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Expanding Oslo Road Boat Ramp a Bad Idea

May 3, 2014 by · Leave a Comment

Expanding Oslo Road Boat Ramp a Bad Idea for Anglers and Fish

Guest Blog by Rodney Smith

Expanding Oslo Road Boat Ramp a Bad Idea for Anglers and Fish.

There has never been a more important time to protect the Indian River Lagoon (IRL) and its most critical habitat, sea grass. It is in sea grass beds where the vast majority of baby fish, shrimp and crabs grow up.

During a recent paddle down the entire length of the IRL (irl-paddle-adventure.com), paddlers documented the widespread disappearance of sea grasses. In one eighty-mile stretch, from Port St. John in Brevard County to the north end of Vero Beach in Indian River County, the IRL’s bottom was 95 percent void of sea grass coverage.

Indian River County is currently pushing forward with a plan to expand the Oslo Road Boat Ramp by dredging sea grass beds 215 feet out from shore to a depth of 2.5 feet. This is one of the IRL’s best remaining sea grass bed areas, and is a critical spawning ground for spotted seatrout and snook. They are also considering filling in 1.4 acres of mangroves, widening and paving a gravel road, and increasing the parking lot for big boats with big motors. The current depth at the ramp is only inches at low tide, so it only accommodates small boats, canoes and kayaks and wading anglers.

Anglers for Conservation strongly opposes any expansion of the Oslo Road Boat Ramp that includes the dredging of sea grasses.

Below is a summary of major points to put into letters of concern for the Oslo Road Boat Ramp expansion project, and a list of email addresses where we suggest you send them as soon as possible.

An administrative hearing starts at 9 am Tuesday, May 6-8, in the Indian River County Administrative Building in Vero Beach concerning this issue.  If we are unsuccessful, then it is very important to get the Feds to stop this, as the county needs a permit from the USCOE (Army Corps of Engineers) as well as the St. John’s River Water Management District.

If you can only send two letters, send one to Tamy Dabu at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and another to the Press Journal, but getting your concerns to others is also very important.  The same letter, or a slightly modified version, can be sent to all of the agencies involved.

Anglers for Conservation thinks Expanding Oslo Road Boat Ramp a Bad Idea for Anglers and Fish

Rodney Smith is the Executive Director of Anglers for Conservation.

Here are major points to put into a letter of concern for the Oslo Road Boat Ramp Expansion Project.   This project is in a county/state purchased conservation land, (Oslo Riverfront Conservation Area) adjacent to an aquatic preserve and a Federal shellfish area.

  • It dredges 215 ft. into best and only seagrasses left in Indian River County and fills 1.4 acres of mangrove wetland forest with a hard impervious surface for a parking lot and road widening.
  • This project will deleteriously impact essential fish nursery habitat for four of the most protected and intensely managed fish species within the State of Florida:for snook, spotted seatrout, tarpon, red drum.
  • Goes against the county’s own Manatee Protection Plan. It is the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation opinion that “the project is inconsistent with the Indian River MPP because the project represents a deepening of the access from the boat ramp, and an increase in the size of vessels that would be able to launch from the site.”
  • According to the County’s Manatee Protection Plan the County as twice the number of public boat ramp lanes needed to meet DEP recommended levels of service. Riverside park (6 miles away) has a 75-ft.-wide boat ramp plus two 40 ft. long floating docks, 26 paved vehicle and trailer parking spaces, 118 additional parking spaces, bathrooms, picnic tables, drinking fountains, and an outdoor shower. Four additional boat ramps and 10 parking spaces are at nearby MacWilliam Park.
  • Impacts are inconsistent with the Manatee Protection Plan: page 55 “….there shall be no increase impact to manatee habitat, or the natural resources of the Indian River Lagoon, including   seagrass beds, water quality, estuarine wetlands, and mangrove fringe, attributed to the development or expansion of boat facilities or boat ramps in Indian River County.”
  • The Oslo boat ramp is in the largest area of manatee concentration in the county (Manatee Protection Plan).
  • Impacts are inconsistent with Indian River County’s own Comprehensive Management Plan: “The County will strive to improve water quality in the Lagoon, including that portion adjacent to the subject property (South ORCA)”
  • The boat ramp is in a Federal Shellfish Area, conservation lands, and next to an aquatic preserve
  • There is no mitigation for seagrass destruction.
  • The presence of rock indicates that this area was never historically dredged.
  • The following agencies and organizations have written against it: EPA, US Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, National Marine Fisheries Service, DEP Aquatic Preserve Manager, Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission, Audubon Florida, Indian River Keeper Save the Manatee Club, Marine Resource Council, Coastal Conservation Association, Sierra Club, Pelican Island Audubon, Oslo Riverfront Conservation Area Volunteers, Kayak Renters, Wading and Small Boat Fisherman, and Scientists.
  • U.S. Representative Bill Posey sent his Chief of Staff, Stuart Burns, from Washington, D.C. to Vero Beach to pressure the USFWS to overturn their 2011 denial of the county’s permit based on threats to manatees.
  • Common Sense says: 45th St. (Gifford Dock Rd) or 69th St. are Great Alternative Sites-15 minutes from Oslo Rd.
  • Not in a Federal Shellfish Area requiring a Variance
  • Less Seagrass Destruction
  • Little or no Mangrove Destruction
  • Eliminates Unwanted Exotic Plants
  • Mitigates on Site
  • Less Expense to Build
  • Keeps OSLO Natural
  • Closer to the ICW-Intra-Coastal Waterway
  • Not in an Conservation Area or Aquatic Preserve
  • County owns the property

          Where to send your concerns:  

1. Federal Organizations (They have not issued their permit yet, waiting for our hearing):    

-Colonel Alan M. Dodd, District Commander U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District Corps of Engineers P.O. Box 4970 Jacksonville, FL 32232-0019  

-Tamy Dabu Regulatory Division, North Permits Branch U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 400 High Point Drive, Suite 600 Cocoa, FL 32926 tamy.s.dabu@usace.army.mil  

-Larry Williams, Field Supervisor South Florida Ecological Services Office U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1339 20th Street Vero Beach, FL 32960 larry_williams@fws.gov  

-Craig Aubrey, Assistant Field Supervisor South Florida Ecological Services Office U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1339 20th Street Vero Beach, FL 32960 craig_aubrey@fws.gov  

-Charles Kelso South Florida Ecological Services Office U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1339 20th Street Vero Beach, FL 32960 charles_kelso@fws.gov  

-Cynthia Dohner, Regional Director U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region 1875 Century Boulevard, Suite 400 Atlanta, GA 30345 cynthia_dohner@fws.gov  

2. Press:

-Most important T.C Palm (Press Journal our county daily paper). Letter to the editor: 300 words maximum to Larry Reisman: Larry.Reisman@scripps.com

3. County Commissioners:

-Joe Flescher: jflescher@ircgov.com

-Wesley David: wdavis@ircgov.com

-Peter O’Bryan: pobryan@ircgov.com

-Bob Solari: bsolari@ircgov.com

-Tim Zorc: tzorc@ircgov.com

4.   U.S. Congressman Bill Posey (Ask him why did he ask USFWS to change their denial to OK approval): Congressman.Posey@mail.house.gov  

5. St. Johns River Management District. Ask why this project was approved (actually don’t they usually do a cultural or archeological survey before issuing a permit? Don’t they care about the fish and manatees anymore?)

-Hans G. Tanzier III, Executive Director: xhtanzler@sjrwmd.com

-John A. Miklos, Board Chairman, jmiklos@sjrwmd.com      

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Saturday in the ‘Goon

April 28, 2014 by · Leave a Comment

Saturday in the ‘Goon

Guest Blog by David Caprera

Did you ever get a tune stuck in your head while paddling? How about while paddling in a crowd? I launched a bit before ‎7am and caught a ‎24 inch red at ‎7:30. By ‎2 when I called it a day, I had still caught a red at ‎7:30. With apologies to Chicago and sung to the tune “Saturday in the Park.”

Saturday in the ‘Goon
I think it was a boaters’ convention
Engines raring, JB’s blaring
Ear plugs are a good invention.

People swimming, people sailing
The water is the color of tea
A boat staked out on every point
I couldn’t find a place to pee.

Saturday in the Goon
Isn’t there a race at Daytona
Men with guts, but women with breasts
Big enough to give you a bonah.

The weatherman said “‎2 to ‎4”
Building in the afternoon
By ‎2pm a guy was surfing
On the white caps in the lagoon.

Saturday in the Goon
I think that the fish are all gone
If you must fish on a weekend day
Plan to be launched by dawn

Can you dig it (Yes I can). Fade out.

In addition to his career as a poet, David Caprera has had a moderately successful career in law. He guest blogs for us now and again.

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2014. All rights are reserved.

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Diet of Florida’s Elusive Red Widow Spider

March 21, 2014 by · Leave a Comment

Diet of Florida’s Elusive Red Widow Spider Revealed by MU Biologist

Beetles: it’s what’s for breakfast—at least for the red widow spider of Florida’s “scrub” habitat, according to a study by University of Missouri biologist James Carrel. The study provides a first glimpse at the diet of this mysterious spider, revealing that it primarily preys upon species of scarab beetles common to the scrub habitat. Carrel’s findings shed light on red widow spiders’ restriction to the Florida scrub habitat and the need for habitat conservation efforts.

red widow spider

The red widow spider (Latrodectus bishopi) gets its name for the reddish-orange coloring of its head, carapace, and legs. Although venomous, no bites from this spider have been recorded. (Photo courtesy of J. Carrel)

“The pine scrub habitat, found on sandy ridges in Central and Southeastern Florida, is one of the oldest in North America,” said Carrel, Curators Professor Emeritus in the MU Division of Biological Sciences. “Many of the plants and animals found on these ridges, including the red widow spider, are restricted to these high, dry areas. Our research suggests that red widows have evolved to specialize on scarab beetles because they are reliable food sources.”

Carrel said that red widow spiders are difficult to study due to habitat confinement and the hidden nature of their webs, which are built in palmetto shrubs. Red widows conceal their funnel-shaped retreats in unopened palmetto leaves, making them difficult to spot. The only clues to the spiders’ presence, visible solely on foggy mornings during four months of the year, are the threads spun loosely between tips of palmetto frond.

Since 1987, Carrel has been monitoring populations of this spider at the Archbold Biological Station, which protects a 5,193-acre Florida scrub preserve near Lake Placid. Only twice in those 23 years – in March 1989 and in May 2003 – have enough webs been located to study the dietary habits of these elusive spiders. The scientists identified 43 species of insects among the 98 specimens collected. The study revealed that the primary prey of the spider, especially in early spring, are five species of scarab beetles endemic to the Florida scrub habitat.

red widow spider

The scrub palmetto scarab (Trigonopeltastes floridana) is one species of scarab beetles endemic to the Florida scrub that the red widow spider preys on. (Photo courtesy Tim Lethbridge)

“The scarab beetles, which often are larger and stronger than the spiders themselves, fly just above the tops of scrub vegetation,” said Mark Deyrup, senior research biologist for the Archbold Biological Station, who co-authored the study. “Sometimes beetles hit the web strands between tips of palmetto fronds and tumble into the denser tangle of threads below, catching them in the red widows’ webs.”

Carrel has monitored red widow spider populations at the Station since 1987, but has found enough webs to study red widows’ dietary habits only twice. During both time periods, Carrel worked alongside Deyrup to collect and identify prey from spiders’ webs.

Carrel’s study, entitled “Red widow spiders prey extensively on scarab beetles endemic in Florida scrub,” appeared in the March issue of the Florida Entomologist. Funding for the study came in part from a grant from the University of Missouri in Columbia, MO.

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how to get through a day of fishing without hurting your back

March 12, 2014 by · Leave a Comment

how to get through a day of fishing without hurting your back

guest blog by Peter Miller

Fishing is commonly thought of as the ultimate stress reliever, but it can also lead to back pain or serious back injuries if proper measurements aren’t followed. In fact, according to a Duke University Medical Center study, 69 percent of fishermen suffer from back pain at some point during their fishing career. Heavy lifting, repetitive motions, and long days of standing with the body in the same position often causes stress, tension and muscle fatigue in the back and makes fishermen susceptible to a number of debilitating back injuries.

One fishing enthusiast all too familiar with how fishing can cause back pain is professional angler Peter Miller. Following an injury that herniated two discs and pinched a nerve in his lower back, the three time World Sailfish Champion and host of NBC show “Bass 2 Billfish with Peter Miller” suffered chronic pain that prevented him from fishing at the top of his game. After deciding to have surgery with Tampa-based Laser Spine Institute, the leader in minimally invasive spine surgery, Peter was able to return to doing what he loves and has since worked closely with his surgeon, Dr. Stefan Prada, M. D., to develop a list of tips for how to prevent back pain during a day of fishing:

Get really comfortable shoes. Traditionally, fishermen wear flip flops, boat shoes or bare feet. These shoes offer little support and have no cushion to absorb shock. Try wearing shoes that are more traditional for jogging than for fishing.

Stretch. Even 5 minutes worth of stretching before you get on the boat or mid-day can make a tremendous difference. Try touching your toes or the floor and reaching your hands over your head to stretch your back.

Maintain a strong core. A strong core will make you better prepared for the various motions involved when fishing, such as throwing a cast and reeling in a fish. Planks, push-ups, v-sits and leg lifts are all great exercises to develop a strong core.

Take Advil. Anti-inflammatory medications in mild doses will always help. Try taking some anti-inflammatory medications prior to taking the boat out to help prevent inflammation during the day.

Stay active. Don’t be sedentary. The kiss of death is sitting all day on a boat. One great way to help your back muscles stay active, warm and loose while on the boat is the cat-and-dog exercise: position yourself on your hand and knees and alternate between rounding your back by looking down on the ground and arching it by looking up into the sky.

Stay hydrated. Drinking enough water is essential to helping reduce pain. It helps keep the muscles hydrated and helps avoid muscle cramps.

And that’s how to get through a day of fishing without hurting your back.

John Kumiski
www.spottedtail.com

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Food Tank’s 14 Food Resolutions for 2014

December 30, 2013 by · Leave a Comment

Food Tank’s 14 Food Resolutions for 2014

Guest Blog by Danielle Nierenberg

As we enter 2014, there are still nearly one billion people suffering from hunger. Simultaneously, 65 percent of the world’s population live in countries where obesity kills more people than those who are underweight. But these are problems that we can solve and there’s a lot to be done in the new year!

2014 was declared the International Year of Family Farming (IYFF) by the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Food Tank is honored and excited to be collaborating with FAO around highlighting how farmers are more than just food producers–they’re teachers, innovators, entrepreneurs, environmental stewards, and change-makers!

And negotiations are continuing around the new Sustainable Development Goals that will replace the Millennium Development Goals. It’s our hope that the new goals will help not only reduce hunger and poverty, but find ways to improve nutrient density and improve farmers’ livelihoods.

In addition, the issue of food loss and food waste is gaining ground thanks to the U.N.’s Zero Hunger Challenge, which calls for zero food waste, as well as the good work of many organizations including the Natural Resources Defense Council, Feeding the 5000, the U.N. Environment Programme, and WastedFood.com who are showing eaters, businesses, and policy-makers solutions for ending waste in the food system.

And youth are taking the lead in pushing for a more sustainable food system. Young people like Edward Mukiibi, who is helping Slow Food International’s 1,000 Garden in Africa’s program gain momentum. In addition, the Young Professionals for Agriculture Research and Development (YPARD) is helping connect agronomists, farmers, researchers, and activists around the world. Food Tank will also be announcing some exciting work around mobilizing youth in 2014!

Through concrete action, hope and success in the food system is possible.

As Nelson Mandela said, “sometimes it falls upon a generation to be great.”

Together we can be that generation and find solutions to nourish both people and the planet!

Here are 14 food resolutions for 2014:

1. Meet Your Local Farmer
Know your farmer, know your food (KYF2) aims to strengthen local and regional food systems. Meeting your local farmer puts a face to where your food comes from and creates a connection between farmers and consumers.

2. Eat Seasonal Produce
By purchasing local foods that are in season, you can help reduce the environmental impact of shipping food. And your money goes straight to the farmer, supporting the local economy.

3. End Food Waste
More than 1.3 billion tons of edible food is wasted each year. Tips to reduce waste include planning meals ahead, buying ‘ugly’’ fruits and vegetables, being more creative with recipes, requesting smaller portions, composting, and donating excess food.

4. Promote a Healthy Lifestyle
Many diseases are preventable, including obesity, yet 1.5 billion people in the world are obese or overweight. Promote a culture of prevention by engaging in physical activity and following guidelines for a healthy diet. Gaps in food governance must also be addressed to encourage healthy lifestyles, including junk food marketing to children.

5. Commit to Resilience in Agriculture
A large portion of food production is used for animal feed and biofuels–at least one-third of global food production is used to feed livestock. And land grabs are resulting in food insecurity, the displacement of small farmers, conflict, environmental devastation, and water loss. Strengthening farmers’ unions and cooperatives can help farmers be more resilient to food prices shocks, climate change, conflict, and other problems.

6. Eat (and Cook) Indigenous Crops
Mungbean, cow pea, spider plant…these indigenous crops might sound unfamiliar, but they are grown by small-holder farmers in countries all over the world. The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reports that approximately 75 percent of the Earth’s genetic resources are now extinct, and another third of plant biodiversity is predicted to disappear by the year 2050. We need to promote diversity in our fields and in our diets!

7. Buy (or Grow) Organic
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has found that at least one pesticide is in 67 percent of produce samples in the U.S. Studies suggest that pesticides can interfere with brain development in children and can harm wildlife, including bees. Growing and eating organic and environmentally sustainable produce we can help protect our bodies and natural resources.

8. Go Meatless Once a Week
To produce 0.45 kilograms (one pound) of beef can require 6,810 liters (1,799 gallons) of water and 0.45 kilograms (one pound) of pork can require 2,180 liters (576 gallons) of water. Beef, pork, and other meats have large water footprints and are resource intensive. Consider reducing your “hoofprint” by decreasing the amount and types of meat you consume.

9. Cook
In Michael Pollan’s book “Cooked,” he learns how the four elements-fire, water, air, and earth-transform parts of nature into delicious meals. And he finds that the art of cooking connects both nature and culture. Eaters can take back control of the food system by cooking more and, in the process, strengthen relationships and eat more nutritious–and delicious–foods.

10. Host a Dinner Party
It’s doesn’t have to be fancy, just bring people together! Talk about food, enjoy a meal, and encourage discussion around creating a better food system. Traveling in 2014 and craving a homemade meal? For another option try Meal Sharing and eat with people from around the world.

11. Consider the ‘True Cost’ Of Your Food
Based on the price alone, inexpensive junk food often wins over local or organic foods. But, the price tag doesn’t tell the whole story. True cost accounting allows farmers, eaters, businesses, and policy makers to understand the cost of all of the “ingredients” that go into making fast food–including antibiotics, artificial fertilizers, transportation, and a whole range of other factors that don’t show up in the price tag of the food we eat.

12. Democratize Innovation
Around the world, farmers, scientists, researchers, women, youth, NGOs, and others are currently creating innovative, on-the-ground solutions to various, interconnected global agriculture problems. Their work has the great potential to be significantly scaled up, broadened, and deepened—and we need to create an opportunity for these projects to get the attention, resources, research, and the investment they need.

13. Support Family Farmers
The U.N. FAO has declared 2014 the International Year of Family Farming, honoring the more than 400 million family farms in both industrialized and developing countries, defined as farms who rely primarily on family members for labour and management. Family farmers are key players in job creation and healthy economies, supplying jobs to millions and boosting local markets, while also protecting natural resources.

14. Share Knowledge Across Generations
Older people have challenges–and opportunities–in accessing healthy foods. They’re sharing their knowledge with younger generations by teaching them about gardening and farming, food culture, and traditional cuisines. It’s also important to make sure that older people are getting the nutrition they need to stay active and healthy for as long as possible.

Don’t forget to share this list of resolutions by clicking HERE.

Finally, please tell me what resolutions are missing from our list by sending me a personal email!. 

Onward!

Danielle Nierenberg
Co-Founder, Food Tank

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Brothers

December 24, 2013 by · Leave a Comment

Brothers

A Guest Blog by Darryl Benton

Brothers, a term of endearment mostly meant for the blood male siblings found in one’s family. In the biblical sense the term brother could mean your keeper or one who thinks and responds like yourself with love and understanding, because of the likeness of one’s attitudes towards life in general.

I was fortunate to have older brothers in my family, one nine years older and the other seven years older. I was always the “little” brother or younger brother. That was ok with me, it’s all I ever knew. So, as a younger brother I always had someone to look up to. I thought that’s the way it was in all life until I got older and wiser and realized that not all older folks look out for the younger ones. In fact, most older folks will take advantage of the innocence of a youthful individual in their presence. Those folks are not brothers.

Therefore as life went on I became wary of folks I did not know that well, and never quite trusted strangers until I got to know them better. This is a good way to live. This keeps you from being led down the wrong path. Forge your own path was my way of dealing with things life threw at me.

In my life time there has been many things thrown at me that I had to make adjustments to. None of them have ever compared to Combat. Just typing the word brings a chill in my spine and tears to my eyes. I have learned to quickly adjust my thinking and bring myself out of the horror that I used to not be able to speak of.

Combat brothers are a special breed of people that are more your brothers then any blood brother ever will be. Many of these brothers died along the way of combat, or just disappeared into the belly of a helicopter on a stretcher, never to be seen again.

After combat, I spent the majority of my life trying to be normal. I married, raised a family, worked a 40 hour a week job, and adjusted to what I thought normal was. I put the monster in my mind in a closet and slammed the fucking door and said I can control this. I did not  know the monster had a name. I thought I could drink, smoke and worst of all work it all away. The door on the closet sometimes bulged and banged and wanted out.

I got angry at it and everyone else. I quit my 40 hour week job and buried myself in the construction world where work can last 60, 80 and even 120 hours a week. Work could take you far from home and work left you working with a small team of people. A construction team is a bunch of brothers and sisters working endlessly for hours to accomplish the completion of great projects. Most of these projects will become old and dated and after awhile be replaced by other projects and life goes on. However for a brief period of time I found the closest thing to combat brothers was in the construction world. The weird thing is it took awhile for me to realize that that closeness with other people on a project was something I searched for to help me stay sane.

One day I met a doctor, a doctor of the mind. He said come in sit down you have my undivided attention for the next 30 minutes. Three and half hours later the fucking closet door opened and the monster stood before me and his name was PTSD. The last seven years this monster walks around with me, behind me, beside me, always with me and I acknowledge his presence.

I have never been able to stop myself from yearning for the comradeship of brothers. Real brothers are hard to find. Real people who give a damn are hard to find. I’m a lucky guy in a lot of ways. One way I’m real lucky in, is in this past few weeks, I found some brothers and a few sisters with a lot in common and what we accomplished was great. There was a moment where I let the thought of losing someone overcome my emotions and I saw the helicopter flying away and I got pretty upset with myself for following instead of leading. My new brothers were there and each said a few words to me and all was well. I left with strangers on that IRL voyage I returned with brothers.

How fortunate I am.

Bones

brothers
Darryl “Bones” Benton. It spite of all he’s been through he still likes to laugh.

“We have to learn to live on land without killing our waters.”
Dr. Leesa Souto, Chief, Marine Resources Council, Palm Bay, FL

www.irl-paddle-adventure.com

Darryl Benton
Volunteer Kayak Guide, Africa, Brevard Zoo
www.brevardzoo.org
President E/20th LRP – C/75th Airborne Ranger Association
www.e20-lrp-c75-rgr.org/

Darry Benton is a paddler, a Viet Nam veteran, and an outstanding human being.

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Getting out of Dodge, with El Chico

November 18, 2013 by · Leave a Comment

Getting out of Dodge, with El Chico

A Guest Blog by Rickie Dee

So,

instead of that left turn to Mecca, where I really shouldn’t go…

my trusty driver made a right, and we now traveled down a road to nowhere, to sight see

Getting out of Dodge3

I thought why not, since…gas is .39 cents a gallon

Killing time is one of my daily occupations, when not flying; while on rotation in the arid Middle East

I always wanted to see an image of rolling desert sand, and

since I’m housed at Gitmo, aka fortified / machine gun / dual high walled / wired; Compound, smack in the middle of busy Riyadh,

solitude and rolling sand was easy to discover on its outskirts

Getting out of Dodge4
We found a small Oasis, though no water was present,

only reptile footprints; but rattlesnake were the prints that worried me most, ok scorpions too.

I found there is a certain quietness in the desert, only the wind knows sound

Getting out of Dodge
With the sun beginning to angle over my shoulder; we decide to head back, darkness would soon fall

then suddenly, remnants of a small; but Lost City appear, since the area was not fenced, I walk

Abandoned mud houses, certainly built many years ago; remain standing despite the monthly whipping of flying sandstorms

 

Getting out of Dodge2
safe and sound back in Riyadh, I eat a sizzling shrimp fajita at El Chico, a Saudi wanna be Mexican restaurant

No pork, no beer, no music plays there, and yes

Women not allowed, unless they are on the other, quiet walled section of El Chico

I only sat amongst Men, how exciting…

lime did accompany the Shrimp and a bottle of water washed it all down

American Express was not accepted

 

Rickie Dee is a fly fisher and photographer who searches for adventure around the planet.

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2013. All rights are reserved.

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Forsooth, A Poem

November 9, 2013 by · Leave a Comment

A Guest Blog by Nick Colantonio

 

Fly fisher Nick Colantonio, well-known in certain elite angling circles as the Comatose Angler, sent me this lovely poem he had adapted to fit his needs:

 

From Costa de Cocos, 2013

On Chetumal’s distant shore

I took a reed and scratched into the sand

… Sweetheart I love thee …

a WAVE

came by and washed away the fair impression.

Cruel wave, frail reed, treacherous sand,

I will trust you no more, but with giant hand

pluck from  Xcalac’s shore her tallest palm,

set it afire, and write in blazing letters across the sky

… SWEETHEART, I LOVE THEE …

And I’d like to see any god-damn wave wash that out.

 

*Adapted from a poem in the Minnesota Technilog, circa 1963

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Eating Cannonball Jellyfish from Mosquito Lagoon

November 4, 2013 by · 4 Comments

Eating Cannonball Jellyfish from Mosquito Lagoon

A Guest Blog by Dave Caprera

OK, last time I collected ‎30-40 fiddler crabs and made a bisque.  The picture of the crabs in the pot caught some of you unaware*.  Well, I have upped the ante and gone one better.  The cannonball jellyfish, Stomolophus meleagris, are now in large numbers in the lagoon.

cannonball jellyfish

A cannonball jellyfish

Two days ago I collected four specimens and started reading.  (I actually collected eight and threw four back.) There are about a dozen species of jellies that are eaten, almost entirely by Asians.  One is the cannonball.  (Its name is well deserved, it is round, about ‎8 inches in diameter, and weighs around ‎1 pound.  Ready! Load! Fire!)

You can buy them dried and salted.  They are salted because they do not keep fresh for very long.  But there is little literature on preparing fresh jellyfish.  The following is my recipe for their preparation.

1.  Catch jellyfish.  The cannonballs are among the strongest of the swimmers.  Don’t worry, you are up to the task.  They do not sting per se, but their mucous is found to be irritable to some.  Didn’t bother me.

2.  Rip the cap off.  No one told me how to clean them.  At first, I cut them carefully.  Then I figured it out.  Think of them as a mushroom.  Separate the cap from the stem.  Throw the stem away.

3.  Scrape off the scum.  Ah, this is the yucky part.  They are slimy.  Using a knife edge, scrape away.

4.  Brine for ‎24 hours in the fridge in a salt water solution.  Rinse.  Brine again.  Rinse. Rinse again (you are getting rid of the salt.). The brine cures them and assists in the slime removal.  Scrape again.

5.  At this point you should have firm, clean jellyfish filets.  Drain.  Now cover with boiling water for ‎15 minutes.  Magic!  They shrink in half.  They also soften up.  Rinse immediately in cold water.  Now you can slice ‎in 1/4 inch lengths.

6.  There are two “common” recipes.  Both served cold.  The Chinese use soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, sesame oil and sugar.  Toss and sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds.  The Vietnamese use “fish sauce”, vinegar, oil, red pepper flakes and sugar.  They toss with cucumbers, cilantro and shredded carrots.  Variations are numerous.  Both are good.

7.  Eat.  I am not kidding.  This is good shit, almost zero carbs, high protein, low calorie.

cannonball jellyfish

Does this look like dinner to you?

Tune in next time for my dog whelk scungilli.

*This was not posted on this blog, unfortunately.

Dave Caprera, a retired attorney, now makes his home in New Smyrna Beach.

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2013. All rights are reserved.

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First Aid Kits for Paddlers

October 23, 2013 by · 1 Comment

First Aid Kits for Paddlers

A Guest Blog by Kristen Beck

If you intend to paddle along on the Indian River Lagoon Paddle Adventure, you must consider first aid kits. You need to think about your safety and rescues. If you are out paddling you are in the wilderness, even on the Indian River Lagoon. In general it takes one hour for every quarter mile you are away from a trail head, boat landing, or somewhere that an emergency vehicle could meet you, to get an injured party back. It could take longer depending on mode of injury or degree of incapacitation. I highly recommend that you take a first aid and safety course. A wilderness first aid course is excellent but a basic course is better than nothing.

A good first aid kit doesn’t need to break the bank. Put together a dedicated kit that becomes part of the essential gear that you never leave without- paddle, life jacket, first aid kit- you need them all. If you have it you might not ever need it, but that one incident when you need it and don’t have it will suck, so pack it!

Here are some tips on how to make your own first aid kit for the wilderness. You may want to increase the amount of supplies depending on how many will be traveling with you. Encourage your paddle buddies to carry their own kits.

Storage

You will want something lightweight and waterproof. Ziploc bags are great for keeping items clean and organized, but they are NOT waterproof. Invest in a dry bag and mark it with a huge red cross, so anyone will recognize it as a first aid kit. Dry boxes are good but I find a medium size dry bag works best.

Size

How big of a first aid kit you create depends on a few things. Is it just for you or for a group traveling together? Are you simply hiking and camping or will you be partaking in other adventurous activities like rock climbing or rafting? If so, you may want a larger first aid kit as serious injuries need more attention.

What to Pack

Here is a suggested list. You can always add or subtract items depending on your personal needs.

Basic components:

  • Small gauze pads
  • Large gauze pads
  • Hand sanitizer
  • At least 2” gauze roll – 1 or 2 rolls
  • Triple antibiotic ointment
  • Povidone/iodine solution
  • Chemical heat and cold packs
  • Baby wipes
  • Scissors
  • Tweezers
  • Latex gloves
  • Hydrogen peroxide bottle
  • Bottle of clean water
  • Maxi pads – 3 or 4
  • Emergency space blanket
  • Clean trash bags, 3 or 4, can be used as poncho, shelter, and to retain body heat
  • Duck tape – 1 full roll, replace as you use it. DO NOT waste your money on water proof bandages. They do not stay when wet, and paddling is a wet sport
  • Waterproof tape

Medications

  • Antacid
  • Antihistamine (Benadryl, etc.); allergic reactions, insomnia
  • Anti-inflammatory (Ibuprofen, Acetaminophen); inflammation, pain
  • Hydrocortisone cream (soothes allergic skin)
  • Potable Aqua (iodine water treatment)

Make sure your kit is accessible!!! Do not pack in the very rear hatch buried under everything. I like to have mine visible in a day hatch or on the deck where I can get to it quickly. If you are ashore taking a hike take it with you. That is when you will most likely need it.

Be sure to inspect your kit often, preferably before every trip. Make sure the gear is clean and supplies are in good condition. Replace expired medications as needed and add items that would have been helpful on your previous trip Also be sure to tell others you are traveling with where your first aid kit is, in case you are incapacitated. Encourage your friends to take a first aid and safety course.

If you aren’t comfortable making your own fist aid kid, pre-packaged kits are available online for purchase.

Tell people where you are going, when you are leaving and when you expect to be back. Take a cell phone with you- you can turn it off so you don’t disturb the wilderness setting but will have it if you need it. Most paddling locations here in the area you will get some coverage but you may have to move around. Have the appropriate numbers programmed into your phone; know where you are- when you call for help you need to be able to give the 911 operator your location.

Be prepared and you will have a better outdoor experience!

Kristen Beck, Director
A Florida Outdoor Center- Connecting people with nature thru outdoor activities and bringing nature in to those who can not get out.
www.AFLOC.org
772-202-0220
facebook at www.facebook.com/kayakkristen

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2013. All rights are reserved.

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