AUGUST JOG
Monday, August 1, 2011
Today I finish Miami. I am jogging from the pier at Pier Park to the Jetty. It is about 11 miles. I change my gear. I no longer intend to always wear the hydration pack. I just put my wallet, phone and keys in my pocket and carry a 32 ounce thirst quenching drink, hopefully cold. Again, I park my van at the Oleta River State Park. The folks there let me park up near the office. This saves me about a mile of extra walking. I park and take off, pass the entrance, turn right and go over the bridge. No sense taking a $2 bus ride to get over the bridge. It is about 9 in the morning and the sun is shinning. I arrive at the pier, do my stretches and warm up exercises and take off. I plan to buy water along the way.
The water is blue and the wave action is nice with waves rolling in with some power, not like the gulf side where they usually kind of just float in. The sand is spotty. In some areas it is firm and in some areas it is soft. Oh, well. Just have to shorten or lengthen my pace accordingly. The people on the beach are enjoying themselves. There are already many on the beach. Little kids playing near and in the water. Groups of Latinos all sitting together having robust conversations, singles and couples sunning themselves. Older couples in their chairs reading or doing nothing. Many old men just sleeping. (Or are they pretending top sleep but have their eyes opened into little slits so they can watch the bikinis without their wives catching on? HA! Like the wives don't know!)
An older lady is jogging as well. I compliment her as she is moving quickly, not like others who barely put one foot in front of the other. Which, by the way is great. She says took off jogging and can't remember where her hotel is. She finally finds it and I ask if I can get some water there. She says sure and we go around to the front entrance, halfway through the lobby to the orange-flavored ice water dispenser. I have three cups and fill my bottle up. She shows me how to get out to the beach and we say goodbye. Ah, cold water.
I keep jogging and get low on water again. I can't find anyone who sells water on the beach. The last time I was at South Beach there was always water to purchase. Bummer. I am jogging by Trump International Beach Resort - Miami. I get the feeling to go in so I approach the two gents at a service door. I ask where I can get some water and they point to the resort restaurant two doors down. I enter. This is a nice place! I ask for some water and the waiter directs me to the bar. He tells the girl what I want and she pours me a glass of ice water. It tastes delicious. I ask her about her accent. She says she is from a country near Russia. She speaks Russian so I say hello in Russian.
I want some ice water in my bottle so I start putting ice in the bottle. I spill it all over the counter! She wipes it up and fills my bottle. I say thanks in Russian and take off. More jogging. It feels good to jog. The day is beautiful, hot and fun. Again I need water. (Maybe I should have brought my hydration pack!) I enter a resort by following a couple who has a key to the beach gate. I didn't plan it this way, it just work out. I walk by the pool and to the door of the resort's main building. A man comes out and holds the door for me. I go in and look for a water fountain. None to be found. I ask and they don't have one. I find the little store down the hall. I grab two waters and realize I don't have cash so I want to use my credit card. But not for $2 the man says. He is a nice guy. He said I can just pay him when I get back. I say that I am not coming back. He says just take them then. I look at him like "Huh?" He says, "You need water." He's Latino.
I go out the building, past the pool and see that I need a key to get out of the gate. I don't have one and no one is near. The gate isn't too high and I hop it. Then I realize I don't have my sunglasses! I check all around where I hopped the gate. Not to be found! I must have left them at the store, So, I hop back over, go past the pool and try the door. Need a key for that, too! No one is coming out so I am out of luck. I walk back past the pool to the gate. A lady is coming through the gate so I don't have to hop it this time.
I keep jogging and jogging. I enter John U.Lloyd State Park. I think it is about three miles to go. I was at this park a week or two before with my friend. It was trashed. The people there left their cans and garbage on the beach! Worst state park beach I was on. But today it is different. It was pretty clean. I'm glad. About halfway through the park I notice that the people on the beach are mostly men, some couples, one stroking the thigh of another. Hmm... Guess this is the gay section. Don't think I will take any breaks here! There are others there as well, tourists, I believe. I reach the end and there is a roped off area at the very last tiny beach. The sign says something like "No Trespassing". So, I do it quickly! Tada! Miami is done! And so is Hollywood! Next stop Ft. Lauderdale.
I am in Broward County now, so I need to catch a bus that connects with Miami-Dade County. I do and it works smoothly. In no time I am back and crossing the bridge. But now it is raining cats and dogs. I just keep walking and after about 10 minutes it lets up. The sun comes out and all is well with the world again. I make it to the park and my van. I head back to the parking lot to wash up and grab a bite to eat. Then I head out, but before I leave I enter the office and thank them for their being so kind. And then I head north!
That night I park at the hotel I was at a few days at earlier. I know they don't check vehicles and they are used to mine anyway so I feel good about parking there. Plus I park beside some Comcast vans. Tomorrow another beach.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
I wake up to another beautiful day! I drive down to Hugh Taylor Birch State Park, but before reaching the park I stop at a nearby McDonald's and have a light breakfast of a sausage egg burrito, sausage Mcmuffin and coffee.. It turns out that this in the only meal today besides a can of something later. I get to the park and ask the park ranger if I can park my van at the ranger station and the gentleman readily agrees. He even said he would watch it for me. I thank him, park the van and head out and cross the street. There is a bus stop right there. Oops! I forgot my sun protection. As usual. I go back to the van and lather up and head back out. As I wait for the bus I might as well do my stretching and some of my exercises. I don't know what the folks in the cars going by on this busy street thought, but it works for me.
The bus arrives and I tell the driver that I want left off at the closest stop the the jetty as possible. He finally gets my meaning and I get dropped off just before the bridge that turns west. I walk down to the end. Now the trick is getting to the beach! All these condos hog the beach and leave no access for the public. This is just the first taste of Broward County, one of the most regulated counties in Florida. No parking space is free. There are more tow-away signs than people in this county. Anyway, a cars pulls in to the parking lot of the condo complex at the end. I follow it in and halfway across, a speaker comes on and says, "You know you are trespassing, don't you?" I say something like "Oh." and ask how to get out of there. He says go to the gate and he will open it for me. Now, I can see the access to the beach and could more than likely make it there before this voice can do anything. But I exit as he suggest. Maybe I am getting a little too loose cutting through places like this.
I go to the next condo complex. The gate guard won't allow me to go through, but tells me of an almost hidden access point. It's very narrow and at the corner behind a bush and something else. He is a very nice fellow. I ask where he came from. He says New York! Wow, the first person nice in this county is from New York! As Dean Martin said, "Ain't that a kick in the head!" Actually I have met several New Yorkers who have left their town and their culture. Very nice folks.
I find the narrow access point and hit the beach. I walk to the southern end and hop up on the cement jetty and have a look. Uh-oh. I see a small beach sticking out on the south side of the jetty. It is about 100 yards away and the only way to get to it without trespassing again at the same resort hotel is either in the water or over the huge boulders that line the shore. This means I will have to waste time on this long jog and get wet as well. Oh, well, no one said it would be easy!
I think the water is the quickest and best way to go. It is only thigh high. I start wading through the water staying next to the boulders. About halfway there it begins to get a little deeper. Finally I take my wallet, papers and phone out of their pockets and hold them over my head while wading through chest-deep water. I stop to think about what I am doing. (Ever do that? lol) I see this foot long, purple jelly fish about a foot and a half in front of me. It really looks beautiful in the water. I climb up on the rocks and skirt around it. Back in the water I finally make it to the small beach. Only one person is on the beach. He is sunning himself. I walk by and he looks. I say hello, etc. as I walk to the end of this small little beach. I turn and jog to the end. It takes less than 15 seconds.
Now for the trip back. I decide to take the rocks. Taking boulders has its advantages and disadvantages. On the plus side, you stay dry and it is quicker. On the down side, you might get really hurt! A slip could break a leg or your skull. I offer two pieces of advice on travelling this way. 1. Stay focused! Don't let your mind wander for even a second. I have done this and almost slipped or did slip and was fortunate. 2. Plan your steps, using your hands whenever you can. Walking on boulders is really a lot of fun, just a touch dangerous.
I make it back to the beach proper and start my jog. The sand is soft so I take short steps. The sun is out, the waves are smooth and there are people on the beach. I jog for a half hour or so and need some water. I stop at a store with an outside restaurant. The girl working this morning is from the Midwest and new. I ask for a glass of water. She says management, pointing to the older lady, won't let her do that. Water costs $3.00 a bottle. What? This is the first time that has ever happened. But this is Ft. Lauderdale in Broward County. I say thank and decline. Next I go into the beach store. Again, the drinks are priced quite high. Forget this! I head out to jog some more. If worse comes to worse I can always use the outside rinse-off showers to get water. It's potable.
But instead, I enter the Ritz. I love these hotels. I stayed in one in Michigan, danced in the one in Sarasota several times. (Best chocolate martinis in the world there!) And by accident enjoyed the outside bar on Key Biscayne where the ice water was delicious. The people who work there are always top-notch and friendly. The Ritz in Ft.Lauderdale is on the beach, in fact it is at the center of Ft. Lauderdale Beach. The entrance and lobby are beautiful. The restaurant is located behind glass doors on either side of the lobby. I decide to find the water fountain and restroom. It is to the right. The water is cold and feels really good to my sun-soaked body. I drink up and fill up my bottle. And use the restroom as well.
Refreshed after this nice break, I take off down the beach. You can almost always tell the tourists on this beaches. Most are white and really excited about being there. The younger they are, the more excited they are. Little kids are so fun to watch! It's like they just realized they entered a new, fun universe! The older they are, the more unmoving they are.until they reach the point of using only their autonomic system. With head back and mouth open.
Ft. Lauderdale Beach is really beautiful, light colored sand, spacious, good slope for the water. And it is very pleasing to the eye. As a beach, this is excellent.
I see a pier in the distance and now I am getting close to the city of Lauderdale by the Sea. I was here with my friend and this is the only beach where there is no public restroom. And the people running the pier restaurant expect money for peeing! You have to go to the restaurant Aruba and kind of sneak to the restroom. And parking! No free parking anywhere! Quarters only in many places. The most unfriendly beach in Florida! Yes, the locals will disagree. But a word about them later. I jog by the spot we hung out that afternoon and take a pic and send it to her. Good memories! The sand here is soft and has a slope to it. I keep jogging. Then I am done. It is always nice to finish. I can look back on what I did and look forward to the next one just across the inlet.
I catch a bus back and have to walk about a quarter mile to the entrance and my van. It is around 7:30 PM and I decide to enter the park to clean up and cook some chow. The girl reminds me that the park closes at 8 PM. I see the sign which says it closes at 8:15 PM and mention that to her. But I also let her know that I will be out in plenty of time so she can enjoy her evening. She smiles. Evidently she has plans this evening.
I park by the inter-coastal waterway to enjoy the view. I get cleaned up. I had planned to cook some chow, but the mosquitoes are so bad I just eat it right out of the can and get out of there. That night I stay at another motel where I had stayed before. I sleep in my van.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
I am up and out of there. It must be a popular meeting place. Cars were going in and out all night. But I did manage to sleep. I stop by McDonald's again. I am not eating too much these days. But I am not hungry either. I am sure that will change!
At the end of yesterday's run, at the end of the island, there is a neat little park in Hillsboro Bay. Parking is free! There are docks, a pavilion, benches and places for fishing. Today that is where I park my van. Also, there is a sliver of beach that I need to access and it calls for my kayak. So, I get it out and pump it up. I have to drop the kayak into the water and then climb down a ladder to hop in. I get wet, but it is a warm day.
The bay is tiny and relaxing. I kayak over to the south end and jog that small beach. There are a few boats there with people enjoying the beach. One lady has a small dog which I am not too sure about. I think in Florida when a small dog bites someone they call the dog an 'alligator appetizer'! Or simply 'bait'. Either way, I keep an eye on it.
I hop back in the kayak and go across the bay to the other little beach which seems to have some Coast Guard facility there. I jog it as well. The bay is very nice with few boats going in and out. So, I just relax in the water. I put my feet on top of the kayak and lean back, almost falling asleep. Some boats anchor there all night. Ii wonder if I hooked up an anchor to my kayak, if I could sleep on the water. Just so I don't roll over in my sleep!
With that done I stow my gear and get ready for the 5-mile jog. It is a light day. I plan to jog to the next inlet and take a bus back, transferring to a Broward County bus to get back to this park. I am ready and walk across the bridge. I plan to walk along the embankment to the beach. Hillsboro Club is located there and it is a gated club. As I walk to the water and the embankment I find that there is razor wire at the end of the fence. I haven't seen that since my military days. Wow. I might be able to make it around the razor wire, but I will try the easy way first. So, I walk back and go walk in to the gate. A gentleman is the guard there.
His name is Sgt. Roberts. He wear a Sargent First Class on his sleeve. He is a WWII vet, served in Audie Murphy's unit or right next to it. He has a purple heart. He says this is also a Coast Guard installation and he can't let me in because he is not in charge. So, I ask who is in charge. He tells me a lady (I forget her name - sorry) but she is not here. She is gone for the day. I ask who is second in command. There is none. So, we can call her,I ask. He doesn't have a cell but I do. He gives me the number and I call. I tell her what I am doing and what I need. She agrees so I put her on speaker phone she St. Roberts can hear as well. Good. All set.
He gives me directions to the beach and I walk through the compound. They have a lighthouse there. It's very nice. I take off jogging down the beach. The afternoon is sunny with no chance of rain. The beach is good and widens later to become very nice. I think it is called Delray Beach. I need some water again. I walk up to a place and go past the pool. I intend to go to the office, give me my card and tell them what I am doing. But I see an ice machine and a coke machine. I get a coke, an ice-cold coke. Boy, does it taste good! Then I go to the office.
There are a few people in there. Mia is in charge it seems. She is very nice and after I give my talk I listen to a fellow who lived in Germany for some years. In Munich to be exact. He often went for walks and one day just kept walking. For three days! It was a good story! Mia takes me to the room I was just in and tells me to help myself with ice and take a gallon of water too she suggests. These folks here are very nice. And there little resort is beautiful and clean. Breakers on the Ocean. Affordable, friendly and beautiful. Right on the beach!
Ii fill my bladder with ice and water and take a gallon of water as well. It's hot out there. And Delray Beach is fantastic. And so is Boynton Beach. After that refreshing break I continue my jog. Finally I reach the end, South Inlet Park Beach.
I can't find the bus. I walk south along North Ocean Blvd. until I see a watering hole. I walk in and ask for some water and also ask about the buses. A few locals tell me there is a bus that stops farther down, behind the hotel. There is a little park there, they say. I thank them and tip the girl for the water. I find the bus and it is leaving in about 10 minutes. I ask about the connection to bus #10 in Broward County and the driver says they do connect. But then I start to think that maybe it was bus #11 and not bus #10. (Too many buses these days!) So, I hop off the bus and start walking. My thinking is if I am wrong about the bus I have no idea how far out of the way it might take me, but I know I only have less than five miles to walk. So I opt for walking.
It is a rather long walk! Maybe I should have taken the bus. I pass places I have seen. There are a few yachts that are bigger than most houses! Wow! It is really a long walk. I have to start to learn to plan better! I finally arrive at the van and I am beat. Fortunately, I spoke to a police officer before I left and asked if my van could be there for more that the allotted 4-hour stay. He said okay, so I don't have to worry about a ticket. And now it is done!
It's getting late. I want to scout ahead for my next jog. I travel up the coast and try to get a feel for things. I turn off a the next bridge and find myself in a town called Lantana. There is a marina park there and I pull in. It's dark already. No fee for parking and I can park all night? I am happily surprised. I haven't had this much freedom since the Gulf side. I mention as much at a gent heading to the water to fish. He say, "You are now back with real people." As opposed to the coastal communities. I crack up. He is right! Still I need something to eat.
Right next door, just past the Hale Kona Restaurant and a sushi house is the Old Key Lime House. It is a sprawling network of indoor and outdoor seating with docking for boats and a good sized parking lot. I settle into a small table near the water where I can see the baseball game on TV. The waitress Jule comes over and ask me what I am drinking. I opt for a Yuengling and a menu. I am really hungry as I haven't eaten since breakfast.
The place is at least half full and the fellow playing guitar is good and the crowd is having fun. There is a group of girls from Chicago really having fun! I watch TV. The menu comes and I look it over. Prices aren't bad at all. I narrow my choice down to three entrees, but still can't decide. I want the best bang for my buck and I mentioned this to Julie. After thinking for a few seconds she suggests the fish and chips. Lots of fries I ask? Yes, she answers. Good. I'll have that.
She asks about what I am doing and I tell her. I ask about the name of the town Lantana. She says it comes from a ubiquitous shrub found all over around there. (I thought it might be a name some homesick Montana person came up with,)
The food comes and I am really impressed. It is a huge piece of white fish over a heap of fries. And it is delicious. I feast accompanied to some good music. They keep mentioning that tomorrow night will be big because it is Reggae night. I may stop back.
I sleep in my van at the marina.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Having checked the computer the night before I know that I am in luck! There is a bus that runs the length of my run! It is on Hwy 1, so I will have to park my van at the inlet park and bike to the bus stop. But this means I can jog longer! I am up and washed and shaved. But I am having second thoughts about jogging today. They weather might not be good. And my legs could use a rest. Last night Julie gave me the names and numbers of two local motels. Motel 6 and Barefoot Motel. I call Motel 6 and ask about a room.
They give me a good price and I ask if I can get in early, like 8 AM? They say if there is a room available. Great. So, I go out there and get a room, but my key doesn't work. Then I look around. Hmm... this is not a very good location. I am the only white guy there and there are cops parked in the parking lot. There is also a slightly disheveled guy hanging around out front and I overhear the lady clerk tell one of the other employees not to let that person in. Time to see if I can get my money back!
I go back and apologize but need my money back. I haven't been in the room yet, so they put it back on my credit card promising it will back in my account in a few days. I hope so! I call the other hotel and ask if a room is available. The man says yes and tells me how to get there. It is just a few minutes away. When I get there, I ask if there are bathtubs in the rooms. He says no, just showers. I apologize and say that I have been traveling a while and really need a bath to soak in He fully understands and off I go.
With that idea gone, I decide to run today and take off tomorrow, Friday, which will give me three days of rest if I want. So,I head out to park my van at Boynton Inlet Park and ride my bike to US 1. I call and find that the bus runs every 20 minutes. And I don't wait long before I see the bus. I load my bike on the front of the bus and hop on. It will take about 30 minutes or so to get to my drop-off point. I let the driver know where I need to be left off and he lets me know at that stop. Before that though he misses a stop. You would have thought he committed a heinous crime or something. An old lady and a young guy were the worst. I grab the bike and he honks to remind me to lift up the bike carrying rack, which I do.
I wave and ride off to the South Inlet Park at Boca Raton to park my bike. I then walk across the bridge and try to find a place to access the beach. The first condo/resort at the end of the beach is rather open. I walk out past the pool to the beach access steps. I then see a small gate. I could jump it but I think better of it and go knock on the door and ask permission. The guy, New York or New Jersey type, tells me no, absolutely not and then he says, "Have a good day." What? What a jerk! Have a good day? He certainly knows how to live in the moment, doesn't he?
I am upset with his attitude. But my attitude is even more upsetting to me. So, the next place in line, an older guy is the door keeper. He explains that he can't. I tell him my story, that I won't linger on the beach, etc. He then tells of a family pulling up in a van complete with surf boards asking to access the beach. How in the world can he compare them to me?
The conversation went something like this:
Me: Hi. My name is Luther Rupp and I am jogging all the beaches of Florida. Could I get to the beach from here? I won't linger, just want to get to the end so I jog it.
Guard: No, I can't do that. We got people asking to get to the beach all the time.
Me: But I just want to get on the beach and then go to the end. I don't plan to hang around.
Guard: Just yesterday there was a van that pulled up with kids and surf boards. They wanted access to the beach too!
Me: You think I am like them? (My mind gets dizzy with this guy's logic.)
Well, most guards think better than that, I know. I am much calmer this time and simply say goodbye.
The next place I enter looking to my right as that is where the most space is. A voice from the left asks to help me. I turn and say hello. He is the man I was looking for. I explain my dilemma and give him my card. He says that sounds reasonable and he will open the gate for me. Wow. This is really cool. I ask him where he is from. Indiana! A Midwesterner. I should have guessed. He too was in the military and a nice guy to boot.
I walk to the end of the beach. It is a beautiful morning. I hop up on the cement embankment and start doing my stretching and workout. This sure beats getting all that sand on me before I run. There is a father with his two little kids playing near the water. Fun. As I work out i notice there is a lady sitting there. She says that I sure am disciplined. I say thanks and keep working out. (It is just a 10-minute thing.) I ask about the beach. She says it is good and doesn't stop till the end. I was worried a little about that after seeing the bus map which showed a gap in the beach.
I take off. It feels good. I try to lengthen my stride and get comfortable with that as I have been coddling myself with short steps for way too long. (A few days ago when I was doing a jog, this kid passed me. This often happens, but they always turn around. He was going at a good clip and I began to step into his footprints. It felt pretty good, that extra bit in my stride. And a few days ago I chatted with a girl who worked at the produce store. She had just started jogging and did 10 miles in something like 10 minutes a mile! Wow. She is only 24 and I am 57, but still, I should be moving at a little faster pace). This and the kid running got me to thinking that I should go a little faster.
So, now I do and it feels good. Jogging feels good. And I don't really know why. Maybe it's the focus and the clearing away from the mind everything else. Maybe it's the water, the birds, the beach. Maybe it's the people or the emptiness of a beach. I am not sure. Maybe it is all of the above. It certainly calms me and challenges me at the same time. What a wonderful combination!
I take off around 9:30 AM and the sand, water and sky all surround me with freedom and energy. I never get tired at looking at all three.
I jog past the condos and high rises along South Beach Park and Spanish River Park. I was here with a friend enjoying the beach a week or two ago. The sign still says there is sea lice in the water. These are little microscopic larvae of jellyfish. They attach themselves to seaweed and can get on a person, usually on the seam of the clothing. The next day my friend had a small rash on her bra line. Well, at least sea lice have good taste! She called a drug store and they told her to call CDC (Center for Disease Control) which she did. They told her what to do and that it wouldn't last more than a day or two.
Spanish River Park has a beautiful beach and the water is crystal clear. And the slope of the beach into the water is excellent. I jog by and soon reach some very nice homes. I heard Oprah and Adam Sandler live on this beach. At least they have places here. And the home are nice. But the beach here is a little dirty with plastic bottles and other things on shore. Nothing as bad as the Keys though. But I would think that if I had the cash, I would have someone police the area daily and keep it pretty for me as well as for others. Maybe these folks just don't get to the beach.
Now I am jogging by a three-building apartment/condo complex. A friend of a friend lives there but i don't really have time to stop. I do wave at the apartment as I go by however, and do scan the beach. The friend is not there. I stop shortly after that and get some more water from a hose attached to steps. I douse my head with water too. It is a hot day!
The beach continues and I can now see the jetty. Just a few more miles. I am jogging slow, pacing myself. I am a little tired and stop a few times. Finally I reach the end and put my foot against the metal jetty. Done! I bend over and stretch my legs and rest for about 30 seconds and then take off to the van where cold water awaits! After I refresh myself I hop in and drive back to the bike! And to think I almost canceled the jog today! I feet good finishing the longest jog.
It's mid-afternoon and I find a motel, Stay Inn, in the Lake Worth area near I-94. The price is still $50 or under but the area is much better! I check in and run the bath water. A good soak is so welcome! I also bought a set of hair clippers with attachments. (My friend likes short hair which pleases me because even though my hair get curly, I would rather have it short as well. So, I open the box and use attachment #4.for the top. (I sure hope the back will be okay!) I check by pulling my hair and using the mirror. Hmm... Looks okay. Now for the sides and back. The ears have special attachments. Finally I get it to where I hope it looks okay and not too ragged. I take a pic and send it to her. Hope she likes it!
Later I go to the office to get a few things and ask someone on the way about my hair. They say it looks okay. I ask about three people before I am satisfied that it isn't too goofy. This Motel 6 is a nice place with a pool that is full of a couple of families having fun. I stand on the balcony and watch for a while. That night I get in the pool for a bit myself.
Friday, August 5, 2011
I get some laundry done, soak a couple of times in the bath and read a Carl Hiaasen book. I was only going to stay one day but am thinking about staying Saturday night as well. Hmm... Another $51? Nope, not worth it. But for tonight, it is nice! I went back to the Lantana to check out Reggae night at the Old Lime House. Way too crowded for me. Rednecks and Reggae! What a combination!
Saturday, August 6, 2011
I am up early and enjoy a good breakfast. I take a few extras back to the room. Like a bagel and cream cheese, an apple, etc. And I make sure my cooler is filled with ice before I leave as well. I ask for a late checkout and can stay till 1 PM. Good. I can soak once more in the tub! I take of and sleep that night at the marina in Lantana.
Sunday, August 7, 2011
I am up and looking for a church. The only one I find is an Episcopal Church. The building is very nice. So, in I go. The folks seem nice. The place is quite and some are in the fellowship room before the service. No Sunday School. Bummer. I meet a deaconess, (deacon) and the preacher. The service is about to start. The service is liturgical which is fine. The sermon was good. Half self-help, as many churches do. Afterwards, there is snacks and coffee. I stay and chat with a nice couple.
After church I head out to scope out tomorrow's jog.
Monday, August 8, 2011
I am in Palm Beach area, home of Rush Liimbaugh and other notables. Parking the van should be no problem. There are a few access points I think I can use. Plus there is a golf course that I might be able to park at as well.
I stage my bike about two and a half miles down the road at a local beach park, then drive back to the jetty and park the van. I really appreciate the facilities in this area and on this barrier island.
I get to the beach, exercise and start jogging. Since I am jogging only two and a half miles at first it feels fun. But it is hot! By the time I reach my bike I need a break. I grab a drink and peddle back to the van. Now for the golf course. Located a little over three miles farther up the road, it would be a perfect place to stage my van. I don't want to stage my van here at this park because they charge for parking. Gotta keep my costs down! I pull into the golf course and enter the building. Austin meets me. I tell him what I am doing and ask permission to park my van there for an hour or two. It is not a busy day and he thinks, then says yes. I tell him how much I lost on the jog so far, about 50 pounds, and he is impressed.
I bike back down to the park and jog back. The heat is intense this morning and I need a break again. I arrive at the northern end of the golf course which by the way has won national awards as one of the best short courses in the country! Hmm... This would be a great place to leave my van for the final jog of the day. I could also leave it at a very large park, just south of here about a half mile, but it would cost to park. The park has a pier and is quite busy. I think it would be a nice place to spend a day.
The last phase of this jog is difficult because there is absolutely no place to park my van or stage my bike at or even near the end. Last night I spoke with a friend who said would pick me up at the end around 3 PM. Hope so! Austin readily says yes I can keep the van here. He talks about losing weight as he wants to lose 50 pounds as well. I give some advice on how I started doing it. I started getting back in shape by going to the Y. He can go to the beach! The Y has an inside track that was 12 laps to a mile. I started by walking three laps and jogging one. Plus do some weights as well. Very soon I was jogging a mile, then two, etc. Usually I work my way up to three miles and stop there.
I walk out to the van and open a can of something and have lunch. The wind picks up and it looks like rain. Well, this is better than the heat I think, so I don my pack and take off. Now I have to jog 9.5 miles to the end. Fortunately, the weather cools down. The beach narrows considerably and I have to circumvent some cement/metal partitions along the beach. Not many people out, which makes me feel like this is my personal beach. Nice!
When I was checking this place out, I drove to the end and saw the turn-around circle at the end of the road. My plan was to get picked up here by three. I have to keep going to make it on time. So I push myself to finish on time. I don't want to be late! I reach the jetty about 20 minutes early! Yes! Not to get to the street. I walk along the jetty to the first house. All fenced in and no access to the beach which means no access to the street! I look around and see nothing. So, I follow the fence to the next house. Same thing. Hmm... After the third house I am on the rocks which are running out. I call to the house hoping to chat with someone. No one answers. I really don't want to trespass.
I am on the rocks and fence. At the next house there is just a cement fence with little for me to hang on to. Plus there are bushes in the way I would have to get around as well. And it drops off right into the water and rocks just below the water. Well, I have no choice. I slowly move around the bushes and start out on the cement wall. If I slip I will fall into the water. Not a nice thought, but I do it anyway. I see some Asians on the dock at the house next door. They are speaking Korea!
I shout over, "Towah, Jusayo!" which means "Help!" I do this several times and they finally answer. But they don't help. They don't know what to do. I can't make it to the dock so I finally decide to hope the fence and open the gate to the street. I do it quickly and shut the gate behind me.
I see the Koreans. There are two families with kids and two vehicles. I start chatting in Korean. They have just moved from Seoul, Korea to Tallahassee, FL. He works for a university in Korea and this is some sort of exchange program. Good for me! They are looking for the famous Palm Beach. I ask for a ride back because my ride called to beg off. Wow! Talk about serendipity, or really God's watching over me!
We get in the cars and talk off. I tell them Palm Beach is known for the beautiful and rich houses, not the beach per se. Oh. But I show them the nice beach her and one carload stops. The car I am in continues to take me to the golf course. It is a long way. Finally we get there and I thank them. They are on their way to Miami tonight. Trying to pack everything in to a one-week vacation. Who hasn't? I thank them and then thank the fellows at the golf course, which by the way is open to the public!
While at the end of this run I spy a beach between the two jetties. I will have to jog it as well. Not sure whether it is on an island or the mainland. I will check tonight on google maps and decide the best way to get there.
My new hangout is Starbucks at Lake Worth. This is right in the downtown area. There is free parking and great little shops all over the place. One of the little movie theaters specializes in independent and foreign movies. I just missed a good one! This area reminds me of Gulfport in St. Pete without the ballroom. In Starbucks some meet daily for chess. I finally play a game while taking a break from writing. I win. Yeah! Could have lost just as easily. But he didn't develop is queenside pieces fast enough and I blocked the center so I had more mobility! He is a nice guy and we hope to play again.
There is also a poet there who has been there all day putting her book online. She promises to send me a poem. (Never does) But it is a fun place in a fun area. I don't have to worry about parking and can enjoy the sunny downtown. A couple of celebs were in the area yesterday visiting a famous dive which was on Diners and Dives. It really is a nice place, but way too pricey. Justin, that kid, and his girl, who performed in this area the other night. They complained and didn't even leave a tip! I saw him on TV later. Looks like a punk to me. Why does money create arrogance in people? Or does it just bring out the persons character? Hmm... I think it just brings out the character. There are plenty of monied folks who are just regular nice people. Not too common, unfortunately.
Peanut Island. That's the place where the beach is located. Peanut Island? Doesn't look like a peanut. Will have to find out why the name. I search and find there is a park very close and I can put my kayak in and get over there that way.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
I drive toward the park I saw on Google Maps. On the way I see a McDonald's and stop for a quick breakfast and to get online and check my email. Every single person here is extra friendly. This is by far the nicest McDonald's I have ever been to. Kudos to the manager!
I park my van at the park and a guy in a golf cart comes by. He works there and tells me that parking is free, construction is going on so park in anoher area and I can launch my kayak here. Great! I get my gear, pump of the kayak and kead to Peanut Island. The little kayak trip is so nice. There are sailboats and a few other boats parked in the water. I just lean back and drift for a little while. Very nice, indeed!
I reach the island and stash my kayak and gear. A boat keeps going by in the water and I am not sure if they are checking out my stuff or what. So, I stash it farther up on the beach by some bushes and trees. This is the back of the island and the beach is on the front so I take off.
Oops! This is just an island of the island. There is a dock walkway that goes to the island, but I have to jump in the water to reach it. So, I do. The water is warm. Now on the real island I find that it is a park and the map shows me where I am and where I want to get to. It is small, and I walk around Peanut Island in no time. It is a pleasant walk.
Here is the Wikipedia scoop on Peanut Island.
"Peanut Island is a 79-acre (320,000 m2) island at the mouth of the Lake Worth Inlet in Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. The island was created by dredging-related projects in 1918 which also created the inlet and the Port of Palm Beach.
Originally named Inlet Island, the island was renamed Peanut Island for a planned peanut oil-shipping operation which failed in 1946. A $13 million USD renovation on the island in 2005 resulted in Peanut Island Park including camp sites, a pier, and a manmade reef. The island also features a blast shelter built in secret for President John F. Kennedy shortly after his 1960 election. Kennedy often spent winters in nearby Palm Beach, Florida. The shelter is operated by the Palm Beach Maritime Museum and is open to visitors as an example of Cold War-era concerns for the president's safety."
There are no roads to Peanut Island. If you do not own a boat you will need to find a local water taxi or boat rental.Here is my take on it. This is a very nice place to spend the day in and near the water! Snorkeling, swimming, fishing and picnicking are all popular here. And the view is excellent. I jog the beach there and start walking around back the other way so I can will have circled the island. I see a couple with a baby taking a picture. I ask, as I usually do, if I can help them take a family picture with both parents in it?
They agree and I get a good picture. I always like to do this. They will have the picture as a memory for a long time. Makes me feel good. We chat just a little. He is wearing a shirt about Korea. I ask if he has been there? No, but he is a reservist in the Marine Corps and one of his buds gave it to him. A Marine! Great! Me, too! We chat a little more and go our separate ways.I get back to the kayak and see that the boat I was woried about was a Sheriff's boat. Chagrined, I just smile to myself. I take a leisurely course back to the park.I can't really jog any more today because the next stretch is quite long.
Back to Starbucks for more work. And wouldn't you know it. My computer ate my work! I lost about four days of work writing about my Keys jog. Bummer!
Wednesday August 10, 2011
Okay, Peanut Island was fun! I arrive at my access point and walk to the end. There is a little walking path with sidewalk along the shoreline and I want to make sure there is no beach down there so I take a walk. It rains a little but is a very pleasant walk with benches along the way. I get to the end and see no beaches. Good. Now I walk back and the sun comes out. I do my exercises and begin to jog. It is hot! The beach is beautiful and the sand firm. I am jogging from the jetty to MacArthur Beach State Park where I staged my van. It is not that far and soon I reach the park and walk along the long boardwalk over the marshes to the parking lot. The shuttle service hasn't started yet, but it is a nice walk anyway. I re-stage my transportation. I park at a county park and see this guy getting stuff ready for surfing. He is teaching kids to surf. I ask about that.
His name is Travis. He is a nice fellow. He also does landscaping. He was born and raised here. He laments how people have changed. "It used to be," he says, "people were nice. They would wave at you. Not any more." His entire family, who were native Floridians, moved away. Only he is left. They moved because the people were become neighbors they didn't want. Wow! It's not just me. This place really does suck!
I head back to MacArthur Beach State Park and walk to the beach. The store is now open and I browse, the use the head and am on my way. The beach feels good. I am jogging at a good pace now. It feels good and sometimes I slow and sometimes I speed up. No D.I. on my butt to push me. (I push myself when I need to.) I still remember my Senior Drill Instructor Staff Sargent Garcia yelling at me on the back end of the run at my final P.T. test in Boot Camp. "C'mon, Rupp, show me what you got!" And I did! Simple as that. He says, I do! I smile now about those things. I still respect the heck out of that guy!
This jog goes well and I finish on time. That means I can finish this island today! Yes. At the van, I see Travis again. He is done for the day teaching the kids to surf. I ask a few kids who are taking a rinse at the showers how they liked it. And can they surf? The can and they love it! Lucky kids!
I get back to the park and stage my bike at Dubois Park. near the jetty. This is the last jog of the day. I am happy and tired. Once I get to the end I can't find my bike. Nothing looks familiar. I know this is the park! The park is big and I walk twice around it. Someone take it? Nothing looks familiar. I ask the lifeguard and he says to go back to the beach and walk back to another access point. There is more parking there. I do and then remember the sign at the beach. Yep, this is the place! I remember parking my bike near a surf board rinse off spot. And there it is! Whew! I spent at least an hour looking for that.
Today I finish Miami. I am jogging from the pier at Pier Park to the Jetty. It is about 11 miles. I change my gear. I no longer intend to always wear the hydration pack. I just put my wallet, phone and keys in my pocket and carry a 32 ounce thirst quenching drink, hopefully cold. Again, I park my van at the Oleta River State Park. The folks there let me park up near the office. This saves me about a mile of extra walking. I park and take off, pass the entrance, turn right and go over the bridge. No sense taking a $2 bus ride to get over the bridge. It is about 9 in the morning and the sun is shinning. I arrive at the pier, do my stretches and warm up exercises and take off. I plan to buy water along the way.
The water is blue and the wave action is nice with waves rolling in with some power, not like the gulf side where they usually kind of just float in. The sand is spotty. In some areas it is firm and in some areas it is soft. Oh, well. Just have to shorten or lengthen my pace accordingly. The people on the beach are enjoying themselves. There are already many on the beach. Little kids playing near and in the water. Groups of Latinos all sitting together having robust conversations, singles and couples sunning themselves. Older couples in their chairs reading or doing nothing. Many old men just sleeping. (Or are they pretending top sleep but have their eyes opened into little slits so they can watch the bikinis without their wives catching on? HA! Like the wives don't know!)
An older lady is jogging as well. I compliment her as she is moving quickly, not like others who barely put one foot in front of the other. Which, by the way is great. She says took off jogging and can't remember where her hotel is. She finally finds it and I ask if I can get some water there. She says sure and we go around to the front entrance, halfway through the lobby to the orange-flavored ice water dispenser. I have three cups and fill my bottle up. She shows me how to get out to the beach and we say goodbye. Ah, cold water.
I keep jogging and get low on water again. I can't find anyone who sells water on the beach. The last time I was at South Beach there was always water to purchase. Bummer. I am jogging by Trump International Beach Resort - Miami. I get the feeling to go in so I approach the two gents at a service door. I ask where I can get some water and they point to the resort restaurant two doors down. I enter. This is a nice place! I ask for some water and the waiter directs me to the bar. He tells the girl what I want and she pours me a glass of ice water. It tastes delicious. I ask her about her accent. She says she is from a country near Russia. She speaks Russian so I say hello in Russian.
I want some ice water in my bottle so I start putting ice in the bottle. I spill it all over the counter! She wipes it up and fills my bottle. I say thanks in Russian and take off. More jogging. It feels good to jog. The day is beautiful, hot and fun. Again I need water. (Maybe I should have brought my hydration pack!) I enter a resort by following a couple who has a key to the beach gate. I didn't plan it this way, it just work out. I walk by the pool and to the door of the resort's main building. A man comes out and holds the door for me. I go in and look for a water fountain. None to be found. I ask and they don't have one. I find the little store down the hall. I grab two waters and realize I don't have cash so I want to use my credit card. But not for $2 the man says. He is a nice guy. He said I can just pay him when I get back. I say that I am not coming back. He says just take them then. I look at him like "Huh?" He says, "You need water." He's Latino.
I go out the building, past the pool and see that I need a key to get out of the gate. I don't have one and no one is near. The gate isn't too high and I hop it. Then I realize I don't have my sunglasses! I check all around where I hopped the gate. Not to be found! I must have left them at the store, So, I hop back over, go past the pool and try the door. Need a key for that, too! No one is coming out so I am out of luck. I walk back past the pool to the gate. A lady is coming through the gate so I don't have to hop it this time.
I keep jogging and jogging. I enter John U.Lloyd State Park. I think it is about three miles to go. I was at this park a week or two before with my friend. It was trashed. The people there left their cans and garbage on the beach! Worst state park beach I was on. But today it is different. It was pretty clean. I'm glad. About halfway through the park I notice that the people on the beach are mostly men, some couples, one stroking the thigh of another. Hmm... Guess this is the gay section. Don't think I will take any breaks here! There are others there as well, tourists, I believe. I reach the end and there is a roped off area at the very last tiny beach. The sign says something like "No Trespassing". So, I do it quickly! Tada! Miami is done! And so is Hollywood! Next stop Ft. Lauderdale.
I am in Broward County now, so I need to catch a bus that connects with Miami-Dade County. I do and it works smoothly. In no time I am back and crossing the bridge. But now it is raining cats and dogs. I just keep walking and after about 10 minutes it lets up. The sun comes out and all is well with the world again. I make it to the park and my van. I head back to the parking lot to wash up and grab a bite to eat. Then I head out, but before I leave I enter the office and thank them for their being so kind. And then I head north!
That night I park at the hotel I was at a few days at earlier. I know they don't check vehicles and they are used to mine anyway so I feel good about parking there. Plus I park beside some Comcast vans. Tomorrow another beach.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
I wake up to another beautiful day! I drive down to Hugh Taylor Birch State Park, but before reaching the park I stop at a nearby McDonald's and have a light breakfast of a sausage egg burrito, sausage Mcmuffin and coffee.. It turns out that this in the only meal today besides a can of something later. I get to the park and ask the park ranger if I can park my van at the ranger station and the gentleman readily agrees. He even said he would watch it for me. I thank him, park the van and head out and cross the street. There is a bus stop right there. Oops! I forgot my sun protection. As usual. I go back to the van and lather up and head back out. As I wait for the bus I might as well do my stretching and some of my exercises. I don't know what the folks in the cars going by on this busy street thought, but it works for me.
The bus arrives and I tell the driver that I want left off at the closest stop the the jetty as possible. He finally gets my meaning and I get dropped off just before the bridge that turns west. I walk down to the end. Now the trick is getting to the beach! All these condos hog the beach and leave no access for the public. This is just the first taste of Broward County, one of the most regulated counties in Florida. No parking space is free. There are more tow-away signs than people in this county. Anyway, a cars pulls in to the parking lot of the condo complex at the end. I follow it in and halfway across, a speaker comes on and says, "You know you are trespassing, don't you?" I say something like "Oh." and ask how to get out of there. He says go to the gate and he will open it for me. Now, I can see the access to the beach and could more than likely make it there before this voice can do anything. But I exit as he suggest. Maybe I am getting a little too loose cutting through places like this.
I go to the next condo complex. The gate guard won't allow me to go through, but tells me of an almost hidden access point. It's very narrow and at the corner behind a bush and something else. He is a very nice fellow. I ask where he came from. He says New York! Wow, the first person nice in this county is from New York! As Dean Martin said, "Ain't that a kick in the head!" Actually I have met several New Yorkers who have left their town and their culture. Very nice folks.
I find the narrow access point and hit the beach. I walk to the southern end and hop up on the cement jetty and have a look. Uh-oh. I see a small beach sticking out on the south side of the jetty. It is about 100 yards away and the only way to get to it without trespassing again at the same resort hotel is either in the water or over the huge boulders that line the shore. This means I will have to waste time on this long jog and get wet as well. Oh, well, no one said it would be easy!
I think the water is the quickest and best way to go. It is only thigh high. I start wading through the water staying next to the boulders. About halfway there it begins to get a little deeper. Finally I take my wallet, papers and phone out of their pockets and hold them over my head while wading through chest-deep water. I stop to think about what I am doing. (Ever do that? lol) I see this foot long, purple jelly fish about a foot and a half in front of me. It really looks beautiful in the water. I climb up on the rocks and skirt around it. Back in the water I finally make it to the small beach. Only one person is on the beach. He is sunning himself. I walk by and he looks. I say hello, etc. as I walk to the end of this small little beach. I turn and jog to the end. It takes less than 15 seconds.
Now for the trip back. I decide to take the rocks. Taking boulders has its advantages and disadvantages. On the plus side, you stay dry and it is quicker. On the down side, you might get really hurt! A slip could break a leg or your skull. I offer two pieces of advice on travelling this way. 1. Stay focused! Don't let your mind wander for even a second. I have done this and almost slipped or did slip and was fortunate. 2. Plan your steps, using your hands whenever you can. Walking on boulders is really a lot of fun, just a touch dangerous.
I make it back to the beach proper and start my jog. The sand is soft so I take short steps. The sun is out, the waves are smooth and there are people on the beach. I jog for a half hour or so and need some water. I stop at a store with an outside restaurant. The girl working this morning is from the Midwest and new. I ask for a glass of water. She says management, pointing to the older lady, won't let her do that. Water costs $3.00 a bottle. What? This is the first time that has ever happened. But this is Ft. Lauderdale in Broward County. I say thank and decline. Next I go into the beach store. Again, the drinks are priced quite high. Forget this! I head out to jog some more. If worse comes to worse I can always use the outside rinse-off showers to get water. It's potable.
But instead, I enter the Ritz. I love these hotels. I stayed in one in Michigan, danced in the one in Sarasota several times. (Best chocolate martinis in the world there!) And by accident enjoyed the outside bar on Key Biscayne where the ice water was delicious. The people who work there are always top-notch and friendly. The Ritz in Ft.Lauderdale is on the beach, in fact it is at the center of Ft. Lauderdale Beach. The entrance and lobby are beautiful. The restaurant is located behind glass doors on either side of the lobby. I decide to find the water fountain and restroom. It is to the right. The water is cold and feels really good to my sun-soaked body. I drink up and fill up my bottle. And use the restroom as well.
Refreshed after this nice break, I take off down the beach. You can almost always tell the tourists on this beaches. Most are white and really excited about being there. The younger they are, the more excited they are. Little kids are so fun to watch! It's like they just realized they entered a new, fun universe! The older they are, the more unmoving they are.until they reach the point of using only their autonomic system. With head back and mouth open.
Ft. Lauderdale Beach is really beautiful, light colored sand, spacious, good slope for the water. And it is very pleasing to the eye. As a beach, this is excellent.
I see a pier in the distance and now I am getting close to the city of Lauderdale by the Sea. I was here with my friend and this is the only beach where there is no public restroom. And the people running the pier restaurant expect money for peeing! You have to go to the restaurant Aruba and kind of sneak to the restroom. And parking! No free parking anywhere! Quarters only in many places. The most unfriendly beach in Florida! Yes, the locals will disagree. But a word about them later. I jog by the spot we hung out that afternoon and take a pic and send it to her. Good memories! The sand here is soft and has a slope to it. I keep jogging. Then I am done. It is always nice to finish. I can look back on what I did and look forward to the next one just across the inlet.
I catch a bus back and have to walk about a quarter mile to the entrance and my van. It is around 7:30 PM and I decide to enter the park to clean up and cook some chow. The girl reminds me that the park closes at 8 PM. I see the sign which says it closes at 8:15 PM and mention that to her. But I also let her know that I will be out in plenty of time so she can enjoy her evening. She smiles. Evidently she has plans this evening.
I park by the inter-coastal waterway to enjoy the view. I get cleaned up. I had planned to cook some chow, but the mosquitoes are so bad I just eat it right out of the can and get out of there. That night I stay at another motel where I had stayed before. I sleep in my van.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
I am up and out of there. It must be a popular meeting place. Cars were going in and out all night. But I did manage to sleep. I stop by McDonald's again. I am not eating too much these days. But I am not hungry either. I am sure that will change!
At the end of yesterday's run, at the end of the island, there is a neat little park in Hillsboro Bay. Parking is free! There are docks, a pavilion, benches and places for fishing. Today that is where I park my van. Also, there is a sliver of beach that I need to access and it calls for my kayak. So, I get it out and pump it up. I have to drop the kayak into the water and then climb down a ladder to hop in. I get wet, but it is a warm day.
The bay is tiny and relaxing. I kayak over to the south end and jog that small beach. There are a few boats there with people enjoying the beach. One lady has a small dog which I am not too sure about. I think in Florida when a small dog bites someone they call the dog an 'alligator appetizer'! Or simply 'bait'. Either way, I keep an eye on it.
I hop back in the kayak and go across the bay to the other little beach which seems to have some Coast Guard facility there. I jog it as well. The bay is very nice with few boats going in and out. So, I just relax in the water. I put my feet on top of the kayak and lean back, almost falling asleep. Some boats anchor there all night. Ii wonder if I hooked up an anchor to my kayak, if I could sleep on the water. Just so I don't roll over in my sleep!
With that done I stow my gear and get ready for the 5-mile jog. It is a light day. I plan to jog to the next inlet and take a bus back, transferring to a Broward County bus to get back to this park. I am ready and walk across the bridge. I plan to walk along the embankment to the beach. Hillsboro Club is located there and it is a gated club. As I walk to the water and the embankment I find that there is razor wire at the end of the fence. I haven't seen that since my military days. Wow. I might be able to make it around the razor wire, but I will try the easy way first. So, I walk back and go walk in to the gate. A gentleman is the guard there.
His name is Sgt. Roberts. He wear a Sargent First Class on his sleeve. He is a WWII vet, served in Audie Murphy's unit or right next to it. He has a purple heart. He says this is also a Coast Guard installation and he can't let me in because he is not in charge. So, I ask who is in charge. He tells me a lady (I forget her name - sorry) but she is not here. She is gone for the day. I ask who is second in command. There is none. So, we can call her,I ask. He doesn't have a cell but I do. He gives me the number and I call. I tell her what I am doing and what I need. She agrees so I put her on speaker phone she St. Roberts can hear as well. Good. All set.
He gives me directions to the beach and I walk through the compound. They have a lighthouse there. It's very nice. I take off jogging down the beach. The afternoon is sunny with no chance of rain. The beach is good and widens later to become very nice. I think it is called Delray Beach. I need some water again. I walk up to a place and go past the pool. I intend to go to the office, give me my card and tell them what I am doing. But I see an ice machine and a coke machine. I get a coke, an ice-cold coke. Boy, does it taste good! Then I go to the office.
There are a few people in there. Mia is in charge it seems. She is very nice and after I give my talk I listen to a fellow who lived in Germany for some years. In Munich to be exact. He often went for walks and one day just kept walking. For three days! It was a good story! Mia takes me to the room I was just in and tells me to help myself with ice and take a gallon of water too she suggests. These folks here are very nice. And there little resort is beautiful and clean. Breakers on the Ocean. Affordable, friendly and beautiful. Right on the beach!
Ii fill my bladder with ice and water and take a gallon of water as well. It's hot out there. And Delray Beach is fantastic. And so is Boynton Beach. After that refreshing break I continue my jog. Finally I reach the end, South Inlet Park Beach.
I can't find the bus. I walk south along North Ocean Blvd. until I see a watering hole. I walk in and ask for some water and also ask about the buses. A few locals tell me there is a bus that stops farther down, behind the hotel. There is a little park there, they say. I thank them and tip the girl for the water. I find the bus and it is leaving in about 10 minutes. I ask about the connection to bus #10 in Broward County and the driver says they do connect. But then I start to think that maybe it was bus #11 and not bus #10. (Too many buses these days!) So, I hop off the bus and start walking. My thinking is if I am wrong about the bus I have no idea how far out of the way it might take me, but I know I only have less than five miles to walk. So I opt for walking.
It is a rather long walk! Maybe I should have taken the bus. I pass places I have seen. There are a few yachts that are bigger than most houses! Wow! It is really a long walk. I have to start to learn to plan better! I finally arrive at the van and I am beat. Fortunately, I spoke to a police officer before I left and asked if my van could be there for more that the allotted 4-hour stay. He said okay, so I don't have to worry about a ticket. And now it is done!
It's getting late. I want to scout ahead for my next jog. I travel up the coast and try to get a feel for things. I turn off a the next bridge and find myself in a town called Lantana. There is a marina park there and I pull in. It's dark already. No fee for parking and I can park all night? I am happily surprised. I haven't had this much freedom since the Gulf side. I mention as much at a gent heading to the water to fish. He say, "You are now back with real people." As opposed to the coastal communities. I crack up. He is right! Still I need something to eat.
Right next door, just past the Hale Kona Restaurant and a sushi house is the Old Key Lime House. It is a sprawling network of indoor and outdoor seating with docking for boats and a good sized parking lot. I settle into a small table near the water where I can see the baseball game on TV. The waitress Jule comes over and ask me what I am drinking. I opt for a Yuengling and a menu. I am really hungry as I haven't eaten since breakfast.
The place is at least half full and the fellow playing guitar is good and the crowd is having fun. There is a group of girls from Chicago really having fun! I watch TV. The menu comes and I look it over. Prices aren't bad at all. I narrow my choice down to three entrees, but still can't decide. I want the best bang for my buck and I mentioned this to Julie. After thinking for a few seconds she suggests the fish and chips. Lots of fries I ask? Yes, she answers. Good. I'll have that.
She asks about what I am doing and I tell her. I ask about the name of the town Lantana. She says it comes from a ubiquitous shrub found all over around there. (I thought it might be a name some homesick Montana person came up with,)
The food comes and I am really impressed. It is a huge piece of white fish over a heap of fries. And it is delicious. I feast accompanied to some good music. They keep mentioning that tomorrow night will be big because it is Reggae night. I may stop back.
I sleep in my van at the marina.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Having checked the computer the night before I know that I am in luck! There is a bus that runs the length of my run! It is on Hwy 1, so I will have to park my van at the inlet park and bike to the bus stop. But this means I can jog longer! I am up and washed and shaved. But I am having second thoughts about jogging today. They weather might not be good. And my legs could use a rest. Last night Julie gave me the names and numbers of two local motels. Motel 6 and Barefoot Motel. I call Motel 6 and ask about a room.
They give me a good price and I ask if I can get in early, like 8 AM? They say if there is a room available. Great. So, I go out there and get a room, but my key doesn't work. Then I look around. Hmm... this is not a very good location. I am the only white guy there and there are cops parked in the parking lot. There is also a slightly disheveled guy hanging around out front and I overhear the lady clerk tell one of the other employees not to let that person in. Time to see if I can get my money back!
I go back and apologize but need my money back. I haven't been in the room yet, so they put it back on my credit card promising it will back in my account in a few days. I hope so! I call the other hotel and ask if a room is available. The man says yes and tells me how to get there. It is just a few minutes away. When I get there, I ask if there are bathtubs in the rooms. He says no, just showers. I apologize and say that I have been traveling a while and really need a bath to soak in He fully understands and off I go.
With that idea gone, I decide to run today and take off tomorrow, Friday, which will give me three days of rest if I want. So,I head out to park my van at Boynton Inlet Park and ride my bike to US 1. I call and find that the bus runs every 20 minutes. And I don't wait long before I see the bus. I load my bike on the front of the bus and hop on. It will take about 30 minutes or so to get to my drop-off point. I let the driver know where I need to be left off and he lets me know at that stop. Before that though he misses a stop. You would have thought he committed a heinous crime or something. An old lady and a young guy were the worst. I grab the bike and he honks to remind me to lift up the bike carrying rack, which I do.
I wave and ride off to the South Inlet Park at Boca Raton to park my bike. I then walk across the bridge and try to find a place to access the beach. The first condo/resort at the end of the beach is rather open. I walk out past the pool to the beach access steps. I then see a small gate. I could jump it but I think better of it and go knock on the door and ask permission. The guy, New York or New Jersey type, tells me no, absolutely not and then he says, "Have a good day." What? What a jerk! Have a good day? He certainly knows how to live in the moment, doesn't he?
I am upset with his attitude. But my attitude is even more upsetting to me. So, the next place in line, an older guy is the door keeper. He explains that he can't. I tell him my story, that I won't linger on the beach, etc. He then tells of a family pulling up in a van complete with surf boards asking to access the beach. How in the world can he compare them to me?
The conversation went something like this:
Me: Hi. My name is Luther Rupp and I am jogging all the beaches of Florida. Could I get to the beach from here? I won't linger, just want to get to the end so I jog it.
Guard: No, I can't do that. We got people asking to get to the beach all the time.
Me: But I just want to get on the beach and then go to the end. I don't plan to hang around.
Guard: Just yesterday there was a van that pulled up with kids and surf boards. They wanted access to the beach too!
Me: You think I am like them? (My mind gets dizzy with this guy's logic.)
Well, most guards think better than that, I know. I am much calmer this time and simply say goodbye.
The next place I enter looking to my right as that is where the most space is. A voice from the left asks to help me. I turn and say hello. He is the man I was looking for. I explain my dilemma and give him my card. He says that sounds reasonable and he will open the gate for me. Wow. This is really cool. I ask him where he is from. Indiana! A Midwesterner. I should have guessed. He too was in the military and a nice guy to boot.
I walk to the end of the beach. It is a beautiful morning. I hop up on the cement embankment and start doing my stretching and workout. This sure beats getting all that sand on me before I run. There is a father with his two little kids playing near the water. Fun. As I work out i notice there is a lady sitting there. She says that I sure am disciplined. I say thanks and keep working out. (It is just a 10-minute thing.) I ask about the beach. She says it is good and doesn't stop till the end. I was worried a little about that after seeing the bus map which showed a gap in the beach.
I take off. It feels good. I try to lengthen my stride and get comfortable with that as I have been coddling myself with short steps for way too long. (A few days ago when I was doing a jog, this kid passed me. This often happens, but they always turn around. He was going at a good clip and I began to step into his footprints. It felt pretty good, that extra bit in my stride. And a few days ago I chatted with a girl who worked at the produce store. She had just started jogging and did 10 miles in something like 10 minutes a mile! Wow. She is only 24 and I am 57, but still, I should be moving at a little faster pace). This and the kid running got me to thinking that I should go a little faster.
So, now I do and it feels good. Jogging feels good. And I don't really know why. Maybe it's the focus and the clearing away from the mind everything else. Maybe it's the water, the birds, the beach. Maybe it's the people or the emptiness of a beach. I am not sure. Maybe it is all of the above. It certainly calms me and challenges me at the same time. What a wonderful combination!
I take off around 9:30 AM and the sand, water and sky all surround me with freedom and energy. I never get tired at looking at all three.
I jog past the condos and high rises along South Beach Park and Spanish River Park. I was here with a friend enjoying the beach a week or two ago. The sign still says there is sea lice in the water. These are little microscopic larvae of jellyfish. They attach themselves to seaweed and can get on a person, usually on the seam of the clothing. The next day my friend had a small rash on her bra line. Well, at least sea lice have good taste! She called a drug store and they told her to call CDC (Center for Disease Control) which she did. They told her what to do and that it wouldn't last more than a day or two.
Spanish River Park has a beautiful beach and the water is crystal clear. And the slope of the beach into the water is excellent. I jog by and soon reach some very nice homes. I heard Oprah and Adam Sandler live on this beach. At least they have places here. And the home are nice. But the beach here is a little dirty with plastic bottles and other things on shore. Nothing as bad as the Keys though. But I would think that if I had the cash, I would have someone police the area daily and keep it pretty for me as well as for others. Maybe these folks just don't get to the beach.
Now I am jogging by a three-building apartment/condo complex. A friend of a friend lives there but i don't really have time to stop. I do wave at the apartment as I go by however, and do scan the beach. The friend is not there. I stop shortly after that and get some more water from a hose attached to steps. I douse my head with water too. It is a hot day!
The beach continues and I can now see the jetty. Just a few more miles. I am jogging slow, pacing myself. I am a little tired and stop a few times. Finally I reach the end and put my foot against the metal jetty. Done! I bend over and stretch my legs and rest for about 30 seconds and then take off to the van where cold water awaits! After I refresh myself I hop in and drive back to the bike! And to think I almost canceled the jog today! I feet good finishing the longest jog.
It's mid-afternoon and I find a motel, Stay Inn, in the Lake Worth area near I-94. The price is still $50 or under but the area is much better! I check in and run the bath water. A good soak is so welcome! I also bought a set of hair clippers with attachments. (My friend likes short hair which pleases me because even though my hair get curly, I would rather have it short as well. So, I open the box and use attachment #4.for the top. (I sure hope the back will be okay!) I check by pulling my hair and using the mirror. Hmm... Looks okay. Now for the sides and back. The ears have special attachments. Finally I get it to where I hope it looks okay and not too ragged. I take a pic and send it to her. Hope she likes it!
Later I go to the office to get a few things and ask someone on the way about my hair. They say it looks okay. I ask about three people before I am satisfied that it isn't too goofy. This Motel 6 is a nice place with a pool that is full of a couple of families having fun. I stand on the balcony and watch for a while. That night I get in the pool for a bit myself.
Friday, August 5, 2011
I get some laundry done, soak a couple of times in the bath and read a Carl Hiaasen book. I was only going to stay one day but am thinking about staying Saturday night as well. Hmm... Another $51? Nope, not worth it. But for tonight, it is nice! I went back to the Lantana to check out Reggae night at the Old Lime House. Way too crowded for me. Rednecks and Reggae! What a combination!
Saturday, August 6, 2011
I am up early and enjoy a good breakfast. I take a few extras back to the room. Like a bagel and cream cheese, an apple, etc. And I make sure my cooler is filled with ice before I leave as well. I ask for a late checkout and can stay till 1 PM. Good. I can soak once more in the tub! I take of and sleep that night at the marina in Lantana.
Sunday, August 7, 2011
I am up and looking for a church. The only one I find is an Episcopal Church. The building is very nice. So, in I go. The folks seem nice. The place is quite and some are in the fellowship room before the service. No Sunday School. Bummer. I meet a deaconess, (deacon) and the preacher. The service is about to start. The service is liturgical which is fine. The sermon was good. Half self-help, as many churches do. Afterwards, there is snacks and coffee. I stay and chat with a nice couple.
After church I head out to scope out tomorrow's jog.
Monday, August 8, 2011
I am in Palm Beach area, home of Rush Liimbaugh and other notables. Parking the van should be no problem. There are a few access points I think I can use. Plus there is a golf course that I might be able to park at as well.
I stage my bike about two and a half miles down the road at a local beach park, then drive back to the jetty and park the van. I really appreciate the facilities in this area and on this barrier island.
I get to the beach, exercise and start jogging. Since I am jogging only two and a half miles at first it feels fun. But it is hot! By the time I reach my bike I need a break. I grab a drink and peddle back to the van. Now for the golf course. Located a little over three miles farther up the road, it would be a perfect place to stage my van. I don't want to stage my van here at this park because they charge for parking. Gotta keep my costs down! I pull into the golf course and enter the building. Austin meets me. I tell him what I am doing and ask permission to park my van there for an hour or two. It is not a busy day and he thinks, then says yes. I tell him how much I lost on the jog so far, about 50 pounds, and he is impressed.
I bike back down to the park and jog back. The heat is intense this morning and I need a break again. I arrive at the northern end of the golf course which by the way has won national awards as one of the best short courses in the country! Hmm... This would be a great place to leave my van for the final jog of the day. I could also leave it at a very large park, just south of here about a half mile, but it would cost to park. The park has a pier and is quite busy. I think it would be a nice place to spend a day.
The last phase of this jog is difficult because there is absolutely no place to park my van or stage my bike at or even near the end. Last night I spoke with a friend who said would pick me up at the end around 3 PM. Hope so! Austin readily says yes I can keep the van here. He talks about losing weight as he wants to lose 50 pounds as well. I give some advice on how I started doing it. I started getting back in shape by going to the Y. He can go to the beach! The Y has an inside track that was 12 laps to a mile. I started by walking three laps and jogging one. Plus do some weights as well. Very soon I was jogging a mile, then two, etc. Usually I work my way up to three miles and stop there.
I walk out to the van and open a can of something and have lunch. The wind picks up and it looks like rain. Well, this is better than the heat I think, so I don my pack and take off. Now I have to jog 9.5 miles to the end. Fortunately, the weather cools down. The beach narrows considerably and I have to circumvent some cement/metal partitions along the beach. Not many people out, which makes me feel like this is my personal beach. Nice!
When I was checking this place out, I drove to the end and saw the turn-around circle at the end of the road. My plan was to get picked up here by three. I have to keep going to make it on time. So I push myself to finish on time. I don't want to be late! I reach the jetty about 20 minutes early! Yes! Not to get to the street. I walk along the jetty to the first house. All fenced in and no access to the beach which means no access to the street! I look around and see nothing. So, I follow the fence to the next house. Same thing. Hmm... After the third house I am on the rocks which are running out. I call to the house hoping to chat with someone. No one answers. I really don't want to trespass.
I am on the rocks and fence. At the next house there is just a cement fence with little for me to hang on to. Plus there are bushes in the way I would have to get around as well. And it drops off right into the water and rocks just below the water. Well, I have no choice. I slowly move around the bushes and start out on the cement wall. If I slip I will fall into the water. Not a nice thought, but I do it anyway. I see some Asians on the dock at the house next door. They are speaking Korea!
I shout over, "Towah, Jusayo!" which means "Help!" I do this several times and they finally answer. But they don't help. They don't know what to do. I can't make it to the dock so I finally decide to hope the fence and open the gate to the street. I do it quickly and shut the gate behind me.
I see the Koreans. There are two families with kids and two vehicles. I start chatting in Korean. They have just moved from Seoul, Korea to Tallahassee, FL. He works for a university in Korea and this is some sort of exchange program. Good for me! They are looking for the famous Palm Beach. I ask for a ride back because my ride called to beg off. Wow! Talk about serendipity, or really God's watching over me!
We get in the cars and talk off. I tell them Palm Beach is known for the beautiful and rich houses, not the beach per se. Oh. But I show them the nice beach her and one carload stops. The car I am in continues to take me to the golf course. It is a long way. Finally we get there and I thank them. They are on their way to Miami tonight. Trying to pack everything in to a one-week vacation. Who hasn't? I thank them and then thank the fellows at the golf course, which by the way is open to the public!
While at the end of this run I spy a beach between the two jetties. I will have to jog it as well. Not sure whether it is on an island or the mainland. I will check tonight on google maps and decide the best way to get there.
My new hangout is Starbucks at Lake Worth. This is right in the downtown area. There is free parking and great little shops all over the place. One of the little movie theaters specializes in independent and foreign movies. I just missed a good one! This area reminds me of Gulfport in St. Pete without the ballroom. In Starbucks some meet daily for chess. I finally play a game while taking a break from writing. I win. Yeah! Could have lost just as easily. But he didn't develop is queenside pieces fast enough and I blocked the center so I had more mobility! He is a nice guy and we hope to play again.
There is also a poet there who has been there all day putting her book online. She promises to send me a poem. (Never does) But it is a fun place in a fun area. I don't have to worry about parking and can enjoy the sunny downtown. A couple of celebs were in the area yesterday visiting a famous dive which was on Diners and Dives. It really is a nice place, but way too pricey. Justin, that kid, and his girl, who performed in this area the other night. They complained and didn't even leave a tip! I saw him on TV later. Looks like a punk to me. Why does money create arrogance in people? Or does it just bring out the persons character? Hmm... I think it just brings out the character. There are plenty of monied folks who are just regular nice people. Not too common, unfortunately.
Peanut Island. That's the place where the beach is located. Peanut Island? Doesn't look like a peanut. Will have to find out why the name. I search and find there is a park very close and I can put my kayak in and get over there that way.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
I drive toward the park I saw on Google Maps. On the way I see a McDonald's and stop for a quick breakfast and to get online and check my email. Every single person here is extra friendly. This is by far the nicest McDonald's I have ever been to. Kudos to the manager!
I park my van at the park and a guy in a golf cart comes by. He works there and tells me that parking is free, construction is going on so park in anoher area and I can launch my kayak here. Great! I get my gear, pump of the kayak and kead to Peanut Island. The little kayak trip is so nice. There are sailboats and a few other boats parked in the water. I just lean back and drift for a little while. Very nice, indeed!
I reach the island and stash my kayak and gear. A boat keeps going by in the water and I am not sure if they are checking out my stuff or what. So, I stash it farther up on the beach by some bushes and trees. This is the back of the island and the beach is on the front so I take off.
Oops! This is just an island of the island. There is a dock walkway that goes to the island, but I have to jump in the water to reach it. So, I do. The water is warm. Now on the real island I find that it is a park and the map shows me where I am and where I want to get to. It is small, and I walk around Peanut Island in no time. It is a pleasant walk.
Here is the Wikipedia scoop on Peanut Island.
"Peanut Island is a 79-acre (320,000 m2) island at the mouth of the Lake Worth Inlet in Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. The island was created by dredging-related projects in 1918 which also created the inlet and the Port of Palm Beach.
Originally named Inlet Island, the island was renamed Peanut Island for a planned peanut oil-shipping operation which failed in 1946. A $13 million USD renovation on the island in 2005 resulted in Peanut Island Park including camp sites, a pier, and a manmade reef. The island also features a blast shelter built in secret for President John F. Kennedy shortly after his 1960 election. Kennedy often spent winters in nearby Palm Beach, Florida. The shelter is operated by the Palm Beach Maritime Museum and is open to visitors as an example of Cold War-era concerns for the president's safety."
There are no roads to Peanut Island. If you do not own a boat you will need to find a local water taxi or boat rental.Here is my take on it. This is a very nice place to spend the day in and near the water! Snorkeling, swimming, fishing and picnicking are all popular here. And the view is excellent. I jog the beach there and start walking around back the other way so I can will have circled the island. I see a couple with a baby taking a picture. I ask, as I usually do, if I can help them take a family picture with both parents in it?
They agree and I get a good picture. I always like to do this. They will have the picture as a memory for a long time. Makes me feel good. We chat just a little. He is wearing a shirt about Korea. I ask if he has been there? No, but he is a reservist in the Marine Corps and one of his buds gave it to him. A Marine! Great! Me, too! We chat a little more and go our separate ways.I get back to the kayak and see that the boat I was woried about was a Sheriff's boat. Chagrined, I just smile to myself. I take a leisurely course back to the park.I can't really jog any more today because the next stretch is quite long.
Back to Starbucks for more work. And wouldn't you know it. My computer ate my work! I lost about four days of work writing about my Keys jog. Bummer!
Wednesday August 10, 2011
Okay, Peanut Island was fun! I arrive at my access point and walk to the end. There is a little walking path with sidewalk along the shoreline and I want to make sure there is no beach down there so I take a walk. It rains a little but is a very pleasant walk with benches along the way. I get to the end and see no beaches. Good. Now I walk back and the sun comes out. I do my exercises and begin to jog. It is hot! The beach is beautiful and the sand firm. I am jogging from the jetty to MacArthur Beach State Park where I staged my van. It is not that far and soon I reach the park and walk along the long boardwalk over the marshes to the parking lot. The shuttle service hasn't started yet, but it is a nice walk anyway. I re-stage my transportation. I park at a county park and see this guy getting stuff ready for surfing. He is teaching kids to surf. I ask about that.
His name is Travis. He is a nice fellow. He also does landscaping. He was born and raised here. He laments how people have changed. "It used to be," he says, "people were nice. They would wave at you. Not any more." His entire family, who were native Floridians, moved away. Only he is left. They moved because the people were become neighbors they didn't want. Wow! It's not just me. This place really does suck!
I head back to MacArthur Beach State Park and walk to the beach. The store is now open and I browse, the use the head and am on my way. The beach feels good. I am jogging at a good pace now. It feels good and sometimes I slow and sometimes I speed up. No D.I. on my butt to push me. (I push myself when I need to.) I still remember my Senior Drill Instructor Staff Sargent Garcia yelling at me on the back end of the run at my final P.T. test in Boot Camp. "C'mon, Rupp, show me what you got!" And I did! Simple as that. He says, I do! I smile now about those things. I still respect the heck out of that guy!
This jog goes well and I finish on time. That means I can finish this island today! Yes. At the van, I see Travis again. He is done for the day teaching the kids to surf. I ask a few kids who are taking a rinse at the showers how they liked it. And can they surf? The can and they love it! Lucky kids!
I get back to the park and stage my bike at Dubois Park. near the jetty. This is the last jog of the day. I am happy and tired. Once I get to the end I can't find my bike. Nothing looks familiar. I know this is the park! The park is big and I walk twice around it. Someone take it? Nothing looks familiar. I ask the lifeguard and he says to go back to the beach and walk back to another access point. There is more parking there. I do and then remember the sign at the beach. Yep, this is the place! I remember parking my bike near a surf board rinse off spot. And there it is! Whew! I spent at least an hour looking for that.