Drawbridges

Drawbridge Over Lake Worth
Palm Beach, Florida
November 13, 2019

In reviewing my photos from the visit to Florida, I happened upon one that I took from the Flagler Museum of a Palm Beach drawbridge. While not a particularly interesting image by itself, as I reflected upon the subject and the region I realized drawbridges define coastal South Florida. 

I remember that as a kid I was fascinated by drawbridges. Ithaca did not and does not have any. Seeing one for the first time, I think I was in college, was a fascinating experience, it was almost like the first time I happened upon an escalator, I just wanted to stop and watch the precision of the huge machinery lifting the road to allow maritime traffic to pass underneath. 

Floating Drawbridge
Willemstad, Curacao
July 29, 2015

The area where I reside in Florida when I escape to the south is replete with drawbridges. Sometimes, I believe they have it in for me and seem to open at the most inopportune times. There is one particular drawbridge that I traverse multiple times per day and I clearly remember one day that it was open fully fifty percent of the time I attempted to pass. And as you are likely aware, drawbridge openings are not a short affair. It takes a good 5-10 minutes for the entire cycle to complete. 

One of the most fascinating drawbridges that I have seen was in Willemstad, Curacao. That bridge opened by sliding away in the water. It was a floating drawbridge.  Against the colorful town, it was a sight to see and enjoy. 

I will have to become used to the open and closing of drawbridges as I spend more time in South Florida as they are a way of life for the coastal communities. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

The Palm and the Cactus

My Palm Tree
Tequesta, Florida
November 19, 2019

Waking yesterday morning in Florida and being treated to a clear blue sky and warm sunshine was a perfect send-off and ending for my two weeks away from the north. I felt compelled to take a picture of my palm tree--the one that I park the car next to  in my drive when I am there. It is not a huge palm tree, as palm trees go, but I must be mindful of it as I back the car into the drive. I additionally use the palm to position the car so that I do not back into the garage door. 

Thanksgiving Cactus
Elkridge, MD
November 19, 2019

After an uneventful plane ride to Baltimore, Chris and I entered our home and were treated to our Thanksgiving Cactus in full bloom for the upcoming holiday. We knew that the cactus would likely bloom during our time away, but thought that it would be complete by the time we returned. We were happy that was not the case. It was a joy to round the corner into the family room and see the cactus brightening the space with its blooms. 

The house is decorated for Thanksgiving, however, we will likely begin the Christmasification process this weekend. It is the season! I usually install the exterior Christmas lights on Veterans Day, however, this year I was enjoying the sun and warmth of Florida on that holiday. So now the work begins. 


-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
   (I do not know why I prefer to write out Florida, but abbreviate Maryland as MD)

The Last Sunset

Sunset to the South Over the Beach
Jupiter Island Beach
Jupiter, Florida
November 18, 2019

Sunset to the East Over the Atlantic Ocean
Jupiter Island Beach
Jupiter, Florida
November 18, 2019

Last evening Chris and I continued our ritual of saying good-bye to the ocean. This is something that we do at the end of every trip as a way of recognizing the end of the vacation and fixing in our minds that last image of the ocean waves crashing on the beach. Last evening the surf was definitely strong and the ocean was angry. We have observed a lot of beach erosion during our visit. All of the beaches we visited have shown signs of erosion from the pounding of the surf. 

Jupiter Lighthouse Looking to the West
Intra-coastal Waterway
Jupiter Island Florida
November, 18 2019

Sunset to the West
Intra-coastal Waterway
Jupiter Island Florida
November, 18 2019 

But the real joy of last evening, as we visiting the ocean for one last time, was the spectacular sunset. It was one of those rare sunsets that fully encompassed the sky. We looked to the east across the ocean and we could see the reflections of the sunset in the clouds and looking to the south along the beach the sunset was also stunning. When we walked across Jupiter Island to stand on the Intra-coastal Waterway and face fully to the west, however, the sunset was awe-inspiring. It was a sunset to remember and I am very glad that I captured the memory of it in more than a few images. 

It will be a some months before I return to stand in the places where I stood last evening, but the memory of the last sunset will be with me for a while. The sunset was a true example of "raining fire in the sky" that John Denver sings of in his song Rocky Mountain High.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, Florida

Monday Musings - November 18, 2019

1. The month is zipping by at a rapid pace. It is already the last half of November. Thanksgiving is next week and I see signs of the Christmas season in almost every store.

2. It is hard to believe that my two week respite from the Northeast ends tomorrow. I will leave the palm trees behind and board a flight to face the worst that winter can toss at me.

Jupiter Island Beach
Jupiter, Florida
November 16, 2019

3. On Saturday, despite the cooler temperatures, Chris and I went to the beach on Jupiter Island. The sun was warm and we were treated to Caribbean Sea colors as the ocean was relatively calm and the sky was blue.

4. Family NFL Results and probability of making the playoffs:

  Ravens (97%) defeat Texans 41-7
  Cowboys (61%) defeat Lions 35-27
  Steelers (34%) lose to Browns 7-21
  Redskins (<1 17-34="" font="" jets="" lose="" to="">

Jupiter Lighthouse
Jupiter, Florida
November 16, 2019

5. The iconic Jupiter Lighthouse has been dark during the time we have been in the area due to maintenance. I was able to manage yet a slightly different image of it the other day as it was illuminated by the sun with the back from of the dark clouds. 

6. As we close up our condo, in preparation for the winter, we are leaving lot of memories and work behind. I think we have nearly made the place into our home and there are only minor projects remaining to fill our time during the next visit. I am already planning my first visit of 2020.

7. It was instructive to see how the 18 degree drop in temperature caused the true Floridians to seek heavy jackets, while those form more northern climates continues to wear shorts. I did, however, change into jeans when the temperatures dipped below 60 degrees.

8. Is there such a thing as Christmas season burnout? With the jump form Halloween to Christmas, skipping Thanksgiving, I worry that by the time Christmas actually arrives, people will be burned out.

9. Today in History. On November 18, 1978, Peoples Temple founder Jim Jones leads hundreds of his followers in a mass murder-suicide at their agricultural commune in a remote part of the South American nation of Guyana. Many of Jones’ followers willingly ingested a poison-laced punch while others were forced to do so at gunpoint. The final death toll at Jonestown that day was 909; a third of those who perished were children.


Headlines

Congress Expects to Pass Another Stopgap Spending Bill to Keep Agencies Open Through Dec. 20 - Government Executive

Hong Kong Protesters Trapped at Campus - The New York Times

Republicans Shift Defense of Trump While He Attacks Another Witness - The New York Times

North Korea says will not offer anything to Trump without receiving in return: KCNA - Reuters

Russia starts process of returning captured naval ships to Ukraine: TASS - Reuters

Ronald Reagan Quote for the Week

Next, the budget process is a sorry spectacle. The missing of deadlines and the nightmare of monstrous continuing resolutions packing hundreds of billions of dollars of spending into one bill must be stopped. We ask the Congress once again: Give us the same tool that 43 Governors have -- a line-item veto so we can carve out the boondoggles and pork, those items that would never survive on their own. I will send the Congress broad recommendations on the budget, but first I'd like to see yours. Let's go to work and get this done together.

Address Before a Joint Session of Congress on the State of the Union - January 27, 1987

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, Florida

Palm Trees, No Drama

Palm Tree with Moon in Front of my Condo
Tequesta, Florida
November 16, 2019

There is something about palm trees that help me to lose the drama in my life. Some days life is full of just too much drama and getting rid of it helps to preserve my sanity. Whenever I see a palm tree, I automatically exhale and the stress and drama in my life vanish.

Palms Behind my Condo
Tequesta, Florida
November 16, 2019

I guess palm trees are one of the reasons that I love Florida so much. I know that when the plane touches down on the runway when I am arriving that the first object that my eyes search for are the palm trees. When I finally see the palms, I know that I have arrived in Florida. I am blessed in that I can see palm trees from both the front and back of my condo! There is a palm tree right next to my driveway that I have to avoid every time I park my car. I love that palm tree because it is reminds me that I am in Florida. 

Palm trees are signs that my life has become a drama free zone! 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, Florida

Beaches and Birds

I have discovered that Florida weather forecasters are as inconsistent  as Maryland forecasters. 

Yesterday was supposed to be rainy 70 percent of the day with the bulk of the rain in the morning and. early afternoon. It turned out that the rain was spotty, hit or miss and a very low percentage. Turns out, it was a great day, until late in the afternoon. There were clouds on the skyline which provided for some additional beauty to the beach. 

Hobe Sound Wildlife Refuge
Hobe Sound, Florida
November 15, 2019

A Squadron of Pelicans in Formation
Hobe Sound Wildlife Refuge
Hobe Sound, Florida
November 15, 2019

The beach was wide, long and clean. And, did I mention, there was almost no one there? The weather report kept most of the beach-goers away and so we had the wide expanse of sand from horizon to horizon to ourselves. 

Seagull on the Beach
Hobe Sound Wildlife Refuge
Hobe Sound, Florida
November 15, 2019

Well, we didn't exactly have the entire beach to ourselves, we had a few birds, many birds actually, to enjoy. They filled the beach as they were scavenging for food. The pelicans over the water were especially fun to watch as they flew their seemingly precise formations across the fairly calm waters less than a wingspan above the ocean.  

The birds provided ample entertainment, as did the waves which I ventured out into for the first time during the trip. They were crashing hard on the beach and I did a bit of body surfing. It was tiring because the waves were big--over 6 feet in some cases. 

It was a great day and since the temperatures are cooling into the 70's, its was likely the last opportunity to actually get into the water for the year. 

Another idyllic day!

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, Florida

Too Much Plastic

Plastic Ware on the Beach
Carlin Park Beach
Jupiter, Florida
November 14, 2019

I am in shock, frankly. After walking the beaches faithfully for the past 9 days, I am shocked at the amount of plastic that is washing up on the beaches! It is stunning and I had no idea, until this trip, how much plastic waste is washing up on the beaches. We are awash in plastic. 

Chris and I have been walking the beaches, picking up trash and doing our small part to clean the environment. It has become clear that as a society and on a global scale we need to reduce or eliminate the use of one-time use plastic for utensils and bags. I am appalled at the volume of plastic utensils that adorn the beaches. And the bags--from small bags to grocery bags are everywhere. Sadly, many of the bags are small clear plastic bags that may have been used for fishing associated items. Why would fishermen pollute the environment by throwing the bags into the water where the turtles and other animals can then confuse them as jellyfish; eat them and die? 

We need to take action to reduce plastic in the environment. I have not been a supporter of taxes on plastic bags, until now. I believe we need to stop the use of plastic straws and utensils as well. If we do not, we will strangle the planet in plastic.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, Florida

Return to the Flagler Museum

Christmas Tree in the Main Room
Flagler Museum
Palm Beach, Florida
November 13, 2019

I do enjoy good museums and the Flagler Museum in Palm Beach is a good museum. It provides a detailed look into the Gilded Age and how the very upper crust of American Society lived. 

Christmas Tree in the Drawing Room
Flagler Museum
Palm Beach, Florida
November 13, 2019

Unlike when Chris and I visited during out last trip here, the museum is now decorated for Christmas. That surprised me a bit when I first entered, but then upon reflecting a bit, it made sense. The decorations were not lighted--that happens after Thanksgiving. 

It was nice to tour the museum again after seeing it only a few months earlier. I was able to go deeper into some of the exhibits and gain a better appreciation for Henry Flagler and how he created modern Florida in his vision. The key was building a railroad to connect the villages of St Augustine, Palm Beach, and Miami. He then built the Overseas Railroad to connect Key West to the mainland. It was an extension of the Florida East Coast Railway. 

As it rained during most of the day which precluded going to the beach, visiting the museum was a great way to spend time and gain a better appreciation of history as well. 

I recommend visiting the Flagler Museum. It is a must do when in the West Palm Beach/Palm Beach area.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Palms at Night

Lights Wrapped Palms for Christmas
Jupiter, Florida
November 12, 2019

Chris and I went to dinner last evening in an upscale part of Jupiter. We went to a nice Italian restaurant that we have visited before, but we were treated to the Christmas decorations already in place in the area. 

While the actual Christmas Trees and associated decorations were not illuminates, they were decorated, the Palms along the streets were decked to in full lights. I love light wrapped Palm trees. They make me smile! In fact, we may go back again just to enjoy the ambiance of the area at night. I have to admit, even though I am fully committed to not overlooking Thanksgiving in the rush to get into the Christmas Season, seeing the Palm trees wrapped with lights did make me begin to look forward to the holiday season. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Sunset and Palms

Palm Trees in the Sunset
Jupiter sound, Jupiter, Florida
November 10, 2019

Since returning to standard time, sunset and Happy Hour coincide. This has provided the opportunity get some great images of the sunset behind palm trees. There is something relaxing about enjoying downtime and watching the sun set with palm trees in the foreground. It is a one of the best ways to end the day. 

Crab
Hobe Sound National Wildlife Preserve
Hope Sound, Florida
November 11, 2019

But do not get me wrong--there is more to the day than the ending. Yesterday, for instance, Chris and I were on the beach at Hobe Sound and spent time watching a very aggressive crab. The crab came out of the water and claimed a portion of the beach as its own! The crab let me get pretty close and get a few nice images of it. It definitely did not retreat, but raised its claws and made quite a spectacle of itself. The funniest part, however, was that it would occasionally fall over from being so demonstrative. Like some people I know. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL