Boog's Blog

15 Feb. Titusville and Kennedy Space Center

Getting here, being the space center, was a pain in the ass, litteraly, as
well as logistically (magnetometer, inspect all items on person, prove all
electronics working) and an ouch from the wallet ($38 admission, restaurant
price in geo-syncronous orbit) and is designed to extract funds.

The $59 guilded tour was sold out weeks ago.

When I biked in a nice guard came over to help me find a good place to
lock-up; no bike racks. "Nobody comes by bike, the road is terrible". This
I knew. The final 6 miles is on a straightaway with no shoulder, none. 60
mph road.

I inquired about how one might get get here. "By car". No bus? "Nope".
So, you certainly cannot be suggesting that this national facility requires
entry by car. " Certainly not, but the road is not suitable for bikes, not
too good for a car either"

Took the 2 hour bus tour. Big facility. 220000 acres on an alligator
(security? ) infested wildlife refuge. Several stops on the tour which
really takes 3 plus hours.

Tour tidbit: the shuttle tow vehicle gets 42 feet per gallon.

The space center is a very well run, very family oriented, safe, virtually
all white, Disney like (extraction of funds) attraction woth a visit if in
the area.

On the bus, no stop for photo, eagle nest and flying bald headed eagle.
Good view. Nest said to be the size of a king side bed. Rosette spoonbill,
egret, alligator, baby alligator.

Dinner at hotels. Sat at bar a chewed the fat with good ol boys from North
Carolina. Economy, soft goods and manufacturing terrible. Stimulous
package stupid. Spend all the money on infastructure, jobs and needed
work. They will go hot boat riding (big propeller in the back) and the do
some parachute jumping at $130 per ride.

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The Showdolls are the high school cheer team. Oh well – I thought it may
have been a nice collection of pretty porcelain baby dolls. Sigh

Bob, the chicken sounds very good. But the rest of the menu (chicken
marinade included) sounds a bit carb-heavy.

Our Plato Amor was 98% meat – they threw in a few onions and peppers w/ the
fajitas. Otherwise, ALL MEAT! I don't think we even touched the sides of
rice and beans – why bother?

Happy Sunday!

JuJu

On Sun, Feb 15, 2009 at 4:46 AM, Bob Morgen wrote:

> Plato Amor is a 10 out of 10.
> We made bbq chicken in soy orange ginger etc last night – very sticky. And
> 2 kinds of Malay noodles, potato salad with sour cream, coleslaw, a
> chocolate velvet cake (coffee flavoured) and a devils food with raspberry
> filling, both with ultra whipped vanilla buttercream.
>
> It was Linda' birthday (choc velvet cake) and Valentines (raspberry cake)
> rolled into one. There was a baby present but I didn't have any room left
> to try it.
>
> -Bob
>
>
> On Sun, Feb 15, 2009 at 7:36 AM, Dianne Ellsworth <
> ellswortha@earthlink.net> wrote:
>
>> Okay–I give up–what are showdolls? Do I have to look this up? Should
>> every red-or-blueblooded American know this by heart?
>>
>> OK, so don't eat the grits. And, it's Florida anyway. What do they know
>> about True Grits?
>> Signed: Ignorant in Northern California,
>> D.
>>
>> —–Original Message—–
>> >From: Jeff Gray
>> >Sent: Feb 14, 2009 5:50 PM
>> >To: Abbie Dorosin , Bob Morgen <
>> bmorgen@netbox.com>, Dennis Herrick , Dennis
>> Oliver , Dianne Ellsworth ,
>> Don Chung , "Fischler, Michelle" <
>> michelle.fischler@starwoodhotels.com>, George Fischler ,
>> Herb Blumstein , Jeff Gray , Judi
>> Adams , Libby Trudell , Mary
>> Lou and Marv Trudell , Mike Wilber <
>> wilber@netbox.com>, Moshe Stern , Randy Kemps <
>> randyk@att.net>, SAM WILLIAMS , Sharon Dickson <
>> sed@boogs.net>, Sridar Iyengar , Tom Killilea
>> gmail , uri blumstein , vox
>> <980286c3a15f1c66@moblog.vox.com>, Yasmin Kemps
>> >Subject: BSF. Edgewater
>> >
>> >14 Feb. Edgewater
>> > Overcast and a bit dreary, fitting for this depressed section of
>> Daytona
>> >Beach and South Daytona. Found a buffet (shudders of horror from my
>> >microbiologist readers). Could not find the desired Waffle House.
>> >Fruit, not pictured, was the best item. I again passed on the grits.
>> >
>> >Even though I was repeatedly advised to book ahead for this evening I am
>> >finding many many motels with vacancy signs lite.
>> >
>> >Rolled into the very full Best Western. This chain seems to be doing
>> better
>> >as other BWs have also been book, including the one I will stay in at the
>> >Kennedy Space Center.
>> >
>> >-At the pictured ice cream place. You are doing what at your age? Shame
>> on
>> >you!
>>
>>
>

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Plato Amor is a 10 out of 10.
We made bbq chicken in soy orange ginger etc last night – very sticky. And
2 kinds of Malay noodles, potato salad with sour cream, coleslaw, a
chocolate velvet cake (coffee flavoured) and a devils food with raspberry
filling, both with ultra whipped vanilla buttercream.

It was Linda' birthday (choc velvet cake) and Valentines (raspberry cake)
rolled into one. There was a baby present but I didn't have any room left
to try it.

-Bob

On Sun, Feb 15, 2009 at 7:36 AM, Dianne Ellsworth
wrote:

> Okay–I give up–what are showdolls? Do I have to look this up? Should
> every red-or-blueblooded American know this by heart?
>
> OK, so don't eat the grits. And, it's Florida anyway. What do they know
> about True Grits?
> Signed: Ignorant in Northern California,
> D.
>
> —–Original Message—–
> >From: Jeff Gray
> >Sent: Feb 14, 2009 5:50 PM
> >To: Abbie Dorosin , Bob Morgen <
> bmorgen@netbox.com>, Dennis Herrick , Dennis
> Oliver , Dianne Ellsworth ,
> Don Chung , "Fischler, Michelle" <
> michelle.fischler@starwoodhotels.com>, 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. Edgewater
> >
> >14 Feb. Edgewater
> > Overcast and a bit dreary, fitting for this depressed section of
> Daytona
> >Beach and South Daytona. Found a buffet (shudders of horror from my
> >microbiologist readers). Could not find the desired Waffle House.
> >Fruit, not pictured, was the best item. I again passed on the grits.
> >
> >Even though I was repeatedly advised to book ahead for this evening I am
> >finding many many motels with vacancy signs lite.
> >
> >Rolled into the very full Best Western. This chain seems to be doing
> better
> >as other BWs have also been book, including the one I will stay in at the
> >Kennedy Space Center.
> >
> >-At the pictured ice cream place. You are doing what at your age? Shame on
> >you!
>
>

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Okay–I give up–what are showdolls? Do I have to look this up? Should every red-or-blueblooded American know this by heart?

OK, so don't eat the grits. And, it's Florida anyway. What do they know about True Grits?
Signed: Ignorant in Northern California,
D.

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wow…that Plato Amor looks fantastic!

On Sat, Feb 14, 2009 at 7:05 PM, JuJu wrote:

> I'm a big fan of grits – but rest assured, unless you are eating them
> homemade from a true Southerner, you are not getting anything edible. Most
> folks find them inedible anyway. Jeff, my advice is to stick to your guns
> and Don't Eat the Grits!
>
> Did you go in to see the Showdolls? That must have been very exciting
> (lol).
>
> Banana and Peach ice cream? Peach yes. Banana no thankyouverymuch! Looks
> like a great homey place that would make delicious ice cream. Good for
> you!!!
>
> I had a "romantic" lunch for two with Merilynn –
> http://www.flickr.com/photos/jujuhoodoo/sets/72157613799780673/. No grits.
>
> Happy Valentine's Day to all!!!
>
> Judi
>
> On Sat, Feb 14, 2009 at 7:50 PM, Jeff Gray wrote:
>
>> 14 Feb. Edgewater
>> Overcast and a bit dreary, fitting for this depressed section of
>> Daytona Beach and South Daytona. Found a buffet (shudders of horror from my
>> microbiologist readers). Could not find the desired Waffle House.
>> Fruit, not pictured, was the best item. I again passed on the grits.
>>
>> Even though I was repeatedly advised to book ahead for this evening I am
>> finding many many motels with vacancy signs lite.
>>
>> Rolled into the very full Best Western. This chain seems to be doing
>> better as other BWs have also been book, including the one I will stay in at
>> the Kennedy Space Center.
>>
>> -At the pictured ice cream place. You are doing what at your age? Shame on
>> you!
>>
>>
>

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I'm a big fan of grits – but rest assured, unless you are eating them
homemade from a true Southerner, you are not getting anything edible. Most
folks find them inedible anyway. Jeff, my advice is to stick to your guns
and Don't Eat the Grits!

Did you go in to see the Showdolls? That must have been very exciting (lol).

Banana and Peach ice cream? Peach yes. Banana no thankyouverymuch! Looks
like a great homey place that would make delicious ice cream. Good for
you!!!

I had a "romantic" lunch for two with Merilynn –
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jujuhoodoo/sets/72157613799780673/. No grits.

Happy Valentine's Day to all!!!

Judi

On Sat, Feb 14, 2009 at 7:50 PM, Jeff Gray wrote:

> 14 Feb. Edgewater
> Overcast and a bit dreary, fitting for this depressed section of Daytona
> Beach and South Daytona. Found a buffet (shudders of horror from my
> microbiologist readers). Could not find the desired Waffle House.
> Fruit, not pictured, was the best item. I again passed on the grits.
>
> Even though I was repeatedly advised to book ahead for this evening I am
> finding many many motels with vacancy signs lite.
>
> Rolled into the very full Best Western. This chain seems to be doing
> better as other BWs have also been book, including the one I will stay in at
> the Kennedy Space Center.
>
> -At the pictured ice cream place. You are doing what at your age? Shame on
> you!
>
>

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14 Feb. Edgewater
Overcast and a bit dreary, fitting for this depressed section of Daytona
Beach and South Daytona. Found a buffet (shudders of horror from my
microbiologist readers). Could not find the desired Waffle House.
Fruit, not pictured, was the best item. I again passed on the grits.

Even though I was repeatedly advised to book ahead for this evening I am
finding many many motels with vacancy signs lite.

Rolled into the very full Best Western. This chain seems to be doing better
as other BWs have also been book, including the one I will stay in at the
Kennedy Space Center.

-At the pictured ice cream place. You are doing what at your age? Shame on
you!

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13 Feb. Ormond Beach

This turns out to be the Daytona 500 race (just a few miles from here) as
well a V day weekend. Booked ahead to my displeasure as my distances are
fixed for a couple of days.

Minds-eye view early am is not capturable with a camera. Beautiful colors,
water on both sides riding along A1A, large houses on stilts like some very
very large alien tetrapod, sand dunes, palm trees etc.

Brunch was at Publix (a supermarket chain). Sat ouside with others, some
quotes:

– I am from Wash DC, things are ok. 23% of labor is gov'mt and lots of
illegals leaving which takes the pressure off.

-three guys in local construction. Quite good for us but not our buddies.
We went from 22 to 4 but plenty of work for us 4.

After St. Johns county the road became concrete with bike paths. Now in
Flagler county. The roads have been outstanding so far. Smooth with glass
only on the bridge overpasses. Naturally not as clean as Germany but roads
equal to the best of Germany.

A1A became very coastal – feet from the beach in some areas. Long stretches
for meditating.

Checked at the Cove on Crimson beach. The front desk had rules not to my
liking. " I just enforce the rules and in this economy I cannot afford to
lost my job even if the rules are stupid".

Have a one bedroom studio in what I can only guess is some sort of time
share property; far better than a NY studio as this one is over 500 sq.ft.
all ammenities that I think of for a furnished apt. And……..best of
all, outside is a 103F hot tub. Temp dropping as per Mike's good note:
should be pefect.

Nashville: builder, private finance has dried up, no private or commercial
building at all. Not too many layoffs in the area, economy tough for some.
I have not had to lay anyone off as getting VA and infrastructure projects.

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12 Feb St Augustine

A hearty breakfast after about a 15 mile ride to the beach area. Wanted to
get going and build up an appetite. Those in the pics are scattered and
smothered in onions hash browns. Could not face the biscuits and gravy.
The Waffle House is a chain Sharon will remember from our other trips along
the Southern East coast; franchise headquarters in Georgia.

12 of the 15 miles were lined with almost continuous strip malls. Road
quality far far better than Palo Alto. Decent but narrow (3 ft) shoulder.

Sam's note to me came too late to modify my long around but scenic route to
St.Aug. Alfi told me to take A1A and it was good advice. Good shoulders, a
few too many lights at the start, then a mellow ride along monster homes
sitting between the beach and A1A (100 foot wide strip of sand ).

Roadside quotes, not Verbatim-

– business has been generally good, worriedof course.

– no drop in sales as yet

– selling too many tee-shirts as it is hot. Wish it were cooler so higher
priced sweatshirts would sell.

– I am a conservative from Western Minn. On the border with North Dakota.
No, do not like the far too liberal Garrison Keiler. Al Frankin is a joke.
The real joke is Norm Colman; he is so bad a joke could beat him.

-tourism is holding up well in St. Aug. But then we are St. Aug.

-is that the Google phone you have?

– stimulous is a waste of money. They are all crooks.

– I am a libitarian and home school.

St.Aug has Wiki pages so I will skip the local stuff except to say that if
one is interested in touring the insides of churches, hotels, museums,
wonderful landmarks etc. Then this place is a treasure. I took a 90 minute
guided tour, did some walking and will do more before leaving tomorrow.
Some nice shopping and tourist areas with stuff of local interest.

Unfortunately I have had to book ahead this being Valentine's weekend and
many others have booked.

Dinner: boiled shrimp, one pound, chowder, key lime pie.

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11 Feb Jacksonville II
Reserved today for bike setup, tuning, getting a bike helmet, exploring
this area a bit.

Packed for the cold wave. Now it is 75 degrees with 15mph winds from the
South. Weather.com has a wind alert for the area.

The Florida oranges I had for breakfast were outstanding; better than our
good front yard ones. Ate at Mimi's in one of the largest shopping malls
I have seen. Four malls strung together, still building more. High (LV and
up) end to Target. Link only for those who are interested in shopping.

http://www.simon.com/mall/default.aspx?id=857

Spent the day bumming and comparing Android to iPhone camera and to Garmin
gps as well as hot spot logins. Bike has been packed for riding. I am so
ready.

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