Daytrip - May 14, 2020 - India Point Park + Wickenden Street

Last year, I decided to go rogue and NOT find traditional employment (aka a desk job) and instead, pursue a longtime dream of being my own boss.  Going at it alone is a scary endeavor in a number of ways including having freak out thoughts about 'what about paying taxes?' and 'you have to pay for your own health insurance!'.  Yes, these two things alone are enough to freak out anyone wishing to be self-employed but then again, a day like today kind of makes it all worth it.

As a self-employed person, I can take the morning off.  Whenever I want to.  I don't need to put in a leave request with anyone.  Ever.  So today, knowing that we were expecting spectacular weather in Providence, Rhode Island, I made a plan: daytripping to India Point Park!

I've lived in the Ocean State for almost two years now.  I so love it here.  I have so much to discover which is one of my favorite past times as I am an explorer at heart.

India Point Park is over on the east side of Providence, not to be confused with East Providence:

"India Point Park is a park in the Fox Point neighborhood of Providence, Rhode Island at the confluence of the Seekonk River and Providence River. The park takes its name from the maritime activity connecting Providence with the East and West Indies. The East Bay Bike Path begins at the eastern end of the park, and crosses over the Washington Bridge before heading to Watchemoket Square in East Providence and continuing on to Bristol and the Mount Hope Bridge. The park is also a part of the Washington–Rochambeau Revolutionary Route."

I parked at Wickenden & East Streets to access the pedestrian bridge to get to the park.  There were a few people there and it does include a playground for the eventual day children can gather to play.  For cyclist enthusiasts, there is the East Bay Bike Path access point:

"The East Bay Bike Path is a 14.5-mile paved rail trail in Rhode Island. The path begins at Providence and India Point Park, crosses the Seekonk River via the George Redman Linear Park and Washington Bridge and continues southeast to Bristol along the shoreline of Narragansett Bay. The path passes through the city of East Providence, the hamlet of Riverside, and the towns of Barrington and Warren. It is part of the East Coast Greenway, a 3,000-mile system of trails connecting the Canada–US border in Maine to Key West and provides access to Haines State Park, Brickyard Pond (Barrington), and Colt State Park. It is used annually by 1.1 million people."

This was a super exciting discovery - not because I ride a bike but because I've spotted this path while visiting Bristol and now may be motivated to get on a bike to make the ride!

Well, back to the park....I took my good ole time walking around and was delighted by some of the scenic opportunities including the view of an osprey hunting for lunch in the Green Jacket Shoal (which is a shoal and ship graveyard!).  It was a spectacular situation.  I mean, I am in the city and here is a bird prey dive bombing several times to get a fish.  On the third try, it had success and I cheered.

 

And, get this: I walked onto a wharf of sorts and had to do a triple take because there were hundreds of fish swimming by! This is not the best video, but can you see them?

As I headed back to my car, I decided to seek out a nice cappuccino.  I popped into Coffee Exchange but they were not serving espresso.  The nice fellow shared that The Shop, where I was conveniently parked across the street from, was offering it.  But I did pick up some roaster beans since he was so generous in sharing that with me and supporting his fellow business neighbors.  

 

I sure do love my PVD. Our lives have been disrupted by this virus that will not be named but I feel lucky to have access to explore the Ocean State and beyond over the summer months.  Until next time, if we happen to cross paths, What Cheer Netop!

Resources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India_Point_Park
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Bay_Bike_Path
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Jacket_Shoal

A little bit of history, good coffee, and a telescope.

Earlier this week, I tagged along a friend's tour of the Rhode Island State Capitol in Providence. I have been in the building once before but didn't have any idea of how much art and history sit inside of its walls.  What a treat!

My friend, Freeman T. Freeman, is one of the tour guides at the State House and he provided an exceptional tour.  I only capture some of the fascinating facts he shared with me and if you are ever in PVD, be sure to check out the tour yourself.

Here are some of the things I learned:

• The Rhode Island State Capitol building has the fourth largest non-centrally supported dome structure in the world.  Can you name the first three?

• Rhode Island was the first state given permission by the King the absolute freedom of religion.
• Rhode Island was the last state to sign the US Constitution waiting for the Bill of Rights to be included.
• Rhode Island Governor Sprague abolished the death penalty in the state in response to a final straw of injustice: the hanging of an innocent man.  There was a claim of a crime and the authorities rounded up the three strangers who were in the vicinity.  One of them couldn't provide an alibi and was sentence to death by hanging.  Shortly after, the actual criminal confessed to the crime.

 

• Christiana Carteaux Bannister was an amazing woman.  Part African, part Narragansett Indian, she advocated for black soldiers to receive equal pay and she is one of the founders of the Providence Art Club.

• The portrait of George Washington in the Governor's Salon has been appraised at $10 million (*) and although his foot is positioned in an angle, no matter which side of the room you stand, the foot is point right at you.

Later that night, I checked out Robin Kall's series, The Cardigan Connection. It is a monthly reading series held at Askew that features    This month, Zach Powers (FIRST COSMIT VELOCITY), Daniela Petrova (HER DAUGHTER’S MOTHER), Kate McQuade (TELL ME WHO WE WERE), Barbara Bourland (FAKE LIKE ME) shared bits of their books with the crowd. Your first night attending is FREE. Sign up for her e-newsletter to stay in the know of upcoming events. She also has a podcast called Reading with Robin that features interviews with all kinds of authors.

And that was just Tuesday. On Wednesday, I finally visited the famed White Electric Coffee for a decaf cappuccino.  The shop is about six blocks from my house but I have never checked it out. Since I was on my way to a top secret training session (*), I found my Doris Day parking spot and popped in to pick up a cup of fancy joe.  By the way, the gal sitting under the big 'E' gave me permission you post that photo.

Today, as I was driving home, I spy with my little eye....an observatory!!!!  I have held a long time love of the celestial beauty above our little heads.  I quickly pulled over to go check it out/to see if Ladd Observatory was open to the public.  Alas, it is only on Tuesday nights (when weather permits) but Mike (the facilities guy) gave me a quick tour and I can't wait to go back to use that grand telescope to look at Saturn. He also shared that there is a nearby star gazing group called Skycrapers Inc. in North Scituate (***).  With a mission as a 'group of people who are interested in the wonders of the sky', I am sold.

Tomorrow, I am meeting a local lifestyle blogger with hopes to convince her to contribute to my Artclectic New England podcast. Speaking of podcasts, next month, I am a guest on the Grow Smart RI podcast to share my story about moving to Providence and my love of the arts. 

Dames Who Dine has offered lots of opportunities to check out all kinds of eateries around the area.  My pal, Rose, and I are doing the unthinkable on (according to Rhode Island legend): we are driving south for about 30 minutes to visit a restaurant in Bristol, RI.  Apparently, these Rhodies don't like to drive very far even though the state is so tiny.  Go figure.

I've got a couple of other great things coming up this weekend including a visitor from Oregon!

#IHeartExploring

(*) More on that later!

(**) Idea: sell that painting and pay for improvements in the school system.  Just a thought.

(***) Can you guess how that is pronounced?  Bet you can't.