Monday Musings - July 29, 2013

1. Get over it! Just because vacation is over doesn't mean that summer has ended. There is still al to of time to do a lot of fun, outdoors activities and enjoy the best season of the year.

2. It takes a lot of work to get things back in order around a house after a three week absence.

3. Being greeted by a mountain of mail is not the best way to end a vacation.

4. There is something unsettling about returning to work after a lengthy absence. It should be fun and interesting today.

5. I cannot believe that July is almost complete. Wow, time passes quickly when I'm having fun.

6. Interesting piece of trivia: on this date in 1981, Prince Charles married Lady Diana. And now, their son has a son.

7. Even better than the previous entry--on this date in 1958 NASA was created.

8. Is it good to be home? That is a tough one. Is it better to be on vacation in someplace that I love knowing that I have a home to return to, or is it better to be at home with the memories of a great vacation?

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Vacation Reflections 2013

Lobster Hiding at Carlin Park the Day After Lobster Mini-Season

Arriving home last evening about 7PM was thankfully uneventful. The house was in great shape, thanks to our family watching it and Makayla was there to greet us, having been returned from spending three weeks with her cousin Chewbacca a few hours earlier. I missed my dog and it was good to see her.

The trip from Florida, nominally a 15 hour drive too 17 hour due to heavy traffic between Richmond, VA, and home. My traffic alert in the car was going off every few minutes to advise me of a new accident or traffic jam. It was torturous to see our arrival time slip from 5PM, to 5:30PM and so on until we finally arrived home when we did. I have got to figure a better way to drive from Richmond to avoid all of the continual traffic nonsense--or plan to drive through during the wee hours or late hours of the day as we do when departing.

Snook

As they say, it is over, but at least the memories remain (and almost 900 pictures that Chris and I took). I love digital imagery--shoot until you get it right!

Sand Castle 

The new vehicle performed perfectly on the highway. I especially appreciated the internet connection for traffic updates and the detour/rerouting that the navigation system offers. We used that on a couple of occasions yesterday--but then at one point we needed a detour while on the detour. We finally decided to just slog it out on I-95.

One of the most memorable things I did during the vacation was build a sand castle with Ethan, Jax, and Chris. I have not engaged in sand castle building in a number of years, and I have grown a bit rusty. But our creation was significant. I was sad that I did not return to that beach the next day to see how the wind and waves had returned it to sandy beach.

We have already mostly decided that we will likely not return to Jupiter next year. but will instead venture off to some other location--maybe not even a beach.

But, that is for another day to decide.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

On the Road Home

Somewhere on I-95 in North Carolina

We departed promptly at 0200 this morning and had exited Florida before dawn. Coming up on noon we are slogging through North Carolina in moderate to heavy traffic.

The rain yesterday morning and evening did not dampen our final beach visit, but I did liken the drops to the tears of the Seminole's as they were pursued and subsequently lost their lands.

We dined with our friends at the Juno Beach Fish House, our last supper in Florida.

We are hoping to be home for a late happy hour.



--Bob Doan, writing from I-95 somewhere in North Carolina

Bird of the Day -- Juvenile Reddish Egret Finding Breakfast

Juvenile Reddish Egret

There is something fascinating about watching animals hunt--especially when they are successful and I have a camera there to record it. I tracked this bird for quite a few minutes as it moved from tidal pool to tidal pool as it stalked dinner. And then, success! It came quickly, but probably not quickly enough for the small fish which was invited to be breakfast.

-- Bob Doan, writing from Jupiter, FL

Endings turing into Beginnings

The Flattest Atlantic Ocean of the Vacation

IT is here. My three plus week vacation is at an end. This morning will be my last sojourn to my favorite Florida beach for quite some time. There is some sadness when vacations draw to a close--but it isn't over yet!

Right. I still have a fifteen hour drive ahead of me to return to Maryland. That drive will begin during the wee hours of the morning and culminate, hopefully, with a triumphant return into the my driveway sometime during the late afternoon tomorrow. 

I have not missed much about being away, except for my dog, Makayla. Someday, I would like to bring her on vacation with me--but I will need to find a dog friendly place to rent. I have appreciated all of the help back home that those who could not join us here in Florida have done to keep things running, especially the struggles with the hot weather and the pool! Thanks guys for staying on top of that. I hope the cats got fed.

Sand Castle Creation

Today will be filled with beach followed by packing and car loading in preparation for departure. I fear we have accumulated more stuff than there is room for in the vehicle.

Yesterday's snorkeling was fabulous, as was the day before. Unfortunately it was the lobster mini season and there were a lot of other people in the water which drove many of the fish away, I think. I did run across two large barracuda and finally found one of the nurse sharks that I had been seeking. Actually, Nicole found it as we were cruising along the outer edges of the rocks. It was very well hidden. Why no pictures? I forgot to charge the battery on my underwater camera.

We even enjoyed a group effort sand castle building experience. With the help of Chris and I, Ethan and Jax created a fabulous sand castle on the beach. It was even reinforced with shells to repel attacking ghost crabs. We will look for the remains of the castle when we visit the beach today. 

 Last Happy Hour on the Beach with Nicole

Even so, during the late evening, we enjoyed our final Happy Hour together with Nicole, Mike, Ethan, and Jax on the beach. It was an idyllic evening with light winds, the flattest ocean of the entire vacation, and relaxed fun. The only reason we left the beach was because the parking lot closes promptly at sunset. 

The memories are fantastic. The sights have been grand. What more could I ask for, really? If I was on vacation every day it would not be a vacation, right?  OK--it might be called retirement!  Mmmmm, there is a thought.

Nah. It will be here soon enough and I need to do more preparation to make retirement as much fun as possible.

-- Bob Doan, writing from Jupiter, FL

Bird of the Day -- Yellow Crowned Night Heron

Yellow Crowned Night Heron

We had the opportunity to watch this bird hunt for quite a while. It was clearly hunting ghost crabs in the dry sandy part of the beach--well away from the water. I am not sure how successful it was given that I never saw it actually get anything to eat.

This image shows the bird ruffling its plumage while wandering down the beach.

-- Bob Doan, writing from Jupiter, FL

Climbing into History at the Jupiter Lighthouse

Jupiter Lighthouse

I am fascinated by lighthouses. What a great concept to assist sailors in safely navigating along the coastlines.

Chris and I atop the Jupiter Lighthouse

Yesterday, after visiting this area nearly every year for at least the past ten years, I finally took some time to climb to the top of the Jupiter Lighthouse. It is, after all, the structure that defines Jupiter for me. I probably have taken dozens of pictures of it during my many visits here--and yet, for some reason, never took the time to visit the museum and climb the lighthouse.

I was very happy to have taken the time to visit. Not only was the view fabulous, but the insight into local history regarding the Seminoles was revealing. I continue to be amazed at the ruthlessness displayed by the Federal government in dealing with the native peoples to include the treachery involved in the capture of the war chief Osceola. I have begun to understand why so many streets are named Osceola. There is even an Osceola County.

Looking Down in the Square Grouper and the Blue Heron Dock

But, back to the lighthouse--I was fascinated to find that it was a military construction project built by George G. Meade in consultation with Robert E. Lee. The lighthouse was first lit on July 10, 1860 and less than three years later the two military men would be commanding opposing armies at Gettysburg.

The lighthouse sits on an active Coast Guard installation. There site has a lot of history and artifacts to offer and so it is much more than just a lighthouse tour.

I enjoyed sitting under a huge, 77 year old banyan tree at the base of the lighthouse. I wish banyan trees would grow in Maryland--I'd put one in my backyard.

The lighthouse is remains active. Every night its light helps identify the location of the Jupiter Inlet for sailors. I'm sure that if I was on the ocean at night the light from the lighthouse would be a welcome sight--even though I was probably using a gps to navigate.

-- Bob Doan, writing from Jupiter, FL

Bird of the Day -- Sand Cranes

Sand Cranes in Tequesta

A trio of sand cranes announced their presence the other evening while we were dining with friends. Of course, we did not arrive at dinner with our best camera, so the images are from my phone. I am never without a camera of some kind it seems.

They are good sized birds and are really beautiful in flight. These birds cruise the neighborhood looking for scraps and seeds. They were not disappointed.

The boys were fascinated by their size.

-- Bob Doan, writing from Jupiter, FL

A Disney Success Story in July

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As part of the vacation we ventured to the Magic Kingdom to spend quality time together and with Mickey Mouse and his friends.  

A day at Disney in July? Yup. Crazy. But, as it turned out it was a good decision. 

The day was mostly overcast with  about an hourlong rainstorm in the middle of the day. Why was this good?  It meant we did not bake in the sun! The temperatures were more than moderate. No sunburn, no stifling July heat. Sweet. 

We also had a good plan. Four rides during the first hour and smart use of the fast pass system for the rest of the day. No hurry.  We opened the park and left after the fireworks. 

Ready for Thunder Mountain Railroad

Was it a long day? You bet!

Was it fun? Yup!

Hear are some random thoughts:

Get there early and plan to stay late

Sit down for dinner

Don't wear a watch, that way what time it is or how long something took doesn't matter. I got on Disney time and the day flew by. 

Thunder Mountain railroad has been slowed down and is no longer a thrill ride. 

It's a Small World is as bad as I remember. 

Beating the Rain

Don't let a little rain dampen your spirits. 

The new Be Our Guest lunch and the Beast's Castle are must do's. 

Don't do souvenir shopping at the end of the day when everyone else is doing it. 

Don't do souvenir shopping during the day so that you have to carry stuff around. 

There is no good time for souvenir shopping.  

The transportation to and from the parking lots needs work. Especially when everyone is leaving. 

There were a lot more cast members yelling at me to move along than i remember, especially in some of the attractions. 

You Will Get Wet

You will get wet on Splash Mountain, get over it. 

The  Magic Kingdom is a lot more fun with my grandsons than i remember it being with my kids. 

Crowds are a fact of life. 

The Dole pineapple ice cream float is a must do!

Ibuprofen saved the day when my back started hurting. 

Thanks Nicole and Mike for letting us tag along.

- Bob Doan, Writing from Florida's Turnpike (no, I am not driving)

Best Day so Far

Pork Fish off the Beach

I finally got a great day of snorkeling yesterday--which resulted in my being in the water for over 1.5 hours snorkeling and snapping images of the marine life. I write marine life because the animals that I saw included a loggerhead turtle, a green turtle, a barracuda, and an assortment of other fish and crabs.

It was the day that I had been waiting for for over two weeks. The day was complete with sun, blue skies, mild waves and clear water--something that I have not been able to get all together since I have been in Florida.

Green Turtle off Jupiter Island

Chasing down the green turtle was exciting. It was swimming fairly quickly and allowed me only a few moments of access before turning sharply and heading off into the deeper water. The barracuda was significant, but far enough away on the edge of visibility that the picture did not come out. I knew it was a stretch at the time.

The real excitement of the day though was Ethan's first ocean snorkeling adventure. He performed fabulously and had a great time--even in the deeper water. We were able to finally fit him with a mask that kept the water out and he snorkeled for almost an hour. It was a huge accomplishment and it was great to have him along to begin to see and appreciate the life in and under the water.

I thoroughly enjoyed my trusty underwater camera.

-- Bob Doan, writing from Jupiter, FL