Block Island - Picture postcard pretty

Our next sail was onto Block Island which was leaving the state of New York and moving into Rhode Island which is the smallest state in the US.  As you move east from the sound the sea becomes noticeable more like the ocean, the swells increase slightly but more noticeable the colour and the clarity change.  Block Island is about 12 miles from the mainland and is 7 by 4 miles long, the channel to get into the harbour is narrow and feels like you can almost touch the fishermen on the shore but thankfully was deep enough for Magnum.

The harbour is large with lots of moorings but also plenty of space to anchor – they state in the pilot book that during a summer holiday there can be 2000 boats in the harbour!  Really glad we were not there with that many boats!

We went ashore the next morning and enjoyed a run around the country roads to the old harbour; this is where the limited number of shops and hotels are situated.  We were initially struck by how much the island is like somewhere in the UK or Channel islands, with the shrub land and the little lanes but this was probably influenced by the very grey weather!

Block Island Old Harbour main street

Old Harbour Main Street

We spent the remainder of the day exploring the island, the old harbour has a couple of small old hotels which make it seem like a old fashion seaside resort and there are a few tourist shops.  The ferry arrives here from the mainland so even on a grey weekday there were quite a few people around.

Old Harbour

Hotel in Old Harbour

We were able to dodge the showers and by the time we had walked to the south east of the island to visit the lighthouse we were getting warm – this was the first day we had worn jeans since we had been in the UK the previous November.

Walking on east coast

Beautiful coastline

Suns out and Mark is happy at the lighthouse

Amanda at Lighthouse

We walked onto the beach on the south of the island, it was beautiful with the Atlantic rolling up the sand.  It was almost deserted even though the sun was now shining.  We had a walk along the beach but also built ourselves a pebble towers, to join the 100’s that were all along the shore line.

Our amazing artwork

Look at all the pebbles!

Amanda enjoying the beach

Mark enjoying the sunshine

Happy that the sun is out

We had a wonderful day walking and exploring in Block Island and really wish we could have stayed longer but felt lucky we had found the time to visit.

Magnum at anchor in Block Island harbour

The calm before the storm

The visit wasn’t even ruined by the fact that that night the wind came up (as forecasted) and although we were happy with our anchor, at least 2 boats dragged in the anchorage so there was lots of shouting and mayhem which meant we were awake for the majority of the night L

Stunning sunset before the wind came in