Linear view vs. Masonry View

Archive for ‘Observations’

Just a Hop, Skip, and Jump

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Treasure Island, Florida August 2020

Yesterday evening I walked south on my beach for the first time in months. I lingered outside of Ka’Tiki to listen to the band for a few minutes and noticed this sign across the parking lot.

According to this arrow, my childhood home is just over 2,000 miles away. The vast majority of those miles would be on good ol’ I-10, a road I know well. I’ve already driven the entire length twice in my life and I imagine I’ll do it again someday (but I’m not in any hurry to do so).
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Sponge Fun

Sponge Boat
Sponge Diver Statue
Yellow and Wool Sponges
Finger Sponges
Silk Sponge Art

I have been avoiding touristy, crowded places (for obvious reasons) but last week I finally succumbed to my unceasing curiosity and checked out the sponge docks at Tarpon Springs. Thankfully, it was a wet visit which played in my favor as there were very few other people wandering around. Thank you, rain!

This small town along the Anclote River was founded in the 1870s as a fishing village but the discovery of sponge beds put the town on the map. Before the proliferation of synthetic sponges, natural ones were used for cleaning, art, and even contraceptives.

Surprisingly, in the early 1900s, sponges were Florida’s leading industry and the majority of those sponges were harvested and processed in Tarpon Springs. Though the sponge market has diminished over the years it left an indelible mark on the town in the form of Greek heritage.

One of the first investors, John K. Cheyney, was an immigrant from Greece and he brought over divers from the Dodecanese Islands to work in the industry. Their descendants remained in the area and it now has the highest percentage of Greek Americans in the country.

Walking along the waterfront I overheard folks speaking their cultural tongue, but of course, it was all “Greek” to me! In the future, I’d like to dine at one of the many Greek restaurants in town or perhaps I’ll return for one of the festivals.

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Not Alone

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Crabby, Wall Springs Park, Palm Harbor, Florida July 2020

Stopped off to explore Wall Springs Park yesterday afternoon. After a bit of a wander I settled on the bench on a fishing pier to relax in the cool air left behind by a midday storm.

Though I was the only human in the area I wasn’t alone: Anhingas were drying out in the mangroves, a Great Blue Heron patiently hunted in the mud, and Ospreys hovered overhead. They were all just as aware of my presence and kept their respective distances.

The little creature on the railing beside me, however, was a whole nother story. This Mangrove Marsh Crab (Sesarma curacaoense) wasn’t perturbed by me at all. In fact, I had to move my arm so this terrestrial crab could continue on its way!

A few minutes later, a couple aquatic mammals caught my attention as they glided through the flat water. What a lovely way to wrap up the day!
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The Point

Wandering around Tampa the other day I ended up at Ballast Point Park. It is a small green space hugging the bay, with a nice fishing pier and playground. As I strolled the perimeter, the names on the bricks in the road caught my eye.

As I am wont to do when my curiosity is piqued, I crisscrossed the entire lane looking at the names. Copeland Inglis was the predominate manufacturer though I found six others, in varying amounts.

Walking back to my car, the name of the park hit me – wait for it – like a ton of bricks. No wonder the park had that name, bricks like these were often used as ballast!

After a bit of online research I learned that Tampa purchased millions of bricks from southern manufacturers in the early 1900s. They were used to “pave” the way for that new mode of transport, the automobile. Copeland Inglis, Coaldale, Augusta, Southern Clay Mfg, and Rockmart (listed in order of prevalence) were part of that process.

The exceptions were the few Baltimore bricks (from Maryland) and the lone Catskill Block (from a brick maker in the Hudson River valley). As for this smattering of bricks from up north, there is a very high likelihood that they arrived in Tampa as actual ship ballast.

I never know where my explorations are going to lead me but I do know it’s going to be interesting!

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Bricked Lane, Tampa, Florida July 2020

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Life Imitates Art

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Young Alligator in the Mangroves, Lake Maggiore, St. Petersburg, Florida July 2020

I stood at the edge of the lake for several minutes, surveying the area, hoping to spot wildlife on a hot summer afternoon. I didn’t notice this young alligator in the nearby shallows until it blinked.

The dappled light, submerged leaves, and its cryptic coloration served as very effective camouflage. While not a sharp, distinctive image of the animal, I rather like how the image resembles a painting.
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