Spatter

Chattanooga Weekend

It's taken me a few days to get settled in enough to put this post up about my weekend in Chattanooga. I've been busy unloading, catching up on correspondence and bills, and most importantly, taking time to soak in all the beauty around me.  Understandable distractions!

Saturday
My Chattanooga weekend began Saturday morning when I left Decatur (had been visiting an old friend of almost 40 years) to meet my other "old" friend Carla in Kennesaw. We had agreed to follow each other to Chattanooga from that point. 

We arrived after an easy two hour drive and went directly to Back Inn Cafe where we met fellow blogger and now tangible friend Bonnie.  There were so many delicious sounding choices on the menu, but in the end, all three of us had the same thing:  grilled salmon with fried green tomatoes, a tomato-cucumber salad, and asparagus with lemon emulsion.  It was yummy!  Our conversation came so easily that lunch stretched to two hours.  It didn't take five minutes to feel like Bonnie was an old friend.  Sometimes it just happens like that. 

Carla, Bonnie, June

When we finally decided to leave the restaurant, we took a first look at Coolidge Park where people come to frolic. It has an old fashioned carousel housed in that blue roofed building on the far right. We took a ride, of course!

Then it was on to see Frazier Avenue on the North Shore, and Manufacturer's Row, home of a great big Greenlife Grocery Store. Carla and I were so taken by its food court offerings that we ended up having lunch there the next day.  Next, to the hotel for check in and a bit more good conversation as we regrouped.  

Later, after Bonnie left us and after another fine meal at Porter's Steakhouse (we splurged), Carla and I took the CARTA electric shuttle down to the riverfront for a walk across the Walnut Street Bridge.  The bridge was built in 1890 to connect Chattanooga's downtown with the North Shore.  It closed to motor vehicles in 1978 and sat in disuse for nearly a decade until the city decided to convert it to a pedestrian bridge.  It's almost 1/2 mile long and is now one of the longest pedestrian bridges in the world. 

Our destination:  Clumpie's Ice Cream Parlor.  I had a chocolate-raspberry concoction that was to die for! 

Sunday
After a good night's rest we woke Sunday for another full day.  First was breakfast at the City Cafe Diner. Then it was out to Lookout Mountain and Rock City.  I'd seen signs for Rock City on the sides of barns and birdhouses, but had never been there. 

After lunch, we went out to take a look at Chester Frost Park in nearby Hixon and then, had another delicious dinner on the patio at The Boathouse where we watched the Tennessee River go by as we ate.  We walked it all off by another last visit to the riverfront where we found more frolicking.  

Monday
Monday came too fast, but came it did.   I had six hours of driving ahead of me and wanted to get to Floyd before sundown so I could drive in and see the landscaping we put in, so we didn't linger.  Just a last breakfast and then we said our good-byes.   It's always hard to leave good friends and good times with them, but at least I had Blackberry Ridge to look forward to! 

In case you're wondering, Blackberry Ridge looks wonderful.  It's finally starting take on a bit of maturity and so, has a settled in sense to it that feels good.  We've got finches galore, and I've seen cardinals and indigo buntings, but the hummers are just beginning to appear. But, wait...that's all for another post or two or more!

Fifteen Years

I'm at a Gainesville Panera's just back from my visit to Kanapaha Botanical Gardens.  It was a lovely walk and I think I got some good shots.  I'll tell more about it in another post.  For now, I just wanted to document that today is the fifteenth anniversary of my mother's death.  Hard to believe. 

It's sort of fitting that I'm traveling...she loved to go and see new places...and would have done so much more of it had her life's circumstances allowed.  She certainly passed along the trait to me and it brings a smile to my face to think she's now traveling with me. 

Love you Mom!

On The Road

The day has come: I'm heading north.  Not to the North, but north from Florida.  As you read this I'm working my way to  Blackberry Ridge on an almost week-long journey.   

My first stop will be Gainesville, Florida and a visit to Kanapaha Botanical Gardens .  Then, on Thursday, it's on to Atlanta for a few days visiting a long time, dear friend...and then...it's on to Chattanooga where I'll be spending the weekend with another good friend.  She also lives in Atlanta but happens to love Chattanooga and she jumped on the chance to show it to me. Among the many things planned while there is a lunch with blogger friend Bonnie.  Come Monday, my friend will head back to Atlanta and I'll drive on to Floyd. Yes, I know...I'll be driving on Memorial Day.

 

Utah Reservations

Some may recall that last summer I signed up with Elder Hostel to help build a boardwalk at Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge on Assateague Island, Virginia.  It was a great time:  I saw the island and its wildlife; I learned about the habitat; and I gave of myself...a very good feeling. There are several posts about it starting here.

This year though, I'm passing on the service and have opted to participate in an educational/sightseeing program instead.  This September I'll be heading to southern Utah. It's ten days of learning as we wander through Snow Canyon State Park, the Grand Staircase at Bryce Canyon, Zion National Park, Capitol Reef, Lake Powell and more.  We'll be provided a geology class most mornings and instructor guided hikes in the afternoons.

When you take into account that the program price includes all lodging and food, its cost is very reasonable. But as is often the case with large lump expenditures, I put off committing to it...until today, that is:   

Life goes on...working, errands, eating, sleeping. Repeating daily.
And then, some news story comes on and makes reference to an event that happened twenty years ago.
And then, time becomes focused and our place on the time-line becomes defined.
And then, we realize that the next twenty years will pass at least as quickly as the last twenty.
And then we realize that there aren't too many "twentys" left ahead.
And then, our perspective is altered.
And then, our reservations are made.
 

 

Good To Be Home

I returned home last night, happy to crawl into my own bed.  I had fun and am glad I went, but it's good to be home.  Here's a synopsis of the trip:

Our first stop was the Ringling Museum. I don't know if it's from the drought or from hard times or a bit of both, but I was struck by how run down looking the grounds were. I had expected a cared-for look with flower beds, etc., but there was nary a one save for a formal rose garden...and the roses weren't in bloom. Not having much to see outside, we went into the circus museum.

It was interesting but for those of you who might be thinking of going, I'd have to say it wasn't particularly memorable.  Again, it felt a bit neglected.  I was excited though at the performance of my new camera.  It was taking sharp pictures in low light without a tripod.  The photo below was a grab shot taken with the following settings: 1/30, f4, and 1250 ISO. I've not done any processing. You can click on it to see full sized.

We then went on to the mansion...that still magnificent. It was easy to imagine F. Scott Fitzgerald style parties going on in and around it...guests  arriving at the marbled dock.

There's an additional charge to the compound's $19 entry fee if you want to have a docent's tour and see the second floor.  Finally, we toured the art museum...the star attraction...where we found wonderful works, including Grandma Moses. 

The following day was spent at Myakka River State Park.  We took a hike, a boat tour, and a tram tour...all nice and all educational. I learned a lot of interesting things about the environment, both flora and fauna.  For instance, I never knew that you can measure the length of an alligator by measuring the inches between its eyes and its nostrils.  Each inch equals one foot.  If there's an 8 inch span, it's 8 feet long, etc. 

Unfortunately, there were hardly any birds to be seen this day.  It was windy (they were taking cover someplace) and the drought has dried up the water where they linger in the more accessible areas.  All in all though, we had a good time and we checked this outing as a "winner".

It was then on to Homosassa Springs...where old Florida can still be found.  It was shocking to see the development I saw going on along the way...I barely recognized some areas...but as you head north and west of Tampa, there's still an amazing amount of undeveloped land to be found.  As I passed, I wondered how much longer it would be there. 

By the next morning a cold front had come through and nixed our desire to swim with the manatees.  We did get to see them (wild and captives) as well as a myriad of birds while in the park. Here's a manatee...too bad no polarizing filter.

Later in the day we were supposed to hook-up with a couple who I used to work with, but I never got hold of them.  So instead, we decided to drive to Tarpon Springs.  For those who don't know, Tarpon Springs is known for sponge fishing and its Greek heritage. We had lunch there and then, it was over the Sunshine Skyway Bridge and on to home.

   

 

Off Again

I'm off again on another photo-shoot outing...this one with my new camera. The trip was actually planned for some time, but having the new camera is making the going that much more fun.

I'm traveling across the state and north from there.  My planned stops are Myakka River State Park, the Ringling Museum, and Homosassa Springs Wildlife Park ...home of the manatees.  Then, the trip back will take a more inland route, stopping too for a lunch visit with friends and ex-coworkers who live up that way. 

Initially this trip was to be a solo affair, but my friend Loretta has decided she'd like to come along, so I'll have company...welcomed company, I might add.  While I've gotten used to going off on my own, it is more fun to have a traveling buddy.

As always, I'm excited to be going on the road again to see new places and to see familiar places anew.

 

 

Checking In

My trip to Chincoteague Island went by way of Virginia Beach. I left Judy and Shaynee there for their week's visit with family and friends. After a quick visit myself, I took off for my final destination. 

As I passed by First Landing State Park, I thought of Colleen & Joe, then turned  onto  Route 13 and headed across the Chesapeake Bay .

The drive across the bay was beautiful, but it didn't seem as long as I remembered it. The water glistened; the sky was bright & blue; and gulls, boats and ships were going about their purpose. 

Once on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, I traveled through miles and miles of fields - tomatoes and cotton fields mostly - 19th century farm houses and many, many, churches. 

After a couple of hourse, I finally reached Chincoteague Island.  You can see it on the map...it's just under "Virginia" near the upper right. 

I checked into the hotel (nice), met my roommate (nice) and decided to take an initial "tour" of the town. I don't think I was 5 minutes into this before I got pulled over by the police.  It seems the town's 25 mph limit is not to be taken lightly.  The guy could've been nice to this out of towner and given me a warning...but no...he opted for the revenue. In case you're wondering, I was going 39 mph.  I wasn't paying attention because I was on the phone with Judy hearing about her grandson's having been hit in the face with a baseball bat at his game today.  I'm not sure yet, but we're guessing his cute little nose is broken.  Funny how things go.  At breakfast this morning, none of us had the faintest idea that he'd be in the emergency room and I'd be conversing with a cop.  So it goes.

Off I Go

Well, I'm just about packed, loaded, and ready to go.  I'm off again...this time to Chincoteague Island and the Assateague Island National Seashore for my Elder Hostel service program of mending the pony fences. 

I made note of this trip in a previous post. My excitement about working up a sweat giving something back has only increased as the time has gotten closer.  Now, here it is. 

Some things I'm looking forward to, I know will happen:  I know I'll meet some nice people and might even make a friend, and I know I'll bond with the place. To quote J.K. Rowling, "There are some things you can't share without ending up liking each other".

But there are some things I am hoping for...

Here's my wish list for the week:

1. That my body is up to the task and lasts through the week.

2. That the weather is good. The extended forecast for Chincoteague is supposed to be highs in the high 60' with no rain mentioned...just some clouds. Happy to hear that.

3. That I get a lot of good photo ops

4. That the photos I take are good.

and

5. That my roommate doesn't snore...at least any louder than I do!

I'm bringing my laptop with me this go round, so I'll be checking in throughout the week...that is if I haven't collapsed from exhaustion!

 

San Francisco Travelogue

After months of anticipation, my trip to San Francisco is over in what seems to be a minute.  It was great seeing and being with my friend Meg.

As you might have expected, this first post since returning is devoted to my time there. Be prepared...this is a long one.  Get a cup of tea and nestle in before going further!

Day 1
After breakfast in a wonderful little cafe, we got in the car, crossed the Golden Gate Bridge, and headed south down the coastal highway for an hour and a half's drive to Ano Nuevo Reserve and the elephant seals that are found there.

Beautiful scenery along the way...

Once at the park, it was off on foot for two miles through the dunes to see the seals.  Meg's scientific expertise (she's the Director of Education at the California Academy of Science) was a real plus during our hike.  All sorts of flora and fauna pointed out to me.

We were at the point when I took this picture...still pretty far away. Just to give you an idea, this picture was taken with a 12x zoom! Even after our trek, this was as close as we could get.

These guys are lying around as they go through the molting process...there were others playing in the water, and lots of gulls and pelicans flying around too.  It was definitely worth the effort, but next time, I think I'll plan my trip in the spring when the seals are mating. They come in off the coast some then and, as a result, you get close up shots and...you don't have to walk as far!

By the time we hiked the two miles back, lunch had long passed.  We decided to head to a nearby town - Pescadero  - to have dinner at the historic Duarte's Tavern.   The locals pronounce it "Doo-arts" for some reason. 

I had told my friend that while there I wanted to eat ethnic or regional food at places that would stand out in my memory, so this was a great pick.  Dinner consisted of mix of dungeness crab, calamari, clams, and shrimp with a side of artichoke soup.  This area IS artichoke country, by the way.  For dessert, their famous olallieberry pie.   Olallieberries look and taste a lot like blackberries, however, they're actually a cross between a loganberry and a youngberry, which I have since found out is a cross between a blackberry and a dewberry. Gee whiz, what nuances!  Suffice it to say it was delicious. 

After dinner, some last photos of the town's beach and then, home.

Day 2
My only rainy day, but still not a wash-out.  This time we're back in the car (the hybrid really paid off), heading north through Sonoma and up to the Russian River area.  Our first stop was Armstrong State Park to see  redwoods.                                                                                                                      

After our walk in the woods, we moved onto our afternoon activity - wine tasting.  Sonoma Valley alone has over two hundred wineries.  We stopped at four of them.

Home again for dinner.  Tonight's fare: Asian.

Day 3
After being in the area for two days, we finally made it into the city itself. There happened to be a festival going on in Chinatown, so we made our way to it and spent most of the day walking around there.

In addition to Chinatown, I got a drive-by tour that included Coit Tower/Telegraph Hill , Golden Gate Park, and  the Presidio .  Needless to say, I would've needed a few more days to really see all there is to see.

As we headed home, we took one last side trip for the day. Once over the bay we turned and headed up to the Marin Headlands where you can get vista views of the Golden Gate Bridge with the city in the background.

There's also an old WWII army base turned into Marine Mammal Center , and abandoned missile bunkers peeking out of the hills.  For this history buff, it was very interesting to see.   

We got to see a little something extra too...  a coyote walking along the side of the road.  After walking back and forth near our car some, he just plopped down and took a break.

Tonight's dinner: Mexican including some mighty fine margaritas and talk of old times.

Day 4
Another day in the city.  We took the ferry across the bay and then made our way to Pier 39  at Fisherman's Wharf. It's not unlike other cities' waterfronts...shops and restaurants...but, unlike other waterfronts, this had a special feature: a massive herd of sea lions have taken up residence there.  It was so fun to watch them.

      

 

Meg had to go into work for a while after lunch, so while she was there, I used the time to wander the streets and get some more looks at the city. 

As the afternoon waned, I worked my way back to the Ferry Building, got a latte, and read while I waited for Meg. 

Final dinner: Fine dining Italian.  This was our splurge, and it was worth it! 

Day 5
The end had come. I had a great time, but as is often the case, I was ready to be back home...not only to my own bed, bath, and computer... but too, to reconnect with familiar surroundings.   

I'm happy to say that my flight back east was a lot shorter than my flight out. Once back in Charlotte, I gathered my bag and took off for sweet Floyd.

San Francisco

I leave today for San Francisco and a real visit with Meg, my friend from high school...can it be 37+ years?!  Lordy.  OK, I'm not going there. 

I'm excited. The two of us have seen each other a lot over the years, but mostly this happens when she comes back to south Florida to see her folks.  We make a point of getting together each time, but it's generally only for a few hours over lunch.  This trip will give us four full days and allow a more relaxed state to connect.  Sweet.

I leave a few hours from now...driving to Charlotte, NC.  I made this my departing city instead of Roanoke so that I could get a non-stop flight and avoid all of the recent horror stories of missed connections and lost baggage.

I'm packed and full of energy.  Anticipation of another adventure has reached its acme. 

Just to let you know, posting may be hit and miss while I'm away.  I'll be back next Wednesday.