Along the Edge

Travel for the less than stupid.

2013-05-13T16:00:00.003-04:00

Travel is fun. You go new places, have new experiences, visit old favorites and just chill out. It can be reasonable in its costs or it can be as extravagant as you want. I just read short piece in a well-known travel magazine about skin care. As many of you know, I have been a boat captain for over 45 years. On the water usually for ten to twelve hours a day and I never, ever, never ever used lip balm thatcost eighteen dollars a tube! How stupid do have to be to fall for that kind of crap? Are you kiddingme? It’s frigging beeswax and maybe lanolin or some other tiny amount of another ingredient. Askany of the girls I’ve kissed over the years and I would bet that not one of them ever thought, “I don’tthink I’ll kiss him anymore. His lips are so rough. I wish he’d use that really stupid expensive lip balm.” Get yourself some Blistex Lip Balm and be done with it. Works great and it’s not very expensive. Or the next bit in the article that said to use skin cleanser to get the sand out of your skin. Out of your skin? How big are your pores?

Plus you cannot believe everything you read in high end magazines. They quite often get their facts wrong and they don’t take kindly to being corrected. Example, one recent article said that they only way to get to the Dry Tortugas off the Florida Keys was by boat. Not true, there are several airplanes that fly out to the Fort on a regular basis. Such as this service: Seaplane

Fancy rooms are nice, such as those at the Breakers in Palm Beach. But I’ve spent many a quality night in La Quinta Inns at very good rate. I rather have the money to go out and run around and do stuff. Yes, I know that are certain unidentifiable “perks” of staying a high end hotel, but if you want to travel a lot and you have to work for a living, you can expand your horizons by staying in a lower priced room.

I’m going to add to this article as I go along in the next few weeks.

So unless you overloaded with cash, use your head. The front of the plane actually gets on the ground seconds after the regular seats do. Save some bucks, unless you vacation involves staying the plane at your destination.

The Dock at Crayton Cove, Naples, Florida

2013-05-11T07:50:00.001-04:00

I like waterfront restaurants and generally the food, but not this one. The restaurant is fine, it overlooks the Naples Florida City Marina but the food was not very good. I ordered a pastrami sandwich and a Sprite. My server, Vicky, was great and even drew me a map to the City Zoo, but not even her great demeanor could make up for the poor sandwich. I'm pretty sure who ever made it in

The Dock from the Dock. Beautiful Setting.

the kitchen, never ate their own food. In the short time it took to come from the kitchen to my table, it had dissolved the bread on the bottom. That is because the coleslaw on the sandwich was on bottom and leaked through the bread and when I went to pick it up, it fell apart. I had to turn it over and eat it like an open-face sandwich. The pastrami must have been brought in from another city and thrown in the microwave just before serving. It was dry and actually a little stiff. Not a good thing for pastrami.

Inside the dock. Classic waterfront dining.

So while the server and the view were great,. I couldn't finish the sandwich. As I only ate there once I don't know how the other items might have been treated. But someone abused this sandwich

Observations

2013-04-10T17:53:00.002-04:00

Ever Wonder???

You want good gun control laws? Lock both houses of Congress in a room and make them look at the crime scene photos from Newtown. When they get done spewing up their guts from looking at little innocent children with their bodies torn apart from that Bushmaster rifle, you can bet we’ll see some reasonable legislation come about. Congress is full of cowards and bullies and they need to look into the what’s left of the little faces at that school to gain some perspective.

Why do makers of laundry detergent sell additives you put in your wash to get your clothes cleaner? Why don’t they just make their detergent clean better? Profits, of course.

If you are over 16, it is against the law to wear your hat backwards. If you do, it will be taken away and you’ll be sent to your room until you grow up.

Ron Burgundy, Anchorman is a documentary, not a comedy. Why don’t TV stations hire people with more than a 7^th grade education? They don’t know what a “quote” is or how to spell. Their graphics are usually wrong and don’t match what the newsreader is saying. The scrolls (the ticker) across the bottom of the screen usually have spelling and grammatical errors. In addition, they get well known facts wrong. The tallest mountain in the US is NOT Pike’s Peak. Even all this wouldn't be so bad in and of itself, but the local newsreaders have salaries that average well over $300,000 a year and Diane Sawyer's salary is over $12 million dollars year. She'll read anything on the teleprompter in front of her and she doesn't even write most of her own stories. If I were younger, I'd make run for news job in a heartbeat. Drunk bitch.

Local 6, NBC Miami, has no working e-mail links on their home page. Why? Because they have to renew their station license every once in a while and if the e-mail links don't work, they can say to the FCC they have few or no complaints about their service. Very clever. Of course Local 6 is one of the worst local news stations with more mistakes than Congress.

Remember, news people are hired for their looks, not their intelligence. Not ever.
Ever wonder what happens to the people who work as censors? Are they taken out and shot after their job is done? Do they go crazy and have to locked up with the criminally insane? They “guard” us from all the terrible things we might see on TV or in the movies. They are exposed to all sorts of things we need to be protected from. If the things they witness are so terrible and we have to be prevented from seeing them or we’ll be damaged. How do the censors survive?

Why do those virus computer programs they sell on TV not tell you they are the virus.

Whom Do They think They Are Kidding? Watch one of those really stupid “Most….” shows and they will show footage from a helicopter following a car chase. But they are not happy with just that, they have to add sound effects. Ever been in a helicopter? I have. Lots of them. You are not going to hear tires squealing and metal bending from a helicopter over the scene at 500 feet. The producers think they have to spice things up. And ever notice how they repeat every scene at least five times? That’s an improvement. They used to repeat them at least seven times. Really. Count them. I wonder when the TV stations decided to turn over their faculties to a bunch of twelve year olds. Want hear scorpions roar? Try the SciFi channel or whatever they are calling it now. What idiots.

NBA Finals are rigged. In my opinion, they are. There are seven games in the Finals series. How many times have the Finals been won in the first four games? Not many. Why? Money. The NBA doesn’t want to lose all those revenues from broadcasts, sales of gear, advertising etc. If the series ended in 4 games, they would lose three whole games of revenue. Or at least two. So the league tells the team leading at 3 games, they should lose the fourth so they (the league) can make their money. Oh, it will come across as the scrappy underdogs fought valiantly back in the fourth game and now maybe they have a chance to beat the other team. But it’s not about that or sportsmanship, it’s about money. It always is.

The Republican Party is the American Taliban. They say if you want an education you're snob. They are anti-science as per Todd Akin, Rick Santorum and others, they are against equal pay for women, they want to control women's reproduction and even contraception rights, they want to bring their religious beliefs into government rather than having a separation of church and state and the list goes on. These are dangerous and radical people. Especially the far right. Beware or you won't have any rights left. Example #6547 – Rep Senator from Tennesee, Stacel Campfiled said in a radio interview: “Most people realize that AIDS came from the homosexual community — it was one guy screwing a monkey, if I recall correctly, and then having sex with men. It was an airline pilot, if I recall. My understanding is that it is virtually — not completely, but virtually — impossible to contract AIDS through heterosexual sex...very rarely [transmitted]. What's the average lifespan of a homosexual? it's very short. Google it yourself."

Your vote does NOT count. Think so? Look up the electoral college process.
Sarah Palin will never win an election to a national office. No matter how pretty she is. Americans won't marry a piece of ass.

A Great Opportunity.
The elections are over and the country can get back to what it does best. Ignoring the issues that intrude on its self driven crazy cart to self destruction.
Here is what you at MSNBC can do to help. Put a gag in Chris Mathew's mouth and stuff him in a closet so he doesn't insult any more audience members like he did the is morning. And throw Chuck Todd in there also. He doesn't mind lying to your viewers to keep a story going. eg: When asked why he didn't pursue a story about Rick Santorum that would have effectively ended his campaign run, Chuck said on air, "It's in our best interest to keep this going." Showing a blatant disregard for integrity and journalistic honesty. Well maybe he was more honest than he intended.
Anyway, you can relieve the viewing public of having to listen to their incessant babbling about things they only cover to promote their own careers and get us into stories that really matter, Al Sharpton. Put him in the closet too. Remember Tawana Brawley?

Leave them all in there for 3 years and 11 months. If they still want to come out they can have 15 minutes a day to try and convince us they know what they are talking about. Otherwise, slam, back in closet till the next election cycle.

Never hire an account to run your business. They are tools, in every sense of the word to bu sued to make your business better, but they categorically lack imagination.

Giant squids creep me out.

I don’t ever want to feel I’m too old to have a dream.

I hate auctioneers.

After 4 million years of evolution, if women were supposed to be in charge, they would be.

The brilliant medical reporter for local (Miami) channel 10 news, Kristi Kruguer, reported that one of the people who died in the Boston Marathon bombing was missing their torso and later died from heart failure. Gee, you think Kristy?

Bonefish Grill - Truly Exceptional

2013-04-08T10:31:00.005-04:00

Every once in awhile you stumble on to a place that is so exceptional you can hardly believe it, and Bonefish Grill is one of those places.

I had never been to a Bonefish Grill but was being treated for my birthday. As it is in a large strip mall, I wasn’t expecting much. We walked in and were greeted by a host who seated us near the windows. Shortly there after a party of about six arrived with a small child. I thought that my lunch was taking a turn for the worse when lo and behold, the host seated them several tables away. I was able to catch the host’s attention and thanked him for not putting the party right behind us. He said that he understood and he liked to have some room when he ate also. If only more restaurants would follow this lead instead of seating everyone at one table after another because it is more convenient for the servers. The place is nicely decorated with hard wood floors and had soft jazz playing on the speakers,. Then things became even better.

Our server, Alyssa, (and I hope I spelled her name correctly) took our drink order and brought us fresh, warm bread. We had arrived around noon, as they open at 11:00AM on Sundays and 4PM during the week so the place wasn’t crowded. We looked over the Brunch menu but decided to order from the regular menu. We both had the Long Tail Tilapia, she with Lemon Butter sauce and I with Pan Asian. I had the Garlic Whipped potatoes and she ordered the French Green beans. The Lemon butter speaks for itself. Wonderful on the fish. My dinner partner ordered the butter on the side which I believe was a good choice as it may have been a little much if ordered directly on the fish. The taste was remarkable. Light and seasoned perfectly.

The Pan Asian is a very light soy sauce which I ordered on the fish. I was amazed that neither topping over powered the fish. With my Pan Asian, you could taste the soy sauce but the flavor of the really fresh fish came through from underneath. The fish appeared to have shaved carrot strands on top also. My friend and I commented throughout the meal about the fish, which also came with a side of Garbanzo beans with spinach and diced onions mixed in.

My roommate’s appetite in notoriously undersized as she has been known to eat only half a child’s meal, finished the whole fillet. I can honestly say, I’ve never had finer seafood and have paid many times more for a lot less.

Pleasantly full, but not bursting at the seams, I decided since it was birthday meal, to go for desert. Alyssa mentioned they had strawberry short cake that day. I can hardly resist strawberry short cake, so I let go the Key Lime pie option I normally have and went for the cake. Alyssa informed us that the short cake was actually a biscuit. Think biscuits and gravy biscuit. I said fine.

When she returned, I thought she was carrying a tray. It turned out to be the shortcake. The biscuit was cut in half and stuffed with whipped cream. On top of that were what appeared to be fresh sliced strawberries. Around that was an amazing surprise, Crème Brule sauce. This added a truly amazing taste to an already wonderful desert.

What a wonderful finish to a truly fantastic meal. If the Bonefish Grill is always this good, you needn’t go anywhere else for dinner. Truly exceptional.

http://www.bonefishgrill.com/

10197 West Sunrise Blvd.
Plantation, FL 33322
Phone: (954) 472-3592

Dog Stars by Peter Heller

2012-12-26T17:39:00.003-05:00

It never gets off the runway.

The 1940's and 1950's they didn't have Gen Y or Gen X. They didn't have hippies or yuppies. But they did have the beat generation. Hipsters, cool daddies. Like wow man. They met in dark smoke filled basement clubs and listened to cool poetry and showed their appreciation for the disjointed spoken word by snapping their fingers. They were just too cool to clap. Snap for crap. That's what most of it was and why it didn't survive except in the minds of a few goatee wearing mental midgets.

Peter Heller is a fan of this bygone era I believe. His book seems to follow the broken sentences and thoughts of that era.

Readers make an investment in an author and his style. It's very hard to get invested in odd sentence structure. Broken. It is very disconcerting to be reading and have a sentence end abruptly and then to be followed by a single word. Like it or not Mr. Heller, it doesn't work in poetry and it doesn't work here. It's just plain annoying.

Like young high school girls who throw phrases in French into their conversations to make themselves sound witty and sophisticated. They are not either. So shut up. As if.

The book is about a post apocalyptic US and a man, his plane and a very grumpy friend with a gun.You'd think it would be pretty cool, but it just doesn't resonate.Mr. Heller commits the biggest sin in publishing. His story is boring.

The descriptions are just that. They do not move one or evoke a sense of place. If you want to read writing that will draw you into the terrain, read the first four pages of Hemingway's "Islands in the Stream." If that's too long for you, read the first two paragraphs. That's how you write a description that does more than describe. The descriptions in this book were beyond flat. I actually started skipping them altogether; I'd scan the paragraphs for key words in case some "action" or important detail was hidden there. Otherwise this book could have been a third shorter.

Mr. Heller may have learned to fly but he apparently didn't learn anything about airframe maintenance. If he had, he would have known that his plane would have shaken itself to pieces after so many years without replacing some of those pop rivets. But that is a whole other critique. Later. Snap. Snap.

Charlotte's Story - A Book Review

2012-07-09T15:20:00.001-04:00

Thousands of books have been written about the Florida Keys and I have read many of them, but there is something special about this one. No real fancy writing and clever turns of phrase. Just an honest account of a woman and her husband in the early to mid-thirties living on a then remote key called Elliot. Not far from Miami, especially by today’s standards, it is whole other world.

Corralling conchs for dinner and for bait, wrestling with thorny lime trees and sand flies they called flying teeth. Running around naked unless they have visitors and beachcombing in a pristine environment that provided for most of their needs and the golden silence.

Much of their story takes place during prohibition. They seemed to feel like most that prohibition was wrong and they stayed out of the fray. Minding their own business pays off handsomely later. But they didn't like people smugglers or dope runners. Except for a character name Bill who threatened to kill both of them for interfering with his plans, they got on well with the people who showed up at the oddest times at their little house in mangroves. And Charlotte runs him off with her knife. Pretty brave act for anyone, let alone a five foot tall woman armed with only a knife while facing a man armed with a gun which he had drawn on her. That takes guts.

The husband is a little condescending towards her, her being a girl and a city girl at that. But Charlotte holds her own with style. You know that if she didn’t want to be there, she wouldn’t have been. Russ, the husband taught her many things. How to repair an outboard engine, how to run a boat and how to navigate. Even though she doesn’t say much in her narrative, you get the feeling she taught him a few things along the way also. A very different culture in those days.

In some ways, I wish the narrative had been longer. What it must have been like to ride out one of the worst hurricanes to ever hit the Keys, the big blow of 1935! Around 800 people were killed by water that was over 20 feet deep on Islamorada. Today, with population being so high, one can only imagine what kind of destruction there would be with a repeat hurricane. How her husband Russ and Hemingway shared drinks days after the hurricane in a bar would have been great to read more about.

The friendships they built, the people they call “borrowers” and the families who thought they were out of their minds for living so remotely all tell their own stories in this book. Great photos also.

If you love the Keys and wonder what it may have been truly like to live there in another time, this is the book for you.

What a pleasure.

Thanks to Capt.Toye Stevens for the loan of the book. She said to pass it on and I am.

Charlotte's Story

St. Augustine Florida Historic and Fun

2012-06-21T17:19:00.001-04:00

St. Augustine. If you have lived in Florida or South Georgia for any length of time you are familiar with the name. It is a place that floats around the conscience like a good dream. Many people have visited it once, long ago or mean to soon. It is always there and everyone knows its name.

The original City gate.

Rumor has it that this is a very old city. Sixty or seventy years old. Maybe even eighty. I have my doubts. Did they even have traffic lights and cross walks seventy years ago? I think not. I decided to look around despite my misgivings.

Much to my surprise, most of the city had been covered up by a fort. The fort was probably built by the WPA. Created by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, they built it to look like a fort from the 1560’s to attract tourists to the mosquito feeding grounds so popular during the early part of the twentieth century.

More checking turned up the fact that St. Augustine is actually the oldest continually occupied city in the nation. Officially established in 1565, people have lived here ever since. Not like those quitters in Virginia.

One of the nice things about St. Augustine is that many of the attractions are within walking distance of each other. Park at the Historic Center parking garage near the Visitor's Center. You should be aware that once you leave the garage with your car, you will have to pay again. So plan to park there for as long as you can. When I was there, the fee was $10.00 Not bad at all. The garage is very convenient to the fort, literally right across the street. You can walk through the Visitors Center just to the East of the garage and then on to the fort. The people in the Center are very friendly and knowledgeable. It’s worth stopping in and saying hello.

The stage at the Visitors Center.

The fort is a little surprising at first. You would expect this huge massive structure, but it is not. It’s built fairly low and close to the ground. However, it has withstood many attacks over the years from the British, the Indians and other ne’er do wells looking to move in. It is surrounded by a moat that could have been filled with tarantulas, but more likely water. Either way, it would have been very difficult to breach those walls. Made of mortar and seashells, they actually absorbed hits from cannonballs and other projectiles, giving the invading Huns fits. The fort was also attacked by the governors of Georgia and South Carolina, but it was never taken.

Draw bridge over the moat.

There several options for getting around St. Augustine. You may go by horse drawn carriage, by bike, on foot, by pirate ship, or by trolley. You can fly over the city in a biplane or ride in a helicopter and prices are reasonable. If you can, tour the town on foot. It is a relatively easy walk with lots of places to sit on St. George St and of course in the cafes, bakery shops, ice cream parlors and coffee stops. A little something for everyone. Take one of the two trolley systems. The Old Town Trolley or the Ripley’s (of Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum fame) Red Trolley system. Neither is cheap, but you get three or more days to use your passes. You could ride around on your first day, pick out the spots you want to go back to and maybe walk on the second or third day. If someone in your party is not able to walk in the heat and humidity of summer, taking one is a great option. Hop on and off at over twenty different stops.

On St. George St., the main avenue in old town, there are variety of shops. From a magic shop to lady's fancy lingerie. There are plenty of shaded areas to walk in and lots of benches to sit on. Take your time and stroll. Most shops don't open till after 9:30 AM, so no rush to get in early.

A must see is the oldest school house. Amazing that the kids could learn anything with all the tourists walking around. Kids think they have it tough now, wait until they see this. There is a real anchor and chain draped around the building. Why? To keep if from being blown away during hurricanes. It must have worked as it’s still standing.

The fort and Spanish town are rich in history and taking them in at a comfortable pace it can make for a very full day. This is a great place for history buffs, children and just strolling. Children can get bored easily, especially in the heat, so go to a place like the Pirate’s Museum or if you are out and about in the evening, a really fun adventure is the Ghost Tour!

Close by to the historic district is Flagler College and the Lightner Museum. This is a must see stop for anyone interested in antiques and the history for Florida in the 1800’s. A treasure trove of wonderful items from clothing to home décor. Leave plenty of time to see this exhibit. At the above link is a virtual tour which while not the same as being there, is quite good. Some of the photos can be viewed in 360 degrees. Worth a look.

If you are older than you wish to be, try the Fountain of Youth. It may help. I look 10 years younger now, A fresh and spritely 80. How cool. Need a little redemption and historical art, try the Shrine. Want to get on the water for a little while, take the tour on a sightseeing boat, here.

The man can tell a story. Stop by and get his unique take on the history of the area.

Of course there is also the Lighthouse. Nice grounds and plenty of history also, along with ghost tours. Nice to be 200 feet in the air and have the crap scared out of you by a ghost. There are 219 steps to the top for great views. I think they made it taller since I was there over 30 years ago. Well, at least it SEEMED taller. Stop and see the man on the path sitting at a table for a great oral history of the lighthouse and surrounding area. He’s a great story teller. . You have to drive over to the beach but it is definitely worth it.

Take at least one bottle of water for each person as walking can dehydrate you quickly, especially in the summer months.

A note about the links in this article. There are several that appear under the name St. Augustine. They are different, so explore. For a comprehensive history of the city, go to this link: History.

St. Augustine has a lot to offer. Make it your next family vacation. I’m beginning to believe it might be older than I first thought. Such rich history. Such fun. A rare combination.

Saltwater Cowboys - A Restaurant

2012-06-17T11:44:00.001-04:00

Recommended by a friend who went there 12 years ago, I was eager to try place. I arrived about a half hour before it opened, at 5 PM. It started to rain and thunder and the staff let us in early. The place has a great vibe inside. Steam bent pine (?) furniture and cool decorations.My waitress, Katrina, was very prompt and very nice.I decided to with the broiled Talapia stuffed along with baked beans and cheese bread and iced tea. I had heard about the salad dressing and I was not disappointed. Actually brought a quart jar home. The fish was brought in hot and really quick. It struck me as having been filleted, stuffed and frozen and then shipped to the restaurant. It was actually very good, but its texture was not what I expected from fresh. The bake beans were good, but not memorable. Katrina could not have been nicer. I asked several employees about the rumored long lines. They said that during the peak season, July and August, there could be a wait of about 45 minutes to an hour. But they serve drinks through a wind on the outside deck. I went a little before opening and in June and actually went back a few days later and there were no lines. So go early and not in the middle of the season if you can. Great interior and a wonderful view of the salt marsh. Probably can be a little buggy in line near sunset. It's a marsh after all. Plan your visit and be just a little patient. The food and the service doesn't disappoint. Great place

Mystic Seaport - Stepping Into the Living Past

2011-11-09T14:57:00.003-05:00

Mystic Seaport

You are standing at the rail of your ship as she races home with a bone in her teeth. Gone almost two years, you can smell land even though it is only smudge on the horizon. With every smooth rise and fall of the hull, you know you are getting closer. The crew is oddly quite. No boisterous calls of land ho, but everyone knows where they are now.

Soon the ship rests in her slip. Sailors make their way down the gangplank, many headed for their homes in Mystic, Connecticut, others to lodgings at the inns and taverns and yet others head to distant cities to try to find another berth. As you leave her, you throw a glance over your shoulder. You smile a bit, good to be home and now you're leaving the ship that has been your home for so long and has carried you half way around the world.

As much as the crew needs rest and time to refresh themselves, so do the ships that carried them to far-flung parts of the world, past the places where the charts tell them, "There be monsters here."

At Mystic Seaport, the Henry B. duPont Preservation Shipyard is where you can watch artisans restore antique vessels using traditional methods and tools. Logs and rough wood planking are delivered to the yard where craftsmen work with traditional tools to shape the wood and make the iron fittings for the ships that lay alongside the wharfs.

I wandered around the yard, looking at the various shops where children can make their own model ships to where actual parts are made and repaired for the museum's collection of old boats and ships. Since it was cold the day I visited, I followed my nose to a building with a place to burn real wood. I figured this would be a great place to get warm. I found more than I bargained for. Inside was William "Bill" Scheer. Mr. Scheer is one of the blacksmiths who works in the yard. He is also an instructor for various blacksmithing classes, both here and at a nearby college.

Bill showed me around the shop. The variety of tools was overwhelming, but he seemed to know what each is used for and how to maintain it. They have a hand run drill press that Bill estimates to over 100 years old. "Keep the fly wheel well oiled and tighten things as they need and the tools will last a long time. " The proof is here in this shop.

At first, I thought the blacksmith shop was just an exhibit, but Bill told me quite simply that for the yard and boats in her, "We make what we need," said Bill. Deceptively simple. They make the drift pins for the keel, the fittings for the mast hoops and every other metal fitting that may be needed. Bill spent time going over the various tools and the fittings for the ship. I could not have asked for a better presentation. A group of schoolchildren came in and Bill's face lit up like one of his forges. These kids were luckier that they knew. Bill and I shook hands and parted company.

As I made my way through the yards, I came across the woodshed. Outside, but in a covered area, was a huge band saw. Men were sawing full sized logs into rough planking that would soon find its way to the Charles W Morgan, which had pulled from the water to be refitted. There is an incredible amount of work that needs to be done before the lumber is taken to the ship itself and then even more is needed to fit each piece perfectly. The open sea is no place to find a plank that doesn't fit as she should and is now letting in water. These careful craftsmen and women will make sure the vessel will be ready for the Roaring 40's should he captain wish to take her there to pursue the whales that lie on the other side of the world.

"The "crown jewel" of Mystic Seaport's collection, the Charles W. Morgan has outlived all others of her kind. Built in 1841 at the yard of Jethro and Zachariah Hillman in New Bedford, MA, the Morgan is America's last surviving wooden whaleship and a precious piece of maritime history.

The Morgan's overall length is 113 feet, with a 27-foot 6-inch beam and depth of 17 feet 6 inches. Her main truck is 110 feet above the deck; fully-rigged, and she is capable of carrying approximately 13,000 square feet of sail. The huge try-pots used for converting blubber into whale oil are forward; below are the cramped quarters in which her officers and men lived for years at a time."

The above two paragraphs are from the Mystic Seaport pages ( http://www.mysticseaport.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.viewpage&page_id=B3E63C64-B3CA-45AE-A83D72C303A9C6B )

We now understand how wrong whaling is and have stopped the process in most places through out the world. But if you have an interest in America's nautical heritage, this is a place you must visit. The friendly staff and the wonderful exhibits will take you back to a bygone era.

The Charles Morgan is now in dry dock for refitting and should be back in the water in 2013.(Quality workmanship takes time after all.) So please call ahead to see what exhibits might not be open. As of now, you can still board the Morgan while she undergoes refitting.

There are many exhibits to ignite the imagination of young seafarers and displays and real ships to board for old sailors and those that love the sea. This is a must see exhibit.

I would go a little earlier in the year. I went in October and the wind coming off the water was a little bit chilly for this South Florida boy. But don't miss it just because it's winter if that's the only time you can go.

A roving you should go, matey.

A thing about Connecticut drivers. They love to tailgate. They'll change lanes just to tailgate. And I know tailgating being from here. Just be aware of it as it can be a little unnerving on the many two lane roads in the area.

Contact info: http://www.mysticseaport.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.viewPage&page_id=1
Mystic Seaport
P.O. Box 6000
75 Greenmanville Avenue
Mystic, CT 06355-0990

Phones: General Information: 860.572.5302 or 888.973.2767
Visitor Services: 860.572.0711

Florida Eco Safaris - Through the Tree Tops

2011-09-20T14:08:00.004-04:00

Ever wanted to sail through the treetops like the kids in the movie ET? Long to take your mountain bike to new heights? Do you want to really commune with nature on its own terms? If you have never been in the deep woods of Florida, you have a few surprises coming.

Not too far from the Mouse House is a refreshing step back into the real Florida. Florida Eco Safaris and Forever Florida offer a unique look at a Florida many of us have forgotten. Instead of the concrete envelope looming overhead as in Miami, Jacksonville or Ft. Lauderdale, here the canopy is made of what it should be. Trees. What better way to see nature in its natural state than from a bicycle that roams the tree tops.

Nowhere else in the United States can you experience nature by being on top of it all, on a bicycle, and the perspective is eye opening.

From left to right; Kristen, Leslie & Emily

Your adventure starts at the reception desk. Greeted warmly by the staff, you will have some paperwork to fill out and instructions and cautions will be given. I was walked through the process by Emily, Kristen and Leslie, who later turned out to be our swamp coach driver. I had made a reservation the day before for the early morning Cycle in the Canopy, as I wanted to avoid the day's heat as much as possible. Didn't work. More on that later. The check-in process was smooth and the women really know their jobs. They know their stuff and you can tell it's not a memorized script. During check in you will be asked several questions to determine if your chosen activity is suitable for you. This is not a ride. You participate fully in your outdoor adventure. There are easy adventures, such as the swamp coach tour or slightly more strenuous ones, such as the Cypress Canopy Cycling tour. The ranch is so large and diverse there is something for everyone. All physical skill levels can be accommodated.

I asked about the history of the 4,700 acre ranch, and the staff told me how it was the dream of the deceased son of the Broussard family. Allan Broussard grew up here and his life ended far too soon at the age of 28 after battling Hodgkin's disease. His dying wish was the continued preservation of the area in as much of a natural state as possible. His family makes sure his wish is fulfilled every day.

Leslie rounded up our diverse group, some Zip Liners and I, the intrepid cyclist. We boarded the coach, a swamp buggy, and rumbled, rocking and rolling, into the hinterlands of the ranch. Leslie filled us in on some of the history of the ranch and pointed out wildlife such as alligators, horses, several breeds of cows and even deer as we made our way to the interior of the ranch. Ask her where the hamburgers for the café and grill come from. We passed workers who were building even more adventure trails and lines and soon arrived at our destination. We split off into our respective groups. Zip liners one way and I, sole cyclist in another.

Jessica demonstrates the proper technique for riding the Canopy Cycle.

A very professional staff greeted me. They asked again if I had any issues that might keep me from participating and I replied I did not. I am an older, out of shape boat captain who still thinks he is thirty-five, but I was determined to do this. Despite their misgivings, we pressed on. I was advised to take everything out of my pockets, as the motion of pedaling could cause items like wallets and keys to fall out and into the waiting jaws of a thirteen-foot alligator named George. They locked everything up and on we went. Jessica and the people on the staff cinched me into a safety harness and then adjusted the cycle's seat to meet my leg length. While doing so, they told me to watch for wildlife along my path, although it would be below me.

Trussed up and in place, they gave me water for my trip. Do not turn this down. You'll need it, especially if the weather is warm. A few more reminders about what to do and what to look for and I was off. As they had informed me, the first third of the track was slightly uphill. After bit of trial and error, I struck peddling rhythm that worked quite well. Looking down from the lofty cycle was unique. I have spent a lot of time humping through the underbrush, but never gliding over it. By the time I reached the top of the first incline, I was proud of my accomplishment and thoroughly soaked in perspiration. I took a quick breather, as per Jessica's instructions and admired the view. Up ahead, the forest closed in and I was looking to get out of the sun.

It can be a little disconcerting to be hanging underneath the cable on your cycle twenty-five feet in the air and realize that you are the engine. No motors or gears on tracks to pull you along. You peddle or you do not go anywhere. I pushed on. I heard screams in the distance and smiled smugly to myself as I pictured my fellow adventurers slamming in to trees at twenty miles an hour while I serenely peddled in the shade of slash pines and cypress trees. Turns out their yells were of pure joy. They were having so much fun they could not contain themselves.

I was about half way along the course when some movement below me caught my eye. Two deer walked casually below through the swampy water, while hardly taking notice of me. Their tan backs dappled by sunlight they made their way silently through the area. This is wild Florida and I could have seen a Florida panther or even bears.

Jessica had offered me two bottles of water, which I declined, taking only one. It was gone, and now I was wishing I had the other. I am sure they had told me the first part was on an incline and yet ahead of me sloped up into the sky what seemed to be one of the cables from the Golden Gate Bridge. I pushed on.

I made it. Just barely. I peddled with everything I had and when I reached the top, a very welcome downward slope greeted me. I took another break and then glided down the next section. I made my way around to the pond where the gator, George, lives. Jessica had assured me he was not the jumping kind, but I went past his pond at top speed, looking at a cable I could swear was a lot thinner than the section than the one that was in the relatively safe woods. George, like the deer, ignored me and I sailed on. I assume he is related to the gator who took Captain Hook's arm in Peter Pan. I could swear I heard the ticking of an alarm clock off in the distance.

Photo courtesy of Florida Eco Safaris

Back out in the open and away from the trees, a small plain stretched out around me. It was so quiet I could hear frogs chirping the distance. I rested again, not wanting to show off for the staff by completing the course before dark. The perspective from my perch was amazing. Vistas seldom seen by those on the ground stretched out before me.

I was the only one on the early morning ride, but I knew the staff wanted to be home in time for supper, so I peddled on. The humidity was high and I had lost a lot of water so I was anxious to get back. Up ahead, the bright yellow shirts of the staff were visible on the platform. I peddled as if I knew what I was doing and reached home safely. I climbed out of the bike with their help and made a dash for the water.

After I shed my harness and was settled, my traveling companions returned from their zip line adventure. Four of them in a row with what looked like one big smile. They had had great time crossing rope bridges and flying down cables over the prairie. I can tell you, I am pretty sure they didn't have as much fun as I did. Or maybe they did. Either way, it was a great adventure. I tipped my crew. Watch for separate tip jars for the Zip Liners and the Cycle crew. Make sure you tip the right team. They deserve it.

We rode back with Leslie who told us even more about life on the ranch. There are horseback rides, cattle roundups, bird watching, swamp coach rides and camping. Something for every level of excitement and age group.

Reservations are recommended and there is a strict policy about canceling, so make sure you understand what is required. The ranch is open 365 days a year, rain or shine, and unless there is dangerous weather like lightning or such, events go on.

This is wild Florida and you never know what will be around the next bend. Watch out for fire ants. Their little sandy mounds can be seen from time to time and a fire ant's bite can be very painful. Watch where the kids step.

If you are looking for an alternative to the hustle and bustle of Orlando/Kissimmee area, this is your spot. Fun, exciting, remote and even educational in way you and your kids will enjoy, Florida Eco Safaris cannot be beat.

Check the web site for a complete listing of activities available. You're going to love this place!

Doc Ford's Rum Bar and Grille

2011-08-27T09:52:00.007-04:00

Let me preface this review with a bit of an explanation. I do not have a sophisticated palette. If I eat out when I am working, I usually just grab some standard fast food fair. But every once in a while, I like to treat myself. I don't know much about ingredients. I have actually been accused of burning water, so no chef am I.

The last time I saw saffron, it was a triple word score on a Scrabble board. I wouldn't know a béarnaise sauce if it came up and bit me on the ass, but I do appreciate good food and good service. That is what you can expect at Doc Ford's.

Doc Ford is a marine biologist in a series of great books by author Randy Wayne White. A good read in the vein of Steinbeck's Cannery Row and John McDonald's Travis Mcgee series.

Doc Ford's Front entrance, Ft. Myers

Doc Ford's on San Carlos Bay, at Matanzas Pass just before Ft. Myers Beach is a great spot for lunch or dinner. It sits overlooking the bay and the adjacent marina. Just off in the distance is where the commercial fishing fleet docks. Mostly shrimp boats with their rigs raised in salute as they return with the day's catch.

Large windows face the bay giving diners a great view of the boat traffic. I chose to dine inside because it was 94 degrees outside. Over the years, I've proven my ability to eat under almost any conditions. Such as in the cockpit of a sailboat in ten foot seas on a delivery, where no matter how good and warm the food was in the galley ten minutes ago, in the cockpit it tastes like cold oatmeal made with sea water. If the weather is right, there are several outdoor dining areas, all with a view. Inside the main dining room, there are two levels. I was on the second level as there were no seats empty near the windows.

Outdoor seating for weather where the temps are lower than 110 degrees.

My server, Nicole, a bright and attractive girl, brought me a menu and returned quickly with my big glass of iced tea.

When I eat at a restaurant for the first time, I like to think about what I'd like and then try to match my bright idea with something on the menu. I've had a lot of fish over the years, caught by me, prepared usually by more competent souls and have enjoyed many a good fry up. Fish buried in batter is just that. You quite often don't actually taste the fish itself. You taste the batter. There is nothing wrong with that as there are many fine ways to batter fish that lend a great taste to it. This time I wanted grilled.

The choices were confusing to someone with a drive up mentality.

DEEP WATER MAHI-MAHI - freshly filleted mahi-mahi seared in sweet soy sauce, placed on a jasmine rice stir fry with a prickly pear ginger vinaigrette. $19.95

Or, BANANA LEAF SNAPPER - snapper wrapped in a banana leaf lined with Masa Harina, Ancho Chili Purée and Pine Island lime juice. Steamed, paired with black beans and rice with a Dynamite Lime Cilantro Roasted Pepper pesto. $21.95

Or, CEDAR PLANK SALMON - freshly cut salmon filet topped with a mango chipotle glaze, served with au gratin potatoes, wilted spinach and caramelized mushrooms. $21.95

Or yet again, ACHOATE GRILLED GROUPER - fresh grilled grouper seasoned with a blend of South American spices, served with saffron rice mixed with broccoli and mushrooms, topped with pineapple salsa. $24.95

I chose the Deep Water Mahi-Mahi. I've never heard of anything else in the description, except for the mahi-mahi. I was amazed. A large two piece slab of Mahi on top of the rice. The rice has veggies in it, like little tops of broccoli, onions and some other things I didn't recognize. I now like sweet soy sauce and prickly pear ginger vinaigrette.

Mahi-Mahi is easy to screw up. Overcook it and it comes out like rubber chicken. Undercook it and it tastes like wallpaper paste. This was done perfectly. There was not a scrap of Mahi or a grain of rice left when I finished.

Nicole kept my iced tea topped up without me asking. And then she pulled a very classy move. I was about half way through with lunch, and since there were no tables left on the lower level, she had to seat a couple near me. I thought, "Oh well, I'm sure they'll be quiet and let me finish in peace." Well, Nicole put them two tables down. When I commented to her that I appreciated that move, she replied, "I don't like have people seated on top of me either." Almost every other restaurant I've visited seated everyone at one table after another, even if there were open seats where everyone could have some space. I know it is easier for the servers, but it makes all the difference in the world to the diners. Nicole's tip went up right there.

Pretty full, but still having small hole in my appetite, I looked at the desert menu. I judge quite harshly seafood restaurants by their Key Lime pie and almost everyone one of them serves some version of it. Some have it brought in from Key West, which is very, very good Key Lime pie and others buy local with mixed results.

Outdoor seating overlooking the waterway.

Doc's makes their own. It came on a chilled plate/bowl about the size of Frisbee. The slice was man sized, not one of those little thin slices that the ladies like to share. ( I appreciate the effort ladies, but I'm a guy.) It had whipped cream to one side with a mint sprig on top Don't eat the mint sprig. It sticks to your teeth and is not as tasty as it sounds. On the other side was, and I'm guessing here, was raspberry sauce. Whatever it was, it was gone with the pie.

That did it. Pleasantly stuffed, I shuffled towards the door and went to my room to take a nap.

I am not qualified to be a restaurant critic in any way except that I know what I like. My grandmother said I was a meat and potatoes kind of guy. Well, Grandma, I like fish too. This was truly one of the best meals I've had in a long time.

You'll be hungry by the time you find the place too. While visible form the bridge going over to Ft. Myers Beach, you going to have rough time finding how to get there. You'll need Capt. Jack Sparrow's compass from Pirates of the Caribbean, "an island that cannot be found, except by those who already know where it is hidden." Captain Sparrow uses his unique compass - rather than pointing north, it points to what its holder wants most, and you'll want this restaurant.

You have to go under the bridge on a little road that is not well marked. There is a sign for Doc's next to a bus bench if you are coming from the east. That's it. Well worth the effort though.

Doc Fords Ft Myers Beach
708 Fisherman's Wharf
Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931-2204
(239) 765-9660
www.docfords.com

Jekyll Island, Georgia

2011-08-08T08:47:00.000-04:00

TheJekyll Island Club

Southern Comfort At Its Best.

Photo courtesy of the Jekyll Island Club

"Have someone bring up some coffee, and strawberries in fresh cream, please. Thank you." You replace the phone and stroll out onto your balcony. The soft click of croquet balls reaches you. Below, ladies in traditional white, move silently around the green velvet carpet of grass, lining up their next wicket shot.

Photo courtesy of the Jekyll Island Club

The sun is still below the tops of the one hundred and fifty year old oak trees bearded in Spanish moss. Turning back into the room you ask, "Should I have the Rolls brought around?" On this island it's hard not to imagine yourself as one of the elite in a bygone era. Here, the crème de la crème once sought quiet months of solitude hidden away from the pressures of business. Yet, in the paneled smoking rooms of the Jekyll Island Club, the very foundation of modern banking, the Federal Reserve System was hammered out. Even here, in the quiet solitude that only the richest of the nation's capitalists could afford, the demands of business interrupted vacations.

The Turret Room. Great romantic rental. Photo courtesy the Jekyll Island Club

All that has changed for the better. Where once the captains of industry strolled, couples now ride bikes and walk wooded trails. At the dock where J.P. Morgan tied up his 340-foot yacht, the Corsair II, lovers watch the sun set over the salt marshes of Georgia's Golden Isles. Jekyll Island retains the ambiance of its moneyed past. Quiet lanes wind past private homes with lush green lawns. The multimillionaire's summer cottages of yesteryear, which even by today's standards are luxurious homes, sit silently, their vacant windows overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway. Jekyll Island is for those wanting to immerse themselves in the restive atmosphere of what was once called ". . . the most exclusive playground in the United States," without breaking the bank.

For modern day business moguls and mavens looking for a way to unwind, Jekyll Island has much to offer. There are four golf courses, including the nine hole Oceanside Course, which has been played for almost a century.

Circling and intersecting the island are twenty miles of bike and jogging paths. The paths parallel the roads around most of the island. There are very few instances where you will share the roadway with vehicles, making it a safe and enjoyable way for to tour the island. And what jogger wouldn't be inspired on their early morning run by spotting the fleet-footed deer as they make their way through the pines that line the paths?

Biking is a great way to spend a day touring the island. Bikes are available from several different vendors. You can rent them from the mini-golf course, most hotels, the airport, the Jekyll Island Marina, or at the campground. Have your hotel pack you a picnic lunch and head to the beach.

One of the most underrated activities is hardly an activity at all. Lounging. At the Jekyll Island Club, balconies and porches with wide brimmed overhangs, surround the hotel. Pull up a comfortable chair or lounge, order a drink from the bar, and pretend you own the place. Or you may wish to go beach combing, strolling the nine miles of sand on the island, while the Atlantic washes away your footsteps. If you would like to wet a line, there is a fishing pier that juts into St. Simon's Sound at the north end of the island.

King Room with Jacuzzi. (Not shown.) Jekyll Island Club photo.

The Jekyll Island Club is a Four Star, Four Diamond, Radisson Resort. Paneled walls, wide wooden staircases, and beautiful appointments take you back to an era when even "regular millionaires" weren't invited to spend the summer. Pearl Johnson, a concierge at the club says, "The Club was completely restored in 1987, just in time for the 100th anniversary. The deluxe suites have Jacuzzis and some have double fireplaces. Each room has been furnished with faithfully reproduced 19th century custom furnishings. If the original founders of the Club, the J.P. Morgans, the Pulitzers, and the Rockefellers, were to come here now, they would be very pleased. Everything has been upgraded. It's all very nice." Ask Ms. Johnson to show you the hall of mirrors. They are slightly concave, and you can see yourself endlessly in their reflections.

If you want to dance the night away, take the short ride to world famous St. Simon's Island. Just ten miles up the coast from the Jekyll Island Club, it offers a variety of shops, restaurants, boutiques, and night clubs.

The Jekyll Island Club offers several accommodation packages. A very popular option is the "Romantic Fantasy." It includes a deluxe suite with Jacuzzi for two nights, continental champagne breakfast in bed one morning, long stem roses at turn down, and gourmet chocolates upon arrival. You also receive free use of a bicycle for one day and a complimentary picnic lunch. If you have any energy left, free tennis is also included. And to help you save the memory of your interlude, you'll receive a commemorative photograph. Rates are $169 to $439 per room, depending on the season. Other packages, including golf and tennis combinations, are also available.

The Jekyll Island Club gives you the chance to feel like a millionaire, without spending like one.

Hotel offers a smoke free environment in all sleeping rooms and public areas.

Room Amenities

iPod Dock Clock Radio
Color 32″ LCD Flat Panel TV with Cable and DVD Player
Iron / Ironing Board
Hair Dryer
High Speed Wireless Internet Service
Phone with V/M & Data Ports
In Room Safe
Refreshment Center
Coffee Maker

Meal Plans

Full American Plan (3 meals daily, breakfast, lunch and dinner) – $92.00 per person per day*
Modified American plan (2 meals daily, breakfast and dinner) – $72.00 per person, per day*

Morikami Japanese Gardens and Museum

2011-08-01T13:43:00.002-04:00

A little peace and quiet. That’s all you want. Just another five minutes. Is that too much to ask? Five more minutes without the kids yelling that somehow your youngest daughter is stuck on the roof, the dog is barking at the cat who is squalling like it hasn’t been fed in a week. Please, just stop it.

Ironically, snuggled between two very noisy highways, the Florida Turnpike and I-95, is a sanctuary of serenity. Morikami Gardens &Museum. The Roji-En, the “Garden of the Drops of Dew” awaits.

As you enter the garden grounds, you can feel the enveloping arms of the soft shade trees lining the winding drive. Park and enter the museum building after passing a quiet waterfall. The air-conditioned building is shaped like a pagoda. The curved eves of the roof were originally designed to deflect marauding evil spirits, but today they seem to deflect all the worrisome rattle and clatter of the outside world.

After one of the people at the desk gives you some basic directions and pamphlets, you then pass through the large doors leading to the garden. You are immediately greeted by a still lake with barely a ripple on its surface. Across the water is small building that looks something like a Shinto shrine.

Turn to the right and ahead of you is another small lake with trees growing along the edges. A bridge lies to your left. It arches gracefully over the water and leads to a wooded area. As you cross the bridge, everything around you seems to grow quieter. You turn around to make sure you didn’t leave the kids in the car. The water has that affect on people. Even kids. Various wild birds wade along the shore. A snowy egret, resplendent in a gown of white, stands guard while cormorants doing their impression of mighty eagles, stretching their wings out to dry after a morning of diving after fish.

The overall Garden is divided into smaller gardens reflecting the different periods of Japanese history. Such gardens as the Shinden, Paradise Garden, Shishi Odoshi (Deer Chaser) all have their own unique character.

A short way down the path you will find a Kodai-mon, an Ancient Gate, shown at the top of this post.. Enter through the gate for another peaceful view of the lake. There are many benches throughout the gardens for sitting and letting the “talking bamboo” carry all your worries off. Many flat boulders are also available to rest on, just make sure the kids don’t climb every rock in sight. The little dears might trample the orchids.

Rock gardens, later known as flat gardens, favor rocks instead of plants, which are carefully placed in the landscaping to represent water, islands, and nature condensed into a small, contemplative space. Japanese gardens often tie the inside of the home to the outside. So instead of tripping over bicycles and the swing set, the garden flows calmly from the cool interior to a small garden of stone, lilies and a koi pond.

After you’ve been in gardens for a short time, you may not notice how quiet everything is. I heard one airplane go by but other than that, it strictly the sounds of nature. It was once pointed out that there was hardly a place in the United States you could go without hearing the sounds of human activity for more than fifteen minutes. We may have just found one of the exceptions.

Half way around, we discover the building we saw earlier across the lake. It houses a children’s museum and information center. There are several interactive displays and the reproduction of a typical classroom. Kids can see how students in another land attend class. In addition there is a typical Japanese apartment. With tatami mats on the floor and shoji screens, you might believe you are in Tokyo. Except for the blissful lack of noise.

There is a small bonsai display outside, some of which are made from plants native to Florida. Take a class in training bonsai and find out what can be done with a little patience and a lot of skill.

Working your way around the lake, you will come to a small alcove. Listen and you’ll hear a soft melodic sound. Follow the path around and almost unexpectedly under the trees is a waterfall. Once you’ve found a place to sit, you won’t want to leave. But you must.

Walking towards the main building, the lake on your left, you have almost forgotten how wonderful quiet can be.

As you climb the short set of steps up to the main building, you will notice on your left a small café named the Cornell. The unassuming respite at the end of your journey offers a variety of selections. The café has been rated among the top three in museum dining experiences by the Food Network.

Gather your brood and make your way back into the main building. Off to the right is a small museum with ever changing displays. I saw cases and cases of movie monsters in addition to traditional kimonos. Something for everyone.

There are self-guided tours available. The whole garden will take about an hour to see, but it will be an hour spent in blissful serenity. The garden opens at 10:00 AM. Go early in the day in the summer to avoid the heat.

Along with the various Japanese festivals celebrated on the grounds, group tours, special corporate events, and weddings can be held in the gardens. Nearly all of the garden paths are handicap accessible. Anyone with mobility issues will find the gardens easy to navigate. There are coolers with cool water path along with paper cups stationed around the grounds. They are on the sides of the trash receptacles. Not nearly as unsanitary as it sounds. I would bring a bottle of water, especially during the summer time.

The International Game Fishing Association

2011-07-26T12:15:00.007-04:00

The first time I caught a fish, I was three years old. Well, I didn’t really catch that fish. My Dad did. I had a stick, a piece of string and a safety pin. My dad caught a sheepshead, hauled it in and put it on my line. Since it was still alive it kicked and jerked. That’s when I got hooked on fishing. This all took place on Kelley’s Island on Lake Erie. I spent every summer from then on until I was 18 there.

To this day, I believe that taking a kid fishing is one of the best things that can happen to the kid. A day out on the water adds such enrichment to child’s life and the payoffs can exceed your wildest dreams. You need to have extra patience with a child. They are trying to learn. They are dealing with icky bait and slimy fish. Give them a chance to be overwhelmed. You probably were when you were a child, or maybe you just had an understanding parent.

People visit Fort Lauderdale for many different reasons. If you come with your family, you are missing out on one of the least expensive and fun things you can do with your kids. You have big pool called the Atlantic Ocean right outside your door. You can fish from piers, docks, seawalls, bridges, head boats and even rental boats. Remember the Wind in The Willows?

"There is nothing- absolutely nothing-
half so much worth doing
as simply messing about in boats."

That's what Ratty said to Mole in Kenneth Grahame's beloved classic, The Wind in the Willows. "In or out of 'em, it doesn't matter. Nothing seems really to matter, that's the charm of it.". . . Ratty continued.

Not big fisherman yourself? Too busy being a Mom or Dad to really get into all the details of fish and fishing? Then while you are inFort Lauderdale, you need to visit the IGFA, the International Game Fishing Association, in Dania Beach, Florida. They have everything you need to get up to speed on fish and fishing for less than $30 for a family of four. That is less than going to the movies and so much more rewarding. Less than a mile in a straight line from the airport, it is very convenient.

The IGFA buildings are right next door to Outdoor World so if after your tour you get the urge to go out into the real world, you can pick up all the gear you need without even moving your car. The IGFA has a theater that shows short films in the Orientation Theater.

There are rooms that show the history of fishing and the various tackle and how it developed over the years. Displays containing living and replica fish are around the hall. If your pursuits tend towards the more scholarly, there is a complete reference library on the second floor. The staff is extremely knowledgeable and helpful. I did research on marlin years ago and the article I wrote would have been much less without the staff’s help.

An interactive room will allow everyone to fish for sailfish, bass, tarpon and others. The sounds and sights are very realistic and there is a staff member standing by should you need help in landing your catch. All the fun of sportfishing without the throwing up. There is even an app for identifying your catch and checking records. Couldn't be much easier.

Don’t forget to look up. Mounted on the ceiling are nearly a hundred different fish in full glory. They are of course, fiberglass replicas, as one of the tenets of modern fishing is preservation. In the World Record Room, you will see photos and displays showing the records for various species from all over and some stories about what it took to catch them. Who knows, maybe your child’s name will be here one day.

The Fish Gallery has displays showing the various parts that make up a fish, how they live and their habitats. There is plenty see here for people of all ages. You owe to yourself to drop by and learn about what lies just off the beach where you are working on your tan.

You may just change the life of a child.

Islamorada In the Florida Keys

2011-07-23T09:48:00.009-04:00

The Lorelei on Islamorada

Islamorada is a lush, tropical paradise surrounded by azure waters. However, this has not always been the case. A mere 10,000 years ago, the island was a reef. It was part of a reef line which runs from Miami out to the Dry Tortugas. As the global climate changed, Islamorada and the other Keys popped their heads out of the waves and the Keys were born.

The islands were inhabited much later by the Arawak Indians, a fierce and independent Caribbean tribe. They called the island Frank’s Island. Named after a wild-eyed old guy who ran around the island naked yelling at anyone who would listen about how the sharp coral rocks were ruining his clam digger. Rather than listen to Frank, they moved down the Keys to Indian Key, where they lived quietly for years until they took part in a particularly rowdy Bartenders Weekend party, burned down a house and were asked to leave.

Later, the Spanish were traveling along the Keys on their way to conquering the Indians of Central America and stealing all their gold. They stood on the deck of their ship, and as everyone has done since, looking through their glasses of Madeira wine at the sunset they noticed the islands had a particular color.

“Do those islands look purple to you?’

“Sort of.”

“Hold your glass higher.”

“Yeah, now they do.”

“Let’s call them the Purple Islands.”

“That won’t look good on a brochure years from now.”

“How do we say Purple Island in Spanish?”

“Islamorada.”

Had they looked at their charts, they would have seen the island already had a name. Cleveland. But they didn’t, so the name Islamorada stuck.

As your drive down the Keys, you will notice that many of the towns along the Keys have signs with sayings welcoming you to their towns. “Key Largo – If you are too tired to drive farther.” And Layton, “If you blinked, you missed us.” Big Pine Key – Where the Deer Hunter Meet Bambi.” Key West “The End of the Road. No U-Turns.” And of course Islamorada – “Toto, I don’t think we’re in Akron anymore.”

Day's End

Islamorada is now known as the fishing capital of the Keys. Dozens of stores and bars sell T-shirts proclaiming “Islamorada, a quiet little drinking village with a fishing problem.” You can fish the back country, the side of the islands that face the Gulf of Mexico, for tarpon, permit, bonefish and rod busting scallops. Or you can venture out front into the Atlantic to fish for bigger species like sailfish, marlin, yellow tail and the powerful amberjack. A forty-pound amberjack can feel as though it is tied to the bottom with a chain. The jack can pull a 12 year boy, who insisted that he could only catch fish if he uses your Penn International reel and Daiwa rod, and all the gear overboard when it digs for the bottom.

Islamorada is different from most of the Keys. It is not like Key Largo which is a welcome center to the Keys for people driving down from the North. While the people in Islamorada can party with the best of them, it is not quite the crazy town Key West can be. There is a lot more to Key West than many people realize, but we will cover that in another article.

Islamorada covers seven islands, but that is not apparent when you are driving around. The Hurricane Memorial is here, remembering the people who died in the hurricane in 1935. They also have a library on the island. Not so rare, even for the Keys, but this library has a unique feature. It has its own beach. A real, fully sanded and protected beach. The current between the beach and the mangrove island across from it can be quite swift on tide changes so you need to watch the little ones. You can see the librarian about checking out a book, free wifi access and suntan lotion. Due to budget cuts, the library has reduced operating hours, but the beach is usually open from dawn to dusk and it is pretty quiet.

At the library beach, Islamorada

There are several good restaurants, as there are on almost every Key. Some of my favorites are the Lorelei, pictured at the top of the article and simply one of the best places to watch the sunset, Uncle’s and Bentley’s. There are less expensive choices, such as Islamorada Fish Company and Mama’s BBQ.

Be sure to check out the Diving Museum, even if you’re not a diver. If you just have to shop, try Blue Marlin Jewelers. Handcrafted pieces that will give your credit rating a run for the money, but I have bought a few pieces there for reasonable prices. Take a towel with you so you can wipe up your drool from the counters. Ask for Michelle.

The island is green and usually quiet. Take some time to drive around the back streets. You can’t really get lost. If you have a regular car you can go down all kinds of narrow streets and alleys. If you drive a camper, you’ll have a lot of backing up to do. Just respect other people’s property.

I like Islamorada and its people. After you have gone there a few times, people will get to know you. I like how they call out to me when they see me. “Hey Frank, how’s the clam digger?”

Where to stay: There are all different levels of motels and hotels to choose from. Three that I am personally familiar with are, The Key Lantern, The Islander and The Cheeca Lodge. The Key lantern is nice. It’s quiet, safe and clean and inexpensive. $39 a night in the off season. I’ve stayed here quite a bit over twenty years, and apparently have had the same mattress every time. However, for the price, it is hard to beat.

The Islander is a step up in price, but has nice facilities and views of the ocean and a great pool.

Rental bungalow at the Cheeca Lodge

The Cheeca Lodge is top end. Every six months or so they set their tiki hut bar on fire for the entertainment of the guests. OK, not really, but if you know the Cheeca, you know what I mean. Wonderful bar and award winning restaurant inside. The private beach and grounds cannot be beat. If you want to stay for a week or so, check out the bungalows for rent. You’ll never go home.

Alluring Charleston

2011-07-17T10:29:00.009-04:00

Alluring Charleston

Sightseeing by carriage in Charleston.

Some cities are just meant to be visited. San Francisco, San Diego, Carson City, Nevada, Mackinac Island, Mystic Seaport, Savannah and of course, Charleston, South Carolina. No city I can think of embodies friendliness, charm and residential beauty more than that of Charleston.

Years ago I described Charleston in article as the place where Rhett Butler meets Laura Ashley. You get off I-95 onto I-26 and then you slide gracefully in the 18^th century. Cobblestone streets, homes built in the 1600’s painted in soft pastels, looming and imposing government buildings, some of which actually held pirates in their cellars. In addition, some of which had pirates in their offices disguised as public officials.

However, Charleston, more than any other southern city, is the quintessential home of southern grace and charm. As I made my way through the streets shooting pictures and admiring the flavor of the city, I found a house, which had some interesting shutters. As I stood on the sidewalk shooting, two people greeted me and said I was quite welcome to get up closer and to walk through the yard. I declined, saying I did not know the owners and did not feel it was right to trespass just to get the shot. They said it would be perfectly all right as they were the owners and had just returned from downtown where they had breakfast. They opened their house and their yard to me.

The town has a warm welcoming feel that is just hard to resist. You find yourself caught up in the gentility of the place.

I worked my way through the narrow streets and byways, shooting as I went. After roaming all morning, I made my way back to the Old Central Market. The sweetgrass straw baskets, hand woven, competed for your attention with clothing, preserves and art work. The Market has a past as a slave market, but from the mix of cultures present nowadays, it is hard to remember how horrible this place must have been for the people being sold there.

Charleston, bound by two rivers, the Ashley and the Cooper, nestles at the end of a peninsula. You can walk down just a few blocks from the Old Market and you will be at the Cooper River. Here there are ferries to ride out to Ft. Sumter, the place where the Civil War began . There are also harbor tours and across the way is the aircraft carrier Yorktown. Surprisingly, the waterfront looks more industrial than it need be. It is not till you move farther to the East that you get to the beautiful waterfront parks and homes. Rainbow Row, where multihued homes face the river, is now obscured somewhat by the trees that have grown and slightly spoil the view I had twenty years ago, but it still affords a beautiful view of the homes that line the street.

On the Ashley River are three of Charleston’s largest and best equipped marinas. The City Marina, the Ashley and the Bristol marinas. All have well laid out docking and fuel systems. The folks are helpful and knowledgeable. (At a future time I may go into cruising details, but for now, this is just a quick overfly of the area.)

Just outside Charleston live two well-known plantations. Magnolia and Boone Hall. I toured the Magnolia Plantation. Absolutely beautiful. If you interested in the antebellum south, these are worth the drive out and you can stop and see Boone Hall on the same road.

I would go in February or March as the weather is normally good and the temperatures have not climbed to their soul killing best yet.

If you want to experience the South at its absolute best, Charleston is for you.

Where To Stay: I stayed at the La Quinta in in N. Charleston. Good rates, pretty clean and friendly staff. You can see my review on TripAdvisor. I go for good value. But I have to tell you, if you can do it, a great place to stay in town is the Francis Marion Hotel.

Of course there are other packages available including a La Quinta downtown.

The Secret Spot

2011-07-14T14:42:00.001-04:00

I follow a trail in the sand, so little used that grass has grown over it in most places. The mangroves and hardwood trees form a canopy that lets the sunlight ripple shadows across low growing plants edging the path.

Above me the slightest breeze rustles the leaves, but the breeze never reaches me. I expect more bugs, no- see- ums and other biting nasties, but except for the occasionally flitting butterfly, bugs are remarkably absent.

The smell of hot sand reaches me and just above the rustle of the leaves, the soft rolling sound of waves lays an undercurrent around me. I can see a glimpse of the beach ahead. The soft green of the undergrowth gives way to crisp white.

I step out onto the sand and immediately regret not even wearing flip flops. Man, is that hot! I run almost on my toes to keep the soles of my feet from catching fire. Finally, the Gulf.

Crystal water runs around my ankles. I look out to where the sky folds into the sea. If I had a job, I’d buy a boat and be out there, and pelicans, who, if they were a more aggressive species, go by in what would be called a strafing run formation. Bet the sand is too hot for them too.

I climb back up the sandy shore line and find a place not to far from the water’s edge. As I throw my backpack down in relief, and I don’t carry much, I glance around. What’s that about a half mile off? Is that a person? I glance at the sand with accusation, but there are no foot prints in the area, so I don’t feel betrayed by my secret spot.

There are no buildings here. No stands selling beach fare or Mylar balloons or even suntan lotion. No man made intrusions.

A gull flies low overhead. She was obviously trained by tourists that anyone who stands upright is a lunch wagon. Sorry to disappoint. She yells at me as she wheels up the beach towards the intruder.

Two hours later, crispy from the sun, but not caring about aging skin, I break out some watermelon I brought. That and a stick of Juicy Fruit gum are all I have in my back pack to eat. My girlfriend says I should lose weight, until she needs something heavy lifted, then it’s you’re so big and strong.

Three and a half hours and no one has disrupted my view of the Gulf.

My secret spot still is.

For those of you who have to know, yes this a real place on the Gulf Coast of Florida between Sarasota and Cedar Key.