The Thomas Dodge(r) House, Providence R.I.

What should have been a 7 hour trip took 12, with an hour delay getting into Phoenix and another hour delay getting out of Phoenix, but at least the airline didn't lose the Plotniks' luggage. They did learn one thing: with the new no-liquids rule on airplanes, everyone ends up checking their bags instead of carrying on. This means the overhead racks are not crammed to overflowing, and people aren't so desperate to push their way onto the plane to get to an open overhead rack. It's nicer this way, though it's kind of stupid -- if you buy a burrito in the airport you can't take the salsa on board, because it's a liquid. You have to spread the salsa on your burrito first. Is this idiotic or what?

Providence Airport is old and small, which is always better than huge and sprawling. Lots of Bostonians drive to Providence to T.F. Green Airport instead of getting hung up forever using Logan Airport in Boston. By the time the luggage comes out Plot already has the keys to the rented Hyundai in his hands.

The Thomas Dodge(r) House in downtown Providence is a great old B&B in an old restored mansion in a neighborhood of other venerable homes, some restored, some not. True, the Mayor who led the restoration efforts is in jail (a few kickbacks, we suppose), but the old downtown area looks great -- apparently a whole lot better than it did fifteen years ago.

Plot and Duck have brought along their own coffee. It's a good thing, because once you leave SP, the rest of the world forgets to put coffee in the coffee. This morning it's off to the Point Judith/Block Island Ferry. The wedding is tomorrow night on Block Island.