Cars gone Coastal!!!

You never know where you'll find Fun. Fred Boucher, one of the owners of Small World Travel and Tours was on the west coast of Florida not long back and run in to a cool car show. As he walked around he found a car close to his heart... It was the same make and model as his mother 1st car.... Sometime a free car show on vacation can bring you the most joy. Sometimes we just need to slow down and enjoy the little things in life!

Wright Brothers National Memorial

The Wright Monument is the largest monument in this country built to a living person. Orville Wright attended the Monument dedication in 1932.



On a trip to Kitty Hawk this month I went to the "Birth Place of Flight" ... This was one of the most powerful historical places I've ever seen. If you step back and think about it, the Wright Brothers "changed our world forever". From the time of that 1st flight to Space travel to the moon was only 66 years, and how about the speed we travel the world now? Going on vacation anywhere will take just hours now, not the days or week needed before. The Wright Brothers had to send a part back to Ohio for repair, it took over 3 weeks. Now because of them and "that part" FedEx can do it in a day!!!

Another thing that impressed me... those Islanders, the people of the Outer Banks of NC. And how helpful they were to two crazy man from a bicycle shop in Ohio trying to fly though the air on a over sized sheet with sticks and a motor. From a local kid they used to test the glider to a woman who lone them her sewing machine so they could modify the 'sheets', to the men at the U.S. Coast Guard Life Saving Station that would come over to help when the Wright Brothers were ready to 'try to fly'.






I think what got me the most is a photo I took (below) standing at the Memorial of a U. S. Coast Guard plain flying overhead, it really was 12 seconds that 'changed the World'...

The worst Vacation i'll love for a lifetime.....

On Dec. 23, 2010 my wife (Michele) and I started the worst vacation I have ever had. From the moment I left home 4 hours late with 2 dogs, my little sister, and Finn (more about him soon) I was in for a ride, and I'm not talking about the 12 hour one ahead.

There are few ways better to start a week of Florida "fun in the sun" then with my 4am arrival with 2 barking dogs and "Finn" with all his stuff. Finn, topping out (at max) 17 pounds is our 5 month old who required 75% of the luggage space in the SUV, that I now have to drive to go on vacation. So, to a family place where we keep clothes in the drawer and the only thing I need is a toothbrush... Finn required 7 trip to and from the car this 4am.

By day three we've got freeze warnings in south Florida, we're bring plants inside at night, the high's are in the 50's and the wind is blowing 35 mph... Back home in NC their having a beautiful 12 inch snow fall (1st time ever on record for Dec 25) as for us in Florida, too warm to snow and too cold to go to the beach, but hey... only two out of the 7 of us are sick so far.

By day five we've made it to the beach one time, not taken the wind in to account, this 70' day was feeling more like 50'. So after 2 hours of hiding behind sand dunes we headed in. Hey why not by now 3 out of the 7 of us were sick.

By day six: Finn is sick, and i'm trying to find a Doctor's office that will take my insurance on a Friday before a holiday weekend. So we're not bring in the New Year in the local ER... Ok found a Doctor, oh yeah (just to keep you up to date) we are leaving the beach on the only warm, sunny, non-windy day to drive across town to the Doctor's office just to find out Finn has a cold and a flat head (per the Doctor "start letting him sleep on his side so his head will not be so flat") You have got to be kidding me!!!

Day 7: Ok Finn just has a cold (and a flat head) We are up and heading to the BEACH, beer in toe!!!! Looking warm outside, walking out the door, nothing going to stop us now... Then Andra our 12 year old 4 lb Yorkie gets sick, and off to the Vet we go. 4 hours and $350.00 later she's better and we're back with her. Over the course of days 7, 8 and 9 everybody gets sick... I made more trips to the drug store that week then a meth addict looking for Sudafed.

Determined that I WILL SIT ON THE BEACH THIS WEEK!!!! Sometime on day 8 we make it!! and this photo was taken....



Now you see... Shelby and Finn are cousins that were born 3 months and 450 miles apart. What you don't see in this photo is Finn's Cold, Shelby's ear infection, the 7 sick people, the 25 mph wind (that i blocked with two tents, pack n' play, and two wind walls) the sick dog, our 12 hour ride, Brad and Kristen 5 hour ride that lasted 16 hours and a night in Orlando, 7 trips to the car at 4am, freeze warnings, trips to the drug store or the 7 days of trying to get to the beach.

In fact 15 years from now, we'll look at this photo and remember none of that. Will remember the greatest vacation we had...

Sweetgrass Highway, SC Nov. 2010

Last month I took a shortcut back to I-95 S. from Myrtle Beach that turn out to be a super cool by-way route... Traveling down Highway 17 around Charleston, S.C., and you’ll see a collection of American artists plying their trade, a trade that’s been passed on from parent to child for centuries.

Armed with a broken spoon — called a bone — and strips of dried sweetgrass, bulrush and palmetto leaves, these artists, known as sewers, create coiled baskets in much the same way African slaves did 400 years ago.

Sweetgrass baskets today are more frequently ornamental, but their history is tied directly to slavery and to rice cultivation...

until this trip i did not understand the quote:

“Thanks to the Interstate Highway System, it is now possible to travel across the country from coast to coast without seeing anything.”

Charles Kuralt

Downeast and Harkers Island, NC

Ok, so I get to live some kind of dream life straight out of a Nicholas Sparks book, that's cool I'm fine with that. However whats the fun if I don't rub it in a little...

My latest trip took me to Core Banks, Core Sound and Harkers Island, NC. This shot here and the others below (of the shrimp boats) were taken as we were on the way to dinner at Captain's Choice (which is a story in it's self) If you ever end-up 45min. past every body you need to check this place out. The owners are from Goldsboro, NC and have combine the best of North Carolina farm fixin's with the best local seafood. If you haven't tried "Downeast clam chowder" you don't know what you are missing!

Buy the way... most the seafood we had that night came off these boats that morning. And those clams, out or Core Sound....











So where is Core Sound? The region begins where most folks' geographic knowledge of North Carolina ends: beyond Morehead City, beyond Beaufort, to the far side of the North River. Down here things are just better, no stop lights, for the most part no cell phones, and your more apt. to see a boat then car. I mean, after all how many places are you ever you to visit where a crab pot washes up on shore and doubles as a Jello shot and beer cart...















By the age of 5 weeks the local kids are seasoned fisherman.... and the shot below, we'll call that "rush hour" which down here is the same as "happy hour"

Chainsaw Charlie in a little fishing village

In the parking lot of a seafood dive (i'll blog about later) Is the home, office, and workshop of 'The' Chainsaw Charlie, local artist and retired Marine. As I looked at Charlies' work I couldn't help but wonder, why are you here? With this skill he could be selling his work in anywhere... art galleries, gift shops, and interior designers.

And then as quick as the 'fast life' came to mind so did the song, 'the life' by Kenny Chesney. Chainsaw Charlie is doing what he likes (90% of people do not like their job) he 30 feet from fresh seafood at anytime and he's 35 feet from the saltwater... Now that's 'the life'

Charlie working on a website now, hope word doesn't get out... http://chainsawcharlie.com/

The City Pier (Florida Trip July 2010)

On a little island south on St. Petersburg FL. is a pier built by The Anna Maria Beach Company in 1911-1912. This pier served as the port of call for ships carrying supplies to the island before there was a bridge to the main land. Over the years it seen it share of hurricanes but repairs were done and from new boards to old it's a pretty cool walk to the end of the 678-foot Anna Maria City Pier.

Today as you make your way down the pier you'll pass by everything from local kids with castnets to tourist with more fishing poles then fingers to local artist selling their wares. And at the end of the pier is a 58 wharf, home to one of the coolest outdoor Bars with one of the greatest views you will every find. Fish, Eat, Drink, and Live music and never have to move a inch.... with out the pics you think I'm making this up.... so here you go!

I've been told that the pier was the brainchild of early island settlers, George Wilhelm “Will” Bean and Charles Roser (inventor of the Fig Newton.)