Bill's Blog

Four days wandering around Apalachicola

Starting with some signs...

Random Catch, including Rubber Duckies (lower left)

So, not technically a sign, although it does say Eat at the Grill

Buildings

Two buildings I shot before (search "Apalachicola" on my blog... there are 1/2 dozen or so posts with Apalachicola images)

The old Coin Operated Laundry has been undergoing renovations for years. Walls are stabilized, new doors and windows, but no roof. It's a closed-in outdoor venue.

Joe Taranto has been closed ever since I started coming to Apalachicola in 2015. I've shot it several times and the building is a little more worse for wear every time I come by.

Another building I've photographed, the old Volunteer Fire Department. In the past, the doors have been closed. Now they look like H. Michael may have gotten them, so a peek inside.

Two now- closed landmarks:

The Tin Shed- a quirky tourist trap. Good news: they relocated a bit inland to get away from the water. 'Love the windows.

All that is left are cats (black blobs). The yard used to be filled with maritime good junk.

This used to be the entrance to the Apalachicola Maritime Museum, "founded to celebrate and preserve the maritime history of Apalachicola."  A local told us that after H. Michael struck, devastating the museum, and when the Pandemic hit, the owner and his girl bought a sailboat and sailed off into the sunset. Rumor has it he will return one day to reopen the museum.

A boat behind the museum you could tour is covered tightly, waiting for the reopening.

The Museum, despite being closed since 2018, still has an active Facebook page. Click here to see it. 

Miscellaneous "wandering" images...

The Billiard Room at the Gibson Inn

A Stump Mermaid... or a Mermaid Stump?

A Brick (the post office is a block or so away)

As I said in a previous post, Hurricane Michael and the Pandemic were not kind to Apalachicola. The Good News is the town is coming back to life!

No more cabinets from the Cabinet Shop

Worn out from hard days. 'Bout sums it up.

End of day pictures

Just before sunset

We stayed at the Gibson Inn. This is from one of their 2nd-floor patios.

Another from the Gibson Inn, looking at the former owner's residence that has been refurbed to guest rooms.

My four preceding posts have more images from this trip to Apalachicola.

June 23-26, 2021

Apalachicola, FL
June 2021

In memory of those who served, those who came home, and those who didn't.
Lest it is all forgotten.

Flower Rider

Red & Yellow

Chapman Botanical Gardens
Apalachicola, FL
06/26/21

Hurricane Michael and the Pandemic have not been kind to one of my favorite Florida towns, Apalachicola in the Panhandle.

The Apalachicola River Inn and Caroline's Restaurant, including Boss Oyster, were some of the victims. Closed in 2018 after Michael, the property never reopened and went into bankruptcy. A Federal Bankruptcy Judge approved the sale in 2020. The Pandemic came along and stopped work on the property. The new owners also own the recently renovated Gibson Inn and locals say they are going to start work back, initially on Boss Oyster.

We were in Apalachicola over a weekend recently and one of the places we visited was the River Inn complex.

One of the first restaurants I went to in Apalachicola, in 2015, was Caroline's Restaurant. Excellent dinner looking out over the water.

A view into the dining room; I sat on the left side by the water.

The walls between the rooms have been knocked down. The only thing left in the rooms is the toilets.

Tables and chairs neatly stacked in the parking lot.

Next to the 24-room Inn and restaurant is Boss Oyster and the Inn registration.

Still "Opening Soon"

Regstration, with Christmas decorations.

Waiting to light up OPEN again.

The namesake boat is not quite seaworthy anymore.

The script below the cabin windows says, "Shut up & Shuck."

    June 25-26, 2021

Apalachicola, FL
06/26/21

A local hotel in Ocala, FL yesterday reported an outbreak of little people. Guests returned to the hotel in the evening to find swarms of high-pitched, noisy little people throughout the hotel. A guest stated, "My God, they were everywhere... in the bar, on the elevator, in the halls, they took over the entire pool area making bystanders fear for their lives. The noise level caused by the little people was unimaginable." Hotel staff appeared overwhelmed by the hordes and were unable to maintain any degree of control.

Experts remain baffled, suspecting that an unusual atmospheric condition may have caused the abnormal swarm. One sarcastic subject-matter professional was heard stating, "It was definitely a disturbance in The Force."

Local officials urged calm, cautioning that historically swarms of this nature are short-lived. Law enforcement professionals were quick to announce that the swarm was not typical of Ocala, better known as the Horse Capital of the World, and that all steps were being taken to control the swarming. A full investigation by a high-ranking committee was announced the next day. The President was overseas on his first trip out of the country, but staff said he was briefed about the swarms and the potential damages that could occur.

June 11, 2021 

A heavy downpour...

... led to a peacefull sunset

Ocala, FL
May 2021

St. Augustine, FL
May 21, 2021

View from the bar:

View from across the street:

May 20, 2021

Redington Beach, FL., for those of you who have never been there, is a long strip of hotels, motels, condos, and tourist resorts with a beach on its outside border. If you want to do Florida Tourist and the traditional hangout at the beach, it is great. Just enough bars and restaurants to make evenings interesting but not overwhelming. If you are looking for something other than the Florida Tourist experience, not so much. On the side away from the beach are very nice island resort-style residential areas; lots of Florida homes with boats tied up out back. 

Walking down the street bordering the beach, some local signs rendered as paintings or drawings:

As with the rest of the world, COVID-19 rule signs are everywhere. Done in colored pencil.

Blue lizard atop a traditional motel, with a sign to the beach. Done in watercolor.

Blue lizard closeup, done in oil

Closed, but still has a mask sign, done in oil

Dolphins on a wall 1, done in oil

Dolphins on a wall 2, done as a pencil sketch

Well dressed dolphins, done in oil

Local restaurant, done in watercolor

Monterey Wi-Fi, done in watercolor

Benchmarker, done in watercolor and enhanced.

Multiple entrance signs, done in watercolor

The Long Pier, closed and fading away, done as a detailed painting.

The Long Pier's parking lot. No parking! Done in watercolor.

Siesta Motel. $Pets OK. Done as an enhanced watercolor.

Sign Post 1, done in charcoal.

Sign Post 2, done as saturated watercolor

Political statement, done in oil

Finally, a cautionary notice

If you take this picture after walking beside the coffee shop, beware...

A troll lives in the little building who will come out... twice. He will tell you to leave because he is tired of people trespassing in his backyard. He will threaten to call the police if you try to take a scenic of the docked boats.

March 27, 2021

Reddington Beach, FL
March 27, 2021

Bring in materials and clear the area

Build the wall

Backfill

Bricks

First fire!

View from the empty seat

February 2-13, 2021

01/29/21
(lights courtesy of Jodi)

For some reason, still unexplained, some of the images on my site stop loading their thumbnails. It appears to be random and starts after the latest posting. Refreshing the site seems to help a bit, but the problem remains.

You can still see the image by clicking on their link and opening them. I am working with TypePad support to resolve the issue.

Bill

01/03/21 

Playing with my new FE 2.8/16-35 GM Sony lens.
All handheld with available light (and a little help from PerfectlyClear)

December 31. 2020

For those of you unfamiliar, Marco Island is a small landmass of hotels, condos, and very nice vacation houses with a little bit of beach around the edges.

Beach with civilization as a background

Bird 1

Bird 2

Wading to the ocean beach

Purple flower in Oil

November 27, 2020

Gators

Closer- I do not think he is eyeballin' me

Up close and personal

Hidden in the mangroves as we went by. See him?

Hanging out

Awwww, cute baby alligators. Prehistoric!

Airboat and swamp buggy scenics

Wootens
11/28/20

OHHHH NOOOO... look out!

November 28, 2020

Just outside our front door.
November 12, 2020

About 9m

November 11, 2020
Tampa, FL