Hyannis to Newport

Friday, 18 October

A couple of hours brought us to Newport, Rhode Island, and a desperately needed stop at Kellie’s Cafe, a British-themed cafe with a sign about scones and clotted cream but none to be found.

Refreshed, we made our way to the Newport Mansions, where we bought tickets to view two properties. First, and most famous, was The Breakers, summer home of Cornelius Vanderbilt II. It was built in 1895 and has 70 rooms. We thought the homes were pretty swish in Nantucket and Hyannis, but Newport leaves them for dead. They are seriously magnificent and not at all the sort of places one would want to live in.

The second house, The Elms, was built in 1901 and was technologically advanced for its time, I think because of gadgets electrical. It had some huge trees in its grounds and stables which were converted into America’s largest garage, and which looked like another stately home.

Later, at the visitor information centre, there was almost an international incident when the guy behind the desk claimed that the Australians had cheated in order to win the America’s Cup. Obviously they are still hurting and are bad losers. We had a drink in a bar overlooking the place where Australia II docked after winning and we toasted Alan Bond.

Drove around a scenic route where you couldn’t stop to have a look and then to our motel where we were pleased to find a guests’ laundry and a very good steak dinner.