Block Island, Rhode Island

Our last escapade during our month long stay in East Killingly, Connecticut was taking the ferry from Pt. Judith, Rhode Island to Block Island (also part of Rhode Island) for a bike tour.  On a crisp August morning, we loaded up our bikes, caught the early morning 13-mile ferry ride over, and were pedaling our way around the island with a couple of hours to spare before stopping for lunch. For some reason, I had this idea we were going to a remote and sparsely populated island and would have no crowds to contend with and no traffic to worry about. Don't ask me where this fantasy came from, but it was pretty much just the opposite. A very popular tourist destination, especially in the summer, the island is known for its bicycling, hiking, sailing, and beaches. There are also two historic lighthouses, but much of the island is an undeveloped natural area and resting stop for birds along the Atlantic Flyway. We pulled a perfect day for our visit, though, warm but not hot, breezy, but not windy, with beautiful blue skies.  We were able to see a lot of the 9-square miles of island before getting back on the ferry to come home. Below are some pictures we took that day. 

Providence, Rhode Island

Rhode Island is the tiniest state in the country. It measures only 37 miles wide by 48 miles long, but it actually has the longest name of all the states, officially known as the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. It is so tiny, that if the USA were divided into states this size, we would have 3,874 states in this country. Their motto is "Hope", which happens to be the shortest motto of all the states. But a visit to their State House in Providence proves that even a small state can be mighty. Over 327,000 cubic feet of white Georgia marble, 15 million bricks, and 1309 tons of iron floor beams sit beneath the State House dome, the fourth-largest self-supporting marble dome in the world (after St. Peter's Basilica, the Minnesota State Capitol, and the Taj Mahal). Atop the dome is a gold-covered bronze statue of the Independent Man (originally named "Hope"), which represents freedom and independence, alluding to the spirit which led Roger Williams to settle and establish Providence and later Rhode Island. I really enjoyed touring the Royal Charter Museum which contains many priceless documents and artifacts that represent Rhode Island's important place in history. The centerpiece of the Museum, the Royal Charter of 1663 granted by King Charles II of England, resides in a custom steel vault for visitors to see. The Charter guaranteed Rhode Island settlers freedom of religion and the freedom to govern their own colony. I am especially drawn to the quotation from the charter, "To hold forth a lively experiment that a most flourishing civil state may stand and best be maintained with full liberty in religious concernments." What an exciting adventure this must have been for the progressive thinking people of the times. We could all take a step back and remember these lessons in freedom of religion, which also includes the freedom from religion. Overall, I found the golden hues of the capitol décor warm and inviting. We found comfortable nooks filled with cozy chairs, fireplaces laid with wood, and rocking chairs out on a deck overlooking downtown Providence. The State House library was one of the loveliest I've seen, a beautifully decorated three-tiered room with an ornate coved ceiling. Here are some pictures from our tour.