Deep South Surprise...

The travel from the panhandle of Florida to Ole Miss. was good fun. We had Sirius satellite radio cranked and we were singing along. Still know most of the words, titles, artists from the 60’s hits, but if not, Sirius can scroll through titles and artists and resolve any issues that come down the pike. Sometimes, like on this trip, the DRIVING MUSIC is in control and we just let it be. The beat, the mood, the rhythm just right for driving down the highway on a crisp and overcast day, heating up the coach with warm fuzzy feelings of yesteryear and cheating the late days of winter and the early days of spring into thinking we are not paying attention to either of those sets of limitations. We are still riding high on a phone conversation from friend and musician extraordinaire Chuck Kruger who called from Sanibel (on vacation) to say it was warmer in Florida than in Maine- even if the beach was loaded with red algae. Sorry we missed you Chuck! We talked about the 770 pound tuna he caught, the pictorial proof of which he sent me only weeks before. What a guy! What a fish! I love ‘em both…
‘Bama was clean and beautiful coming across, Mississippi a bit of a roadside disaster trash wise but that’s got to be near the bottom of their list, the top of which is rebuilding these people’s lives still in disarray from Katrina. Some of the things we would like to have seen and done in these states is still not “open for business” a couple years later. We understand! At the welcome center, they told us how to detour around downed bridges to get to casinos in case we wanted to leave some of our money here. “We need it” said the lady behind the desk. We can see that. But on this trip, food, campground fees, fuel taxes and miscellaneous expenses will have to be our best contribution to the effort.
Made a side trip to the “Strip” along the Gulf on Rt. 90 at Biloxi expecting to see businesses, homes, general activities in recovery mode. THAT IS NOT WHAT WE SAW. We drove the roughly 20 mile strip in awe- realizing that 99.9 % of everything is gone. Totally gone. We were not prepared for that. Marilyn wept pretty much the entire ride. I had a lump in my throat.

When is a picture NOT worth a thousand words?

When there is nothing to take a picture of…. Literally nothing other than the few shots I took - the only townhouses remaining on the beach which were floated right off their pilings, the only commercial beach operation still standing (and you can see it won’t be standing much longer) and the art museum, which itself is now oddly enough a bizarre piece of art in its own right, crafted by the female artist, Mother Nature. If you get back a few blocks from the strip, a few of the casinos are open again. But no place open to eat. No where to shop. No sights left to see other than old foundations and perhaps a few signs that survived even though the business they signaled had gone back out with the surge when it left. Even the vast majority of the beach was gone! Katrina is worse up close and personal!
A few courageous souls have started to rebuild but it is hard to see why they would want to. It seemed to us it would be 20 years before Biloxi can become even a shadow of what it surely must have been. Even in the devastation though, there was a hint of humor. In each of those 20 miles or so, Waffle House has put up a new place. It looked funny! The only chain to be rebuilding on the beach is Waffle House. Perhaps in years to come, Biloxi will boast the most Waffle Houses per capita in America. And who’s to say their effort won’t set a good example for the return of others. But don’t rush right down there yet; not a one of them is open!

Deep South Tour- Biloxi

We left Florida behind us as we headed west for parts unknown- to us anyhow! Driving through the Panhandle turned out to be quite pleasant. Drove right through Mobile, Alabama and we were surprised by the beauty of the flats and the deltas along the way. At each stop, folks informed us of road closings and openings still attributable to Katrina. We understand hurricanes, having done cat 5 Mitch in Honduras and 8 more in Cape Coral. We know what they can do - how they can stop your heart and destroy what you have spent a life time building. But we respect them too because they announce their arrival and make their intentions clear unlike tornadoes which can take you out in a single heartbeat with NO warning. There are no guarantees in this life so I prefer the threats that let me know they are headed my way! I am willing to deal with them and accept the consequences. While I would like some morsel of control over the rest, I know I will not get it, so what will be will be; que sera, sera.
In Ole Miss we drove past renowned Pascagoula in favor of camping a night or two in Biloxi. Got blues? No way. Cold, but not that cold! Redneck Girl Marilyn truly in her element here. Paladin! Remember him? Have trailer, will travel! Lord I wish I could sing on the blog. Day trip into Biloxi coming tomorrow. Not interested in casinos- apologies to friends Larry, Carol, Tollie and Mary. My fortune rides on wheels right now and not on the one armed bandits that take more then they give. Besides I need the quarters for diesel!

Gainsville to De Funiak I

A week in Alachua (Travelers Campground) was like a visit to Wild Kingdom (remember Mutual of Omaha’s show by that name?) for Abby. It was a big sprawling campground, or perhaps more aptly named a farm, complete with cows, horses, goats, chickens, pigs, burros, peacocks, squirrels and armadillos- all of which you could walk right up to, pet if you wanted to, and feed if you felt the desire. So walking the dog was a whole new experience for all of us.

Gainsville to De Funiak

Proof that in Florida the further north you go the more southern it gets, Sunset King Lake Resort, proved to be friendly but “slow” in this bass fishing community on a lake just filled with structure. Days were warm but night’s got cold this time of year. Sure hope we have not headed out too early in the year, but time will tell. We are moving in the Southern Drawl zone- never really did that before. So off to explore what is rapidly becoming our venture into the deep South. I saw a sign along the road that read: The South Shall Rise Again; Attitude Without Hate. Sorry no pic possible. But I did have occasion to get a shot of this sign by the boat ramp. IN actuality, I think the odds of being eaten by a gator were much greater than any official from this area moving fast enough to grab you and hold you under long enough to drown.

Busch Garden Album

The "gorilla my dreams" consults with the real thing (or a reasonable facsimile) over the Busch Gardens map about what to see first

This is what you would see if you were going to swim up behind an alligator and bite HIM!
This little birdie captured my attention. All the people are outside the fences. All the animals are inside the fences. But this guy just sits ON the fence and can go where-ever his options are the best. There are lots of fences here, and there needs to be fences here. But it sure feels like it's a lot more about keeping the people away from the animals than the other way around.
I got a real "charge" out of this elephant!

Timbuktu! Finally I know where it is. It's where my parents always said they would send me if I was ever naughty. I never was! Although I can't prove that.
I loaded up my Land Rover and I'm all ready to go on safari. An "extra," the safari takes you by truck out onto the "Serengeti Plains" for an interactive experience with the critters that live out there. Unbelieveable!
No matter where you go to see animals in this park, there is always a world class roller coaster looming on the skyline...

This one, Shiek-Ra, plunges into water at 70 miles an hour.

By now I'm sure we hold the record for seeing more 4-D movies in a year than anyone ever has before. We have the stupidness self portraits to prove it! This time we saw, "Pirates"
I call this picture feeding the Lorys, "Scream Like a Girl." Which by the way is what I would do IF I were to go on the really big roller coasters- which I won't! Maybe something with a water shoot at the end suitable for kiddies!
Love the Giraffes! They seem to like us too- whether or not you have a piece of lettuce in your hand- although that helps.
This guy came over to the truck to plant one on Marilyn
Nothing like a Giraffe a few inches from your camera lens for a nifty shot or two...

They really did like Marilyn best. (me too)..even though there were about 12 other people in the safari truck with us.
I know it's not an action shot but I thought it was a pretty classic zebra shot
At the Hippo environment, you can see them above and below water at the same time. There were two adults and one young one who was nursing under water- you won't see that every day in Florida!
These Mayan Cyclids share the big pool with the Hippos. I like all animals but fish get top billing with me!
I went to the animal fair,

the birds and the beasts were there.

The big baboon,

by the light of the moon,

Was combing his auburn....

Oh, shucks, no baboons,

but just about everything else and way too much to talk about here. We had two glorious days and would have gone again if we had more time. What a great place.

As aways, click on photos to enlarge them and use back arrow to return to blog.....

Diving Into Tarpon Springs

One of my all time favorite Florida places is the sponge dock in Tarpon Springs. There you can learn just about everything there is to learn about the sponge industries, the Greek hard hat divers and Greek food as well. For a compulsive shell and sponge collector it is a place to fight the addiction! But since we have little more space in the coach I was on my best behavior and settled for a picture in the hard hat suit instead of that new shell and sponge- one of each of which I had my eye on!!! We came here many times in the past years to buy sponges for the art store back in Maine. While we always love coming here, this day trip had the extra added bonus of meeting up with Marilyn’s little sister Elizabeth and her husband David, who were down for a week visiting his side of the family. Their trip was waylaid by lousy weather and their luggage was waylaid by lousy air line service but they were in good spirits and looking great to us when we met them at the sponge factory. We had a really nice Greek lunch at Hellas (you gotta go there- opa!) I couldn't help but wish that other little sis Julie could be down here as well. I so very much want to see the three girls together under happy circumstances; they are all very special to me...
Check out the pictures of the Two Greek Beauties, the Two Old Ships, and Greg in full diver’s gear- you decide which is which!!! ( Just kidding)

A Day at the Florida State Fair

On a cold and blustery winter day- yes, we have those in Florida too from time to time- we ventured off to the Florida State Fair in Tampa. Considering the weather conditions, the place was packed. In large part we went to see the animals and the farming end of things but it was a disappointment in that regard for the most part. They did have a Florida panther and black bear there to see, but in truth, they are a lot more fun to see in the wild- which we have, though many who lived here a lot longer than we have did not. There were more food booths than I have ever seen at any fair anywhere and the steak-on-a-stick was the prize of the day @ 8 bucks a stick so I’m some glad it was tender and tasty. Considering what we could have eaten there, we done good!
Above are a few photos from the fair: “cold day, hot dog”, “swinging in the wind”, “hanging around upside down” and “steak on a stick off the stick.”

Finding a Hero in Pinellas

I’ve had a “to do” list of a few things that I was bound and determined to carry out as part of our motor coach touring of the country. Since our initial run up the Eastern seaboard to Pennsylvania and back (visit the parents, show off the new coach to family) we have mainly been hanging out hiding from winter in Florida and seeing our home state first so to speak. We haven’t really had a chance to knock much off the list at all. So yesterday was a great day as number one on the official list was accomplished- and wonderfully so!
From our area base at Tampa East, we traveled perhaps some 30 miles or so to Pinellas. Our mission for the day, was to try to locate Col. Neil Coady. Back in WWII, Neil Coady and another fellow POW of my dad’s by the name of Fred Puckett carried him on a forced march in the snow from one Stalag to the next. When he was shot down in his B-17, my dad’s back had been broken so he was in pretty tough shape to begin with. Finally the march became too much for him and he fell to the side of the road where, presumably, the enemy would either just let him die or perhaps even worse, sic the dogs on him. And as dad recounts it, he was prepared to die that day. He certainly did not intend to become an additional burden to the other guys who were marching in the worst of conditions just to stay alive. But Neil Coady was having none of that! He and Fred picked up my dad and carried him along, arm over shoulder, feet dragging when they could not walk. A slice of bread he had along the way, he put on my dad’s chest when there was an opportunity to rest and he told my dad, “Don’t worry. It will be there when you wake up.” It was.
But my aim is not to tell their story- only enough of it for you to understand that what I was doing was looking for the man who saved my dad’s life. And along with that, I was looking for the man, without who’s heroics in the war, I would never have come into the world at all myself.
I was a bit apprehensive when we pulled up to the address where we hoped to either locate Neil or learn of his condition and whereabouts. We were arriving unexpected and unannounced and surprise visits are not always the happiest of meetings. A strikingly attractive woman answered the door and I introduced myself to her and began to tell her why we were knocking on her door. My name had apparently not registered anything in particular (nor should it have) but as I started to explain that Neil Coady had carried my dad as a prisoner, her eyes lit up and I could see that she had heard the story and knew exactly what I was talking about. We were invited in immediately.
Inside stood Neil Coady (US Air Force, Col., retired). First order of business was to shake hands and thank the man for everything he had done for my dad….and of course my mother and my sister and me. Immediately I was passed the fear that he may already have gone the way of so many of the WWII vets and departed this world already. For Air Force men, the Wild Blue Yonder has always and will always be special, but no hurry to take that final flight! I entered that house that day with no preconceived idea of what I might learn or what I might see. But standing before me was a man, now in his mid-eighties, who I will tell you, in order for you to have some measure of the man at this age, immediately reminded me of both Ronald Reagan and Charleton Heston. Handsome. Strong and fit looking. Sharp and alert and articulate and instantly recalling “those days.“ Not looking nearly old enough to have done what we know he did for my dad. It was easy for me to see that this man could have accomplished all that he did.
I asked permission to take a couple photos. Granted. I asked if he would mind if I got my cell phone so we could call home and he and my dad could speak together. Granted.
We got to know each other just a bit. No desire to overstay any welcome. Saw some pictures and looked at walls of framed medals and uniforms and military memorabilia. Put my parents e mail and phone numbers etc. into the Coady’s computer for safe keeping. It felt like home to me. And in a way, I suppose it is.
Col. Coady: My family and I salute you, sir!

Col Coady and his wife Elisabeth reside near the base where he was stationed many times when in the states. If you are interested in the base or the area, try the following link:
http://public.macdill.amc.af.mil/

Doggie Beach and DNA

I like the way this expression begins (although I do not profess to know who “They” are) so I use it from time to time:
THEY SAY…that after a while owners begin to look like their dogs! There is evidence to support this, but I’m not too sure it should be considered a universal truth. Just to play it safe though, we did make arrangements to get a good looking dog! Hey! You can’t be too careful!
But I never heard “them” say that if you have a dog long enough it will start to pick up some of your favorite hobbies and want to do all the things you like to do. But now there is evidence of that as well- so if it turns out to be a truism, then I will become the “They” when other people start to use the expression.
Anyone who knows me at all, knows of my love and fascination with all things oceanic, but most visibly “shells”. Where-ever “She sells seas shells” I am shopping! Nothing appeals to me more than walking along a new beach looking for, picking up, selecting, and dragging home new sea shells. Our home, no matter where we make it, is a shell shop of sorts. But while Abby has always loved walking on a beach (after all, she grew up on one in Honduras) and playing in the water, she has never in the past expressed any interest in shelling. That is until now. And so on one of our recent day trips to Doggie Beach near Lover’s Key State Park in Bonita Springs, Abby started to express an interest in shells. And yes, I have the pictures to prove it. When I started to photograph, admittedly I didn’t know what was about to unfold, but I became more and more fascinated by the process as it did. First we found a few shells ourselves and held them for Abby to smell. Then she was off to find a few of her own. She evidently could locate them under water (as long as they were showing well), then paw them to a place where she could pick them up with her mouth. And whether or not you choose to believe she carried her shell back to coach….or not…it IS here and a proud part of the “Coach Collection.”
That’s MY dog! Even have the DNA in a bag from time to time to prove it!

Welcome Home

At Bonita Imperial Estates, where we spent two of the “annual duty” weeks in Florida, there is a terrific dog walking area down by the small branch of the Imperial River where it crosses under the high tension lines headed south to Naples. In that area of the park there are mostly “park models”- a euphemism for trailers and doublewides. In some parks they are not terribly special dwellings but here they are upscale, nicely landscaped and well cared for. It’s a pretty little park actually. On our second to last day there, I spied this “temporary lawn ornament” which I thought immediately rated a picture and a word or two, even though I had no clue as to the circumstances under which it was constructed. So on the way back from a nice walk with Abby, I stopped by and asked permission to take the picture. It turns out, the owners of this property had just returned from a cruise and this ornament was the neighbor’s way of celebrating their friend’s return. We had a good laugh together over the story they told and I asked where they had been cruising. And once again, I find that the world gets smaller as I get older- they had been to Roatan, where we lived on the beach for 5 mostly wonderful years. Like any island I suppose and especially those in the Caribbean, there is a downside to living there, but it is certainly kept in balance by the incredible beauty and kicked back comfort that surrounds you day to day (at least on a good day). And the food is great!
So this was a warm if unusual welcome home in the park. And as a result of the process, we were “welcomed home” in conversation as well.