Watson's Pick of the PIX - 3 Mile, Montauk and BI

Watson's Wisdom - Days 9 & 10

Dateline - Block Island.

Hi Ya'all. Yup - I am back. I know none of you were deceived by the pathetic prose of an impostor posing as me at Montauk. First - I am NOT blogging at 6:30am. I may be on a POSH (remember - that is a Poop out, Scamper home) but definitely NOT formulating pearls of wisdom at that hour.

I have to say I LOVED Montauk!! I have never been so surrounded by the smells of rotting fish guts as in this town. WOW! This is doggie heaven. I would love to climb into the marina dumpster and spend the night! But I was yanked away quickly. We did see a 45 lb fish all hooked up and being weighed on the dock. I loved it - but could not make it to the front row of gawkers - all the blonde babes in town were having their pictures taken with it.

The marina and town were definitely a step down from East Hampton Point. We did hang around Three Mile Harbor for a while yesterday - good place to cool off and hang out for lunch. Then we headed off for Montauk. Dave, the cool taxi-mon from Jamaica, with his cool running bobsled logos, took us into town and back to the marina. Fortunately he already had a business going and we did not have to endure the Joel Mana-Tea spiel again. The only worthwhile stop there in town was the bakery. Hugo Boss and Michael Kors did not make it out this far on the Island. There was the biggest laundramat I have ever seen though.... Must be all those fish guts....

This am we awoke to showers in Montauk - but that did not stop us from a forced march to the Montauk Yacht Club to visit more spiffy mega-yachts and the Coast Guard Station on Star Island. We almost lost Joel to the Sabre dealer at Star Island Yacht club - but we managed to get him back, minus a bit of drool.

The trip from Montauk to New Harbor on Block Island was a total fog- out. The waters were flat except for constant big rolling swells that made my tummy feel like it was in constant motion between my neck and my tail. I was on the captain's perch - but that did not seem to help much - so I caught a few ZZZZ's and that seemed to help. Occasionally we saw another boat - as we came up on it. People were out on the deck in the pouring rain with their fishing poles and hoping for something good to happen soon. I was glad we had a goal and destination in mind!

We made it to Block Island Boat Basin in the rain - but the fog lifted on the island. And by the time we tied up, the sun was beating down on us and steam was coming off the roof!.

There was another forced march to Old Harbor on the other side of the island for a couple of lousy tee shirts - and there wasn't a dry piece of apparel in sight. Glad I am drip/dry.

Hope there are some good left-overs from Dirty Dick's tonight. I could use a change of diet from Fit and Trim.

Clouds rolling back in - looks like more rain on the way.

That's it for now. Be good to your pets. And if you don't have one - get one.

W

Greetings from Montauk

Watson here. It is 6:30AM and my people got me up from a sound sleep to say a few words.

While we have internet connections at the Snug Harbor Marina, it is very sketchy at the boat so we won't blog much this AM.

Suffice to say, we had a very smooth crossing from Sag Harbor. Montauk is not quite as fru-fru as Sag but we met a very nice taxi driver who took us into town and then picked us up.

Nice dinner last night at a hopping place near the Marina.

Stay tuned for more info later today or tomorrow.

PIX - Sag Harbor to 3 Mile Harbor

Watson's Wisdom - Day 8

Dateline - East Hampton Point Marina, Three Mile Harbor NY

Ya Baby! Here we are in The Hamptons with the glitterati. I have been on the lookout for movie stars - like Lassie, Beethoven and Benji - but can't seem to find a glimpse of any famous pets - even that evil white furball kitty in the Fancy Feast commercials. Here at East Harbor Point Marina, Inn, Restaurant, Spa, Pool.... I have only found one rather mangy looking beagle - no slick poodles with special dos - no yorkies in stuffed in a Gucci pouch here or there - nothing!

We left Sag Harbor yesterday am after a hike around town before the heat set in. We headed out for Coecles Harbor where we planned to drop anchor and raft up - but just cruised around as the fog seemed to be settling in. We beat it over to Three Mile Harbor and a mooring field just off the East Hampton Point Marina. We picked up the scummiest, disgusting (even for a dog like me!), barnacle-encrusted line from a mooring and tied up to have lunch and take a swim before making our grand entrance into the marina. Word has it that Three Mile Harbor is only 2 miles long - but THREE miles from East Hampton - which seems to be way more important.

We had a wee bit of trouble docking due to the fact the dockhand giving directions put us in a slip better suited for the 54 Bertram next to us and had no clue what to do. To be 16 again and gorgeous! Besides - her dad probably owns the joint. But we made it - and more importantly, I made it to the grass nearby. Good thing the grass is bordered by a plank walkway - as it is an absolute minefield of deposits left by previous desperate doggies. I guess they don't have baggies here in the Hamptons. Gee - they seem to have everything else with a label on it!

We caught the van into town to mingle with the beautiful people and dogs. Seemed to be a nice town with lots of shade trees (makes me happy) and lots of yuppy little stores. Not a Walmart in sight. Joel tried to chat up the van driver to start a new business he calls Mana-tea. Sounded to me like he had a name but was short on ideas of what to do with it - but he was really in distress when the kid expressed ignorance of ever having heard of Paul Newman or the Newman's Own brand. Even I felt old on this exchange!

Dinner - no leftovers - was out on the deck at the Marina/Inn Restaurant. They took one look at us and told us: Formal attire and Reservations at least a year in advance in our case required. And they didn't even bring me along on that exchange!

I am celebrating the end of my antibiotics last night. No more choking courtesy of what's her face! Now I can get back to licking my paws and infecting them again. Yay!

Today they are booting us out of the Marina at 10am so we are heading for Montauk. Til next time! W

Cribbage in Three Mile Harbor

Well, I am sad to say but Jim and Sue did not have a successful day yesterday.

Joel and Brenda played well and despite our amazing skill their luck persisted.

Score for the day Joel and Brenda 2, Jim and Sue 1

Totals for the trip: J&S 9, J&B 6

Pictures from Greenport and Sag

Watson's Wisdom - Days 6 & 7

Dateline - Sag Harbor NY.

Well, here we are at the waterfront in the hotbed (literally) of bee uuu ti fulll people. The dogs look pretty normal so far - except for that poor little old overweight shitz-zu who was on a forced march downtown yesterday - while his caregiver was pushing his empty stroller. It was 150 degrees on that pavement!! I, on the other hand was relaxing in the air-conditioned comfort of Taking Stock - where the sun does not shine in Sag Harbor as the mega-yachts have obliterated any notion of daylight.

Yesterday Joel found his head - but left some bucks behind in Saybrook and found his way here to Sag. Taking Stock, on the other hand, left Saybrook and headed across LI Sound to Plum Gut and on to Greenport NY. It was like crossing an international border! As soon as we got to Greenport the people were speaking a different language! I thought I had mastered English pretty well - but there is no understanding these people. Even the dogs talk funny here.

We stayed at the Townsend Manor Marina - about 5 blocks from the downtown and it was great. There were EXPANSES of GRASS! They have lots of big ole shade trees!! NO GRAVEL!!! Short walk from slip to land! It brought tears to my eyes! We did lay kind of low in the heat - and looked out the frosty windows to see the non-AC'ed boaters with wet towels over their heads. Did not add to the scenic view. Seemed like a nice town - but my tender tootsies were not hitting the pavement in this heat - so I stayed indoors while the caregivers trudged around town in the obligatory walks.

Yesterday we left Greenport and rounded Shelter Island - where the rich who want to be alone live. Big houses. Bigger lawns. You could tell who had sprinklers - only green grass for miles. We cruised on in to Smith's Cove - a popular mooring location - not a soul there except for some yahoo on waterskis who could not stay up. I should not criticize, I guess - but very few dogs are foolish enough to try this. Why - when you could have a perfectly good ride IN the boat?

We did have a MAJOR confrontation and standoff yesterday at Smith's Cove. A swan that outweighed me by about 35 lbs decided we must have yummy leftovers we would be willing to share. Not so! They are mean suckers! What's her name scurried out of the water on the initial swan attack. Dad had to hold me back as I lunged and the swan hissed and spit at me. The nerve! Dad was swatting away with a beach towel and holding me back. And What's her name was barking like a dog - which I ONLY do when absolutely necessary - and this was not one of those times. Finally we had to retreat into the cabin and wait 20 minutes until the sucker left - finally. We did have one other incident there - when the hatch lock flew out of Wat's her name's hand and jumped into the water. Never to be seen again. Oh well - there goes another 50 bucks.

The Marina here in Sag is pretty good - a little grass on prem and a big town park next door. Looks like it is on to 3 Mile Harbor tonite. And today marks the last day I have to take my antibiotics - Hor-ray! Finally - I'd like to send out a big lick to my buddy Zach and to Pete Joseph for letting us know there is actually someone reading this darn thing! Adios til next time!

Cribbage in Sag harbor

Today's cribbage scores
   Jim and Sue   2  Joel and Brenda 1

Cumulative totals
  J&S 8   J&B 4

I can report that Joel has been less than happy with the scores and is threatening the end of the competition.  I never realized how competitive he really is!!

Watson's Wisdom - Day 6

HAAAALLLLLOOOOOOOO! Anyone out there???? You don't write. You don't call. I am getting worried that I am just pushing words and no one cares! No wonder only 2 of my books from last year sold!

We are in Clinton CT. Here at sunny Cedar Island Marina - where the finger piers and gravel go on and on for MILES. A fellow and his little legs has to walk a mile to get a decent spot of grass. Don't they understand that gravel is NO substitute! The best part about this place is that there is a fenced in areas where they lock in the kids and don't let them out or dogs in! No sticky little fingers matting my hair or pulling my ears! What a great idea! Wish there were more!

It looks like Taking Stock and After You will be parting company for a day or so. Joel is still trying to find his head and a man thinks he can find it - for beaucoup bucks, of course. But like, beauty, what price can you put on a lost head?

We lost our AC last night - thing frosted over like a 35 year old popsicle in the back of the freezer. Of course the fact that it was 100 degrees out yesterday pm did not help the poor little thing. I can relate! I am dragging around 17 lbs of hair on a 20 lb dog! It seems to be working at least temporarily this am - that is until the sun REALLY bakes this place.

We met some new folks yesterday who keep their boat, an Eastern 31 with an extended roof, just like After You, here in Clinton in the next marina. Ken and Linda - with NO DOG IN TOW, came by in their rubber ducky and saw the boats here. Turns out Joel was lusting for their boat, Animal House, when he went to build After You. They are apparently unique unto themselves. Four hours later, after inspecting every lousely screw and washer on all 3 boats, there was nothing left to say. Boy, am I glad I am a dog and did not have to contribute to that conversation. How would I know if the storage is adequate and the other berths are comfy??? I did notice that they had a much bigger refrigerator - and that kind of thing DOES interest me.

Yesterday I did not get to go on a ride to town with Dan, the Man in the Green Marina Van. He took most of the 2 legged companions on a 40 cent tour of downtown Clinton. They said there is not much window shopping to be done in downtown - but lots of pretty colonial era homes, gardens and shade trees. I LIKE shade trees. Better than a hydrant any old day.

We are off to Greenport NY this am to run the current in Plum Gut - whatever that is. Joel and Sue will stay and wait for the man with who has Joel's head. Adios for now. Stay cool if you can. W

Updated Cribbage scores

Quite a day for the Blue team.

Today, Jim and Sue 2, Joel and Brenda 1

Combined scores: J&B 6, J&B 3

PIX from Mystic, Saybrook and CT River

Watson's Wisdom - Days 3, 4 and 5

Watson here. Hot, Hot, Hot - as the calypso song goes.. Right now I and all the care givers are buttoned up in the boats - trying to get the AC to pump out a few more cool breezes. I have strategically placed myself in front of the only vent that seems to work worth its salt and have been trying to catch a few zzzz's after a busy few days. We left Wickford - nice town; good smells and friendly doggies and blasted our way down the coast to Mystic CT. There people seem to get all misty - or mysticy over a bunch of rotting old ships and moldy pilings. Fortunately the Mystic River Bridge - Make that "The Mystic River Highway Bridge" according to the snotty bridge keeper, was down - so we had to wait at the bulkhead for it to go up. I LOVE THOSE STOPS!!! I GET TO GO ASHORE AND WATER THE GRASS!! We managed to back our way in to another slip without knocking out any pilings and got to stay in the boatyard at the Old Mystic Seaport. After walking around the Old Seaport I got to see where the fancy schamcy boats get to tie up - over on the north side and NOT in the middle of the working shipyard! Stumbling around that for my last constitutional before beddie in the dark was a real thrill. I am surprised we did not lose what's her face in a hole like last year. Of course, Joel cut his finger open on his night light and has a bandage on it the size of a 25 lb bag of Fit and Trim. Nurse Sue has it in hand, so to speak.

The best part about Mystic was getting to see my cousin once removed, Susan and her husband, Colin. They live nearby in Groton and came to visit me and pet me and rub my tummy before they all locked me in the cabin again and hoofed off to dinner at some restaurant called Bravo-Bravo. Why would you call a food place "Yay Yay"? And the worst part: NO ONE BROUGHT ME ANY LEFTOVERS!! Not a scrap!

From there, we beat it out of town and headed to Old Saybrook Pt Marina, Inn, Spa, Restaurant, Pool, Moped Rental, Wedding Hall, Boat Gas station, Pump out - you get the idea. There are A LOT of doggies running around here on the docks - but frankly they are a bit riff-raffy and not of my breeding. Of course - they terminated any ideas I had for that kind of thing LONG AGO.

I had to endure a bit of family discord from my primary care givers yesterday. I made sure I stayed out of the way: something about a lost wallet, and a police station that moved,and chasing all over town to find it. And then there was the lost key card to get into the bathroom... SHE was not pleased with HIM - and I laid really low...... And then Joel lost his head today - I could not understand what he meant of course because he was talking from it. But then I figured out it was THE OTHER HEAD he lost. But he didn't lose it - it just does not work. Why they can't use the grass just up the gangplank like I do< I just don't understand. So there is a new plan to get that fixed.

Today we went up the CT River. I went for a swim to cool off and they all got to eat ashore at a restaurant with outside eating and a BIG NO DOGS SIGN. So I got locked in the cabin until What's Her Name came to release me and dunk me in the drink. They all went swimming except for Sue who kept me company in a place called Hamburg Cove. Except for the fact there was no Hamburg, it was pretty nice. Tonite I get locked in again while they head off for din-din. I am hoping this time, they remember this little fur ball!!!

Sorry for the delay. Internet issues - Update on various competitions

An update on Cribbage:

Jim and Sue 2, Joel and Brenda ZERO.

Current total  J&S 4, J&B 2

On another minor competition, Jim, Sue and Joel battled it out in Miniature Golf.  The final scores:
     Jim    50
     Sue   48
     Joel   46
Joel has been unbearable.

Watson's Wisdom - Day 2

Dateline - Wickford RI. About to get my doggie lift onto the boat berth. Which leads me to ruminate on "boating terms". It is difficult enough for me - learning English as a second language but now they are always laying these boating terms on me that make NO sense. Why not a plain ole bed instead of "The Berth"? What has the" Head" have to do with heads? I ask you! It is all about the other end! Then there is the Poop Deck - but That is NOT what that is for! And you all thought that POSH means "Port Out, Starboard Home" or the name of that Beckham woman! Hah! On our boat it refers to my very successful constitutionals: Poop out; Scamper Home. And that is exactly the task I just completed.

Last night we had an invite to meet Maggie, the Sheltie, who owns Carl and Pancha, Joel's brother and spouse at their house. I got to ride on my dad's lap in Carl's car and meet that cutie. That doggie sure has nice digs! We gave each other the big howdy for which we doggies are known. The eats looked great - and everyone except me looked filled and content on the way home to the boat. I really bonded with Maggie's mom, Pancha. I could get very comfortable there! Glad Maggie was not there today on the boat ride around Narragansett Bay. Boy would she have been jealous watching the two of us!


Today's boat ride on After You was loads of fun - I got to see a bunch more lighthouses and fancy places along the water - but mostly I slept until we stopped at Potter Cove at Prudence Island and picked up a mooring for lunch. Everyone was chowing down and I did my best to sit and turn on the liquid "hungry" eyes - but the routine was less than successful - and I finally resorted to my repackaged kibble from the am. The docking in the wind was a bit tricky when we got back to Wickford - and I thought my dad or I would end up in the big drink - but all ended happily. I was exhausted and had to take a nap. And now, I am looking forward to tomorrow - I saw leftovers from dinner being squeezed into the fridge. YAH! Now if I can just get them to leave some reasonable music on the IPod when they go out at night to eat - it would not be so bad to be left!! Tomorrow on to Mystic!

Updated Cribbage score

Well the competition continued:

Brenda and Joel 0, Sue and Jim 2

Current running score B&J 2, S&J 2.

Current Cribbage count

I regret to tell you that the current score is Brenda and Joel 2, Sue and Jim 0.

The second game was quite a thriller but B&J left us in the dead hole.

Watson's Wisdom - Day 1

Yo. Watson is BACKKKKK on line for all you fans! I know it has been a while - but I was busy this past winter putting down all my thoughts on last year's trip in my first published work - Watson's Excellent Adventure on the Hudson River 2009 - which sold a total of 2 copies (both to my mom). But mostly I was napping or playing with my pals or watching the final season of "Lost". Did you notice the dog was the one who survived!

We are back living small on Taking Stock. I knew something bad was up yesterday when two of my worst nightmares came true: 1) She took me to ole Doc Olmstead in the am - enticing me with the promise of a ride in the VW bug convertible with the top down and my ears flapping in the breeze. Next thing I have a thermometer up my you know what and a shot in the rump. Apparently I have a fancy form of athlete's foot called derma-whatsit. And honking big pills - I get my jaws pried open while she tries to lob this thing down my throat - only to get stuck on the roof of my mouth. These wrestling matches are not much fun - but sometimes I get lucky and spit it out under the sofa when she isn't looking. Oh - yah - and the other nightmare was my bath to smell like some flower that has not been doggy blessed.

Anyway - at 0h-eight hundred hours this am we headed out of Falmouth. Ralph came to see us off - just like last year. He was the only smart one in the party - he turned around and went home. Bet he's in a comfy bed tonight - not playing 3's company.

Things went pretty well after we left Falmouth Harbor (Hi to all the guys and gals at Pier 37!) I did not leave any presents around for you to find later. After enjoying an all too brief interlude in the cockpit with the breeze rippling through my hair, the wind and surf whipped up a bit after we cleared Cuttyhunk and headed into Rhode Island Sound. Then I wedged myself up on the Pilot's seat and made the old man stand all the way to Wickford!

Things settled down a bit when we got closer to Newport - and my people told me about all the big houses along the water there. They looked pretty small from where I sat.

We made our way to Wickford Marina - had a little trouble making it to the dock - with every dockhand and boat owner within a 3 mi radius watching the fun. I am not so handy with the lines - but I do a good job running back and forth on the cockpit seat overseeing everything.

Nice place: convenient to grass appropriate for canine purposes & lots of doggies here. I have now had some lunch and a forced march to town - which wasn't too bad as I met Abbie the Good (Westie, of course) and her buddy Fergus MacBad (Scottie - what else). They don't swim Or watch TV. What is wrong with their parents!!

Tonight we are going to visit Maggie, a Sheltie and her people, Joel's brother Carl and his wife. I do hope a few crumbs fall off the table and land near me. That would be the perfect end of a pretty good doggy day. Bye for now.

Time to get going

Well the trip was planned today and we are scheduled to leave on June 30th.  The whole trip kind of crept up on us since Joel and Sue were away in Arizona and Utah for a few weeks.

Anyway, the weather looks favorable for a June 30th shove off.  Assuming all goes well, here is our itineray:

Day 1   Falmouth Harbor   Wickford RI
Day 2   Wickford
Day 3   Wickford               Mystic CT
Day 4   Mystic                   Old Saybrook
Day 5   Old Saybrook       Clinton
Day 6   Clinton                  Greenport NY
Day 7   Greenport              Sag Harbor
Day 8   Sag Harbor            Three Mile Harbor
Day 9   Three Mile Harbor  Montauk
Day 10 Montauk                Block Island RI
Day 11 Block Island           Jamestown
Day 12 Jamestown            Bristol
Day 13 Bristol                   Falmouth Harbor

As he did last year, I am sure that Watson will contribute heavily to this blog.  I hope you all watch as the adventure continues.

Getting closer

Summer is on it's way and we are still on track for this trip.  After You was launched this week and Taking Stock got it's bottom wet for a test of it's trimming.  Needs a bit of work but will certainly be in shape very soon.  Probably a launch of Taking Stock by May 15th.

More in a little while.