Ten Days Since My last Entry, It's Time for a Massive Catchup

It' not like we haven't been doing anything the last ten days, its just that I have kept putting off any blog entries, and here it has now been ten days. The reason I write this blog is to keep a record or journal. Its a way for us to remember what we have done and so by not writing any entries I have been short changing ourselves.
We have been busy, although not all has been pleasurable. As soon as we arrived here we got our flu shots and last week we both came down with a mild cause of the flu. At least the shots made it possible for us to have a quick recovery and hopefully we are good for the rest of the winter.
While recovering from the flu we were able to make some new jewelry and to update our Etsy Store.

Now we have another unusual thing for sale. This piece is a piece of Argentinian fossil dinosaur egg shell wrapped in fourteen carat gold filled wire, There's something you don't see every day, and yes we do have unique interests, (we also got two cabochons of Louisiana Opal and I will put those on the blog when they are finished).
last week we did go fishing with Jen, at John's Pass, and although we didn't catch any flounder we did catch some really unusual fish. Jen hooked up with a large lady fish, they look like a small tarpon. It jumped three times before the hook pulled out and are even known as poor man's tarpon.

I also had the chance to go out with Allan. His new boat is a 21 foot Key Largo. Again we didn't catch anything big enough to eat but his boat worked fine and we went out ten miles in search of grouper. On the way back in schools of bait fish appeared but we didn't have the right lures and so we couldn't get the Spanish and King mackerels to hit.
Thanksgiving we headed over to Jen and Eric's house and ate way to much, which of course was to be expected. This week should be interesting as we are going to the Ringling Art Museum to see an exhibit of Chinese 17th Century Art. Hopefully there will be some jade!

The winds have died down here and so we also hope to go kayaking and hopefully hook up with some friends. It should be a great week and if my computer will just keep working, ( it has crashed twice since I downloaded windows ten), I can keep track of our adventures. Clear skies

Sawgrass Nature Park, 2015

Whenever we are here in St Petersburg, we always try to spend at least one day birding at Sawgrass Nature Park. Surrounded by highways, buildings, and the city. It’s a small isolated haven of what this area once was.

It’s only a few steps from the parking spot to the first bayou. Right away we spotted a feeding little blue heron. Wading amid the green water plants it craned its neck as it looked for the small fish and invertebrates that make up its diet. Stabbing into the water it gave its prey a quick shake and then swallowed its lunch.

A few more steps and we were standing on the bridge, peering down on several common moor hens. Several painted turtles rose for a breath of air before diving down into the weed choked water. A gar stayed motionless below the water’s surface waiting for a fish or frog to venture to close to its sharp teeth filled jaw.

A little further we stopped at an overlook and the marsh hens swam to our new location, hoping for a handout. There are usually alligators at this spot and Renita spotted one across the bayou. It was laying on the raised levee warming itself in the morning sun.

She also spotted a pair of American Ibis partially hidden by the thick underbrush. They were also feeding by moving their long narrow curved beaks back and forth through the shallow water. They would occasionally stop to swallow prey they had found in the mud.

Another person told us of a mother alligator guarding it young in a small opening along the raised

boardwalk. We missed it at first but later saw people watching the gators and so we were able to stand above them and watch as the young gators swam looking for the best piece of sunlight.

A little further a green heron hunted minnows directly below the walk and so we got some great images of the small wader. Another birder suggested it was a young bird, because it was at the bottom of their normal size range. Still it had its adult plumage and color.

At the viewing tower an anhinga perched in the branches of a small bush. It was preening its feathers but didn’t spread it wings as they often do after fishing. Several lgbs flitted in the trees. (Little grey birds). Still we were able to finally capture an image allowing us to identify the bird.

Returning back down the boardwalk a loose domestic rooster walked across the grounds. Somehow it had taken refuge in the park and I was surprised someone hadn’t removed it for a pot of chicken gumbo, (it was nearing lunch time after all).

Renita again spotted several people taking images with their cameras and nearing them we saw the reason why. Two gopher tortoises were performing the tortoises tango. I.e. their mating ritual. The head bobbing, was followed by a nip on the front leg by the male as soon the female turned and allowed the male to climb upon her back.

It had been another good day at the small park. The gophers had provided us with a unique view of something rarely seen and the green heron had been another bonus of the short walk. Hopefully we will return another day and walk along the forest floor. That’s a place we usually see a pileated woodpecker. Thanks to the people that preserved the unique microcosm. Clear skies

Red Grouper, Spanish Mackerel, and Kings, a Days fishing with a New Friend

The forecast was for a choppy sea with waves of one to three feet, so we took off feeling pretty good. However as we traveled further and further the waves grew and by the time we reached the rock pile we were being bounced around, like steel marbles in a pinball machine. The waves were now from three to five feet high.

After positioning ourselves Mike dropped and set the anchor and Jenny quickly dropped her shrimp to the bottom. Before I could even bait my hook she was fighting a red grouper. The federal season was closed for red grouper and so we released the beautiful spotted fish and as soon a she dropped her rig again she had another fish.

It took a while before I finally connected and then I made a mistake while netting a shrimp. I hit the drain plug with the net and before Mike noticed it most of the bait was swimming away. Checking my rig I discovered my own bait was missing and baiting with one of the few remaining shrimp I immediately hooked a nice red grouper, (about twenty five inches). Still feeling really stupid from the bait well fiasco. I admitted my mistake and then cut a piece of blue runner, baiting it on my circle hook.

I set my pole in the holder and helped Jenny to unhook her large red grouper. About that time both Mike and Jenny yelled at me that I had a big fish on! Grabbing my pole I watched as the fish made a long run. It wasn’t a grouper and after several more runs it came to the surface, a legal king mackerel. Jenny keep saying that we now had dinner and I kept reminding her that the fish was not yet in the boat.

I finally landed it and then dinner was assured. We fished a little longer but the waves were growing in size and so we decided to head back to shore. Of course the seas diminished as we headed in and that was okay as we were all feeling a little under the weather.

Mike mentioned that we could go out later in the day and fish close to shore for Spanish mackerel. Cleaning the fish and the boat we took a lunch break, and a nap, before meeting Mike for a return to John’s pass. Only running a mile out, Mike and Jen spotted diving terns. Mike had us put on silver spoons and heading towards the birds, my pole doubled over! I fought the fish in and it didn’t behave like a Spanish mackerel as it again fought hard with long runs. It was a bigger king and now I had caught my limit.

Jenny’s pole went off next and she soon had our first Spanish mackerel! I was really excited as I had heard that Spanish mackerel were good eating and I really wanted to try one on the grill. Another pass through more bait fish and we hooked a double, both nice Spanish macs.

Bait fish were everywhere and after throwing back out we caught another before  a large fish broke my forty pound leader/ Two more Spanish fell to our rigs and I had another fish that broke another leader. The sun was nearing the horizon and so we talked it over before heading in.

It had been a great day with lots of fish, lots of learning about new fishing techniques, and most important a day on the water with Jenny, Renita, and Mike, (we all felt bad for Eric who had to work and so missed the great day of groupers, Spanish, and kings.Thank you Captain Mike for the great day! Clear skies

ps I grilled the Spanish mackerel and it was great!

A Shark Day of at Fort Desoto

Jenny patiently cast her line toward the pass. A strong outgoing tide flowed past us but she had a good rig and was able to hold her shrimp long enough to get a bite. Unfortunately her circle hook must have been too large and she  missed fish after fish.

We had decided to brave the record hot temperatures and spend the day at the beach, The temperatures here have reached the nineties and are more typical of August instead of November. Armed with lots of water, beach chairs and a nice cabana we hiked to the spot that I thought might hold fish. It was the firs time we had live shrimp and I hoped we could actually catch something big enough for dinner.

After setting up the portable shade, okay I mostly watched Jenny and Renita before I stepped in to help, With a shady spot assured I grabbed my pole, put on a live shrimp and cast out into the racing water.
I started with a popping cork and I had to walk along the beach to keep up with the tide. My bait fouled with sea grass and so I kept moving until I was actually fishing in the Gulf of Mexico. Nothing bothered my bait and so I went back and drank some more water.

After lunch I changed my rig to what I would call a Carolina. Its a slip sinker with a thirty pound leader ending with a small circle hook. I again made several casts and was soon my bait had carried into the Gulf. I wound and paused and I felt the fish strike the line. It ran and set the hook, I love circle hooks, and I was onto a nice fish!

It stopped running and I thought it wa probably a sting ray but as I neared shore I saw the tell tail dorsal fin, shark! It was a large bonnethead and I was able to guide it back toward the cabana. Renita and Jenny both took images.

Now bonnetheads are a tasty shark and we do love them grilled. but someone had forgotten the fish carrier, (I also forgot my sunglasses). It was a lucky day for the full grown shark as I successfully released it and watched it swim away.

Taking a sun break we both watched Jenny from the shade and before too long she was fighting a fish! Another bonnethead and it was her first shark.. People gathered to watch and she landed and grasped the fish. The hook fell out and so she was also able to make a successful live release.

The day was getting long and so we headed back to the truck. We did stop at the fishing pier but nothing was happening. Our last fishing of the day was at the docks near their condo and I caught a small unknown fish. It had been a great day on the beach, and a lucky day for a couple of sharks that normally would have been destined for the grill. Clear skies


Bonnetheads are small sharks and a large one is about three feet/one meter in length.

The Crystal River State Archeological Site

From Monticello we turned south and headed or a short drive to Crystal River. There we hoped to kayak with the manatees but upon arrival we discovered that the water was too warm. We were told that the chances of seeing the manatees were about fifty-fifty, so instead we opted to visit the Crystal River State Archeological Site.

Jen and Eric drove up from St Petersburg and we first drove around checking out possible launch sites for future paddles. The private boat launch raised their launch price to seven dollars per kayak. It’s a handy placer near to the Three Sisters Springs but there were several other launch ramps so that’s where we are going to launch from now on.

Deciding to discover something new we headed for the Crystal River State Archeological Site. The site has a visitor center, staffed by an extremely knowledgeable volunteer. He told us of the history of the Temple and Burial mounds and directed us to displays of artifacts dug from several of the sites.

After studying the finds, after all you never know when you may come across an artifact while paddling or hiking, we headed out to the First Temple and Burial mound. On the way we passed a small stele which is a large rock set in place and inscribed with runes/drawings. However the marks are covered in lichen and so were not visible.

Climbing the fifty stairs to the top of the Temple we looked across the Crystal River. There the volunteer told us other mounds had been located, all on private land. If I remember right he said there were a total of twenty seven mounds in this multisite complex.

It reminded us of the Iowa’s Effigy Mounds along the Mississippi River and the large mound complex along the Natchez Trail. Further along we stopped at Stele 1, where a face had been engraved.

It has been suggested that these Steles were placed by early Mayans and the other Stele has an apparent blood groove, yikes human sacrifice?

We really enjoyed the other State Site and would definitely recommend it if you are in the area. The next day we headed south and are now parked, for the next two months, in St Petersburg, Florida.

Clear skies

Tallahassee Nature Nuseum

From Chattanooga we headed south west. While it would have been shorter to drive through Atlanta, but we have heard nothing but horror stories and so our drive took us to Montgomery, Alabama and then to Tallahassee.

On the way to Tallahassee we spent two nights at one of our favorite campgrounds, Gunter Hill. It’s run by the Corp of Engineers and is the best campground we have ever seen. Our next stop was at a campground near Monticello, Florida. We have friends we have met on the road, Bob and Sue, who were full timers like us but now own a beautiful Airstream and travel during the summer.

They suggested we visit the Tallahassee Museum. It’s a wildlife museum and zoo in which the animals are in a natural swamp setting. Huge cypress provide the shade from the forest canopy, heavily draped with long beards of grey Spanish moss.

Paths and elevated wooden walkways took us through the zoo enclosure, (you don’t want to visit this place on a rainy day), and after passing some aviaries, with birds of prey we came to the main enclosures. There red wolves, a Florida panther, grey fox, and a black bear.

Now we have seen grey wolves and so to actually see a live red wolf was really neat. At first it lay there watching us, before rising and walking along a path it had made through the detritus on forest floor. The wolves here provide a breeding stock that has been used to allow reintroduction.

Today the red wolves only exist in the wild in North Carolina’s Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge. They range had extended from Pennsylvania to Florida and west into Texas. There are about fifty wild red wolves and about two hundred that are in captivity, providing breed stock for this rare canid.

A little further a Florida panther stood in a corner, hoping for a meal as it’s handlers worked on the outside of its enclosure. I am sure it’s a special treat when the predators managed to grab one of the many wild squirrels inhabiting the zoo.

Another enclosure held a large black bear, resting comfortably in a hole it had dug. It reminded me of why Wall Street refers to bears and bulls as the two types of investors. It also reminded me of a large wild/feral hog.

The next enclosure held two grey fox and they were resting about twenty feet above the ground in a large cypress tree! I never knew that grey fox could climb trees so now I must look for patches of grey fur while birding. One of the sly foxes narrowly opened its eyes watching us, before it decided to go back to sleep.

Tiring, we all decided to head back to Bob and Sue’s house. They told us of two houses for sale nearby but we have no desire to own another house, or to give up our lifestyle. When we started to travel, nine years ago, we thought that we would find a beautiful spot to someday settle down but the problem is that there are too many beautiful spots! Thank you Bob and Sue! Clear skies

Chickamauga and Lookout Mountain, Part 2

It was about a seven mile drive from Lookout Mountain to the Chickamauga Battlefield. We had stopped at the Visitor Center the day before so we drove to stop number one, dialed the phone number and listened to the recorded message.

It was basically the story of the first days fight where the Confederates had been delayed by the lighten brigade allowing the Union to establish a defensive line. Stop two told of the next day’s attacks, all repulsed. The lines here were well marked with monuments to the opposing forces, including the largest monument named the Georgia Memorial.

Stop four was where disaster overtook the Union forces, when the Union General, safely far back from the fighting pulled troops from the center. He had made the mistake thinking a gap existed on the left where none existed and crated a huge gap in the center. The Confederates attacked, found the gap and split the Union Army/

When the Confederates came out of the woods by the Union Generals headquarters he mounted his horse and rode off with other generals telling his staff it was every man for himself, (he rode off to Chattanooga and made no attempt to rally his forces.

The right side of the line was held by the Lightening Brigade, a Union Mounted Infantry Brigade armed with Spenser Repeating rifles. They held off numerous attacks before being forced to withdraw and their position is dominated by their Memorial to Wilders Brigade. It’s a high tower and you can climb the stairs to the top.

As the Union forces were being routed, the only remaining Union Major General, George Thomas, pulled troops together and formed a line along the Snodgrass form.

He set up his headquarters about one hundred and fifty yards behind the lines which he established along a horse shoe shaped ridge.

There he rallied forces who then held off attack after attack allowing the retreat of the main Union forces to Chattanooga, (and he was given the name the Rock of Chickamauga).

Later he and his troops would distinguish themselves when they took the right flank of Seminary Ridge. In that Battle Sherman’s Corp had been stopped in their attack up the left flank. Thomas’s force was order to simply take the rifle pits at the bottom of the ridge but instead fought their way to the top, taking the cannons and routing Braggs Confederate Forces, (Braxton had made a mistake and put his defense on the actual crest of the ridge instead of on the military crest and so his forces couldn’t fire down on the attackers.

We have been to many of the Civil Wars major battlefields including Shiloh, Gettysburg, and Antietam. All are sites were men fought with honor and courage and all are hallowed ground. All are places people today should visit.

Perhaps then the idiots here who call for succession and the idiots in Congress would spend their time trying to heal and fix what is wrong with this country instead of simply fighting against anyone who suggests hope. These are the people who Roosevelt talked against when he said,”the only thing we have to fear is fear itself”.

Clear skies