In Over Their Heads?

Today was the "boat ride" day. And fishing. We fished. I fished. I've fished a lot here. Never caught anything, but I've fished a lot. Well, anyway, we launched the boat at the lighthouse, "Salt Run", it's called. Used to be the inlet until they plowed the new one through at Vilano. We had the bimini top up most of the way, out Salt Run to St. Augustine, old town, then out the inlet about a mile off shore. Then we came back in and up the Tolomato River (intracoastal) a few miles. We wanted to eat at Cap's but they aren't open for lunch until Friday. We rode back to town and put in at the city docks. Everyone was getting hungry so we walked into town and ate at the sandwich shop in Casa Monica. When we got back to the boat we decided to go South and went as far as the 206 bridge. I figured that was far enough for the day and headed back towards town. We decided to put the top down and get a little sun.

I'm not sure which one decided it had gotten hot enough to jump in but about the time we got back to town it was decided.

After many individual and dual dives in they decided that a group jump was needed.

A couple of other interesting things happened today. We passed two men and two young boys in a boat who were in trouble. They'd been fishing. Their motor laid down on them so we towed them in to where they had launched. After that I spotted a really nice cruiser putting along toward town so I decided I would speed up and check out their ride. About the time we got pretty close up behind them they noticed us and laid the coals to it. They ate our lunch. We caught up to them near the city docks which is where the diving started. Oh, by the way, there were many dolphin (Flipper-type) where the girls were diving so they figured they had been "swimming with the dolphins".

Primordial Muck, or Mud Puppies?

You can't make this up!

Five kids + lots of muck = various stages of coverage. You have to wonder what forces influence each kid's decision as to how much mud to apply. Following are pictures of the kids from muckiest to least mucky.

I first noticed them from my balcony throwing their nets into the water by the dock. I figured they were trying to catch some bait. I walked down to the dock and saw this and asked them if they would be there for a while that I wanted to get their picture. They said "we'll go back in for you!" I hustled back to the house and got my camera...
This one thoroughly reveled in the mud.
This one seemed to enjoy it as much as his buddy but took longer to plaster his hair with it!

The one on the right had the right attitude but just couldn't seem to totally immerse himself completely in the artistic medium du jour.

This fellow obviously knew that to come home home looking like the others was not advisable. A quick face rinse would do it!

How sweet is she? Hey, she runs with the big dogs!!

Have you ever heard of mud angels?
OUCH!!

The neighbors seemed to enjoy them.

Ian would never.....

Spring Has Sprung (mostly)

I took my first scooter ride of the year today. There it was, when I got home from church, beckoning. OK. Where to go? Mt. Mitchell? Can't go wrong there! I headed up Hwy. 80, past Lake Tahoma, Buck Creek, through Dead Man's curve, all the way to where it intersects with the Blue Ridge Parkway and there I took a break. There were some riders there and one of them was showing some interest in my scooter. He asked a lot of questions about it. It's a gas mileage thing! They call Harleys "hogs" for more than one reason.

From there it was on to Mt. Mitchell. It's the highest point East of the Mississippi River. It was 76 degrees in Marion when I left and by the time I got to the top of Mt. Mitchell it was 51 degrees! I had planned on a cup of hot chocolate when I got there but the concession stand isn't open yet. There were a couple of guys there in the parking lot who had come up on rice rockets and they were showing lots of interest in my scooter. They also asked lots of questions and wanted to know about gas mileage. One of them had looked into Burgmans extensively and knew a lot about them. He is seriously considering trading his 1150cc bike for a Burgman 400cc.

While I was there I got some pictures of Balsam trees. I love a Balsam. There's something foreboding about a Balsam forest, or maybe it's just because the only ones I ever see are on Mitchell and it's usually cloudy and misty and cool up there and so it just seems that way.

I know I've been in St. Augustine a lot lately so it may be understandable that I likened this growth to Spanish Moss. It isn't, of course. I don't think Live Oaks grow at 6400 ft. elevation. I'm not sure what it is but it seemed to thrive on dead and dying Balsam trees.

I took a bunch of pictures of plants that were blooming out on this trip. When you're riding, and you want to take pictures, you have to make a concious effort to STOP, when you see something photo worthy, park, get the camera out, shoot, put the camera up, crank up and go. It's a groove you get into...slow down, look...don't be in a hurry. Here's a few pics.....

Little blue flowers....

This picture was taken from about a foot off the Parkway.

This, I think, is a Catawba Magnolia bloom....
We've all seen these....
??????????????All day, I had this feeling that there was something missing...

It's Spring...

There should be some...Oh, yeah, that's what it is...Trillium!

This is a panorama of 4 pictures, stitched together, of a "field" of Trillium, but really, there were virtually acres upon acres of trillium between the Mineral Museum in Spruce Pine and Crabtree Meadows. I've never seen anything like it.

The shades of white and pink were innumerable, but the sheer numbers of flowers are indescribable and of course pictures don't do it justice. There is a short window of opportunity in the Spring to experience this showy display and I hope everyone can, sometime, see it. Here are a few pictures...

So, all in all, a great day in the mountains of western North Carolina.

St. Augustine, avec des amis

Bruno and Marie Noelle Hugon, and little Raphael (14 mos.) visited us in St. Augustine recently.

Marie Noelle (nee) Canin is a Parisian friend of ours of many years who not too long ago married Bruno Hugon and out of this marriage came Raphael.

You could not ask for more delightful guests. Marie Noelle has been to Florida (the Keys) with us before she married Bruno but this was his first trip to the states. We ate a lot of good food, fished a little, went to the beach, shopped, and did some of the tourist attractions such as the Alligator Farm.

Raphael was photographed after having subdued one of the fearsome beasts.

Communication was very easy as Marie Noelle speaks fluent English and Bruno does exceptionally well understanding English. Let's just say his English is a whole lot better than my French!

We also took a quick trip to Washington Oaks where the rose garden was in full bloom.And J.T.'s, where the burgers and onion rings were fantastic, as usual.

Au revior.