chowder. Newport has an annual clam chowder festival that the Black Pearl would win each year. So the organisers changed the rules so that the winner could not enter for the next three years…..mmmmaybe the organisers had borrowed the tactics from that famous yacht club? Anyway, lunch was great and the celebrations continued well into the evening on-board Lady Rebel. A fine night was had by all with only a few minor incidents with someone getting stuck in the companionway stairs and somebody else accidentally feed the Canada geese. We also caught up with Derek and Lesley (Ocean Blue) who had made passage from Bermuda.

As you do, we backed up the 3rd with the 4th. The plan was a 7:30am dingy ride to town and then we’d take the bus to Bristol. The parade was to start at 10:30am and we’d be there by 9ish. Bristol is most famous for having the longest running 4th July parade in the world, well really that should be noted as “in the USA”. People travel from far and wide to see the Bristol parade with some even camping out overnight on the foot path to ensure they get the best position. We woke that morning feeling a little dusty from the night before and decided we could not miss the parade. It all just fell into place and we found ourselves on route with La Mischief and Lady Rebel.

Bristol and Newport are both picture perfect, they are pretty American towns something just out of a movie film set. Bristol’s was blocked off from the main road so we walked the last few miles. Every house looked manicured and proudly had at least one stars and stripes flag with many having additional decorations. A few entrepreneurial kids had set up a home-made lemonade stand.

We had time to walk the parade route and look around the town centre. Everybody was in high spirts, with strangers greeting us with “Happy 4th!”. Strangely it was difficult to find a coffee for breakfast or anything substantial. Kim found a stall that sold pizza by the slice while the others…. believe it not, found a bar. How strange that our friends would find a bar at 9:30am so we settled down to have a glass of prosecco and a beer! The sun was now shining bright and we ventured back to the parade route where we found an elevated position on the steps of a town hall building. Let the parade begin. It started with police on motorbikes clearing the street, followed by marching police, parade committee members and a guy wearing period clothing ringing a bell. It just flowed from there…countless school bands, flag twirling, a bagpipe band, vintage fire trucks, vintage and current model sports cars. The floats included “Miss Newport”, a kids billy-cart (orange create) winners, US Coast Guard and much, much more. There was frequent chanting “USA USA USA…” proud and happy people.

I’ve neglected an honourable mention of the tall man waving the flag (maybe a symbol of President Lincoln?) and we also had a photo taken with a real life Sheriff (who was on duty).

Once the parade finished we found ourselves a crowded Irish Bar to pass the time, letting the crowds dissipate and the roads reopen. We met a few Ocean Cruising Club members and a few Australian couple David and Linda, SY Perigee.

That evening with the usual crew, we reconvened on La Mischief for a BBQ and to watch the spectacular fireworks. I’m sure we should have had a dinner of burgers, fries and hot dogs but with our recent arrival we were not that organised. Earlier that day on the bus we had met Long Islanders, Cindy and Neil (Sea n Me), who also joined the festivities. We had a good American turnout on board as DeAnne had friends Barb, Joe and Richard who had also been with us in Bermuda. Steve put together all American playlist, fun was had by all.

Hope you had a “Happy Fourth”