Hey Everyone let's limit this thread to discuss the Newport Cruise only!
I have started a thread for the CapeCod cruise and The May 3rd TAPS show.
It's too hard to keep track if we start mixing discussions into one thread.
Thanks dudes Stan (blackxfire)

 

Since it was a beautiful day here in RI, I decided to take my new shift **** for a Sunday Drive.

I took an hour drive over to Jamestown to check out the sights.

Unless the group needs to do a picnic, IMHO, BeaverTail Lighthouse
scenically speaking has it all over Fort Wetheall.
More open parking and unobstructed ocean views.

Of course, both places are within mins of each other, so we could certainly hit both.

This is just an FYI observance of mine.

Cheers
Paul

PS: I just finished my first oil change! Used the suck it out the top method and a new Mann filter. Of course the old filter was a crappy looking NAPA Gold thing
that looked as if it has seen WWIII. Anyways thanks again to all the experienced
forum members for their input. It made the job go quite smoothly.

 

It was a good day to drive today! Washed and waxed.
Got a written warning in Plymouth today. Pulls me over cause I'm driving a sports car even though the guy in front of me was doing the same speed.

 

Sometimes getting noticed in our cars isn't all it's cracked to be.
Paul

 

Here is the most up to date list of attendees:

blackxfire and passenger
nightrider
cross+fire+6
gibsonjunkie
alen
crossfirefun
damsrt-6 and passenger
xfire2005 and passenger
Crossfire Trail and passenger
simajanpa
Pete Accard(xfire2005)
xfirenorth and passenger
robby363
BillH

 

"North, it seems the most popular plan is to have 2 meeting spots for that AM. You could probably go to Seekonk easier than Jamestown. I was hoping everyone could start out in Seekonk, do our stuff in the Newport area and finish by going over the bridge to Jamestown and maybe further for dinner."

Stan, whenever I head to Newport I usually get on rte 95S, to rte 295S, to rte 95S, and then I take the Rte4 exit (the one that exits on the left) until I come to the Jamestown/Newport exit. Then it's over the Jamestown Bridge to the $2 Newport Bridge. It takes me around 50 minutes to get to Newport that way. Just a few traffic lights but most of the route is wide open

If I come in from Rte 195 in the Seekonk area, I would exit the Interstate at Rte 136 and enjoy the stop and go traffic lights through Warren and Bristol and eventually go over the Mt. Hope Bridge and enjoy even more traffic lights through Middletown and Newport. Such a route is okay for a few cars sticking together but not great for a larger group. The route is mostly narrow two lanes-in-one-direction roadways (4-lane undivided) with no place to just pull over unless you drive into some business' parking lot.

Back to Jamestown, Beavertail State Park is a beautiful area that affords a wonderful view of both the East and West Passage into Narragansett Bay. Best of all there is plenty of FREE parking at the park. The park should be a must for the cruise. It will take less than 10 minutes to access from the main road to Newport.

If anybody knows the exact itinerary with routes and planned stops, please post it. There's a lot of scenic driving along the ocean, mansions, and then a great ride past first beach over to third beach at the Sakonet River. It is truly a beautiful area some people don't even know about.

Bob M.

 

Xfirenorth, it seems that you would go with the Seekonk group and I with the 138 group. Someone mentioned the Newport Grand as a meeting spot to kick off the both groups. I think that plan is the most adventagious for all involved. So far, at 14 cars, we are going to get looks from a lot of folks, That many Crossfires in that many configurations and iterations, is bound to attract a great deal of attention. It will be fun and a great chance to meet everyone. Looks like now we just have to solidify everything. The tokens I can get for $1.00 each in rolls of 10. So If I can get a count of exactly how many I will need, I'll get that amount and get rimbursed from the folks when we meet. I can probably make a dry run to see what might be available and post it for decision making. Crossfire Trail,
ricrossfireclub
Rick

 

"Xfirenorth, it seems that you would go with the Seekonk group and I with the 138 group. Someone mentioned the Newport Grand as a meeting spot to kick off the both groups. I think that plan is the most adventagious for all involved. "


Hi Crossfire Trail,

It was I who mentioned meeting at Newport Grand. It's right off the Newport Bridge, and there is tons of free parking. Plus it is so close to downtown Newport. There's not too many places where you can park for free and be in such a central location to everything we may want to do.

As far as going to Newport from my house, I would prefer to do the Rte 95S to Rte 4, then Rte 138E thing and come across the Jamestown Bridge then the Newport Bridge. It's a much easier ride for me than all the traffic lights from the other direction. It's well worth the $2 bridge toll in both directions.

Bob M

 

That's fine, I said I could get tokens to cut the bridge price down to a buck each way. Sorry I didn't give you credit for the idea, I have a memory issue that drives me nutz sometimes. Rick (Crossfire Trail)

 

14 Cars and Counting:

So, I was hoping we all could all come back from Newport later after the Mansion tour & picture event and head west back over the Newport bridge to Jamestown.

As I mentioned before, people from the south and west could initially meet at the Park & Ride in North Kingstown.

Then we travel over the two bridges to meet all others, joining up at the Newport Grand parking lot as "North" suggested.

Possible day events could look like this:

1. Everyone finally meets at the Newport Grand by 9:00-9:30?

2. We caravan through Newport over to the Belcourt Mansion for tour and photos.

3. We cruise along Cliff Walk and scope the other Mansions, maybe first beach over to third beach to the Sakonet River. (North Again)

4. We head back over the Newport bridge to Jamestown stopping at BeaverTail Point Lighthouse and/or Fort Wetheall Park for food drink and good conversation.

5. We split up from there to ?????

Again, just a suggestion for the day.

Also, hate to bring this up, but should we consider the 27th as a rain date?

Peace
Paul

 

Seems like a solid plan to me. Beavertail parking can be tight but is more scenic than Wetherill. Also there's a nice beach and causeway before Beavertail that may make a nice photo-op....shouldn't be crowded that time of year.

 

Simajanpa's itinerary seems very reasonable to me and i would certainly be open to the 27th as a rain date. I guess that's the chance we take having the meet in April, damn April showers.

Also, if someone is seriously considering doing a dry run, i would certainly be open to tagging along with my Crossfire. Afterall I'm really not that far from Newport. It would have to be on a Sunday though.

 

Sounds like a plan to me. One question about the food and drink part. Are we dining at an area restaurant or are we planning a picnic lunch? How about restroom stops if needed? Will anyone reconnoiter the route or do we just wing it?

Bob M

 

Depends on who is making the decisions, the tough part about all of this is the different likes and dislikes of the folks involved. Not to sound brash but there is always someone who will find fault. Although, on the positive side, we all DO drive Crossfires and LOVE them!!!!!

 

The road time between restroom stops in an area as small as Newport PROBALLY won't be a problem. Does any one know if there are sanitary facilities at beavertail? I haveno problem with constructive criticism, in fact a short critique at end of the first few cruises should be helpful. If we get professional whiners...the currents and water temperatures in Narragansett Bay will be most helpful.

 

If I make a suggestion, when we all meet up at where ever (Newport Grand?) we make use of the facilities there. There's no charge to get in and you could actually have breakfast or play a few slot machines while you're waiting for the rest of the group. The key is FREE PARKING and the lot is big enough so we could position our cars which ever way we want for a few initial pictures. Then we could head for downtown Newport and maybe the drive along the ocean, then on to whatever mansion we decide we will grace with our presence.

After we clear the mansions we could head for first beach then on to the more secluded area of third beach. We then could double back to downtown and maybe over the bridge to Jamestown and head out to Beavertail. I don't think there are any facilities there that time of the year, unless the lighthouse is open to the public on weekends. I'm sure it would be a hard thing to find out.

Another site we may consider visiting is Fort Adams State Park where they use to hold the Newport Jazz Festivals. Maybe if we spoke with security really nice they would let us drive out by the Harbor Entrance which would make for some great Xfire pics. The outer road is usually gated, but there is no harm in asking.

What do you think?

Bob M.

 

I went to mapquest and checked out a possible route. Starting at the east end of the Newport Bridge or Newport Grand, we would take the JT Connell Hwy towards downtown, to America's Cup Ave, to Thames St, them right on Wellington Ave, then right on Halidon Ave, right on Harrison Ave, right on Castle Hill Ave, follow Ocean Ave around the coast line, then left on to Bellevue Ave (mansions location), right on to Memorial Blvd (rte 138A), go by first beach, to Purgatory Rd, to Sachest Point Rd, to Third Beach Rd. Then we do an about-face back to Memorial Blvd, go over the hill and back to Thames St or America's Cup Blvd, to JT Connell Hwy to the Newport Bridge, then Bay St through downtown Jamestown, right on Hamilton, then on to Beavertail Rd out to Beavertail State Park.

Possible side trips off the above route: Fort Adams State Park, Castle Hill Inn and the Castle Hill Lighthouse, Goat Island Causeway to Goat Island, Fort Wetherill State Park, and whatever mansion we decide to visit.

I can't be positive on all the street names but if you go to mapquest, and put in Newport RI you can get an aerial view of what I'm speaking of by adjusting the zoom and side-to-side views.

Is this what you were thinking of when you thought of doing a Newport Hookup?

Bob M.

 

Dry run sounds good to me. Sunday am would be great but we need to find a spot for a good breakfast. Actually, we could meet at the Grand at about 9:30.
I'm diabetic and need to eat my meals as close to the usual time as possible.
Rick

 

Hey whats up sign me up and possibly my girl got a black 05 roadster and i love to drive it.
I'm also from RI and very familiar with Newport and its beautiful down there
PLEASE responed back and put me on the list

 

How about we make that 10:15. That way I can take my wife to the airport for 9 and still be able to meet you at 10 or 10:15, dpending on traffic. Let me know, Rick