Waiting for Speedway Fowler

Butternut Squash and Potatoes.








The turkey, almost done.


Keeping it warm.





The table, all set up.

Dessert.

The first Tatnuck (Tug No. 27) was laid down on 3 December 1918 by the Puget Sound Navy Yard as losco; launched on 21 February 1919; renamed Tatnuck on 24 February 1919; and placed in commission on 26 July 1919, Lt. (jg.) Christian Christensen in command.

Upon commissioning, Tatnuck was assigned to the 13th Naval District, which encompassed the Pacific northwest and the Alaskan coast. Designated AT-27 on 17 July 1920, she engaged in towing operations for almost all of her 27-year career. The only break came on 16 April 1944, when the Alaska area was established as a separate naval district-the 17th. She did a short tour of duty under the control of the Commandant 17th Naval District, before reverting to the 13th in May. On 15 May 1944, she was reclassified ATO-27.

The tug served just over two years under that designation in the 13th Naval District before being placed out of commission on 12 September 1946. Her name was struck from the Navy list on 29 October 1946. Tatnuck was delivered to the Maritime Commission for disposal on 26 April 1947 and subsequently was sold to the Puget Sound Tug and Barge Co.

The second Tatnuck (ATA-196) was laid down on 16 November 1944 at Orange, Tex., by the Levingston Shipbuilding Co.; launched on 14 December 1944; and commissioned on 26 February 1946, Lt. (jg.) John Pakron in command.

Following shakedown training in March, Tatnuck was briefly assigned to the Atlantic Fleet before being transferred to the Pacific Fleet with her home yard at Pearl Harbor. During the fall of 1946, the ocean tug saw service with the occupation forces in the Far East. On 26 January 1946, she steamed out of the lagoon at Eniwetok Atoll, reached Pearl Harbor on 19 February, and remained there until 30 April when she headed for Puget Sound. Tatnuck arrived in Bremerton, Wash., on 3 January 1947.

For the remainder of her Navy career, Tatnuck operated in the 13th Naval District. Generally, her range of operations extended from the ports of southern California north along the coast of North America and west to the Aleutian Islands. However during each of four of her last five years of service—1966, 1968, 1969, and 1970—she made a voyage to Balboa, the Pacific terminus of the Panama Canal. In the main, her duties consisted of ocean towing, target towing, and salvage work; but occasionally she was also called upon to assist scientists of the University of Washington's Applied Physics Laboratory in their research work for the Navy.

After more than 26 years of service, she was placed out of commission at Bremerton, Wash., on 1 July 1971 and berthed there with the Pacific Reserve Fleet. She was disposed of by sale in June 1979.

I have long had a great love for the ships of Woods Hole, whether it's the USCG cutters like the Bittersweet, or the WHOI research vessels like the Chain, I have followed their comings and goings for many years.

The MV Albatross IV pulled up at the dock for the last time last week.


Here's Bruce Burdett's account from EastBayRI.com

EAST BAY — In a somber ceremony steeped in tradition, captain and crew gave a final salute to the Woods Hole research vessel Albatross IV Thursday.

Once the decommissioning order was read, the ship’s wheel was secured and the running lights extinguished. Ship personnel struck eight bells signifying the end of the watch and then lowered the vessel’s flags. In keeping with tradition, the commissioning pennant was presented to the commanding officer and the U.S. flag to the crew member with the most years of service on Albatross IV. The commanding officer then relinquished command of the ship, which will remain in Woods Hole until Dec. 5, when it will sail to NOAA’s Marine Operations Center-Atlantic in Norfolk, Va. for retirement. “It is then available for other uses,” a NOAA spokesman said.

And so ended the career of a ship that had logged 45 years of federal fisheries research service and that was often seen on Buzzards Bay, Narragansett Bay and beyond. Albatross IV logged 453 research cruises and sailed an estimated 655,000 miles.

Its missions included assessing damage done by the North Cape oil spill in Rhode Island in 1996, and the 2003 oil spill disaster off Westport.

The vessel, operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has been replaced by the Henry B. Bigelow.

The occasion also marked the end of an even longer run.

Vessels named Albatross have done research work out of Woods Hole almost since the nation’s first biological station was established there in 1871 and Albatross I was built as the first fishery research vessel.

Much of the data used to determine the health of fishing stocks along the continental shelf from Canada south to Cape Hatteras, including Georges Bank, has been gathered by one Albatross ship after another.

Albatross IV was designed as a fishing trawler and research platform equipped to collect information on the distribution and abundance of cod, haddock, flounder, sea scallops and marine mammals as well as environmental factors that impact these creatures. It also responded to maritime emergencies and recovered an F-16 that crashed off New Jersey.

Taking part in Thursday’s ceremony were William J. Brennan, acting under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and acting NOAA administrator, and Rear Admiral Jonathan W. Bailey, director of NOAA Corps and NOAA Office of Marine and Aviation Operations.

Tonight at 8pm at the Colonial Theater in Keene, NH!

(spotted on Clark Street)

Went to the Sharks game tonight at the Centrum DCU Center, but the game against the Springfield Falcons never even started. A power outage during warm-ups forced the cancellation of play, but the team is letting fans use their tickets for ANY future game, which is cool.

After a lot of attempts to expand their product line with items that were, to be truthful, pretty awful (Panini sandwiches, iced tea) Dunkin Donuts has hit a home run with their new Chourico-Egg-and-Cheese Bagel Sandwich. It's AWESOME! The chourico is just spicy enough and it's a welcome departure from their other (more bland) fare.

The city should be making some sort of effort to preserve this stuff.

it's amazing.

World War I ended 90 years ago today.

For some unusual and poignant WWI history, check out the story of the Danger Tree.

I'm going through some photos downloaded over the past few weeks. This was from a couple of weeks ago in Montreal. This is in the NDG section of the city.

Okay, so it's not really a Warren Miller movie.

And, okay, it's not even really his narration. The audio track is just Miller's voice stitched together from past movies, because Warren is, like, a zillion years old, and, apparently completely out of it.

But you can be sure it WILL be amazing.

And it's a chance to see the latest product from the Miller Company on the big screen, and pay tribute to the man who had the most awesome job in the history of the world.

Tonight at 7.

Richard Clapton has long been one of my favorite singers. Down Under in his native Australia, he is regarded as the Springsteen/Dylan of his generation. He never became a big rock star in the U.S.... partly, I think for two reasons: he had no real desire for American-type mega-stardom, and he kinda looks a bit like comedian Marty Allen, which would tend to work against you here in the States. He doesn't exactly have that rock star sex appeal.

Anyways, his CDs are available on eBay. It's all great stuff.

Here's video of Clapton performing his 1977 song "Deep Water".



We used to go down to the beach at night
fireflies dancing in the promenade light.
Ah those rock 'n' roll bands used to really swing
and I'd do the foxtrot with sweet Christine
Speaking to me with her gentle hands
fly on down to wonderland

Deep water
I'm caught up in its flow
if I'm in over my head
I'd be the last to know
Deep water
Deep water

They closed down the doors to the Trocadero
and I came back looking just like a ghost.
Posters were scattered all over the stairs
Nobody reads them, nobody cares.
Kids are retired when they reach 21
really just ain't my idea of fun


[instrumental]

Sittin' out on the Palm Beach road
I'm so drunk and the car won't go.
My crazy eyes keep looking out to sea.
Sunday drivers are cruisin' around
wish they'd all go back to town
What the hell do they expect to find?
Sure as hell ain't peace of mind.

Deep water
Hold on
Hold on now

Looks like a new carry-out place is about to open in the former Early's Florists (And Tony Piscione's Clip Joint before that... and Meyer's Barber Shop before THAT) at the corner of Pleasant Street and Abbott Street. Can't wait. Hope they serve Chicken Mole!

I voted this morning at the temple on Chandler Street. I saw long lines when I first passed by, while taking the kids to school, but not so much by the time I arrived.

This one was built on the campus of Mass Maritime in Buzzards Bay. I think it's a lot bigger. I had a little trouble keeping the camera in focus, but you get the idea. It's pretty awesomely cool.

This is a really cool-looking vehicle. It has crisp lines, a great profile, an aggressive front grille and definite up-market appeal. It's also a perfect example of how out of touch American auto-makers are right now. The Flex would have been revolutionary ten years ago, but the world has changed. Ford is about to hit the market with a ton of these things... and NO ONE wants them. NO ONE. Nimble, adjustable, entire-life-in-a-duffle-bag is the vibe these days. Even for families. Detroit doesn't get it to such an extent that I have no idea how any of them are going to make it through the next ten years.