Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park - Miami

This weekend, myself and a few friends visited Bill Baggs State Park for the first time. In the 30+ years I've lived in South Florida, not only have I passed up this amazing beach, I've never even heard of it before. I need to get out more I guess. Oh, right - That's why I write this blog.

First impressions - this beach has everything but crowds. I started my visit early, as I always do, but this time left very late. Even with 3 coats of SPF 50, I know I enjoyed this visit a little too long. The plan was to hit the beach first. I didn't think to bring my bike and that was a mistake. Not a problem if you forget yours. They have 2 wheeled and 4 wheeled varieties to rent. Also kayaks if you are interested. I hate to rent things I own and a return trip will be soon. The bike trails tend to be off road, crushed coral so a mountain bike or combo would be advised.

As with any beach in Miami, don't expect English to be the dominant language. On my visit, there was not only Spanish, but plenty of French, German, and others mixed in. I don't know how I missed this beach as the entire world and a woman from Iowa found their way to it. (I like to ask people where they are from).

It was nearly impossible to believe hurricane Irene had just passed by and was terrorizing our neighbors to the North. The ocean was flat as glass. I tried to catch one wave from a passing boat to add interest to my beach shots, but missed it. There were a large amount of jelly fish who managed to make it to shore but they were not the kind to leave huge welts with their stings. I left the beach after a good long while just as it was starting to get busy. Just a few steps away were a couple of dozen picnic tables, a few pavilions, and plenty of shade. Just the place to enjoy the lunch I brought.

Next stop was to tackle the lighthouse. Not very intimidating. I was surprised to see how many people I passed on the way up either out of breath or paralyzed by fear. When I got to the walkway at the top, it was another story. There was not more than two feet from the wall to the rail. If you are not a fan of heights, you may want to consider passing this one by. Great view though. Here is a shot of the beach about noon. The blue umbrellas are rentals and not many were rented.

To round off the day, I cast a line at the fishing pier. It was not my line. I was just helping out. Right at the moment a cloudburst approached us, we caught a fish. Nothing like fishing in a thunderstorm in Florida.

A check of the time and it was mid afternoon. Way more than I expected out of the day. Nothing can ruin a perfect day at the beach like Miami traffic but even that turned out to be not so bad. Bill Baggs State Park is definitely on my do again list for the near future.

Wahoo!!

I'm sure that is what my sister said when she hauled in this Wahoo off the coast of Stuart, FL. She started off her 15 minutes of fame with this note in the TCPalm Fishing Report

MARTIN COUNTY

Jennifer Schmidt of Stuart wowed the crowd at Jupiter Point Marina Sunday when she hauled in a wahoo longer than she was tall and estimated to weigh between 70 and 80 pounds. She caught it live baiting a sardine with husband Ron Schmidt in about 80 feet of water north of Jupiter Inlet. The battle lasted 45 minutes on a spinning rod. Just before the wahoo catch, Schmidt was reeling in a small 10-pound kingfish when a blue marlin chased it down and ate it.

She was also featured in the Fishing Blogger, The Stuart Newswire, The top 211 fish of 2011 gallery, Local news and the Fishing Channel. And now she can be found right here on the South Florida Guy. 

Wildlife of Davie

A lot of my fellow bloggers post amazing wildlife photos from their part of the world. I brought my camera along on my weekend bike ride and took a few shots. Here are a some of the creatures I found along the way. This collection is so common, I can barely leave the house without seeing them. Very common for South Florida but I remember how amazed I was when I first moved to here to see a water bird who only poked it's long neck and head out of the water or a spider the size of my hand. Ibis usually travel in flocks of 10 to 20 and invade freshly cut lawns looking for easy meals and let's not forget the ugly duckling that grows up to be an even more ugly duck. 

American Anhinga (Snake Bird)

Bananna Spider

Ibis

Muscovy Duck

100 views on Flickr

My first Flickr Photo to receive 100 views! I know - big deal right. This was shot on Hollywood Beach New Years morning using a 300 mm lens with a 2X doubler. The shot was then edited to make it look more like a painting. There are more photos on my Flickr page if you are interested.

Hollywood Food Truck Invasion

The Miami Food Trucks are all the rage these days. My friends and I have been planning a visit to the Hard Rock Casino to catch them on Thursdays but maybe a little later when the buzz dies down. When I heard about the Food Truck Invasion at the Arts Park in Hollywood, I decided to check out opening night. A Monday night with no casino and no event at the park seemed like the best way to beat the crowds. A little rain didn't hurt either. 

I arrived right at the 5:30 opening and noticed a couple of things. One, the Sugar-Yummy-Mama cupcake truck, and two, people were not only bringing fold up chairs but fold up tables as well. I guess gourmet food deserves more than a blanket in the park. A quick glance around and I saw the few trucks I had expected. After taking a second look and a count, there were 15 food trucks lined up halfway around the park. Wow - Bigger than I thought.

It was tough passing trucks like the Red Koi Lounge but I wanted to see them all and check out the menu's before committing. Just before I made it to the last truck I saw a sign I could not resist.

Oh yeah - That's the one!!

With only 4 people ahead of me at The Rolling Stove, the wait was short and the food was unbelievable. There were so many flavors, I could not catch them all but they blended so well together, it was like an orchestra in my mouth (and my shirt, my pants, and my shoe). Next time I'm bringing my own fold out table. 

Ok - I don't know about you but I have never had a $3.00 cupcake before. I just had to see what all the fuss was. I went simple and chocolate and since I was stuffed, I got it to go. It went as far as the car before I gave it a taste.

I guarantee I have never put anything sweeter in my mouth. Before I even got to the actual cupcake there was layer after layer of flavors and textures. Needless to say, it didn't make it home. 

One of my questions about this event was why the City would bring food trucks downtown when all downtown is really is restaurants. I thought about that as I put another two bucks in the meter and headed over to Whiskey Tango. On the way I noticed a new restaurant opening soon. Made a mental note to check it out. Hey wait a minute... I think I understand. Great Job and see you Friday night. 

If you missed it, the trucks will be there Monday nights. There are a couple more I want to check out so maybe I'll see you there soon. 

Bon Festival at the Morikami

It's been a few years since I've attended the Bon Festival at the Morikami in Delray Beach. The last time I visited, rain dampened the event and the turnout was not very impressive. This year, even with threatening weather yesterday, the turnout was enormous. One of my goals was to see the Taiko Drum performance by Fushu Daiko. I have seen them at various venues such as the South Florida Renaissance Festival and the Broward Center for the Performing Arts and always managed to get front row seats. For the Bon Festival, they were playing under a huge tent and I was lucky to be standing 5 rows back on the outside. They performed like rock stars to an adoring crowd. Funny how much difference the venue makes.

The highlight of the evening is always the Toro Nagashi (lantern floating) and fireworks display. Show time was approaching but a severe storm was approaching even faster. With lighting flashing and rain beginning to fall,  I decided to head to the car. The sounds of an early fireworks display trailed behind me. Ah well. I still had a great time, great food, terrible pictures, and will know to bring an umbrella and grounding strap next year.

Not Always Clear Blue Skies in South Florida

Ouch - Lightning strike 20 feet from where I was standing

Most of the time you just can't beat the weather in South Florida. When it's hot in the summer, it's not as hot as the rest of the country and in the winter it never snows.

Most of the time, the sun shines brightly and if it does rain, it does not last long. Ok, we get those hurricanes from time to time that tend to mess the place up for a while but all in all the weather is the best thing about South Florida.

Knowing this, my friends and I decided not to call off our regular Tuesday/Thursday workout yesterday. Sure the sky was ominous (as in pitch black) and maybe there was a bolt of lightning here and there but that's no reason to hide indoors right? We typically meet at TY Park right after work. Partly for a strenuous workout but mostly to relieve stress from our busy lives. If you've lived here for any length of time, you know you are going to get wet in the summer and that lightning kills a lot of people every year. You do your best to avoid both situations and since they go hand in hand, it's not really that hard to do.

Our two mile walk started off with a patch of blue sky but in a few minutes, the lights went out and the sprinkles started. Being savvy  South Floridians, we knew seeking shelter was of the utmost importance. Sprinkles turn into gully washers in seconds and black clouds toss lighting bolts from their leading edge.

Souvenir lighting blasted wood chip

We sought shelter under one of the many pavilions so conveniently strewn about the place and started our push ups to the pitter patter of a hard driving rain on the metal roof. Just as we began our jumping jacks, a bolt of lighting blasted the crap out of two Oak trees about 20 feet away showering us with bark and the smell of burning wood. We finished our workout with a bit more vigor and 30 minutes later, I was driving home wearing my sunglasses to ward off the setting sun. The funny part of the story, this makes my third close encounter with lighting and not the closest by about 15 feet.

If you want to see for yourself, check the cool map link below. The trees in question are on the SW corner right next to the last pavilion. There is plenty of souvenir bark all over the place if you want your very own.

Kayaking Oleta River State Park - North Miami

I have been waiting a while to get a little experience with my inflatable Sea Eagle 370 Kayak before attempting Oleta River State Park. This was going to be the most challenging kayak adventure yet and I wanted to be sure I knew what to expect. Oleta has two distinct personalities. The mangrove and lazy river side and then the relatively open water of the Inter-coastal Waterway. Add a bit of a breeze, changing tide, and about a thousand boats to chop up the water, you have yourself a pretty exciting day.

I arrived early and parked near the launch site. This area is usually loaded with mountain bikers. I had quite a few curious onlookers  and some questions as I was inflating the kayak. Oleta has an onsite rental store for kayaks and canoes and as always, they were doing a booming business.

The adventure started off in the mangroves. I have mountain biked at Oleta recently. A sport that requires total concentration. I never noticed how close the bike trail was to the water  . Every few minutes I would hear a little rustling of leaves or a twig pop and a biker would slip by in the forest like a ghost. Not enough sound to bother the wading birds only a few feet away on the shore.

There is an open area where the sail boats anchor and another little river to explore. When I turned to head back to the open water, I ran right into a strong current heading the wrong way it seamed. The tide was coming in and it was in a hurry. Not only that but it brought the wind with it. Up until now it was smooth sailing in a lush tropical setting. A change in direction and the whole scene was different. The North Miami skyline was looming in the distance and FIU college was right beside me.

Right across from Oleta is the Haulover Inlet. One of the few cuts in South Florida leading from the Inter-Coastal to the open ocean. Since The Port of Miami and Port Everglades are fairly active with commercial traffic, pleasure boaters come from miles in both directions. Even more boaters never head out to open sea and cruise up and down the channel. It makes for a bumpy ride in a kayak, that's for sure.

My plan was to kayak over to a large island in the middle of all this activity but as I got nearer, the sounds of blasting music from the many boaters anchored on the beach somewhat discouraged me. Just a little farther South was a tiny island with one lone kayak beached on it. With a little course change, some hard paddling, and a bit of powerboat dodging, I arrived.

As I sat enjoying my lunch on my nearly private island, I took stock of the contrasting beauty all around me. I tried to imagine what this area looked like not even 100 years ago before the huge buildings and string of little islands that sprang up from dredging the channels. On the way back, I thought I would really challenge myself and head back along East side of the islands right along the channel.

Even though this is a no wake zone, any large boat will throw out a pretty good sized wave which bounces off the coral rock island and back at the kayak. I think I spent more time going up and down and side to side than forward. There was little opportunity to head into the wake as I would have headed right into the channel. Being tossed ashore would certainly be a problem as sharp coral rock and inflatable kayaks should not mix.

I left the rough seas of the bay and turned into the remaining portion of the kayak trails through the mangroves. A very peaceful end to the day. Even though the rental folks had launched half their flotilla, I only saw the occasional fellow kayaker during the day. Quite a few were bunched up on tours. Oleta is not the tranquil experience I usually prefer for my kayak adventures but at least I can say I did it.

Henry Flagler Museum - Palm Beach

I have always been fascinated with the history of Henry Flagler and the Florida East Coast Railway. There are many places you can see Flagler's legacy  in Florida but for the ultimate experience I recommend the Henry Flagler Museum in Palm Beach. At a time when nearly all of Florida was wilderness, Flagler had a vision, a blank canvas, and the money to do what he pleased with it. There are very few moments in history where one person had so much power for change and used it so wisely. I remember years ago being introduced to the Henry Flagler story at the Flagler Station Musemm in Key West and later I saw a television special on the building of the Overseas Railroad. Several of the old train bridges can still be seen today on the ride down to Key West.

The Flagler Museum is actually Henry Flagler's Florida home. Walking up to the front door, you get a true impression of it's actual size. The cost to get in is $18.00 and that includes a self guided or guided tour. I opted for the self guided tour and that comes with a handheld audio player to explain the 40 or so stops along the way. As soon as you enter, you know instantly you are in an American Castle. The ceilings alone are phenomenal works of art all throughout the house. Not to mention the grand staircase, courtyard, chandeliers, rare books, and the actual art work. I have put quite a few links in this posting if you are interested, as I was, to research before you visit. You can also check out the photos I attempted to take in my Photo Album. No flash allowed so not my best work.

Clematis Street - Downtown West Palm Beach

Yesterday I visited Clematis Street in downtown West Palm Beach. It's the first time I've felt like a kid at Christmas in a long time. This was my first visit and I was really just looking for a place to eat lunch.  I arrived around 2:00 pm so parking was no problem and better yet, Free on Sunday. I had a pretty good idea of the selection by checking my iPhone just before I arrived. As if the drive over was not beautiful enough, there is a fountain to greet you and a small amphitheater overlooking the bay. I parked near the fountain and as I turned and started to walk to where I thought I wanted to eat, I saw it. World of Beer. Ok, maybe I was being just a little to quick to decide. This place needed a little more of an investigation. I popped in to the World of Beer just to see then headed up the street in search of lunch. There was one fabulous eatery after another. I was trying to look at both sides of the street at once and read menus as I went. I don't travel to West Palm Beach very often and  I was amazed at the selection. How about a burger joint called GREASE. Click the link. Great website too.

 Oh I was so tempted but there were even more places just a little farther down the block. Sure it was hot and yes I was starving but I wanted to make the perfect choice. When I reached Don Ramon's I was ready to commit. The restaurant was very inviting as was the staff and the menu made picking the restaurant seem easy. There were several things I was not too sure about so with a few questions to the waiter, I ordered them. On the way back to the car I stopped into This N That, an antique shop that had some amazing things and even more amazingly affordable prices. It was sort of funny seeing items I remembered growing up in the shop on sale. I found a small table I really wanted and at a great price. I wish I had picked it up. Oh Well. Even more reason to go back again. Sunday afternoon was the perfect time for a visit as I'm told this place is hopping at night. I only scratched the surface as there are several more streets in the area I left unexplored. If you like the bar thing and live music, they seem to have plenty of that too.