Stacation

Susan and I decided to take a "Stacation" this Memorial Day weekend. Instead of a Vacation, we stayed at home and explored - a Stacation. We started out going to the Nortan Art Gallery, in West Palm Beach - the to Bradleys for lunch. As gas prices hit the $4 mark - and as Carolyn said, "you are in a resort" we decided to hang out. Well we just hung out at the pool, just stayed home. Last night went to the Tiki bar at the Hilton on Singer Island for dinner and drinks. The wind was howling off of the ocean. Storms moved in - amazing at 12th floor level. We took the boat tour of Palm Beach - yep, Jimmy Buffet's house, Celine Dion's mother's place, the Kenedey's - then our Sailfish Marina Bar - the water is so clear - Amberjacks circle around the dock, the snorkeler with dog for our friend Kim. Cheeky would do that. It's been a great break!!

Fish Tales or Holy Mackerel!

Jim Baugh called me a few weeks ago and said that he was filming a show in West Palm Beach with the Suzuki Tournament Team and did I want to shoot camera. My history with Jim goes back several years ago. I started shooting camera for Jim's TV show in 1991 when he had a show on Channel 12 in Richmond, called "Fishing in Virginia. We would shoot 26 shows a year and Jim tenaciously marketed his show to big sponsors. We had a 6:00 camera call every morning and shot all day - drank heavily at night as we previewed the footage, charged batteries, cleaned lenses, and planed the next day's events. We traveled all over Virginia in his old Suburban with over 100,000 miles, trailering his 21 foot Procraft fishing boat. I shot camera for Jim throughout the '90's. In recent years, I found full-time employment and only shot camera every now and then on special shows in Hampton. Jim's show turned into Jim Baugh Outdoors as he syndicated with New England Sports channel, The Outdoor Channel, Outdoor Life channel and other cable sports channels. Suzuki, Berkley Trileen, Pursuit Boats, Abu Garcia, among others lined up to sponsor his show. Now he shoots 11 shows a year, and enjoys his spot among the National Fishing Shows on TV. Well, Jim drove down in his cherry red Corvette with license plates that read JBO TV, and when I caught up with him at a local marina, he was talking to the captain of the OUTRAGEOUS boat that we would be shooting on Saturday morning. The boat was a $250,000 +, Contender, with 3 - 300 HP, 4 stroke engines. Basically, 1,000 HP on a 33 foot boat. NASCAR on the water. Nothing was spared on this vessel in terms of bait wells, power, or electronics. The boat had three cameras - one on the bow, one on the stern, and one underwater on the bottom of the boat. The captain and crew would fish today for King Mackerel. They will fish to win a $20,000 purse. These boys were serious. The Captain, Ron Mitchell paid the $2,500 entry fee, filled the 4 gas tanks with 100 gallons each of fuel at $4.30 per gallon, picked up $300 in bait and made their way to the starting line. It was like old times for me and Jim. Suzuki wanted Jim to do a show with their team in the Ocean catching the really big fish - the technology has changed since Jim and I started almost 20 years ago - cameras are smaller and better equipped for shooting and play back - they are lighter and that is good, since I am older and not the strong dude I was in the early '90's. The engines started -very silent ( 4-stroke technology) the 6 speakers on the boat start blasting Heavy Metal tunes. It was very surreal! I felt like I was in a movie like Top Gun. It's six in the morning and this boat is lit up like a Christmas tree. The guy on the helm told us to find a secure place and hold on. He wasn't kidding. The 68 boats leap into the Ocean from the cut at Singer Island and speed off toward one of the small fish icons on the GPS computer display on the console. Each captain has his special special spot marked and they speed off to fish as much as possible before the 5 P.M. weigh in. Traveling at 60 mph on the water, the boat barely hitting the water, props whizzing loudly as the boat leaves the water, we hit the first mark. It was a hot, long day. Jim and I talked about old times in between the sudden sound of the reel spinning out of control and the captain yelling, "Fish On" - crew scrambling, I'm trying to find the best angle for the shoot, trying to see the line, hoping to catch a shot of the fish glinting in the deep blue of the Gulf Stream water. It was like old times - Thanks, Jimmy. Old men need adventures.

Historic Angler's Hotel & Joe's Stone Crabs

Built in the 1930's, the Anglers Hotel is one of the Mediterranean Revival buildings in the Deco district of Miami's South Beach. The Angler's Hotel takes its place in Miami History, as one of the really upscale hotels. Frequented in the past by Ernest Hemingway among others, the Angler's served travelers who came to South Beach. Susan booked us a room at this historic hotel, 3 blocks from the beach and 5 blocks from one of our favorite restaurants: Joe's Stone Crabs. I've had Joe's Stone Crabs about 5 times and I can't get enough!! Our niece, Catharine Irvin gave us a gift certificate to Joe's for Christmas.

Catharine grew up in Miami. The entire Irvin clan loves Joe's Stone Crabs. The restaurant began in 1913 when Joe Weiss opened up a small lunch counter on Miami Beach. They were serving crawfish at the time. One day, a man with a sack of Stone Crabs came by and asked if they wanted to buy the crabs. Joe said, what do you do with them? Well, you throw them in hot water and cook them alive. Joe did, and made some hash browns and cole slaw as side orders. History was made. The first time I ever had Joe's stone crabs, was at Susan's Dad's house in Richmond. He had them flown up from Joe's for Susan's Birthday. Having grown up with the Chesapeake Blue crab, I couldn't believe how much meat there is on this Dungenous cousin. Susan and I ordered a traditional meal at Joe's, complete with hash browns and coleslaw. Then, we walked along the ocean avenue people watching as we made our way back to the hotel.

Side Bar: Maison d'Azur

Susan and I made it back to the Hotel and went to the bar at the restaurant in the Angler. The Maison d'Azur is a french restaurant - all of the staff are from France. As we sipped a glass of wine, we heard someone yelling, "Gwen Wayne" "Gwen Wayne". Then, the Chef came up to me and said, is your name Gwen Wayne? I said no, but, my first name is Wayne. He introduced himself and said that his first name was Gwen - and if someone else had that name, they must be from his home in Bretagne.

I told him that we had visited Bretagne and somehow in the conversation, told him of a photo I took with Vickie, of a small sailing class - he was so excited for he had learned to sail there in those tiny boats. He reminisced for a while and then was going to check on the kitchen - Susan asked if they had a cheese plate for dessert like we had in France - he said no, but, he would make us one. Soon he came out with this amazing platter of goat cheese, Parmesan, Roquefort and a beautiful presentation of spring greens. after a few glasses of really good wine and the wonderful cheese platter, I asked for the check - the bartender said that the Chef had taken care of the check. When we returned home, I sent him the photo and pledged to return to dine in his restaurant. Oh, did I mention that he flies all of his seafood in from Concarneau - yep, that's right Vickie! Fresh seafood from your hometown.

Happy Birthday Vickie!!

One of the most fun times I've had with Vickie, was the day we spent in Concarneau, France. Vickie took us to the old fort via a ferry. We met the owner of the shop that Vickie worked in and went to the farmer's market - the fish market - and ate at a really cool restaurant. It was a wonderful dreary day in Brittany. Happy Birthday Vickie

Sunfest 2008 - West Palm Beach

If there's one thing in my life that's missing
It's the time that I spend alone
Sailing on the cool and bright clear water
It's kind of a special feeling
When you're out on the sea alone
Staring at the full moon, like a lover
Time for a cool change
I know that it's time for a cool change
Now that my life is so prearranged
I know that it's time for a cool change
>
Well I was born in the sign of water
And it's there that I feel my best
The albatross and the whales they are my brothers
There's lots of those friendly people
And they're showing me ways to go
And I never want to lose their inspiration

Eric, Karen,Susan and I found the stage where the Little River Band was performing and sat down on the grass, like so many times in the 60's and 70's waiting for the sound checks and the roadies to hook up everything. My thoughts went to Billy Rice, John Bill, audio cables, "Testing, Testing, Testing" - the band takes the stage - again - you are time tripping back to the 70's. Karen's voice brought me back - we were at Sunfest 2008 - not the 60's or 70's. A hybrid of a State Fair and a Caribbean Carnival with three stages and three Rum Barges on the Intercoastal - West Palm Beach's Sunfest is a weekend of Fun. As the logo says: Where music meets the waterfront.




Concerts started on Thursday night with Cheryl Crow and Eric Clapton making a surprise appearance. Hot Tuna, Little Feat, Steel Pulse, Los Diablos, Little River Band, The Black Crowes, Stephen Marley, just to name the highlight bands. Three Captain Morgan Rum Bars are docked along the intercoastal which provides well needed shade and cool drinks. As the Kentucky Derby started the race was switched over on the large monitors. The sun was dipping behind the buildings now and the Black Crowes were performing at 9:30 - we meandered through the crowd to get a good spot. Beautiful night - the band takes the stage - yep, another time trip as the concert begins. I wondered what Kate Hudson was doing tonight.