To combine the celebration of Marissa's 21st birthday and my 61st birthday, I took Marissa, her fiance Gary, Colin, and two of Marissa's friends, Courtney and Erin, down to Newport, R.I. for a few days of relaxation and touring the mansions.

We left on Wednesday the 16th and came back Saturday the 19th late morning. The weather held perfect the whole time, and we all had a great time together.

We visited 8 of the mansions and still had time to shop along the waterfront and hit the pool in the afternoon every day. The Howard Johnson's that we stay in each time we go down has an indoor heated pool and a huge hot tub. That hot tub really tops off a day of tromping around Newport!

I really enjoyed that hot tub! Though I'm 6 months out now from having my hip replaced, the muscles are still giving me a lot of grief as it was a particularly difficult surgery. Anytime I'm walking any distance, I always carry my cane, Janis. I'm glad I had her along on this trip as there were some very long days and lots and lots of walking. One time early on in the trip, I was getting out of the car and my quad fired wrong causing me to twist too quickly. I dug Janis into the gravel but ended up badly straining my right calf muscle, that was still pretty sore two weeks later.

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06/16/10 - Wednesday
Colin swung by to pick me up at 9:00am. I followed him down to meet Marissa and the others. He had to leave his truck there as we'd be going in his other car, the Honda Accord. Both cars headed off to MacDonalds in Newington for breakfast and a Road Trip Coffee; well, for me, anyway!

Somewhere along the line, Marissa took us on a secenic detour through most of Fall River, MA. Not real sure how that happened because both cars were running coordinated GPS units, but none-the-less: a tour of the neighborhoods of Fall River did occur.

We got into Middleton, RI around noon and stopped at the D'Angelos there for a light lunch before heading off to our first mansion tour, Rough Point.

After Rough Point, we headed over to the Howard Johnson's in Middleton where we always stay and were in the pool flopping around by 3:30. That was a needed break from a busy day. I had got adjoining rooms near the pool, so it didn't take long to get everyone settled in and over to the pool.

We had decided to do our 'big' dinner night out tonight, so at 5:30pm we piled into the cars and headed off to Gold's Wood Fired Grill & Cafe. Everyone really enjoyed their meals, and I had a couple of glasses of a nice Sterling Cabernet.

Since Gold's only has beer and wine, Marissa opted just for soda thinking that we could go back to the hotel and have a drink at the bar at the next door Applebees. But we get all up at the bar and they wouldn't server Marissa a drink even though she had a valid temporary NH ID and her old expired driver's license. Not one to mince words, I blew up at both the bartender and the manager and off the 6 of us went to their almost empty restaurant. Not only that, but we had thought we'd all have dinner there one night during our stay. Yeah, well guess what: that didn't happen. Get real, you jerks. Everyone else took Marissa's ID so here's the story on the web for you morons until the End Times come to eradicate it. How's that workin' out for you now?

Not to worry: I have The Great Credit Card, so off to the liquor store we go and got our own f'n drinks. No one other than Colin and me seemed interested in the movie choice of the night, Book of Eli, so we parked it in out room while they partied in theirs. Somewhere along the line we ended up with a bottle of Dr. Jack Daniels so I was all set. Good movie, too!

Colin arrives in his new truck to pick me up for the start of our trip.

Erin, Marissa, and Courtney at Marissa's mom's ready to get a move on it.

Gary and Erin in motion.

Gary, Erin, me, Marissa, Courtney, Colin.

Gary, Erin, Marissa, Pat, Courtney, Colin.

Arriving at our first mansion, Rough Point, the former home of Doris Duke. It was the first time here for any of us, and it was breath-taking. I'm coming back here anytime I return to Newport!

Entryway of Rough Point.

Who is this dashing fellow? Hint: he's the guy with the m-o-n-e-y.

Rough Point living animal sculptures.

Long shot of Rough Point.

From the property edge of Rough Point looking to the sea.

Into the pool at Howard Johnson's after touring Rough Point.

The required close up.

The crew at dinner, Gold's Wood Fired Grill & Cafe.

Hey! Let's get this movie started! And where's my Dr. Jack?

The view in the 'other' room. Seems the old guy in the next room is going to outlast the young'ens. I did. They all ended up crashed long before I closed up shop.

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More pictures taken by Marissa....

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06/17/10 - Thursday
Thursday morning we had Breakfast at Applebees (only because it's part of the Howard Johnson's benefits), and then we were off to the Newport waterfront area for some shopping.

Our first mansion of the day just had to be The Breakers. You want to do that in really good weather as it is just so spectacular. And who knows what tomorrow would bring. It's a long audio tour as well.

After The Breakers, Colin and I drove over to a local 7-Eleven for snacks for the group to hold us over until dinner. Then we were off to Rosecliff and finshed off the day at Chateau-sur-Mer.

Back to the pool for a little relaxation and then an early 5:00pm dinner at the nearby Ching Tao Chinese restaurant. We had eaten there before and knew the food to be really good. The movie of the night was the bizarre The Crazies. Nice that I had Dr. Jack to smooth that one over.

Parking in downtown Newport Thursday morning.

Helloooo.... Just how many people does it take to feed the parking meter here?

Shopping is not one of my top ten favorite things to do, but it's always nice cruising the Newport waterfront.

Newport harbor.

Different interests; different directions.

A long shot of The Breakers as we came through the main gate.

At The Breakers.

At The Breakers.

At The Breakers.

Colin and Gary walking up to Rosecliff.

The grounds at Rosecliff.

The grounds at Rosecliff.

Colin at the entrance to Chateau-sur-Mer.

Another view of Colin - not at Chateau-sur-Mer. He parked it here and watched some of the World Cup while the rest of us headed off to the pool.

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More pictures taken by Marissa....

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06/18/10 - Friday
Started Friday out with breakfast at Applebees before heading off to tour The Elms. Then we drove over to see Marble House, did another run to 7-Eleven for a snack and drink, and then finished off with a long tour at Belcourt Castle.

There was a lot of grumbling among the crew about being hungry, so we made another run to 7-Eleven for another snack.

After that, we decided that we were totally 'mansioned out' and back to the hotel for a jump in the pool.

Dinner tonight was at Coddington Bar and Grille. Another favorite of ours. And the movie of the night was the totally useless but none-the-less entertaining Daybreakers - a creepy vampire movie that, along with Dr. Jack, was just about my speed after this busy day.

The walkway up to The Elms.

Long shot of the crew at The Elms.

And, yes.... the required close up at The Elms.

A shot from the grounds to the rear of The Elms.

Marissa and Gary at The Elms.

Colin at The Elms.

The view as we entered the grounds of Marble House.

The view as we were leaving the grounds at Marble House.

Coming up to Belcourt Castle - a really, really interesting place.

View of the beach along the short-cut road back to the hotel.

I'm done.

Gearing up for Friday night's party just before Erin flung the hair brush across the room, smashing into the wall just above my head. Not a good move, Erin unless you've got the cash to check out of this place....

I couldn't exactly figure out what was going on when I heard all the noise outside of the room, so I wandered out and snapped this picture. Little did I know what was about to happen....

Yes, folks. This is what alcohol does....

Erin and Courtney packing it up Saturday morning for the trip back to New Hampshire, this time with no detours! Actually, Marissa drove Erin home and then dropped Courtney off while Colin and I took the direct route home.

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More pictures taken by Marissa....