A day at the Chihuly

We celebrated our 28th anniversary with a trip to the Chihuly Museum and Hot Shop in St. Petersburg.  The museum exhibits the works of Dale Chihuly (born in 1941) who is an American glass sculptor and entrepreneur.  He uses blown glass as the primary medium for his environmental artwork.   He attended the University of Washington to study Interior design and in 1961 he learned how to melt and fuse glass.  In 1962 he left  school to study art in Florence, Italy.  Chihuly  later returned to the University of Washington to obtain a degree in interior design in 1965.  He earned a Master of Science degree in Sculpture in 1967 from University of Wisconsin and a Master of Fine Arts from Rhode Island School of Design.  After receiving a Fulbright Fellowship he traveled to Venice where he first saw the team approach to blowing glass--which is demonstrated in the Hot Shop in St. Petersburg. 

In 1976 Chihuly was involved in a car accident which left him blind in one eye, but her returned to glass blowing after this accident.  However, when he dislocated his shoulder while body surfing, he could no longer hold the glass blowing pipe. At this point, he says that he became "more choreographer than dancer, more supervisor than participant, more director than actor."

His work is a dazzling display of intense color and intricate design a feast for the eyes and a sight to behold.  The docent told us that Chihuly names the sculptures, but prefers not to have the names listed at the exhibits so not to influence the observer.  I have named these sculptures below--what do you think?

Medusa

Happy Birthday

Boating in Outer Space

The sculpture above is without a doubt my favorite.  When in St.Pete--go visit this exhibit-it won't disappoint.

Off to the hot shop.

Joy

Joy

Sanding Ovations Part II

We did not go back to the sanding ovations sculptures on Sunday to see their finished work because we drove HOME for THANKSGIVING--YIPPEE!  The sculpture below is probably my favorite.

Enjoy your Thanksgiving week!

Joy

Sanding Ovations Sculptures

It was very interesting watching the sculpture artists working.  Some had on headphones and appeared to be listening to music while scraping and smoothing the sand.  Others were happy to talk to bystanders about their work while others completely ignored questions and stayed intently focused on working.  

Joy

Pearl Discovered

At lunch the other day Steve ordered raw oysters. Boy was he surprised when he found a pearl!

Sanding Ovations

Lainey planned a great day for us on Friday.  She suggested we visit The Sanding Ovations Master Sand Sculpting competitions  on Treasure Island.  Ten master sculptors create beautiful sand sculptures right on the beach.  Treasure Island is so named because of the scam of several property owners attempting to increase sales. These owners pretended to discover wooden chests (they had previously buried themselves) filled with treasure.  Many people came to the island seeking their own treasure and soon the island became Treasure Island.

Treasure Island has three distinctively different beach neighborhoods along its four miles. The widest beach is as one would expect in the commercial area which includes motels, hotels, restaurants, and shops.  There is Beach trail here that is almost 1 mile long. 

The other two beaches are called Sunshine Beach at the north End near John's Pass and Sunset Beach at the south end near Blind Pass.   These are more residential than commercial however, a few motels built in the early 50's and 60's are scattered along these beaches.  Point of Trivia: The legendary baseball player Babe Ruth had a winter beachfront home on Treasure Island after his retirement. 

The sand sculpting competition is on the middle beach behind the Bilmar Beach Resort.  Ten master sculptors create beautiful sand sculptures right on the beach. This event is organized  by Sanding Ovations , a sand sculpting company owned by Treasure Island residents, Dan Doubleday and Meredith Corson.  They have sculpted commissioned pieces for clients such as Coca Cola and SeaWorld.   

Pretty impressive work, don't you agree? 

Crazy

I saw this sign in Highlands NC last weekend... I may need it at my house!

Sitting at the dock!

I came home for a few days in November to go to a wedding and to pay bills etc.  Walked around the yard to take this shot.

Joy

Fort Lauderdale Boat Show Pictures

Fort Lauderdale recently hosted the 55th International Boat Show over Halloween weekend.   The exhibits include yachts, mega yachts, brokerage yachts, runabouts, sportfishers, cabin cruisers, flat boats, catamarans, ski boats, sailboats, inflatables, trawlers, red boats, blue boats, one boat, two boats--oops I got carried away.  There are also exhibits with accessories for boats, clothing for boaters, and oh yeah --exotic cars.   

Everyone needs a helicopter!

I think I will take this car

I want this piping for our state rooms

Fort Lauderdale, Florida, the "Yachting Capital of the World" will host the 55th Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show on October 30-Nov 3, 2014. Show exhibits range from yacht builders and designers to exotic cars and brokerage yachts. A wide variety of boats and sea vessels will be on display including runabouts, sportfishers, high performance boats, center consoles, cabin cruisers, flats boats, skiffs, express cruisers, sailing yachts, motor yachts, bowriders, catamarans, ski boats, jet boats, trawlers, inflatables, canoes, and extraordinary superyachts. - See more at: http://www.showmanagement.com/fort-lauderdale-international-boat-show-2014/event/#sthash.bRCbNs4L.dpuf

Mini copter

Yow-mega copter

Beneteau Swift Trawler for Nancy & Glenn!

Joy

Fort Lauderdale, Florida, the "Yachting Capital of the World" will host the 55th Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show on October 30-Nov 3, 2014. Show exhibits range from yacht builders and designers to exotic cars and brokerage yachts. A wide variety of boats and sea vessels will be on display including runabouts, sportfishers, high performance boats, center consoles, cabin cruisers, flats boats, skiffs, express cruisers, sailing yachts, motor yachts, bowriders, catamarans, ski boats, jet boats, trawlers, inflatables, canoes, and extraordinary superyachts. - See more at: http://www.showmanagement.com/fort-lauderdale-international-boat-show-2014/event/#sthash.bRCbNs4L.dpuf

Fort Lauderdale, Florida, the "Yachting Capital of the World" will host the 55th Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show on October 30-Nov 3, 2014. Show exhibits range from yacht builders and designers to exotic cars and brokerage yachts. A wide variety of boats and sea vessels will be on display including runabouts, sportfishers, high performance boats, center consoles, cabin cruisers, flats boats, skiffs, express cruisers, sailing yachts, motor yachts, bowriders, catamarans, ski boats, jet boats, trawlers, inflatables, canoes, and extraordinary superyachts. - See more at: http://www.showmanagement.com/fort-lauderdale-international-boat-show-2014/event/#sthash.bRCbNs4L.dpufVv

Fort Lauderdale, Florida, the "Yachting Capital of the World" will host the 55th Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show on October 30-Nov 3, 2014. Show exhibits range from yacht builders and designers to exotic cars and brokerage yachts. A wide variety of boats and sea vessels will be on display including runabouts, sportfishers, high performance boats, center consoles, cabin cruisers, flats boats, skiffs, express cruisers, sailing yachts, motor yachts, bowriders, catamarans, ski boats, jet boats, trawlers, inflatables, canoes, and extraordinary superyachts. - See more at: http://www.showmanagement.com/fort-lauderdale-international-boat-show-2014/event/#sthash.wFe3GAFm.dpuf

Fort Lauderdale, Florida, the "Yachting Capital of the World" will host the 55th Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show on October 30-Nov 3, 2014. Show exhibits range from yacht builders and designers to exotic cars and brokerage yachts. A wide variety of boats and sea vessels will be on display including runabouts, sportfishers, high performance boats, center consoles, cabin cruisers, flats boats, skiffs, express cruisers, sailing yachts, motor yachts, bowriders, catamarans, ski boats, jet boats, trawlers, inflatables, canoes, and extraordinary superyachts. - See more at: http://www.showmanagement.com/fort-lauderdale-international-boat-show-2014/event/#sthash.wFe3GAFm.dpuf

Marine Connection Liquidators Part 2

Several days ago I posted a picture of the wetsuit we purchased from Marine Connection Liquidators. I made that post with my phone and couldn't add more to it.  Today I am playing catch up with this post.  

Marine Connection Liquidators has been in business for over 25 years.  The warehouse covers 30,000 square feet and they have at least 8 acres of out door space.  They claim to be the World's largest supplier of new surplus marine supplies--I don't think I can argue with their claim--this place is massive.

Joy

Fleming out of Water

Whitacar Boat Yard is sometimes called "Burr South" because of the number of Flemings they service here.  We spotted several we knew and a few we did not.  It was fun to run into Ray and John who were down from Burr visiting some of the boats at Whitacar before taking off for the Ft. Lauderdale Boat Show.

George Curtis Whitacar started Whitacar Boat Works many years ago.  He was born in 1911 and is still living.  He lives just a few houses down from where we were docked.  He came to Stuart in 1917 with his family from New Jersey.  Read the history of how he began the business here .  When Mr. Whitacar was 96 years old he wrote Whiticar Waterway Tales.  His very entertaining story can be read here. 

Whitacar Boat Works

After an enjoyable stay in Vero Beach, we started our short trip to Whitacar Boat Works for some service on Meandering Joy.  The boat has had no problems in the almost two years since we have had her, but it is time to check out the engine room and have some tune up work.  Whitacar is in Stuart, Florida.  We came south on the Indian River, crossed the St. Lucie Inlet and crossed the St. Lucie River before entering Wiloughby Creek Inlet.  We called the boat yard as we approached marker 13A.  They were sending out a small boat for us to follow into the creek.  It was a good thing, because it was very difficult to see how we were going to get this boat up the creek without being "up the creek" in a bad way. 

Follow me!

 

How many Flemings can you see?

Come on in Cap'n--stern in please!

Joy

Melbourne to Vero Beach

We are looking forward to our visit to Vero Beach.  We were at Vero in 2013 on Halloween and were invited into the Vero Beach Yacht Club with our sweet dogs in costume.

This year Lainey has Jack and we have Piper and we are looking forward to seeing our friends Chris and Alyse Caldwell.  We first met this couple at Baltimore at TrawlerFest (2011) at their "Confessions of a Galley Slave" demonstration. In 2012, we took their university class at TrawlerFest again in Baltimore.  They live in Vero Beach and run Captain Chris Yacht Services.  

Of course--the Pirates are back---

 The sculpture above is on at a home in the exclusive private community on John's Island.  Just south of John's Island is Vero Beach.  We docked in the Vero Beach City Marina and enjoyed the day before meeting with Chris and Alyse for dinner. 

hors' douerves

The view of the lagoon behind their home

Look out for the alligators

We had a delightful time at the home of Chris and Alyse!

Joy

Cocoa to Melbourne

On our way out of Cocoa Village I spotted the water tower adorned with the U.S. Flag.  

Once in Melbourne, we were joined at the docks by a Nordhavn named Ocean Quest.  She is about 65 feet long and owned by Peter and Alison Dyball.  Their hailing port is Poole, England--so yes, we had to go over and talk with them.  We enjoyed them so much that we made arrangements to join them for dinner later in the afternoon. Before dinner, we crossed the railroad tracks for a walk about town.  It was "Trick or Treat" time for the children and obviously the adults in Melbourne.  All the shops in the small town were generously giving out candy to the little goblins.  

On the walk back to the boat, we spotted this bird who didn't mind me getting super close--maybe he was looking for some food--I don't know, but he was happy to pose.

We joined Alison and Peter aboard Ocean Quest for some appetizers and conversation.  Alison and I shared our favorite book titles from our Kindle's.  I look forward to reading her suggested MI6 mysteries.  Steve and Peter talked engines, fuel burn...  Dinner was great at the Chart House--I had the scallops which were about the size of a small tangerine.  Delicious!  

 Heading to Vero Beach tomorrow for a visit with Chris and Alyse Caldwell of Captain Chris Yacht Services. 

Joy