Archive for July, 2008
Florida in Summer
The Dog Days of Summer are here and the first mate and I decided to visit Florida. Is there something is wrong with that picture. Most people travel to mild environments in summer, but not us. This trip took us to the southwest region of Florida. The short trip allowed us to see our best friends and visit our place in the sun. Between making the new house into a home and touring the neighborhood hardware stores a dozen times, we found an opportunity to take a break and enjoy the area.
Punta Gorda in southwest Florida was known for being the best place in the United States to retire before Hurricane “Charlie” slammed the area several years ago. Now it’s a sleepy region dealing with the same economic problems as everywhere else in this country. Gone are the results of that major storm and “Blue Roofs” that polka-dotted every community. The area is now inundated with empty homes and hundreds of for sale signs..
Our trip took us from Burnt Store Lakes to Port Charlotte. We made stops to Fisherman’s Village for lunch, Matlacha for fishing tips and the city of Punta Gorda for just for fun. Fisherman and boats were the main stay on the roads. Even though the “snow-birds” are gone for the year, fishing has never been better. Oh, did I say, the harbor and gulf are minutes away from every ramp.
Fishing gear was stowed for the trip and we are on a mission to find that secluded place. There is a big difference between fishing and catching. I hope to find the latter.
Shrimping
07-15-08 – My first mate received an offer to shrimp today with one of her friends and husband. She got up early and arrived at the dock just before 0500. The schedule was rigorous or so she said. Setting and retrieving the nets, separating the catch, and re-setting the equipment. But in reality, the day was nothing more than a pleasant and relaxing day on the water. The nets were set four times with a catch consisting of several gallons of shrimp, small fish and crabs. I guess the hardest part of the trip was separating catch. Small fish and crabs are returned to the bay while the shrimp are gathered into a cooler for the trip home. It was a very memorable trip for my unseasoned first mate. Between cleaning and separating the shrimp for dinner, the only comments heard were “when are we going again”. Bon Appetit.
NCsaltaire 