Waterfire, RI - GTG June 23-25/2001 #2

Diana and I drove from Connecticut and arrived at the hotel in West Warwick before noon on Saturday. Rosalie, who is from the Providence area and had arranged the GTG, was at a funeral for the mother of a close friend, so Marilyn had been designated to greet those who arrived on Saturday. Marilyn had driven from Virginia Beach to Brooklyn, where she met Gladys, who drove the rest of the way to Rhode Island. Judy/Jodi came from Massachusetts an hour after we arrived. By 2 PM, Rosalie had returned from the funeral and Gladys and Karen, from Chicago, completed the group. Jim Q, Tippy and Anne had gone out on their own for the day, antique hunting in Providence. The group drove to the capitol building and parked there. After a short walk, we sat down at an outdoor table at the Napa Valley Grille in the large Providence Place mall. Rosalie was greeted by the staff and her ongoing patronage of the restaurant and friendship with the staff was rewarded by the appearance of two complimentary cheese and fruit platters. While we were ordering a late lunch, Aileen and Jay, who had driven down together from northeastern Connecticut arrived and joined us for the meal. A brief sprinkle almost caused us to retreat inside, but the rain soon stopped and no more was to dampen the day or evening. The predicted constant rain with heavy thundershowers did not materialize. After eating, we walked around the riverfront area, through a tunnel and to an outdoor rink where entertainment was in progress. Providence’s dancing cop performed, gyrating to music as if he were directing traffic to a rhythmic beat. Jay decided to join the audience at the outdoor theater for a performance of Macbeth. The rest of the group, with Tippy and Anne now present, selected seats at the edge of the river. At the conclusion of the play, Jay joined us and we waited for dusk. Then, gongs rang and music played from outdoor speakers. The braziers full of wood, set into the river, were set afire by boatloads of volunteers dressed completely in black. Throughout the night they would replenish the burned wood in the 25 to 30 braziers and keep the fires alive. What was impressive at dusk became spectacular in the darkness. Fully satisfied, all of us started to walk up the path beside the river with Rosalie as our guide. Judy/Jodi said goodbye and left to return home. After the rest of us enjoyed some liquid refreshment at the Napa Valley Grille, Aileen and Jay departed for Connecticut because Jay had scheduled his first sky dive for Sunday. Less Tippy and Anne, we returned to the hotel and talked until two in the morning. We would have continued on, except for the planned brunch the next morning. Jim Q, a retired Navy captain, had arranged for those who were still present to dine at the Officers’ Club on the Naval Base at Newport. All were awake and ready by 9:30 and we set off from the hotel. At the club, we were joined by Ruth and Larry from Massachusetts, recently married. The sumptuous meal was a fitting conclusion to the GTG. It is hard to believe we had so much to do and enjoy in just one day’s time. Len Z	Swan next to brazier covered with plastic in case of rain. This is what they light & is one of the Waterfires.
	Braziers going up the Woonasquatucket River & under Providence Place. The bridge is Ron's first design in the Park.
	The pedestrian bridge that will be named after Ron later this summer, if all goes well with the legislature
	One of two gondolas, that rent for $180 for a half-hour ride & are booked for the rest of the season.

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