American Adventure 2018

Awoke to sunny skies. George and Joe went off golfing today so it`s a beach day for me.

I will never tire of the sound of the ocean...

I heard a story of a little ol' lady who was going to die soon and the ambulance was taking her to the hospital and she asked to be taken to the ocean....against all protocol....they did....

only read it if you want to cry....because you will....

Woman's dying wish...

My treasures for the day...

I ventured off to the pier....where yes....always so busy with fishermen...and fisherwomen...

I talked to a few of them....the retired ones fish everyday....

the ones who still work....fish all day on their days off....

most catch nothing....many do not eat what they catch....they do it for the sport and the friendship and as one ol' redneck guy (who was hard to understand many of the words he spoke)....showed me pictures of his fish....it's all for the Bragging Rights!!!

I saw a few stingray...which was really exciting to see...they never came too close to the surface but you could always see their ominous shadow....just below...

And then a whole bunch of sand sharks!!! 

They are about 5 to 6 feet long!!! freaking scary. 

Apparently they won`t bother you if you are in the water!! yeah right....Like I buy that one...
if I were in the ocean and these guys started swimming around me!!!!!

The skies here are always so active. There is an airport so close!

 It`s really quite neat to see the planes...my favourite is the flying banana!!!

There is also so many air force bases around here that you will always see them training.

Gracie after the squirrels...again...there is one tree where SHE really thinks she came close to catching one...so every time we go by the tree....she sneaks up and pounces....thinking the squirrel is there...oh man!

From May 1 to Labour Day dogs are not allowed on the beach from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.....

so at 5:01...guess where we were???

She still has to have a drink of the water...which is disgusting....and she chokes a little on the sand....but she loves rolling in the sand so much...I just can't bear to stop her....so beach fun is always followed by a shower!

We were told about Black Bike Week here...it's not that you have a Black Bike....it's that you are Black and have a bike....any type of bike...but typically it's loud....and they all play some type of Rap....really really loud and they typically have a girl on the back with a large Bootie!!! 

and virtually no clothes....

So this is only Tuesday and it's heating up here...The City spent $1 million dollars in barricades to line the streets....they have 427 Police on duty for the weekend....Locals leave the area or buy enough groceries to stay home all week....some businesses will close...there will be several shootings...

The city has created a 23 mile bike loop to try to alleviate some of the issues...but the NAACP

(National Association for the Advancement of Colored People)

is taking the City to court saying it's discriminatory....as they do not put this in place for the Harley Bike Fest or any other event...

We spoke to many locals and they say they love the Harley riders......

they are polite and respectful and pay for their food/drinks etc, it's a wonderful weekend...

The Black Bike Week is another story.... there are shootings....fights...stabbings......the gangs come out.... extreme noise...they will just walk into stores and just take whatever they want....and they don't know why the City makes barricades and businesses shut down???

It would be interesting to watch from a safe place like a 10 story brick building....

that you don't have to leave for any reason at all....but we can't and we won't...so we will just watch it on the news!!!

Of all things to eat at a beach town....we went for some amazing German Food.....

oh man....everything was awesome from the salad with the homemade Garlic Dressing....bread to die for...veal schnitzel and spaetzle and all the fixings.....yum yum...