Stuart Sailfish Regatta - May 17th -18th

Despite the high winds on Saturday, we had a great weekend of power boat racing on the Indian River. The race sanctioned by the American Power Boat Association is open  to ten classes of inboards, four classes of outboards and the Powerboat P1 SuperStock Series, as well as some of the nation's top racers and a powerful team from Canada with their Grand Prix race boats.

The only boats that could compete in Saturdays high wind and waves were the P1 superstocks but they provided a great day of exciting racing, with the No. 17 National Guard boat capsizing in the rough waters (father & son crew were OK and the boat raced again on Sunday). On my way across the bridge I was fortunate to be offered a shuttle ride with the Bad Influence Team owner/driver. He was very disappointed as he had four boats that would have to wait till Sunday to race.

On Sunday the winds had died down to a light breeze with sunny skies. A great day for racing! The marine observers in a helicopter, delayed races 3 times on both Sat. and Sun., to wait for either manatees, sea turtles and dolphins to clear the 1.1 mile race course area. Over 70 boats participated in the 3rd Annual Stuart Regatta, with about 20 thousand spectators viewing the action from the Stuart Causeway Bridge and the beach below. From my perspective both days presented an exciting photo opportunity with beautiful boats going all out in tough competition.

Click for more photos of the excitement. (double click a photo and select Slide Show at top for best viewing):
https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/104461058718739695077/albums/6016320990262717441

Publishing My Photographs

Like most people, all my life I have been taking pictures of friends and activities, with an occasional exceptional landscape or sunset, using point and shoot cameras.  A few years ago, with a more functional digital (fixed lens DSLR) camera, I began capturing some pretty amazing shots, so last year I took the plunge and purchased a true DSLR (Nikon D5200 with a couple of lenses). While learning to use the new-found flexibility of the Nikon, I accumulated on my computer some pretty interesting photographs that I wanted to see in high quality prints. I can now share my favorites in my first printed book of photographs, which can be previewed here. If you have an interest, the book can be purchased at cost. 
Click: http://blur.by/1fJ1zJL

Please enjoy - comments are welcome.

Stuart Air Show - Veterans Day Weekend - 2013

We had great weather again for the Annual Stuart Air Show, which is dedicated to America's veterans and active duty military. Despite the Federal sequester curtailing the usual fighter jet demonstrations we had a wonderful a variety of civilian and military acts and displays for an enthusiastic crowd of all ages.

Click here for photos:

https://plus.google.com/photos/104461058718739695077/albums/5943659174885730433

Northport, Niagara, Michigan Vacation 2013

Nancy and I had a fun summer break. I traveled up to Northport, NY where we took the Orient Ferry over to Connecticut for the annual rendezvouse with our Monterey friends at Foxwoods Casino. We also golfed with friends, went to the aquarium, and visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Making our way over to Michigan we stopped at Niagara Falls for a couple of days. The Falls are spectacular and we took the Maid of the Mist ride, the Journey Behind the Falls experience, the IMAX Theater and of course the casino. Then we moved on to Michigan, where we stayed with my daughter and son in law in Canton. We visited downtown Detroit and some of the “neighborhoods”, went to the Detroit Institute of Arts, spent a day at the Sterling State Park on Lake Erie, and of course golfed with friends. It was a great summer break for both of us.    

Click for more photos: 
https://photos.app.goo.gl/TMbEcU2CMdfyQu5k8

Roosevelt Bridge, Stuart, Florida

Fourth of July Fireworks - Stuart, Florida

Click for additional Fireworks photos:

https://plus.google.com/photos/104461058718739695077/albums/5897339705365356545



A few Stuart sunsets.

 Sunset Marina

Roosevelt Bridge

Shepards Park

Sailfish Fountain

Cruising the St. Lucie River on Mothers Day & Chuck's Birthday

Trip to Orlando

Nancy and I spent a couple of days in Orlando, visiting vacationing Mark & Yvette at Disney's Animal Kingdom, Kidani Village Lodge. Mark & Yvette's suite overlooked a savannah with giraffes, zebras, and antelopes. They had also arranged a trip on the Wanyama Safari, where we had up-close encounters in the 46 acres of savannahs, with many additional exotic animals, including ostriches, water buffalo, okapis, red river hogs, wildebeests, and a variety of birds, followed by a multi-course South African dinner feast. On the trip home we stopped for lunch with our friends Mike & Sue Roney in Orlando.

Click for additional photos:
https://plus.google.com/photos/104461058718739695077/albums/5849038750309216049

Stuart Air Show - Veterans Day Weekend
We again had a wonderful Veterans day weekend for the Annual Stuart Air Show, dedicated to America's veterans and active military, with a variety of civilian and military acts and displays for an enthusiastic crowd of all ages.