Road Trip, Day #2

Day #2 at the Westport Whale! Delightful.

 

In the morning we wandered out to find beach #2, we were going to try one that apparently has fascination tide pools, but found this was the path:

 

Ummmmm no. 

I am all for an adventure but NOT more eye pokes for Frank!!

It was rather steep and there were quite a lot of blackberry bushes crossing the path, so we vetoed that in favor for one another block or so down.

 

This path was much better!

 

 

Go Bean, go!

 

Frank got a ride in his sling (it's not coddling if there is a steep drop below the stairs!),

and much frisking and frolicking ensued...

 

Happy Bean #1 - Fetching

 

Happy Bean #2 - Digging

 

Happy Bean #3 - Being delighted and adorable

 

It was also lovely because it was a bit grey and so no pugs overheated!

 

Upon arrival home, Bean boldly dissected his new favorite ball in order to remove the squeaker, and Frank strove, nobly but in vain, to keep his one eye open.

 

 

Indeed Frank! Vacation IS exhausting.

We were back just before it started to rain, yes RAIN (yay for poor California, I will try to bring it with me to Seattle) and were "forced" to settle in for a nap listening to the rain and the ocean.

 

(Yes, that is a lump of pugs under the covers)

 

The day concluded with some fresh fish (sold to stores right off of the boat down the road it Ft. Bragg).

I bought some for myself but it seemed only fair to also get a small filet for the furry handsomes as well.

 

 

Any guesses on how long it took for them to eat it all up?

6 seconds for  Bean.

                7 seconds for Frank.

Oh Frank! If only every day could be a vacation with you and your happy helper!

 

Road Trip! Day #1

 Well, the time has come to pack up our bags in the Bay Area and head up north, where we are dismayed that people are arriving in DROVES and fear it is turning into the new Bay Area. Frank & Bean are displeased by this turn of events.

 

As it has been a while since the pugs and I have had much of a break, we decided to wind our way up the Pacific Coast. Delightful! Our first stop was in at the Anderson Valley Brewery which makes the most delicious Boon't Amber Ale as well as Summer and Winter Solstice. Frank and I have enjoyed these beers for years and so were delighted to find that the brewery was right on the road to our first night's stop!

 

A new reason to like Anderson Valley Brewery? The ENTIRE facility is dog friendly. Well, maybe not the tours, I didn't ask, but the rest of it! Including the Tap Room and the Beer Garden!

We were so delighted that we made several purchases, displayed here by F&B:

 

 

Sadly I did not enjoy any sampling from the tap room as drinking and driving is not acceptable and I had precious pug cargo in the car to boot!

 

After the brewery, we headed to our first (and second actually) night's lodging in Westport, at an Airbnb that marketed itself as "Artists Oceanside House with Whale."

Hmm.

We were skeptical to say the least. Turns out there was no need! It is so very delightful; beautiful, quirky, clean, and comfortable! 

 

As far as the whale:

 

 

Now, to be fair, it may not look like much now, but from what I understand the ENTIRE thing is going to be mosaicked and I think quite fantastic. I would like to return to see it, and I think we will!

 

In addition, there are rather a lot of whales inside...

 

 

Frank, quit whispering to Bean.

 

 

 (We love that picture right above Frank, the tragedy of the whale ship Essex anyone?)

 

But! All of those small pictures that you see? Those are pieces of art made by guests! The owner leaves art supplies and paper and then frames them for the wall!

Delightful!

We wonder if ours will make the cut....

 

 

The view from the house, WITH a fenced in pug yard!

 

 

And within about 6 blocks, 3, yes 3! dog friendly beaches. We tried this one:

 

 

Frank was a bit dismayed about the copious amount of stairs, but I have been told not to coddle him so he boldly traversed the terrain on his own (I mean, with many verbal cues, but still!)

 

 

Oh BEAN! How picturesque you are there on that logt!

 

 

There was so much frolicking that we tuckered ourselves out and into a needed restful cuddle on the porch, watching the ocean and feeling RATHER content.

 

 

And after a little dinner and one of the delicious beers from the brewery visit, we were ready for a somewhat early bedtime.

 

Oh what's that Frank & Bean?

 

You are ever so exhausted from your day of travels that you can't possibly give up even one of those 7 pillows?

 

 

Oh my.

Yep, it is a rough life indeed for Frank & Bean.

 

Day 1 down!

San Francisco, The Good & The Bad Summer Time Edition... #2

Well, we have been a BIT delinquent on our San Francisco the Good & Bad posts because it turns out this little summer time stint was actually pretty delightful! And really, it just isn't as fun when there isn't something to fume about a bit!

 

So here we go with the Good:

 

Our dog walker in the East Bay. Penny.

We love her, and by love I mean the pugs go berserk when she arrives and then hide in her car when she drops them off so that they don't have to leave her. My sister and Penny literally had to corner Bean in the car one day to capture him. She has been taking the boys since 2011 and here is a snippet of the kind of delight they find in a day with her...

 

First there is the pick up, and I know you all might be concerned that Frank & Bean could suffer from having to be caged in the back of a doggie day care van...

 

 

Nope! Front seat it is!

 

And where might our handsome friends be going? For a simple walk around the park?

 

 

Heavens NO! Point Isabel Dog Park? Yes please!

While here the pack not only gets to swim but also usually gets to split a hot dog (all cut up for pups) from the dog/human snack stand.

 

Oh boys, delicious!

 

And of course I am certain that everyone is worried about wee Frank keeping up with the pack with his limited eye sight and arthritis...

No need!

 

 

What's that Frank?

 

 

Indeed! You are a very lucky pup. 

Thank you Penny for all of your love and care!

 

Now, for the bad (which also has a good silver lining, but that lining actually comes from Seattle)...

 

 

What you may not be able to see here is a wee bit of grey area on Frank's eye. Frank CAN NOT seem to come to SF and not poke his eye. I feel it is in protest. I watch him like a hawk, and I literally can never figure out how. It's hard having an eyeball that sticks out and can't really see so well!

 

At any rate, he poked his eye and we do not have his eye angel, Dr. Sullivan here to see him. So, we went to the emergency vet in Berkeley, and then we went back to their ophthalmologist, who we did NOT enjoy or trust. (We seem to have had NOT great luck with specialists here, but we do enjoy Dr. Hollenback at Broadway Pet Hospital for every day!)

This was followed by frantic communication and picture sending with Dr. Sullivan at the Animal Eye Clinic in Seattle, who literally swooped in and called in and saved the day, and the eye. Yet again. Twice, he called in two different prescriptions on two different days to two different pharmacies in SF/Oakland, while also saving the eyes of the pets of Seattle as well as their friends at the zoo and the aquarium and who even knows where else.

We pretty much think he is the best thing ever.

 

Oh Frank!! Who is so very lucky to have such wonderful humans in their life!!