Kayaking the Loxahatchee to Trapper Nelson site, “Dark Knight”, broken-down 1966 Batmobile, Flagler Museum, “Righteous Kill”, “Bangkok Dangerous”
(posted from Miami-Dade branch library in Miami Gardens, FL)
(This post covers 14 – 16 February, 2009)
--------------------------------------------------
Monday, 16 February-
I had wanted to visit the Morikami Museum in Delray Beach but had gotten into town too late yesterday. The museum is close to the Wal-mart so I thought this would be perfect--- stay the night at Wal-mart and catch the museum in the morning.
I arrived at the museum by 0900 and saw a sign showing it doesn’t open until ten. I had passed a nice-looking little park on the way in so retreated there and went for a walk. My walking loop brought me back to the van in about 50 minutes so I drove on over to the museum and realized something wasn’t right. There were no cars. Oh, yeah. It’s open Tuesdays through Saturdays. I had lost track of the day again. I found a shady spot in the lot and went for another walk for a total of five miles this morning.
Near the Morikami is the American Orchid Society offices and garden. I walked through the gift store and almost bought a ticket into the garden. But I realized I would have enjoyed that with Labashi but not alone.
I had lunch back at the van and realized the walk and lunch had made me sleepy. The van was parked in a perfect shady spot for a nap. I got out the iPod and listened to music for a while and before long I was fast asleep.
I then headed back to the ocean and followed A1A down through Fort Lauderdale. Just below the Fort Lauderdale airport complex is a Bass Pro so I shopped there a bit but only bought two fishing lures. I see the price of boats is down somewhat. I saw a classy 18-foot Mako center console with 90-horse four-stroke Merc and a custom galvanized trailer for under 17K. That’s still too much for me but I believe that boat would have been over 22K last year.
After a few hours at Bass Pro I asked the GPS to take me to a Wal-mart. I passed one at Hallandale Beach but it was right on the intracoastal and the parking lot was jammed. I saw from the map that the one at Miramar should be a little further out of the city and therefore more likely to have a decent-sized parking lot.
After supper I hit up the Redbox for ‘Bangkok Dangerous’ with Nicholas Cage. It was okay for an action/adventure film. It was more interesting to watch as an exercise in film-making than for the storyline, though.
--------------------------------------------------
Sunday, 15 February –
Today I headed south again, just basically following the beaches. I ended up in Palm Beach by 1130 or so. I saw a sign for the Flagler Museum just as I saw a good, shady parking spot for Mocha Joe and the boat. I walked across the street to what turned out to be a beautiful formal garden. I thought the museum might be just beyond the garden so took a walk through, marveling at the spectacular sculptures and unfamiliar tropical plants. I learned the museum was actually a few blocks away so took my time in the garden, then went back to the van and pulled out the folding bike. I had a very pleasant bike ride down the Lakeside Bike Trail along the Intracoastal. The museum didn’t open for another fifteen minutes so I cruised the neighborhoods. Wow. Above my pay grade, that’s for sure.
I spent several hours in the Flagler Museum, enjoying it but I’d sure like to have had Labashi along. She would have had interesting opinions on everything.
After the museum I rode the bike north a few blocks looking for a café or something for lunch. There were multiple cafes, all open air and inviting-looking but packed. And the parking lots were jammed with BMWs, Mercedes and Bentleys and here and there a Rolls. Not my style. I found a Publix supermarket and bought some fresh fruit and had a late lunch in the park.
I then drove on down A1A. I tried a library at Lantana but it was closed today. I then looked for a Starbucks and found one in Delray Beach. I had to park a few blocks away because there was obviously something going on in the area. That turned out to be the Garlic Festival. Since Sunday was a free day at the Garlic Festival I walked through but didn’t think it that special.
After a walk a few blocks in each direction, I returned to the van and looked up the local Wal-mart. This one didn’t have a Redbox but I found a similar machine at a nearby Albertsons Supermarket and rented ‘Righteous Kill’ with Deniro and Pacino from the ‘MovieCube’ (a competitor to Redbox).
I liked this one. The story has a bit of a twist and keeps you guessing throughout. You think you know what’s going on but suspect there’s something coming and the movie doesn’t disappoint. Recommended.
--------------------------------------------------
Saturday, 14 February-
Today I went kayaking on the Loxahatchee River at Jonathan Dickenson State Park. The Loxahatchee was the first of Florida’s rivers to be designated a Wild and Scenic River.
The draw here is the Trapper Nelson Interpretive Site, several hours upriver. Nelson was a New Jersey native who established himself as a ‘wild man’. He carved out a homestead in a remote area of the river and lived off the land as best he could. When game became scarce, he began renting his cabin to adventurous types and he built a rustic zoo of alligators, raccoons, wild cats, and snakes. His home was close enough by water to Palm Beach that local captains began taking boat loads of tourists to see him, for which he was paid by the head. It’s said that as a boat approached, he’d swing out on a rope and drop into the water, then swim to the boat and climb aboard to count heads to determine his cut. He was poor but savvy. He learned to check at the courthouse for properties near his which were under tax liens. He’d pay the taxes and take ownership of the properties. In this way he increased his ownership to over 800 acres.
In his middle years he became suspicious and warned off prospective visitors with a shotgun in hand. His death was mysterious in that he was found dead of a gunshot wound to the chest with the gun lying nearby. The death was ruled a suicide but many believe there it was murder. He had, for instance, testified against a brother who had committed murder (killing another brother) when they had first come to the area. The murderer had declared he’d have his revenge and had been released from prison by the time of Nelson’s death but had an alibi for the time in question.
The site was left as it was in its heyday and is very intriguing. The site never had electricity but did have hot and cold running water. Nelson had dug a well by hand and used a gasoline-driven pump to elevate water to a tank. He also installed copper piping in the fireplace for his hot water. What a cool place. It’s understated but also very ‘real’ feeling and evocative of its time.
After the paddle back downriver I had had quite a day but still had a few things to do. I visited the sani-dump to take care of the porta-pottie, then took a nice, long shower at the campground.
I would like to have stayed another night but at $22 that’s a bit much, so I thought I’d try the next Wal-mart. Along the way I found the library at Jupiter and took care of mail and posting the blog. I then found the Wal-mart and tried my best to find another wi-fi hotspot so I could chat with Labashi. I found one at a Dunkin Donuts but it wasn’t working.
I wanted something more substantial for supper so tried a Sonny’s Bar-B-Q. It was okay. I had hoped for some killer bar-be-que sauces and they had five different sauces but they seemed rather ordinary to me. I think I’m developing more of a taste for the North Carolina-style vinegary sauces.
I returned to the Wal-mart and rented a movie from the Redbox. This one was ‘The Dark Knight’. It was flashy, but I can’t say it was good.
Oh, yeah. This is not related to my renting ‘The Dark Knight’, the latest Batman movie, but remember the original Batmobile built by Geoge Barris --- the one with the glass-bubble tops? I saw it today. It was broken down and blocking the turning lane into the Wal-mart. A cop was parked behind it with his flashers on and the poor guy driving the Batmobile had the hood up and was fiddling with the carburetors. A young boy was in the passenger seat and looked a bit mollified that he was in the Batmobile and drawing a lot of attention from passers-by, but the Batmobile wouldn’t start. Shortly after I passed, though, it apparently started. By the time I swung through the parking lot and came back for a closer look, the Batmobile was pulling out. Check it out at www.1966batmobile.com.
************ END OF POST ****************
(posted from Miami-Dade branch library in Miami Gardens, FL)
(This post covers 14 – 16 February, 2009)
--------------------------------------------------
Monday, 16 February-
I had wanted to visit the Morikami Museum in Delray Beach but had gotten into town too late yesterday. The museum is close to the Wal-mart so I thought this would be perfect--- stay the night at Wal-mart and catch the museum in the morning.
I arrived at the museum by 0900 and saw a sign showing it doesn’t open until ten. I had passed a nice-looking little park on the way in so retreated there and went for a walk. My walking loop brought me back to the van in about 50 minutes so I drove on over to the museum and realized something wasn’t right. There were no cars. Oh, yeah. It’s open Tuesdays through Saturdays. I had lost track of the day again. I found a shady spot in the lot and went for another walk for a total of five miles this morning.
Near the Morikami is the American Orchid Society offices and garden. I walked through the gift store and almost bought a ticket into the garden. But I realized I would have enjoyed that with Labashi but not alone.
I had lunch back at the van and realized the walk and lunch had made me sleepy. The van was parked in a perfect shady spot for a nap. I got out the iPod and listened to music for a while and before long I was fast asleep.
I then headed back to the ocean and followed A1A down through Fort Lauderdale. Just below the Fort Lauderdale airport complex is a Bass Pro so I shopped there a bit but only bought two fishing lures. I see the price of boats is down somewhat. I saw a classy 18-foot Mako center console with 90-horse four-stroke Merc and a custom galvanized trailer for under 17K. That’s still too much for me but I believe that boat would have been over 22K last year.
After a few hours at Bass Pro I asked the GPS to take me to a Wal-mart. I passed one at Hallandale Beach but it was right on the intracoastal and the parking lot was jammed. I saw from the map that the one at Miramar should be a little further out of the city and therefore more likely to have a decent-sized parking lot.
After supper I hit up the Redbox for ‘Bangkok Dangerous’ with Nicholas Cage. It was okay for an action/adventure film. It was more interesting to watch as an exercise in film-making than for the storyline, though.
--------------------------------------------------
Sunday, 15 February –
Today I headed south again, just basically following the beaches. I ended up in Palm Beach by 1130 or so. I saw a sign for the Flagler Museum just as I saw a good, shady parking spot for Mocha Joe and the boat. I walked across the street to what turned out to be a beautiful formal garden. I thought the museum might be just beyond the garden so took a walk through, marveling at the spectacular sculptures and unfamiliar tropical plants. I learned the museum was actually a few blocks away so took my time in the garden, then went back to the van and pulled out the folding bike. I had a very pleasant bike ride down the Lakeside Bike Trail along the Intracoastal. The museum didn’t open for another fifteen minutes so I cruised the neighborhoods. Wow. Above my pay grade, that’s for sure.
I spent several hours in the Flagler Museum, enjoying it but I’d sure like to have had Labashi along. She would have had interesting opinions on everything.
After the museum I rode the bike north a few blocks looking for a café or something for lunch. There were multiple cafes, all open air and inviting-looking but packed. And the parking lots were jammed with BMWs, Mercedes and Bentleys and here and there a Rolls. Not my style. I found a Publix supermarket and bought some fresh fruit and had a late lunch in the park.
I then drove on down A1A. I tried a library at Lantana but it was closed today. I then looked for a Starbucks and found one in Delray Beach. I had to park a few blocks away because there was obviously something going on in the area. That turned out to be the Garlic Festival. Since Sunday was a free day at the Garlic Festival I walked through but didn’t think it that special.
After a walk a few blocks in each direction, I returned to the van and looked up the local Wal-mart. This one didn’t have a Redbox but I found a similar machine at a nearby Albertsons Supermarket and rented ‘Righteous Kill’ with Deniro and Pacino from the ‘MovieCube’ (a competitor to Redbox).
I liked this one. The story has a bit of a twist and keeps you guessing throughout. You think you know what’s going on but suspect there’s something coming and the movie doesn’t disappoint. Recommended.
--------------------------------------------------
Saturday, 14 February-
Today I went kayaking on the Loxahatchee River at Jonathan Dickenson State Park. The Loxahatchee was the first of Florida’s rivers to be designated a Wild and Scenic River.
The draw here is the Trapper Nelson Interpretive Site, several hours upriver. Nelson was a New Jersey native who established himself as a ‘wild man’. He carved out a homestead in a remote area of the river and lived off the land as best he could. When game became scarce, he began renting his cabin to adventurous types and he built a rustic zoo of alligators, raccoons, wild cats, and snakes. His home was close enough by water to Palm Beach that local captains began taking boat loads of tourists to see him, for which he was paid by the head. It’s said that as a boat approached, he’d swing out on a rope and drop into the water, then swim to the boat and climb aboard to count heads to determine his cut. He was poor but savvy. He learned to check at the courthouse for properties near his which were under tax liens. He’d pay the taxes and take ownership of the properties. In this way he increased his ownership to over 800 acres.
In his middle years he became suspicious and warned off prospective visitors with a shotgun in hand. His death was mysterious in that he was found dead of a gunshot wound to the chest with the gun lying nearby. The death was ruled a suicide but many believe there it was murder. He had, for instance, testified against a brother who had committed murder (killing another brother) when they had first come to the area. The murderer had declared he’d have his revenge and had been released from prison by the time of Nelson’s death but had an alibi for the time in question.
The site was left as it was in its heyday and is very intriguing. The site never had electricity but did have hot and cold running water. Nelson had dug a well by hand and used a gasoline-driven pump to elevate water to a tank. He also installed copper piping in the fireplace for his hot water. What a cool place. It’s understated but also very ‘real’ feeling and evocative of its time.
After the paddle back downriver I had had quite a day but still had a few things to do. I visited the sani-dump to take care of the porta-pottie, then took a nice, long shower at the campground.
I would like to have stayed another night but at $22 that’s a bit much, so I thought I’d try the next Wal-mart. Along the way I found the library at Jupiter and took care of mail and posting the blog. I then found the Wal-mart and tried my best to find another wi-fi hotspot so I could chat with Labashi. I found one at a Dunkin Donuts but it wasn’t working.
I wanted something more substantial for supper so tried a Sonny’s Bar-B-Q. It was okay. I had hoped for some killer bar-be-que sauces and they had five different sauces but they seemed rather ordinary to me. I think I’m developing more of a taste for the North Carolina-style vinegary sauces.
I returned to the Wal-mart and rented a movie from the Redbox. This one was ‘The Dark Knight’. It was flashy, but I can’t say it was good.
Oh, yeah. This is not related to my renting ‘The Dark Knight’, the latest Batman movie, but remember the original Batmobile built by Geoge Barris --- the one with the glass-bubble tops? I saw it today. It was broken down and blocking the turning lane into the Wal-mart. A cop was parked behind it with his flashers on and the poor guy driving the Batmobile had the hood up and was fiddling with the carburetors. A young boy was in the passenger seat and looked a bit mollified that he was in the Batmobile and drawing a lot of attention from passers-by, but the Batmobile wouldn’t start. Shortly after I passed, though, it apparently started. By the time I swung through the parking lot and came back for a closer look, the Batmobile was pulling out. Check it out at www.1966batmobile.com.
************ END OF POST ****************
posted by Bezabor&Labashi | 23:59
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home