Boog's Blog

23 Feb. Ft Meyers Beach

Ferry for Key West leaves early am so decided to see and then spend the
night in Ft Meyers Beach – a real vacation resort beach. Turned out to be a
good choice. Fun to bike, lots to see, and eat.

Finally found the right place for stone crabs, fresh ones. The mallet is
not for show and they are aptly named. And yummy. Sweet. Maybe not as good
as Dungeness but awfully close.

No picture is of the combined market and restaurant. Not gratious at all
but I came only for the food.

Passed this place while searching for the morning departure point. When I
asked in town where to get good stones they pointed here.

The beach is hard pack and when the tide is out bike riding is popular.
Lots of rental places as there were on Sanibel.

Good beach reminesent of Myrtle Beach except less tacky; no real archade or
fun house.

Most of those spoken to were focused on how cold it is. I would have said
cool. Did need a light jacket this morning. Neither Indiana nor Ohio
wanted to discuss the economy. Came here for a break from it all.

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22 Feb. Sanibel II

Decided to stay an extra day here.

Breakfast with the Islanders. Biked over to a place that advertised "best
breakfast on the island". Forty minute wait, naturally with many others,
many children needing entertainment while waiting. The morning air,
coolness (about 60 degrees) and sparkling sky made the wait quite pleasant,

Eco-Tour of the nature preserve. By kayak. Tri-color heron, egerts,
ospresys, cormorants, mangroves (this is a mangrove estuary), dolphins, we
saw six, white pelicans, gray pelicants, no manateys.

These red mangroves are the key species of the barrier islands. Hurricane
protection, to full ecology of the area. Very peaceful area.

70% of Sanibel is protected. Ding Darling professionalized Fish and
Wildlife under T Roosvelt.

Sanibel has a zoning law to prohibit upward facing lights. Dark sky law.
Almost invisible from space.

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21 Feb. Sanibel Island

Did not expect to be here today. Planned to follow Sam's excellent
suggestion to go the Cabbage Key. Alas, not to be.

Reservation lines down, the number they gave me to get a water taxi did not
answer. Thirty to forty miles, in the wrong direction on a hope that all
would work out on a Saturday night did not seem smart. Took the road South,
nice ride on McGreggors Rd. The causeway to Sanibel is several miles long.
Toll road, free for bikes, but posted that walk on (backpackers?) Not
permitted. First time I have seen a public road that allows bikes but not
pedestrians.

Sanibel is a lot like Hilton Head. Tennis, golf and very many bike paths.
Easy to bike from one end of the island to the other. About 15 miles long.

4000 all year residents, 6000 total residents.

Bike rentals, sun, shelling, beach sitting. Does not get much better.

According to the waiter the season "just started to kick in now; business
was very slow until this week".

Nature preserve pictured.

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Jeff,
When you call that number on the sign, does a turtle answer?

Well, rather discouraging to hear about the politics (esp. talk radio) down thataway.  It's barely a month since Obama took office and he's already being blamed for all the disasters of the Bush administration?

Yikes!
Dee

—–Original Message—–

From: Jeff Gray

Sent: Feb 20, 2009 4:28 PM

To: Abbie Dorosin , ", Bob Morgen" , Dennis Herrick , Dennis Oliver , Dianne Ellsworth , Don Chung , "Fischler, Michelle" , George Fischler , Herb Blumstein , Jeff Gray , Judi Adams , Libby Trudell , Mary Lou and Marv Trudell , Mike Wilber , Moshe Stern , Randy Kemps , SAM WILLIAMS , Sharon Dickson , Sridar Iyengar , Tom Killilea gmail , uri blumstein , vox <980286c3a15f1c66@moblog.vox.com>, Yasmin Kemps

Subject: BSF Ft. Myers

20 Feb

As one approaches Ft. Lauderdale the beauty of A1A is replaced by the concrete towers on beach side and old faded pastel homes of an earlier generation of Floridians across the road.  Traffic lights replace the serenity. 

Just as I start to think about the original plan of going to Ft. Lauderdate and then heading West (so as to see the interior) to Ft. Meyers I see that the airport is within stiking distance.  Soon I have a one day rental for the ride.

Imagine nothing, in the budhist sense, and then add a four lane road with wide bike shoulders running thru the nothingness.  Needs some shrub grass on the sides.  A few truck crossings, for no imaginable reason as there is nothing except the dirt being moved back and forth like Sysaphis.  Continue this north for 50 miles to South Bay and then West to Clewiston and this is what I missed biking.  The Adventure Cycling route is this scenic rt. 27/80.  Not even a tree for 60 plus miles!  Clearly I made a better choice with four wheels.

The lake, pictured, is the reason Clewiston was inserted in the interupted nothingness of what is now (drought and farm used water resource) vitually a swamp).  Nice birds – they seem to like the swamp.

The rest of the car ride was a similar emptiness.  Given the isolation and the talk radio (Obama recession, Tarp is Obama failure, Obama essentially caused the 6000 point drop in the Dow? Etc.) It is clear why these rural communities are anti-government and taxes. Nothing but parasitic govern'mt in it for them. 

Got the last room at a La Quinta Inn.  Business good.  Sold out for tomorrow night.  Said they dropped their rates but it sure did not seem that way to me.

Mel's Diner next door.  Looks good.  20 minute wait.  Place holds 100 plus people.  They have a sign posted -Now Hiring Several Positions. 

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20 Feb

As one approaches Ft. Lauderdale the beauty of A1A is replaced by the
concrete towers on beach side and old faded pastel homes of an earlier
generation of Floridians across the road. Traffic lights replace the
serenity.

Just as I start to think about the original plan of going to Ft. Lauderdate
and then heading West (so as to see the interior) to Ft. Meyers I see that
the airport is within stiking distance. Soon I have a one day rental for
the ride.

Imagine nothing, in the budhist sense, and then add a four lane road with
wide bike shoulders running thru the nothingness. Needs some shrub grass on
the sides. A few truck crossings, for no imaginable reason as there is
nothing except the dirt being moved back and forth like Sysaphis. Continue
this north for 50 miles to South Bay and then West to Clewiston and this is
what I missed biking. The Adventure Cycling route is this scenic rt.
27/80. Not even a tree for 60 plus miles! Clearly I made a better choice
with four wheels.

The lake, pictured, is the reason Clewiston was inserted in the interupted
nothingness of what is now (drought and farm used water resource) vitually a
swamp). Nice birds – they seem to like the swamp.

The rest of the car ride was a similar emptiness. Given the isolation and
the talk radio (Obama recession, Tarp is Obama failure, Obama essentially
caused the 6000 point drop in the Dow? Etc.) It is clear why these rural
communities are anti-government and taxes. Nothing but parasitic govern'mt
in it for them.

Got the last room at a La Quinta Inn. Business good. Sold out for tomorrow
night. Said they dropped their rates but it sure did not seem that way to
me.

Mel's Diner next door. Looks good. 20 minute wait. Place holds 100 plus
people. They have a sign posted -Now Hiring Several Positions.

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19 Feb. Highland

Another glorious morning. Riding around a lot of walkers, joggers, and
stollers. Clearly all come out early to avoid the mid-day sun.

More A1A beauty; more overpasses, and some sections on the dreaded US1. The
contrast between Riviera Beach (very poor, all people of colors) and the
adjacent West Palm Beach (all white, LV territory – I see six at thisa
Starbucks reststop) points out another Macon Dixon line; so many areas seem
to have them.

Next table over at Starbucks. "Monte Carlo is just the greatest place EVER
etc. "

Continued along this great coast and found a Holiday Inn. Turned out to be
very upscale. Hot tub, excuse me spa, has a waterfall and landscaping
worthy of Yasmin. Walk out the room to a balcony, then to the pool, spa,
and one is on the sand by the beach.

Typical resort place: has restaurant and other items to keep one captive.
Lots of well behaved kids. The crowd is to be expected: NY, Mass. NH with
the occassional Michigian.
Each say how bad the economy is for others.

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Jeff,
Sounds like you are having too much fun!

Couldn't see the moules (or barely) and not the frites (though we believe you that they were "frites" this time and not "fruit").  The turtles were cute though.  So where do these people get off speaking French in Florida? They don't even do that in pretentious Northern California!

Gee, I don't know too many people who carry barometers around. Wow.
Dee

—–Original Message—–

From: Jeff Gray

Sent: Feb 18, 2009 8:03 PM

To: Abbie Dorosin , ", Bob Morgen" , Dennis Herrick , Dennis Oliver , Dianne Ellsworth , Don Chung , "Fischler, Michelle" , George Fischler , Herb Blumstein , Jeff Gray , Judi Adams , Libby Trudell , Mary Lou and Marv Trudell , Mike Wilber , Moshe Stern , Randy Kemps , SAM WILLIAMS , Sharon Dickson , Sridar Iyengar , Tom Killilea gmail , uri blumstein , vox <980286c3a15f1c66@moblog.vox.com>, Yasmin Kemps

Subject: BSF Jupitor Beach

17 Feb Jupitor Beach

Left early due to predicted increase in temp. ,as well as the change in barometric pressue downward (yes, of course I have a barometer with me – been civilized for a while).

The early am ride was fantastic along the Indian river, the over multiple bridges with excellent bike lane, then a shoulder and then an enclosed pedestian way.  Nice to go uphill from time to time.  Overpasses, accord a nice view without worry from traffic.

Winding through the coastal, both river and ocean, communities one sees many joggers and of course walkers.  Walking in the am seems to be the done thing.

And,of course the joggers.  My favorite was ayoung woman, blond, svelte, flowing pony tail, ipod-ed, pushing a baby carriage up over the causeway.  Did not have to race her as she way going the other way.

It is rather nice not knowing where I will end up at day's end.  Ride, enjoy, and when butt hurts or an area looks interesting (after sufficient pedal rotations) find a place to stay.

The early afternoon took me along beach rd./rt 707 a very narrow, suspect quite expensive estates, barrier island between Hobe Sound and Jupitor Beach.  For a much better view of the landscaping suggest you try Google Earth.

Hotel recommended the pictured turtle rescue facility.  About 70% are eventually returned to the sea.

Dinner at the very French and very pretensious (they spoke in French and then translated) Cafe des Artistes.  Right next to those boats.

Excellent salade and then moule frites; properly done. (Are the moules fresh?,  "Naturellement monsiour")  From where?  "Flown in daily from Prince Edwards Island"

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17 Feb Jupitor Beach

Left early due to predicted increase in temp. ,as well as the change in
barometric pressue downward (yes, of course I have a barometer with me –
been civilized for a while).

The early am ride was fantastic along the Indian river, the over multiple
bridges with excellent bike lane, then a shoulder and then an enclosed
pedestian way. Nice to go uphill from time to time. Overpasses, accord a
nice view without worry from traffic.

Winding through the coastal, both river and ocean, communities one sees many
joggers and of course walkers. Walking in the am seems to be the done
thing.

And,of course the joggers. My favorite was ayoung woman, blond, svelte,
flowing pony tail, ipod-ed, pushing a baby carriage up over the causeway.
Did not have to race her as she way going the other way.

It is rather nice not knowing where I will end up at day's end. Ride,
enjoy, and when butt hurts or an area looks interesting (after sufficient
pedal rotations) find a place to stay.

The early afternoon took me along beach rd./rt 707 a very narrow, suspect
quite expensive estates, barrier island between Hobe Sound and Jupitor
Beach. For a much better view of the landscaping suggest you try Google
Earth.

Hotel recommended the pictured turtle rescue facility. About 70% are
eventually returned to the sea.

Dinner at the very French and very pretensious (they spoke in French and
then translated) Cafe des Artistes. Right next to those boats.

Excellent salade and then moule frites; properly done. (Are the moules
fresh?, "Naturellement monsiour") From where? "Flown in daily from Prince
Edwards Island"

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16 Feb. Port St. Lucie

South of Melborne Beach to Fort Pierce is a barrier island. Ocean on one
side, Indian river on the other. Maybe a few hundred feet wide.

Just like those called the Outer Banks off North Carolina. (Some of you may
remember the trip Sharon and I took – pics on the blog). Long stretches of
low traffic, few houses, fewer services, nature walks and refuges for
wildlife.

At Ft Pierce the road ends and after a few overpasses cross the Indian river
and melds into US 1. Poor riding conditions and an ugly area. Continued on
to a decent Best Western in Port St Lucie.

Heated pool, hot tub at 103.8F. Felt very good to soak a bit.

Me: the politics of New Hampshire are quit interesting. Him: no longer now
that those Massassholes have moved in. We still have no income or sales tax;
high capital gains.

Sam- every hear from Meryl? (He biked with Sam and others on our Vietnam
adventure. Meryl was a NH state legislatar). I wrote to him a few times
but no response.

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16 Feb. South of Melborne Beach

Had to stop early, had lots of legs left, as the next area with motels is
almost 40 miles away and did not want a 90 mile day.

Nice deserted beach area. Have a studio apt. At the pictured place; dinner
and breakfast procurred. I am about 10 feet from the water but, as can be
observed, no one is in. Too cold and very strong rip-tides.

A1A has much less traffic, far fewer services, many fewer places to stay
compared th US hwy 1.

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