Labor Day 2010

Left the house at 8:00 this morning. Went right straight to Anclote Park Boat Ramp. Saw 4 Quaker (?) parrots sitting on a fence right before turning in to the park. That reminds me of the time I was at HES a few months back and saw maybe 7 of them. Anyway, we got in the water nice and easy. Headed toward 3 Rooker Island only to find it was hide tide and the island had no beach! Wow, who'd of thought! Off we went off to Anclote where we'd been two days before. This time we went along the backside of it and had just the best ride yet on our boat! The water was like glass and the entire length of Anclote was just so beautiful. Some day we will go there for the day, though the beach is very narrow. At the end of the island we turned around and traveled the east side of the island. The beach that we'd enjoyed two days ago was gone, save for a small sliver of sand! High tide! So, we anchored in the water where I quickly discovered it made me nauseated, so we pulled up anchor and headed for the small sliver of sand down the way. Had to walk through some thick grasses where I always wondered what I would step in! I couldn't believe how many people had brought their dogs to the beach. Course, the beach was smaller so it may have concentrated the numbers of dogs! Two cute Yorkies running around enjoying themself and it was all fun and games till the male lifted his leg on my beach bag! Naughty! Then a few minutes later, he felt the need to come and lift his leg on my chair! Not nice! His owner apologized and brought me a bottle of water to rinse off any pee that got on my stuff. Joe had a hard time relaxing for thinking of our beached boat yesterday and kept watching it. Plus, there was 7 or so little kids playing right next to us. Having a great time playing with the poor little fish that got caught on the sand when the tide slipped out. So not so relaxing for us, but the weather held its' own and Joe had made us some great sandwiches. After awhile we went for a walk. The tide started to go out so you could see the island forming once more. So many perfect shells. The water washed over the sand and was only 3 inches deep. So clear and warm. So many people just having a great time. More boats came. We went for a swim. At 2:30 we headed back. I drove all the way on the back side of the island. So beautiful. Saw a dolphin briefly. Took the boat in and successfully brought it to the dock fairly smoothly. Stopped at Sam's Club on the way home where we spent the next hour or so cleaning the car and the boat. We just finished when a heavy rain opened up on sunny skies. Sweaty and tired we jumped in the pool despite some thunder in the vacinity. It felt so heavenly we decided to risk a lightning strike to the pool! Having been up since 4:30 for some reason, I am too tired to post pictures that I took today. We are eagerly anticipating a great adventure, yet to be determined, for next weekend!

Anclote Sandbar 1st Day out

Out the door by 9:00 followed by a quick stop to Publix to grad a sub for lunch followed by a stop at the trailer hitch guy to see why our light weren't working and we were on our way. Joe did well putting the boat in water at Anclote Park and we were soon on our way to the sandbar. The water was so smooth, and there were beautiful tree topped islands along the way. Soon enough we saw the sandbar that was to be our destination. Thinking we might explore first, I suggested we first go to the left of the island to check it out. It was low tide so more sand was exposed and there were only a few other people there so we figured we set up for the day here. We quickly realized that we'd forgotten you need two anchors to stabilize your boat or it will end up on the beach. First lesson of the day! We proceeded to set up our chairs, cooler, and umbrella and I headed for a float on the water. Joe went to the other side of the newly made island to see what it was like. A short time later, we realized that not only did it smell bad there, but there were all these pesky little bugs biting us. Probably due to the large, green clumps of sea grass left behind when the tide went out. We took one look at each other and decide to pack up and head to our original destination! Don't you know that in that short amount of time, the boat became stuck in the sand! A good Sam helped us push it into the water and we were on our way! Less than one minute later, our boat died right there in the middle of the gulf! We looked at each other. Enough gas? Dead battery, bad gas? What could it be? We sat there as others around us jetted about and towed laughing guests on inner tubes. We looked at each other again. Could this really be happening our first solo day on our new boat? I started to wonder what is the phone number for Sea Tow and cursing myself for not writing it down before we left. Is there still such a thing as Directory Assistance? How long will we have to sit in this boat waiting. The waves were starting to make me nauseous. At least we had our Publix subs. Then I thought, let's call Captain Larry. Maybe he will have a quick fix. Something we wouldn't know about. Sure enough, in no time at all he had us going! The emergency stop must have been disconnected cutting the engine. I never saw Joe so happy as when that engine started! Off we go! Second lesson of the day! If your engine dies, check the emergency stop connection! As we approached our next stop this really cool fish, probably 7 inches in length, popped out of the water and skidded on his tail down a straight line for nearly 15 feet before going back under the water! It was so cool. Never saw anything like that! Anyway, it was hard to find just the right spot to park the boat for all the other boaters out there. Finding just the right place we zipped in and anchored and I was approached by a familiar looking woman who turns out to be a teacher who was a former coworker. We barely recognized each other with our sunglasses and bathing suits on! We met her family and we had a great chat. We told her husband that we only had one anchor and he said just put the bow on the sand and if it beaches later we will help push you out! Sure enough, a short time later we were beached for the second time in a day. Lesson 3: boaters are terrific people who help each other out when needed! So great! Everyone waves to you as though you were a personal friend. We are bonded like families! The sand bar was just beautiful. The tide went out all day. Tons of prime shells, tons of people all there to have a good time, everyone friendly and happy to chat. One particular chattering new friend was a young woman who told us all we need to know about camping on the island. (The next great adventure after this one for us.) Suddenly around 4:30 the majority of people left. It was so peaceful. Just us and another couple who visited us while we watched to see a boat much larger than ours that was beached, waiting to be towed back to sea. Apparently, this is a rather common occurrence. At this point, the sun that eluded us most of the day came out, and treated us to some rather spectacular cloud scenery. I took several photos. Reluctantly, it was time for us to head back. I really didn't want to leave, but we knew we had to stop to Walmart for new tail lights, and a second anchor for our next outing on Monday, Labor Day. Still a bit tricky getting the boat back on the trailer at the end of the day, but once again, some fellow boaters came to our assistance. Looking forward to the day we can pay it forward to some other newbies!

The Next Great Adventure!

Everything since April 2004 has led to this moment. Moving to Florida, building a house, finding me a job, curiosity to explore the waterways of Florida. We were limited since we couldn't tow anything with our 4 door sedan, so one day we came upon an inflatable kayak at Sam's. Perfect! FIts in the back of the car, ready to go at a moments notice. We took it out and ventured around Pine Island, navigated the alligator infested Hillsborough River, enjoyed the cold, crystal clear spring waters of the Weekie Wachee River, and set it out at Honeymoon Island. We loved being on the water and watching all of nature, but after two seasons of use, I am no longer physically able to paddle a kayak. So shortly after purchasing a Honda CR-V, we put a trailer hitch on it and began shopping for a boat! We've bought a boat! So excited! Bring it on!! Can't begin to count how many hours were spent on Craigslist looking for the right boat for us. Saw lots of boats in not great condition, and seriously considered purchasing a jet boat or a pontoon. Limited by a few factors such as, 1. It needed to fit in our garage, and 2. It couldn't cost too much money! So last Saturday we happened to drive by Love Honda Sports in Homassassa and there it was. Only boat on this lot of ATV's. It was the Love Honda owners boat that he'd bought for his daughter 4 years ago, and it was barely used. We inquired about it and I liked it quite a bit, but I didn't want a center console and said so all day long. Well, the next day we were back in the area after work to see a pontoon only to find out it was the same one we'd seen the day before and decided it wouldn't fit in our garage! Not happy! Work all day, drive all the way up there, not fun. So, I said, lets go back and see that boat from yesterday. Well, after everything we'd seen, it really was a cute little boat that was clearly barely used, well built, and would fit in our garage but, was more than we were looking to spend. So we gave a low ball offer, which was turned down and not countered! Going home, I said to Joe, I want that boat and I want you to make it happen! Lo and behold, the next day Joe called me at work to tell me it was ours! Two days later, Thursday, my friends' husband (Captain Larry) took us out on it for our first ride and some terrific tips, hints and safety lessons! It was great! Our minds were a buzz with the fun that we could have with our new toy!

Day 15 - Heading Home

Not a great nights sleep for either of us. Joe ate to much at dinner, I keep thinking about the guy in the car. We got coffee and headed to the airport. As is in Atlanta, the Vegas airport has you running from one end of it to the other. I held the security line up because I brought a can of soda in my bag. Joe was irritated. That has been the word of the trip "irritated." Are you mad honey? No I'm irritated. For all the time we spent side by side, we were only "irritated" with one another a few brief times. I couldn't even tell you now about what. We are great travel companions. I was reminded this trip, just why I love Joe and I think he would say the same about me! We discussed several times the order in which we would rate our favorite parks. It would go something like this: first, Zion, then Bryce, Yosemite, Sequoia, Grand Canyon, Death Valley. But, that is not to say that we didn't like the ones at the end of the list. Really, you cannot rate them in an order. Each park was so amazing. Amazing for their beauty. Or spectacular for their unique landscape and formation. Each park had its' own personality, flavor, and unique features. We rated our favorite meals. Joe picked the Japanese restaurant. I pick the Bellagio buffet. We really didn't focus on eating out. We generally had a large meal midday where ever we happened to be. There is nothing we would have done differently. Our time spent planning the itinerary for this trip was time well spent. We have come back with tons of pictures that we will sort through and put together in a book of sorts. And, this blog was written as much as for our family to follow along on our trip and for us to not look back and try and remember what we did each day! We are already talking about our next vacation. Maybe to the Florida Keys or the Atlantis Hotel for our tenth anniversary next April!

Emergency: Death Valley! The Video!

Emergency: Death Valley!

I was happy Joe got to experience Death Valley. I had been there twice before, but not seen nearly as much of it as Joe and I saw. We headed out towards Vegas, eager to start our trip home as we have missed our home and our animals, and family. Shortly after leaving the park, I told Joe to look behind him. He looked and said what am I looking at? I told him that is your two weeks of vacation coming to an end. He looked again and saw a cop with his lights flashing behind us. We were thinking we just drove 2,250 miles and now we are going to get a ticket? But, the cop flew right by us at about 90 miles an hour. Now, when you are in the desert with nothing around, you know he can only be heading toward a car wreck of some sort! Yet when we drove a few more minutes with no sight of him, I figured he turned off on one of the few roads to no where off the highway we were on. So, I started reading my book again.

Sure enough, after a few more minutes, we came upon the cop car stopped on the side of the road with a small four door car sitting on the desert floor some 8 feet below the road with no visible damage to the car! I had Joe stop and I rolled my window down and asked if he needed help, that I am a nurse. He's like sure come on over! I said what is going on. He's like well got a guy down there not responsive and not breathing! Geeze! I hate when that happens!

I go sliding down the gravelly bank with my flip flops and there were these three people standing around the car. There was an unopened orange medic bag sitting there on the ground. The woman said she was an EMT (who happened upon the accident) but was not legally allowed to touch the guy. Not sure why she would say that. Anyway, I look in the car and there is a large adult male laying across the front seat with his head propped on the passenger side door bent at a bad, bent sideways angle. About a dozen prescription bottles laid on the floor of the passenger front seat of his car. (Heart and diabetes meds to name a few.) Sure enough, he was not breathing. No one there had started any kind of treatment. I was like, well we need to get this guy an airway! I had the "EMT" stabilize the head while the cop and I opened the door. The guy seemed pretty dead to me. I opened his eyes and didn't like the looks of them! He didn't respond to my voice or corneal stimulation. A very bad sign. I said we need to get this guy out of the car and onto the ground so I can work on him. Everyone was like what, how are we going to do that? I'm like just do it! Joe held the car door open, the cop grabs the guy by the belt, and I was at the arms. He must have weighed 250! His legs got caught on the steering wheel, but we kept pulling and pulling. Apparently, he had two prosthetic legs and they got caught! Later I was wondering how do you drive with no legs. Any way, got him to the ground, still no breathing. I had a stethoscope. I did hear a faint heart beat. I had a pocket mask, so I gave him some breaths and he spontaneously started breathing again. I yelled for someone to get a blanket and give us some shade!

Gave him a good sternal rub and another corneal swipe, no response to pain. I just kept assessing him. The medical helicopter was called and was six minutes out. I made sure there were no passengers who might have been thrown from the car. After a bit, I could no longer hear a heartbeat. Couldn't feel a carotid pulse. I hate when that happens too. Now I have to start compressions! CPR at 105 degrees! And, I skipped the short hikes in Death Valley b/c I didn't want to get sweaty! After what seemed like forever, the cop tells us the helicopter will be landing any second. Indeed they did and they landed right next to us. You could only imagine the dirt and rocks that thing spit on us! Certainly the worst conditions I have ever done CPR in before! They got the guy intubated, the heart started and stopped a few times. They couldn't get an IV in him and were going to put one in the bones of his legs till someone told the paramedic there were no legs!

At any rate, I continued to hang around and lending a hand to the ambulance crew and the ambulance crew setting up the head blocks, switching O2 tanks, etc. just like the old days. They were on the ground with him for what seemed like forever. Because he was so big, it took six people to carry him up the steep, rocky bank to the waiting chopper. I deferred from lifting for several reasons. Joe was at the head (he was great through all of this.) The guy at the end says to me, can you come to the end and watch his legs don't fall off. Now you should know that when it was discussed that the guy had two fake legs, I was busy with other things, so I missed that part! So, I thinking, ok, this is weird, where does he think the legs will go? The guy is strapped to a backboard. Whatever, so with six guys ahead of me spitting rocks out from there shoes I trudge behind with my flip flops on hanging on to the guys to feet. I noticed his sneakers looked rather small and his legs were at a weird position. And, when I grabbed him around the ankles, I notice they are all stiff, and I'm thinking rigors! What is up with that. How could it be rigors?? When Joe told me after about the fake legs I just had to laugh! I said to Joe, how can some one drive with no legs, well maybe not so good after all. Joe made a bad joke about the guy didn't have a leg to stand on!

So, he was loaded onto the helicopter, and Joe got cool video of the chopper taking off and a few moment of me in it which he will post to this blog later!

This man had no obvious injuries other than a scrape on his left elbow. Given all the meds, I feel he had a medical episode while driving before he left the road. The sheriff called me later in the day to update me on his condition. His mother said he had been depressed and his new bottle of xanax was empty. Likely a suicide attempt. He had an arrest record that we saw online. As of last night he was in a coma and had brain damage. He also wanted to tell me the flight crew wanted to thank me for my help. It was a good feeling, I'll say that much. Joe was a great help!

Strangely, just a few minutes before we saw the cop fly by us, I was daydreaming about going back to school for my paramedic license!

Day 14

Death Valley. But it's such a dry heat! After quick showers, we hit the road to explore Death Valley. Our first trip was a nine mile loop around Artist Point. There we got to see Rock Formations colored green, pink, and purple. Very pretty. The thing about Death Valley is that the types of rocks change to different colors, textures, heights, and directions, very quickly as you are driving. We went to the Badlands of Death Valley. The lowest point in all of North America. 282 feet below sea level. It was very hot, like 105 or something early in the morning. There were puddles of water left over from the winter with crusts of salt scattered throughout. Our next stop was a trail to take where you could see a natural stone bridge. Joe went w/o me as I opted for the cool comfort of the AC in the car. He took pictures that were pretty cool. We saw the Devil's Golf Course where there is a field of salt formations covering the ground. No golf happens there, however. The neatest thing we saw was Zapraski Point. The most vibrant colors anywhere in Death Valley, and the neatest formations of rock overlooking the salt floors below. The land scape here is like nowhere else on earth. It is hard to describe and like so many of the sights we have experience the past two weeks, pictures do not do many scenes justice.