Category: boats

'scene' along the way, adventure, boats, bucket list, finding my way, Florida landmarks, friends, making memories, perseverance, photography, sky, weather

Day trippin’…

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The point of the trip was never the Sanibel lighthouse. No, I noticed the lighthouse when we drove to Sanibel Island from Cape Coral after photographing the burrowing owls. Since we were so close we decided to drive to the lighthouse and pier, and so did everyone else in the vicinity. Memorial Day weekend wasn’t the best timing for this trip, and the hopeless traffic jam caused us to give up and go back one the bridge for a more long distance view of the lighthouse. I wasn’t the driver and I’m exhausted, too tired to sort through all my owl pictures tonight. I’ll start on them fresh tomorrow. Today was a lot of fun, I wonder where we’ll go tomorrow…

And then it was time to head for home. With two hours of driving ahead we weren’t happy to see this sky developing, but we did stay mostly dry all the way home.

'scene' along the way, birds, blessings, boats, brainstorms, food, friends, fun, life goes on, making memories, nature, perseverance, photography

Miss Vicki’s

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Miss Vicki’s is a hidden gem you can find on Baillie’s Branch Road just past Anclote River Park. My son took me there the first time, but when I attempted to find it again I had to search. It looks like you are heading into a marina, but look for it, you’ll be glad you did.

Sitting on a bench by the water with a beer is a pretty nice way to spend the time while you wait for a table. The time passed quickly.
There were kids wading just a little ways away.
There were even commercial breaks…
And some not so serene boaters speeding by.

Normally I might be inclined to take a picture of my food when it came, but I was hungry and dug right in. The fish and chips were recommended by the waitress and it proved to be a good choice. It was a nice finale to a day of shooting, but we were too tired to wait around for the sunset. Maybe next time…

adventure, boats, brainstorms, exploring new places, friends, fun, go with the flow, history, Just do it, making memories, perseverance, photography, road trip, sky, weather

The witches of Salem…

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1692 was not a good year for witches, or people perceived to be witches, in Salem, MA.

This is the witch memorial. Each stone slab is engraved with the name and date of death of a person who was hanged for being a witch.
We did no homework ahead of time, so if these people have stories we didn’t learn them.
There were no crowds at the memorial on Tuesday. Possibly because the main stops were only open Friday-Monday at the moment. As was the Visitor Center, so we were without maps, and wandering on our own.
These murals caught my eye.
This was an interesting sign, and there were many opportunities to get your fortune read. I’ve always been afraid to do that, I guess I prefer to stumble along in the dark.
This shop in particular caught my eye, but we didn’t go in.
A chuckle at the front door.
The waterfront seemed like a good bet for photos.
Loved this figurehead.
The shoreline was quiet.
The sky was so pretty.
This is the home for aged women. I should have asked if they had an opening.
I love it when flowers spill over a fence like this.
Up one side.
Down the other.
A passerby told us to look up the oldest candy shop in America. The building wasn’t as old looking as others and I’m not sure that we would have gone in without a heads up. They told us that in 1802 a British woman was shipwrecked off the coast and was brought ashore penniless. But when the villagers learned that she had been a confectioner they bought her a barrel of sugar, and the business was born. Gibralters were the first candy made and sold in America.
200 year old candy remains in the glass jar in the case on the shelf. I liked the cash register.
I bought these to share with someone special, provided I can resist them for a few more days.
'scene' along the way, a second look, adventure, blessings, boats, connections, finding my way, friends, life, life goes on, live and learn, making memories, perseverance, photography, road trip, travel

An afternoon at the lake…

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Lake Winnipesaukee was where we were headed. Saying the names of the places I left behind in New England is part of the fun of being here. Whenever I can I try to resurrect my MA accent, at least while I’m here. It makes me a little sentimental, but mostly I’m very happy to spend time just being comfortable with an old friend, in the place she loves, a place that now feels as comfortable as home to me…

Birch trees are so beautiful.
Geese in a perpetual journey across the sky.
Flowering trees.
The Indian who lives on the island in the lake.
I was going to take a picture of the dog sculpture anyhow, but when I saw this dog earlier I said it was Ozzie, and they stopped for me to pet him.
This little sweetie and her granny in their matching pink shirts.
It not that they are naked that I took so many pictures of this statue, it’s just that it was placed so that you could make so many different compositions. I might have chickened out on using the other shot of them as my feature photo, and it may just follow next. I don’t know at this moment.
It was a beautiful day to just sit and enjoy.
If I see a round hole I hold my breath while I see if I see if there is a view through it.
I imagine living nearby and walking to the water and waiting for the sunrise and/or sunset.
And another one.
A bridge between my favorite places perhaps.
'scene' along the way, a second look, adventure, birds, boats, connections, Florida landmarks, fun, go with the flow, Just do it, making memories, perseverance, photography

Also on the river…

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When I was in Charleston there were do-it-yourself bike rentals in convenient spots to help you get around. If we have scooters here in Tampa does that mean we are younger, at least at heart?
I saw that the dog was positioned to be the figurehead of this ‘ship’, but he never actually assumed the position. But his people waved at me!
I would never have spotted Humpty Dumpty if someone on the boat hadn’t pointed him out. He’s at a restaurant called Ulele, and he’s a holdover from a former attraction called Fairyland.
I’m not sure that this would be my chosen spot to kayak, but maybe it’s just that where I like to go on the Weeki Wachee river the water is only a foot or so deep.
I loved that helmet, and when she turned around and came back by I got my shot.
There he was, a very chill Mockingbird, in the midst of people, dogs, kids, and revving engines, just doing his thing in the shrubs.
I guess it takes two to paddle that thing. Or they lost a paddler…
Another bird who was not bothered by the activity on the water.
While I find this little girl in pink to be adorable, I have to wonder about her mother’s choice of footwear for this particular day’s activity. Dad was in jeans and a tee shirt.
This little girl and her dog were walking ahead of me, and I caught up with them to ask what kind of dog that was. It was so adorable walking along with ears sticking out like bat wings. Her dad told me it’s a Shih Tzu/French bulldog mix.
When I arrived in the morning that beautiful green (Astroturf) lawn was empty, and the Adirondack chairs were arranged in one long line facing the water. I sat there waiting for the water taxi. But when I got back things had been rearranged into socially appropriate clusters.

'scene' along the way, adventure, boats, exploring new places, finding my way, fun, Just do it, learning, making memories, old dogs new tricks, perseverance, photography, road trip, sky, weather

Riding the water taxi…

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Eventually I realized that the cars weren’t just driving up and road and revving their engines, they were leaving, the cars and coffee event was over. But the water taxi was due to arrive in a half hour or so, and I figured that a round trip on the river might be a fun thing to do before I headed home. You can ride for the day, and get off and on all you’d like, which I’ll have to do another time so that I can explore the stops along the river. I had to google most of this information because I have realized that I know next to nothing about Tampa. But I know more now than I did before I rode the river.

This is the Howard W. Blake high school and it sits right across the river from the Armature Works where I first boarded the water taxi. What a location. This high school has a strong academic program with an emphasis on the arts.
On a photo walk a couple of years ago a ‘beer can building’ was pointed out to me. I think this is it!
Henry B. Plant built this fabulous building as The Tampa Bay Hotel in the 1880s. It had 511 rooms, and all were electrified by by Thomas Edison himself. It was to be a palace to go with his railroad empire, but the Great Depression eventually led to the property being sold to the city of Tampa, and a rent of $1/year is still being paid today. At least I think that’s what the taxi operator said.
The American Victory Ship and Museum is one of only 4 WWII ships still in operation. During the war it supplied troops and supplies wherever they were needed by all branches of the service.
The guide said that this port usually looks like an airport terminal with cruise ships lined up at the docks here.
The time to see the Jose Gasparilla is at night with the sails unfurled.
If you want ride the water taxi to all of it’s stops you must change boats here.
This sculpture is called The Form of Wander, and is supposed to represent trees overhead.
T’cars and coffee’ ampa hosts rowing teams from universities in color climates, and they are encouraged to add their artwork here along the river, in honor if their schools

The clouds seemed to be on the verge of breaking up, or so I told myself as I rode the taxi. But it was still a pretty day to be out on the water.