Dinner on SGI with family.

Thursday evening dinner at the Oyster Bay restaurant  caped off a very nice week with the family. The weather has been just great most every day since we arrived on February 1st. Jeff caught a Pompano that was grilled for lunch today and the fish was as good as everyone said it would be. 

The girls like to go out onto the beach at night to see all the crabs along with what might have washed up onto shore. Matt & Sandy head back tomorrow and Kris and the rest of the crew, as Wendy and I, leave Saturday morning. Will pick up the blog postings once we are settled back in on Erie Street. 

The sting of a Sting Ray...

Today, Holly and David left SGI for parts farther south after visiting us for three days. This morning was an exceptional one for dolphin sightings / watching. As many as 20 were feasting on small fish. Dolphin were jumping completely out of the water, using their tails to swat the water and stun their prey. Lot of fun to watch. Sorry no pic's.

While waiting for the next group (Kristina, Jeff, Becca, Tiffani, Echo, Matt & Sandy) I decided to do a little fishing. (All arrived safe and sound.) After about an hour Jeff arrived and joined me on the beach. I had bagged a couple small sharks and a King fish also known as a Whiting. With in the minutes Jeff had a 2 foot Black Tip Shark and a small Sting Ray. We both said at the same time, "stay away from it's tail"! I put on a glove in an attempt to protect myself from it's tail to no avail. It got me in the meaty part of my palm and I can say, unequivocally it has a mean punch to its tail. 

Wendy, not needing something else to worry about, (Matt & Sandy had not arrived by this time) ran up to Google, "Sting Ray first aid".

I did have a lot of people offering to pee on Grandpa's hand but being the true grit kind of guy I'am passed and fished on.

After a couple hours the throbbing went away. Wendy continues to check on my vital signs hourly. Sorry no pic's of Sting Ray.           

   

Sister K's visit flying by fast.

Seams like just yesterday that I picked up Kay at the airport and today she will be making the trip home to the blustery cold, icy north. OK, at least let me think you all are buried in snow and ice while I sit on the beach fishing. 

On my travels to and from the Tallahassee airport I caught sight of a row of old trucks on the side of the road. If you are not looking for them it is easy to miss em. Kay shouted out, Oh cool! Did you see the trucks all lined up? I turned around and we stopped to check out this unusual sight.

Kay sampled both the raw oysters and baked. I can say with some serenity that she prefers the later, with butter and cheese!

Wendy and I are so happy  that Kay was able to make the trip! She enjoyed the sun (got just the right amount, not to much, not to little) and saw to her and our delight, dolphins playing and chasing their breafkist close to shore. She found some treasure while hunting with my metal detector. Went fishing with her brother and just plain hanging around the pool talking, or should I say listening to Wendy talk up a storm.

Kay talks about buying a "Tiny" house (click here ) and putting it on the beach. That is my sister K! I hope all her dreams come true. She deserves every one.

Oh, did I mention Rib Fest in Eastpoint!

  

What a bite that was.

Yesterdays fishing was one of the best fishing days I have had while on SGI. I was using two fishing poles and had set one up and made a cast out about twenty or so yards. While setting up the second pole I noticed out of he corner of my eye the firs pole jerk like I had a large fish but it was only one very large hit. As it had my full attention I saw that there was no action what so ever and decided to finish getting the second pole setup and fishing. With both poles in the surf I studied the pole that  had the big hit and decided to check the bait to see if something had gotten it.

Look closely at what is left of this fish. A shark had taken off a third of it's body from it's tail. One clean, single, bite. I end up using what was left of this fish as "cut bait" and about ten minutes later caught a 15 too 18 inch long Black Tip shark.

Wendy's eyes bugged out of her head and with a shriek explained "that is why I will not go into the Gulf and swim"!   

SGI, BEACH FINDINGS

Walks on the beach for Wendy and me can very from a mile or so to five + miles round trip. This is nothing to Linda’s walks to the far east end of the island and back covering more than 12 miles.

On a walk the other day we found these strange objects that I was sure was some kind of medical waste. The exterior casing was hard, yet pliable like vinyl or some sort of plastic. As it turns out the objects to my amazement are not man made but a product of mother nature herself. 


Click here to see what we found. 

In search of the best oyster bar

Marc and I visited a number of oyster bars in search of the best. After a few visits we decided that one could not just judge oyster on  the half shell by one criteria. So we need to start over, to be fare. AJ's was the worst though there was a misunderstand of our order and the oyster's came out naked, no shell. AJ's is better known for their hamburgers, ask Wendy and be prepared for an ear full.

It took a few oysters as the  pic will attest to but Eddie Teach's and Caroline take the blue ribbon.

  

What a difference a day, errr storm makes.

Yesterday, Saturday morning walk on beach with Gulf grass that had washed up on shore the last couple days.

Then Sunday morning walk after strong storm blow through Saturday night.

A beautiful good morning to all from SGI.

Sue and Terry drove back to Palatine last Friday and Marc and Linda are somewhere over Atlanta as I write. Emily blew in for a couple of days after visiting a collage friend in Orlando. 

Everyone had a great time taking in the sand, surf and shops. The weather has held up for the most part. A bit damp in the mornings with humidity in the 80% + and then the sun shining through by afternoon. Temps unseasonable high, upper 60’s too mid 70’s. Marc and I were surf fishing and catching whiting, small pompano and bonnet head shark while Sue, Linda, Wendy and Terry did a little shopping.

We are expecting Kay down the middle of March then Holly and David. Kristina and others to be named later  will be down the last week in March along with Sandy and Matt.


Pic’s by Marc, Kurt & or Linda.