Sunrise, Sunset

Sunset Gulf Shores, Alabama

 

 Sun crackles in the blue reserved hill.
One lone leaf glitters eerily in the chill.
The sky looks gorgeous from my window sill.

Sunset Marathon, Florida

The vastness of the hill country in a leaf
Dances beyond the span of all belief,
The splendor of its memory is brief.

Sunset Glencoe, Alabama

You may not want to hear it when I say
The Earth is in the twilight of its day.
The depth of it is drinking us away.

Sunset, Mexico Beach, Florida

A cloud is a distant parchment in the sky.
Today's boat is a shadow sailing by.
Minutes will never catch it, though they try.

Apollo Beach Florida

I wish it could be every sunset, Friend,
That fey instant before all colors blend,
Dusk held at the crescendo of its end.

Sunrise in an Airplane near Baltimore, MD

The title poem of my book, Ever Sunset, Skylark Publications, India

Sandra Fowler :

✈️✈️✈️2002 ~ May 29-June 6, Trip to Key West, Florida

Day 1: May 29, 2002

Teresa, Rick, Rebecca, Dad, and I flew from Huntsville, Alabama, to Atlanta, Georgia.

We flew from Atlanta, Georgia, to Miami, Florida, where my sister picked us up and drove us to her house in Marathon.

We stopped at Burger King for lunch.

After lunch, we stopped and walked along the Ocean and the Gulf.

My sister's house was along the waterfront, 10 feet from the inlet.

In this area, boats were docked, allowing visitors to fish and swim.

My sister cooked a seafood dinner, and we walked down to the beach after dinner.

We picked up seashells and watched the setting sun.

Sunset in Marathon 

Spiny lobster

Day 2: May 30, 2002

We went to one of the small islands in the Ocean and were dropped off with a picnic basket full of food and a cooler.

While we explored the island and ate lunch, the men left in the boat.

When the men returned to the boat, the tide had begun to come in. The island was covered with water, but it was too shallow for the ship to land, so we had to swim out to the boat with our basket and cooler.

The men caught some fish, a Spiny lobster, and a small shark. 

We had lobster for supper and fresh coconut from their yard, which Rick struggled to open.

The carapace of Panulirus Argus is subcylindrical and bears many strong, forward-facing spines. 

A pair of rostral horns projects forward over the stalked eyes. 

Whip-like antennae are longer than the body and are studded with small spines and setae. Antennules are also elongated, extending approximately two-thirds of the body length. 

The abdomen is notched along its lateral margins but is otherwise smooth. 

Each segment of the abdomen has a transverse groove that is disrupted at the midline. 

Two pairs of biramous uropods flank the central telson. 

The body color is varied but generally a gray or tan base color mottled with shades of green, red, brown, purple, or black. 

The second and sixth segments of the abdomen have large yellow or white ocillaria, with smaller ocillaria scattered dorsolaterally along the abdomen. Legs are striped longitudinally in a dull blue color. Dactyls of the walking legs are setose. Pleopods are bright orange and black. 

The endopodites in female pleopods are well-developed and hook-like, bearing many setae. In juveniles, the antennae and pereiopods are banded white, and a broad white stripe runs the length of the dorsal midline across both the carapace and abdomen.

The island, where we had a picnic

Day 3: May 31, 2002

We went snorkeling in the Ocean, where the water was shallow at one point and over our heads at the next point.

We saw many unusual seashells, but could not bring the live shells out of the Ocean.

We walked along the 7-mile bridge, which was featured in the movie True Lies.

The highway included the Seven Mile Bridge, the Bahia Honda Bridge, and the Long Key Bridge (although these three original bridges are no longer open to vehicular traffic, except for part of the Seven Mile Bridge, they are listed on the National Register of Historic Places and are currently used as fishing piers).

The 7-mile bridge spans a channel between the Gulf of Mexico and the Florida Strait.

The new bridge is known as the Overseas Highway (US 1).

Movies made on the Old Highway are 2 Fast 2 Furious, License to Kill, Up Close and Personal, and True Lies.

We saw the Marquesa Hotel, located at 600 Fleming St, Key West, Florida.

Seven Mile Bridge

Day 4: June 1, 2002

We visited the Tropical Crane Point Hammock Crane Point History Museum, where you can feed the fish and interact with hands-on sea creatures. We also visited Los Niños de Los Cayos, an interactive vessel complete with pirate clothing and treasures.

Crane Point, MM 50.5, Bayside, 5550 Overseas Hwy. Marathon, FL

Phone: (305) 743-9100

Here we also saw:

Loggerhead Sea Turtle

Hawksbill Sea Turtle

Kemp's Riley Sea Turtle

Leatherback Sea Turtle

1. The Loggerhead turtle weighs approximately 200 kg and is characterized by reddish-brown markings.

2. The Hawksbill turtle is a small, beautifully patterned turtle that weighs approximately 50 to 100 kg.

3. Kemp's Riley Turtle is the smallest and most endangered sea turtle. It has an oval, olive-green shell and weighs about 50 kg.

4. The leatherback turtle is the largest of the sea turtles. It has no shell but leathery skin with raised stripes.
It can reach over a meter in length and weigh about 700 kg.

All sea turtles are protected because they are classified as Endangered.
Their numbers are reduced because of human activity, such as capturing or killing adults for food and their shells, taking eggs, the destruction and pollution of nesting beaches, ocean pollution, and being caught up in fishing nets.

We took many trails in the park, and it was a very hot day.

Teresa and Rick Milberger walked ahead, and Paula and Becky returned to the museum because the mosquitoes were biting them.

After walking the trail, Dad wanted to cool off, so he asked me if it was okay to put his feet in the water.

The next thing I knew, he called for help, for he had lost his balance and fallen into the water.

I knew I could not pull him out by myself, so I called out for Rick and Teresa, and they came running.

Rick pulled Dad out of the water. When he found them, his glasses had fallen into the water. 

They were broken, and he was dripping wet.

This was another wild adventure with my family.

Tropical Crane Point Hammock, Crane Point History Museum 

Tropical Crane Point Hammock, Crane Point History Museum 

Day 5: June 2, 2002

We rode the Henry Pigeon Express to the Overseas Railroad, which Henry Flagler built from 1912 to 1935. It is the eighth wonder of the world.

Pigeon Key Museum—Located on Pigeon Key, where Flagler railroad workers lived, this museum houses memories of the railroad's construction. The museum is actually a restored home where several families lived during the construction era and throughout the years. Today, hundreds of postcards and early photos of the island are displayed inside the house. A display model of the Seven Mile Bridge details the construction process.

MM 47, Oceanside, Marathon, FL

Phone: (305) 743-5999

Henry Pigeon Express 

Day 6: June 3, 2002

We took the Old Town Trolley Tours of Key West - Old Town Trolley's 90-minute tour covers more than 100 points of interest, and passengers can enjoy the tour at their own pace. At any point, passengers may get off at any of the routine stops to shop, dine, or sightsee, then re-board another trolley later.

Mallory Square, Key West, FL

Phone: (305) 296-6688

After the trolley tour, we walked to Ernest Hemingway's home, located at 907 Whitehead St, Key West, Florida 33041.

Ernest Hemingway lived and wrote for more than 10 years.

We walked past the cruise ship Enchantment of the Seas, which was docked in Key West. Florida

We stopped at many of the shops along the way, where I:

Bought postcards of:

The Hemingway House Key West

Key West- The Conch Republic Southernmost Point Continental USA Key West, FL.

Key West Lighthouse

Teresa, Rick, and Becky walked up to the Key West Lighthouse, and I walked through "The Keeper's Quarters' Museum."

The lighthouse is at 938 Whitehead Street, Key West, Florida 33040.

We walked to the Southernmost Point in Key West.

South Street in Key West, Florida, is 90 miles from Cuba. Point 1.

Before leaving the Florida Keys, we enjoyed a lovely meal at

Margaretville Café is located at 500 Duval Street, Key West, Florida 33040 

Hemingway House Key West Postcard

Key West Lighthouse Postcard

Southernmost Point Postcard

Margaretville Café

Day 7: June 4, 2002

We loaded into my sister's truck, and she drove us to Miami International Airport, where we boarded a flight to Atlanta International Airport, then to Huntsville International Airport, and finally back home on the road.

May 29-June 6, 2002, Miami, Florida, Delta Airlines

Delta Flight DL378

Leave 6:40 A.M. Huntsville International Airport (HSV) Seat 28E gate 6-ticket ticket 1 006-2198887297 4 LG6JHFN.

Arrive at Atlanta International Airport (ATL)

Leave Atlanta International Airport (ATL)

Arrive at Miami International Airport (MIA)

Return Flight

Leave Miami International Airport (MIA)

Arrive at Atlanta International Airport (ATL)

Leave Atlanta International Airport (ATL)

Arrive Huntsville International Airport (HSV)

2011~ May 26-May 30, Trip to Ladson, South Carolina with siblings

Day 2: Thursday, May 26, 2011

My siblings arrived at my house between 6:30 and 7:00 A.M.

My sibling cannot start the day without her two cups of coffee, so we stopped at McDonald's to get them.

Two hours later, we stopped at Cracker Barrel in Gardendale for breakfast. 

I ordered one scrambled egg, with sourdough toast, and bacon.

One of my siblings ordered a kid's pancake meal, and the other sibling ordered bisque and gravy.

I drove South on I-65 toward Birmingham, then turned east on I-20 toward Atlanta, Georgia.

We make several restroom stops and stop somewhere in Augusta, GA, at a BP Gas station to fill up. 

One of my siblings paid for the gas.

The trip took nine hours and thirty-eight minutes.

We arrive at apartment 3104, 9345 Blue House Rd, Ladson, SC, at 5:30 P.M. Eastern time. 

Another sibling meets us at the gate.

She took us to the apartment where we would be staying.  

The living room

Our apartment has two king-size beds, two full baths, a full kitchen, a living room, a sitting room, a computer room, a washer, a dryer, and all kinds of cookware and dishes.

When we had finished unloading the van and taking our luggage to the apartment. We went to our siblings for dinner.

Our sibling had prepared tri pasta and Chicken salad (chicken breast, Granny Smith apples, grapes, mayonnaise).

Her husband had to work late, so we rode to North Charleston Wal-Mart Super Center Store #3367 4920 Centre Pointe Dr. North Charleston, S. C. 29418 (843) (740-1112)

We bought Dominoes ($24.95), a Yahtzee game ($7.95), 4 bottles of Mt. Dew ($2), cheese dip, chips, and wine coolers. 

The four of us played Yahtzee, ate cheese dip, and drank wine coolers. 

We tried to play Mexican train (with the dominoes), but everyone had forgotten how to play.

It had been a long day, so I took a hot shower and crawled into bed. 

Day 3: Friday, May 27, 2011

We all loaded into the van, and I drove us to downtown Charleston,

South Carolina.

I parked the van at Charleston's Visitor Center located at 375 Meeting Street, Charleston, S.C. 

We went inside to get information about downtown, trolley rides, and the food area.

It was Memorial Day weekend, and there was an Art Festival in one of the parks, so downtown was crowded.

I met Bill Fetzer and his puppet, Jerry McGee. They greet and entertain visitors from the South Carolina Aquarium, Children's Museum, and the Visitor Center.

His puppet, Jerry McGee, reminded me of Howdy Doody.

I said I would love to have my picture taken with him.

However, my siblings were nowhere to be found to take my picture.

They had walked to the gift shop.

I had walked in the opposite direction to look at the art.

Bill Fetzer kindly let me take a picture of Jerry McGee and himself.

I thanked him and went in search of my lost siblings.

Bill Fetzer and his puppet, Jerry McGee

We walked down Meeting Street, where we met two women. 

We said we were hungry, and a woman walking next to us told us, "Just keep walking until you come to Market Street; you will find several restaurants in that area." 

We stopped at Bubba Gump's, 99 S. Market St, Charleston, S. C. 29401 (843-723-5665) to eat lunch.

Bubba Gump's is one of my favorite places to eat.

One of my siblings and I ordered a hamburger, she ordered fries, and I ordered grilled broccoli (cost $7.99 and iced tea $2.50).

http://www.singlepage.com/bubba-gump-shrimp-co/menu?ref=yahoo

My other two siblings both ordered a Texas Cajun Chicken Sandwich for $9.99 with lemon water.

(Chicken breast, crisp bacon, pepper jack cheese, guacamole, one toasted bun with fries.)

It was a lovely day, so we sat outside and watched people stroll by. 

When I went inside to use the restroom, I saw a framed suit from Forrest Gump and Jennie's wedding dress hanging on the wall.

Greenbow, Alabama, a Stop Forrest Stop

We paid for our meal and began walking toward the Waterfront Pier on the Atlantic Ocean. 

Several swings were sitting along the pier, so we all sat down and enjoyed the cool breeze blowing off the ocean.

I walked to the end of the pier to take pictures of the boats that floated along the waterfront.

We left the pier and started walking toward the Historic homes and buildings in Charleston. 

My siblings seemed to be in a rush, but not me. 

I had my camera, and I was snapping pictures of old homes, old churches, old buildings, a graveyard, statues, and historic markers.

My siblings found a park bench behind the courthouse and sat down while I walked around taking pictures.

My siblings and my Howdy Dowdy hair!!!

It was a long walk, but we arrived back at the Visitor Center where I had parked. 

I looked for Mr. Fetzer and his puppy, but they were gone. 

It costs seven dollars to park. I paid the attendant, and we rode to our apartment in Ladson.

We stopped at Piggy Wiggly in Ladson to get some food to cook for dinner (Chicken, key lime pie, more wine coolers), then back to our apartment to play Mexican Train.

Day 4: Saturday, May 28, 2011

We spent the day at the pool swimming, playing ball, and relaxing. 

One of my siblings and my brother-in-law went to purchase lottery tickets. 

We each won something on the scratch-offs, so Teresa and Robert went to the store to buy more.

Teresa won $90; nobody else won anything.

That afternoon, we played Yahtzee and Mexican Train.

We snacked on Cheese Dip and Key Lime Pie.

I took a quick shower and went to bed.

Day 5: Sunday, May 29, 2011

We went to the Patriots Point Maritime Museum in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina.

We each bought a ticket for the ferry to Fort Sumter, which cost each of us eighteen dollars. 

One of my siblings gets seasick when she rides a boat, so she went to the gift shop to buy something for nausea. 

I had two twenty-dollar bills in my shorts, but when I went to buy my ticket, they were gone. I looked everywhere for it. 

I laid the money on the counter, and someone picked it up.

I looked everywhere, even went back to the van to look for the money, but it was gone.

We were the first in line to take the boat tour.

We sat on the right-hand side of the boat, but ended up standing at the front. 

The ride took thirty minutes. We saw Dolphins going in and out of the water.

We all bought a bottle of water to take with us, it was a very hot day.

We walked along the long pier to Fort Sumter. Two major battles of the Civil War took place here. 

We did not stay to listen to the talk but walked around the fort taking pictures. 

There were historic markers, cannons, statues, and a museum with lots of information about the Civil War.

http://www.nps.gov/fosu/index.htm

Fort Sumter

Looking for seashells

We walked along the seashore looking for seashells.

We walked to the boat; it was too hot to stay outside on the deck, so we all went inside, where it was cool. 

About halfway, I went back outside onto the deck to see the panoramic view of the Charleston harbor, downtown Charleston, the USS Yorktown Ship, and the Revenue Bridge. I got some great shots. 

Directions to: Patriots Point, Mt. Pleasant, S.C

Charleston International Airport

Distance: 12 miles

Drive time: 20 minutes

Directions - I-26 east to exit 220

Cross over the Ravenel Bridge

At the foot of the Bridge, merge right onto Coleman Blvd (703)

At the first traffic light on Coleman, turn right onto Bud Darby Lane

Follow Bud Darby Lane until it ends, then turn onto Patriots Point Road.

We went to Gillian's Steamer and Raw Bar, 3852 Ladson Rd, Ladson, South Carolina, for dinner.  

http://gilligans.net

My sibling, who won the ninety dollars, bought everyone's dinner.

Paula ordered She Crab Soup ($4.95), BLT Wedge Salad, and Fried Chicken Finger Dinner.

Becky and Teresa ordered the same except for the soup. $10.95 ea.

I ordered a BLT Salad with Shrimp for $11.95, and an iced tea for $2.50.

We had complimentary appetizers: shrimp dip, Buffalo wings, potato skins, and peel-and-eat shrimp.

We stop at PW Ga, 9616 Hwy 7,8, Ladson, S. C., to fill up with gas. We are leaving tomorrow for $54.71.

We all went for a swim at the apartment complex after a full day of sightseeing.  

The water was great and very relaxing. 

We saw a storm brewing in the distance, so we got out of the swimming pool and walked to our apartment. 

We took out the Yahtzee game and the dominoes. We spent the remainder of the evening playing games. 

When we finished playing games, I took a shower and went to bed. 

Day 6: Memorial Day Monday, May 30, 2011

We grabbed a few snacks and loaded the van, stopping to tell our sibling and her husband.

We stopped for lunch at Cracker Barrel, 1182 Dogwood Dr. SE, Conyers, GA. 

I drove 279.92 miles in four hours and sixteen minutes. 

We stopped in Bremen Ga at Chevron 156 U. S. Highway 27 Byp, Bremen, GA 30110-1970 (770) (537-0996) to fill up with gas. My siblings paid for the gas. 

Our last stop was at Hardens in Athens, where I ordered a kid's chicken-finger meal. One of my siblings ordered a sandwich, and the other said her family was waiting for her; they were going out to eat.

We were forty minutes and 37.83 miles from home.

I drove to and from Ladson, South Carolina, without any problems and had a great time with my siblings. 

I cannot wait until we take another trip together. We always have fun just the two of us.