Sunday, May 1, 2011

Big Dog Checks Out the Cove

Happy May Day friends! Yours truly, Big Dog, has just emerged from mud season here in Maine, and let me tell you it always flies by too quickly. Mud is a glorious thing to play around in all day. But life goes on as it will and it must.

To take away my end-of-the-mud-season blues, my pal Marcus brought me down to the seaside with Miss Mary on one of her sketching trips, and what was the first thing we spied down at Perkins Cove?  Miss Mary, can you quickly draw this little boat?!

Quite a few boats are still out of the water. I can see they need my help!

Hey Marcus, I have inspected this boat and it just needs a little more work.

Big Dog, take a look!  Who's coming down the channel?

It's the Michelle D., back after her morning run.

I wonder how many lobsters the two orange-clad gentlemen caught?

Cruising right behind is the Mary E.  I guess they are saving on letters, because nobody has a last name!

Marcus and I are posing in front of the only user-operated pedestrian drawbridge in America. It actually raises up when the tall masted vessels go through. You have to send someone ahead to go up there and push the button to open it. It's a big attraction down here in Perkins Cove.

All of this observation puts me in the mood for a nice cool dip, but Marcus, the kind friend that he is, says I have to wait a few more weeks!

Worker guys were getting the restaurant ready.

Here, let me help you with that!

I was happy to meet Jason, one of the worker guys.

Sorry Jason, I lick everybody's hand!

Marcus brought my attention to the Help Wanted sign. He thinks maybe I should get a part-time job.

I said, "Woof woof!"  Now they will never hire me!

Well, since we are right here, I wonder if they have a dog menu?

Check out these cool lobster boats. Yup, you are looking at Perkins Cove.

Here comes the Mary E. again, all loaded up with lobster traps and ready to go out tomorrow morning.

Hey Marcus, it would be fun to go out with them!

I am serious!  I want to go out on the lobster boat tomorrow!

I want to go!  Please.... can we, can we ?!!!

Sure Big Dog, we can go, but we'll have to be down here at 4 o'clock tomorrow morning.

Uh..., no that's OK, uh..., maybe some other time!

The high point of the day was meeting Shorty. We speak the same language!

The rapport was instant, and we promised to get together again soon!

Here is the VIP parking for the lobsterman guys.

Whew! I needed a break to chill out at the park for a few minutes!

Then what did we discover down at the dock? The S.S. Crusher! This little ship is the icebreaker that keeps the harbor open in winter, when the fresh water river emptying into the cove freezes on top of the salt water.

Hey, I can crush ice too!!

Has anyone seen Fred, the harbormaster?

Here is his boat.

He built it himself last winter. 

Hey Fred, nice to finally meet you. What a great way to end our adventure!  Everyone, I hope you all have a spectacular month of May!   Be sure to check back on my on-going Spring happenings.    
Peace & Love & Hugs, BIG DOG!!!