Spent 2 weeks at Fort DeSoto,highlighted by getting to see nephew Josh's new house in Tampa,located in the historic Hyde Park neighborhood. Unbelievable for all of us that think Florida architecture is all of one piece...this area, full of beautiful craftsman type housing stock from the 1920's looks like it got moved from West Newton hill...if you could walk to the end of your street in West Newton and be on a sidewalk/promenade that goes for dozens of miles along the bay.
Not sure if it was Gordon's leap from the front porch, or the 41 tennis balls he unearthed from the garage and chased down into the not quite finished swimming pool that put him on the DL...pads worn to a frazzle...but he had the time of his life.
Another highlight was using our "guest room" for our friend Suzanne,who flew in for 5-6 days.
Gave my kayak a workout, and finally caught something edible; about 1/2 dozen spotted sea trout (along with myriad pinfish and yes,another catfish. No men in boats or white hats to rescue me this time.
Also no wackos from Detroit anywhere to be found,thankfully.
Left on a Sat. and took 75 up to Gainesville for a night before heading to the panhandle. Saw as many signs around Ocala for "CAFE RISQUE-WE BARE IT ALL" as for Pedro or JR's in the Carolinas. I trust Wayne Giles will check it out for us from his new house nearby.
Next up: Cape San Blas, St. George's Island, Grayton Beach. Confusion in the Time Space Continuum. Revenge of the Catfish.
Monday, March 26, 2012
Response
I have been totally remiss,not taking advantage of perfectly good internet access, in both Fort DeSoto and the Red Roof Gainesville before heading to the wilds of the Panhandle. But I'll catch y'all up now. (Note the southern inflection creeping in)
But first, let me respond to your thoughtful questions.
1. To Steve, who is sure the Man in the White Hat was a Bona Fide Ghost:
Well sure. But You can't be that hard on Chad, or Mouseear guy, whichever it was. Think of it from his perspective. Here comes this woman,virtually naked,skin CHARRED. SMOULDERING. And,under the guise of innocently asking directions,she coyly plays the helpless female card. She's towing a CATFISH for god's sake! You'll have to read on to see how she was punished for that.
2. To Jeanne, who recommends I eschew both white and Camo, in favor of denim:
Well of course you would advise wearing Jean(ne)s.
3. To Nick, who is thinking of getting in on this fun life:
Will be interesting to discuss what kind of "rig" you're thinking of getting. Haven't met one soul who stuck with their first choice. So, one word: USED.
4. To Colleen, camp host at Jonathan Dickinson:
Hope to see you this summer. Hope the fallout from Nature Seeking Man re the dogs,baby, and video game kids was mild. BTW, camp hosts at Fort De Soto work like dogs: 5 hrs/day,4 days/wk,including bathrooms. Mark and I are already booked at JDSP next year from 1/21 through Feb! Thanks for the tips.
But first, let me respond to your thoughtful questions.
1. To Steve, who is sure the Man in the White Hat was a Bona Fide Ghost:
Well sure. But You can't be that hard on Chad, or Mouseear guy, whichever it was. Think of it from his perspective. Here comes this woman,virtually naked,skin CHARRED. SMOULDERING. And,under the guise of innocently asking directions,she coyly plays the helpless female card. She's towing a CATFISH for god's sake! You'll have to read on to see how she was punished for that.
2. To Jeanne, who recommends I eschew both white and Camo, in favor of denim:
Well of course you would advise wearing Jean(ne)s.
3. To Nick, who is thinking of getting in on this fun life:
Will be interesting to discuss what kind of "rig" you're thinking of getting. Haven't met one soul who stuck with their first choice. So, one word: USED.
4. To Colleen, camp host at Jonathan Dickinson:
Hope to see you this summer. Hope the fallout from Nature Seeking Man re the dogs,baby, and video game kids was mild. BTW, camp hosts at Fort De Soto work like dogs: 5 hrs/day,4 days/wk,including bathrooms. Mark and I are already booked at JDSP next year from 1/21 through Feb! Thanks for the tips.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
The Mentalist
Ok, now that I've "mastered" posting on the iPain, I'm trying to remember how I post using the computer. This because I'd really like to post a few pics this time. So here I sit, a healthy draught of Black Box Cabernet in my sippy cup, the inverter merrily draining the Honda battery,( this because our computer battery life is at the 15 minutes and die stage) , photos loaded onto the deskop,and we'll see.
But I digress. Or pre-gress.
Loaded up at in Hobe Sound on Saturday. Despite the TrailManor Video of a Sandy Duncan look-alike blithely closing up the unit with a mere palm's pressure, this is still a 3 hour or so procedure: load truck bed w/chairs,coolers grill etc. Clean shower for linen storage,unmake bed,disassemble fishing poles etc.etc. Then strap Kayak onto truck...you get the idea.
So,we were well pleased to be pulling off of 95 by 12:15,for the 120 mile or so journey across the Florida Cracker Trail to St. Pete.
"You wouldn't want to break down HERE" I said.
"Bite" said Mark. As in my tongue.
Well,no. We were not blesssed to break down THERE,within arm's reach of civilization. Rather,we waited till we'd slid on by Starvation Slough,Soggy Bottom,Troublesome Creek, the place that sold "show pigs" and Reality Ranch before the event occurred.
BLOWOUT!!!
Turns out getting a flat tire on a fold out camper entails opening the trailer,undoing the kayak,emptying the truck bed. All this fun was had in Florida prairie land. As in dust. 95 degrees,with a steady 40 mile an hour breeze which immediately changed both of our ethnic persuasions.
Thinking ahead,I had bought Mark a new Sears Craftsman Compressor for XMas.
Yes,we tested it in Wellfleet.
No,it didn't work (to inflate the spare) in Basinger Florida.
Thinking ahead, Mark had bought himself a new lug wrench for the trip. Turns out, the space saving design doesn't deliver enough torque for weaklings as ourselves.
Seems also that AAA, no matter how "Super Plus" a membership you are paying for doesn't cover trailers. I sigh to think that the "Good Sam" club is in my future.
Turns out the steel belts from the tire ripped out the trailer brakes,cut a hole in our waste pipe,and knocked our "throne" clear off it's feet. Bah,gives Mark something to do while I go fishing directly from our site, and Mason hunts mullet.
But I digress. Or pre-gress.
Loaded up at in Hobe Sound on Saturday. Despite the TrailManor Video of a Sandy Duncan look-alike blithely closing up the unit with a mere palm's pressure, this is still a 3 hour or so procedure: load truck bed w/chairs,coolers grill etc. Clean shower for linen storage,unmake bed,disassemble fishing poles etc.etc. Then strap Kayak onto truck...you get the idea.
So,we were well pleased to be pulling off of 95 by 12:15,for the 120 mile or so journey across the Florida Cracker Trail to St. Pete.
"You wouldn't want to break down HERE" I said.
"Bite" said Mark. As in my tongue.
Well,no. We were not blesssed to break down THERE,within arm's reach of civilization. Rather,we waited till we'd slid on by Starvation Slough,Soggy Bottom,Troublesome Creek, the place that sold "show pigs" and Reality Ranch before the event occurred.
BLOWOUT!!!
Turns out getting a flat tire on a fold out camper entails opening the trailer,undoing the kayak,emptying the truck bed. All this fun was had in Florida prairie land. As in dust. 95 degrees,with a steady 40 mile an hour breeze which immediately changed both of our ethnic persuasions.
Thinking ahead,I had bought Mark a new Sears Craftsman Compressor for XMas.
Yes,we tested it in Wellfleet.
No,it didn't work (to inflate the spare) in Basinger Florida.
Thinking ahead, Mark had bought himself a new lug wrench for the trip. Turns out, the space saving design doesn't deliver enough torque for weaklings as ourselves.
Seems also that AAA, no matter how "Super Plus" a membership you are paying for doesn't cover trailers. I sigh to think that the "Good Sam" club is in my future.
Sunday, March 4, 2012
The Man in the White Hat, Camo Boy, and Others
Finished our 2nd 2 week stint at Jonathan Dickinson SP in Hobe Sound on Sat. As befits our Cowardly Old World approach this year,there was a lot of same old,same old: temps consistently in the 80's,3-4 hours daily at Jupiter Beach,with some kayak fishing thrown in.
JD Park is located on the Loxahatchee River,which is a designated "wild and scenic" river. When my Mom lived down here she was fond of taking people on a boat ride up river to see the lair of the famous Trapper Nelson. Somehow I avoided ever having to do this with her, but my sister likened it to watching paint dry. Actually,floating along in my newly procured kayak, I liked it...ancient cypress trees,manatees,and myriad heronesque birds.
On day 2, after creeping myself out by catching 2 catfish,I decided to head downriver,to where,theoretically,salt water fish might be found. A few miles and 1 more catfish later I was confronted by a fork, and consulted a fellow kayak fisherman. White Kayak,white pants,white gloves,white hat,and weirdest of all,a white thing covering his entire face and neck...no eyeholes. Not sure what I was dealing with there-- albino? But this guy was really making me regret my forgetting to apply sunscreen. Anyway,he assured me either way would do,as the point of land was part of an island. True enough,I suppose,in the way that,say,Manhattan is an island. Long story short,8 miles our so later I found myself in Jupiter Inlet with a sunburn,needing Advil and a drink. Never trust the man in the white hat.
Back at the campground we had our usual assortment of entertaining characters: the 8 member ( plus 4 dogs) Pesci-Stiller family from Jersey,whose kids would stay up til 4 am playing video games; which irritated Nature Seeking Man, who left in a huff and was replaced by grandpa,dad and 5 year old son. Sonny was decked out head to toe in camo,had his own miniature quad,and a machete.The cops came and took the ATV and the machete. He got to keep the Camo.
Mark and David went to the Concours d'Elegance down in Boca Raton. Lots of cars in the quarter million and up class. In it's own way,just as alien as the campground crowd.Fun to watch either way.
JD Park is located on the Loxahatchee River,which is a designated "wild and scenic" river. When my Mom lived down here she was fond of taking people on a boat ride up river to see the lair of the famous Trapper Nelson. Somehow I avoided ever having to do this with her, but my sister likened it to watching paint dry. Actually,floating along in my newly procured kayak, I liked it...ancient cypress trees,manatees,and myriad heronesque birds.
On day 2, after creeping myself out by catching 2 catfish,I decided to head downriver,to where,theoretically,salt water fish might be found. A few miles and 1 more catfish later I was confronted by a fork, and consulted a fellow kayak fisherman. White Kayak,white pants,white gloves,white hat,and weirdest of all,a white thing covering his entire face and neck...no eyeholes. Not sure what I was dealing with there-- albino? But this guy was really making me regret my forgetting to apply sunscreen. Anyway,he assured me either way would do,as the point of land was part of an island. True enough,I suppose,in the way that,say,Manhattan is an island. Long story short,8 miles our so later I found myself in Jupiter Inlet with a sunburn,needing Advil and a drink. Never trust the man in the white hat.
Back at the campground we had our usual assortment of entertaining characters: the 8 member ( plus 4 dogs) Pesci-Stiller family from Jersey,whose kids would stay up til 4 am playing video games; which irritated Nature Seeking Man, who left in a huff and was replaced by grandpa,dad and 5 year old son. Sonny was decked out head to toe in camo,had his own miniature quad,and a machete.The cops came and took the ATV and the machete. He got to keep the Camo.
Mark and David went to the Concours d'Elegance down in Boca Raton. Lots of cars in the quarter million and up class. In it's own way,just as alien as the campground crowd.Fun to watch either way.
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