Fort Meyers Beach Sand Scuplting Championship

It is good to be back in southwest Florida especially with the temperature being in the teens back
home.  Attending the annual sand sculpting championship on Fort Meyers Beach yesterday was a pretty groovy start to my vacation.  The contest started on the beach in 1990 that first year my sister Cass, her husband Jim and two friends entered and won the amateur division. 

It has gotten to be a much larger event with vendors, chain saw carving, food, drink and even live music.  The sculpture area itself is now contained by fencing and they charge five bucks a head to view the artist at work, but it was worth it to see the beautiful and intricate designs. 

Over the years I have helped produce a couple of different sculptures (not in a contest just for pleasure), it is challenging but lots of fun.  Points are awarded for creativity, difficulty (arches are especially hard), theme adherence and making sure your sculpture stays standing and does not crash to the beach.

They also had a children's play area with lots of sand toys, a mock rock climbing wall and these great colored balls that allowed the kids to walk inside while floating in a small pool.  We ended the day with a cocktail and stone crab claws at Pincher's bar.  A fine young singer entertained us filling the air with a few great tunes.  All in all a pretty good beginning.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beach Bums

The clouds around this bird look like bird wings to me, can you see this?

Shorts and t shirts are still my attire but that will change soon enough as I begin my journey north later this week.  I got lucky these last couple of weeks in  Florida it has been unseasonably warm with gentle breezes, temperatures in the low 80's. 

Shrimp Fleet FMB

I spent most of last week painting the exterior of my sisters new house, got to earn my keep somehow.  It really was easy painting since the house is single story.  I do not mind as I am able to get some exercise and be outdoors, a bit of trim left to do and I can head home with a clear conscious.

Christmas Decorations on FMB Noodle & Flip Flop Trees

A girlfriend from Boston arrived last Thursday and two girlfriends from St. Pete came down to spend the weekend, we had a ball.  With the beautiful weather beach cruising was a must and we went to one of my favorite old haunts Fort Meyers Beach on Saturday and Santibel & Captivia on Sunday where I was once a licensed landscaper.  In the early 90's I used to winter in Florida and worked for a couple of landscapers as well as independently.

We got chased off Fort Meyers Beach when this short intense storm popped up

As usual there were lots of interesting subjects to photograph.  Avian life still beats strong on the beaches despite the tourists and eco-risks.  As far as tourist traffic goes it was easy on/easy off both the islands, after Christmas that will be a different story when the snowbirds flock back south.

Me and the Girls

We went swimming in mother ocean, strolled for shells, ate some tasty fish tacos, swallowed crisp pinot, saw a rainbow and listened to three local bands all and all a lovely weekend.

Ibis feeding

A large flock of pelicans at Blind Pass between Santibel and Captivia Islands

The Family Yacht

I go to Florida often, mostly to visit my sister and her husband, we usually have Christmas there. Having visited so often I know what I like, where to get good food, best sunset beaches, frothy cocktails, hot shopping, sweet breakfast joints and a variety of bars through out the state. I have at one time or another been to most all of Florida's' tourist attractions both well known and remote. Been there done that is sometimes a problem so this trip a family yacht was purchased in Indiana and trailed down to the sunshine state . Boating is Florida is limitless, take your pick from sea water to hot springs you can zig zag the state gliding through mother nature or tearing up the coast.

One winter I worked as a deck hand on a gambling ship on Fort Meyers Beach, The Europa Star, I lived mid island and had a 12' john boat that I piloted to the ship. I earned the nickname, Snake from my poor performance at steering the ship at sea. Needless to say I did not take the wheel often. One of my favorite runs with a power boat is the back bay of Fort Meyers Beach, you often see dolphins, birds and a variety of boats plus the fabulous houses that stuff the shoreline. There is a new reward with the Doc Ford Restaurant that has opened on the north end, it is great to pull up to the pilings, hop out get a cocktail and wings, maybe even the newest Doc Ford novel.

Of course having a boat in Florida meant a trip to the Keys where you can experience the clear blue water, Seven Mile Bridge, Mallory Square and snorkel the last remaining reefs. A boat allows you to drive right into the furthest sunset point in the states, looking at Florida from the water is the complete experience for me