IT'S A DOGS LIFE
SAILING AROUND THE WORLD WITH SPIRIT OF ARGO
IT'S A DOGS LIFE
SAILING AROUND THE WORLD WITH SPIRIT OF ARGO
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Florida, Jacksonville – Surprise Visitor continues

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Aunty Helen has only a week to spend with us, but she is determined to see as much as she can.  Our next stop, on our wonderful tour, is Clark’s Fish Camp.

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This is a rustic place positioned on the river with a Unique Selling Point (known as a USP in the business world) but more on that in a minute.  We ordered some fishy Cajun delights and enjoyed the scenery over the river.

We highly recommend the outdoor seating for the river view
We highly recommend the outdoor seating for the river view
All meals come with hush puppies, deep fried cornmeal balls
All meals come with hush puppies, deep-fried cornmeal balls

 

If you are not 'into' hush puppies, the local wildlife are happy to help you finish the left overs.
If you are not ‘into’ hush puppies, the local wildlife are happy to help you finish the left overs.
This funny looking guy is called an Alligator Turtle, and hush puppies are his favourite
This funny looking guy is called an Alligator Turtle, and hush puppies are his favourite

The local wildlife may come to Clark’s Fish Camp for the food, but humans come to see the largest personal collection of taxidermy in the US.

Now how is that for dinner companions?
Now how is that for dinner companions?
Not into taxidermy? Perhaps you would like to see the worlds largest personal collection of....
Not into taxidermy? Perhaps you would like to see the worlds largest personal collection of….
....fish plates
….fish plates
Still not impressed by dead or hand painted animals? How about a live gator?
Still not impressed by dead or hand painted animals? How about a live gator?

The place is completely full of oddities.  I will add a load of pictures at the end for your amusement.

After seeing the local ‘oddity’ the humans dragged me downtown to the see the Local Arts Fair.

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They hold the entire fair under one of the huge overpass bridges along the river to give patrons shade and a cool breeze.  Events and music dominate the main stage while street performers find room to display their talents on the peripheral.

The morning events started with 'open to all' yoga
The morning events started with ‘open to all’ yoga

With Aunty Helen’s last days approaching she decided that seeing a live alligator in a cage was just not enough.  She dragged me off to one of the wildlife parks on Amelia Island in search of the ‘real thing’.

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LIke I would swim here!
A beautiful stretch of wetlands, meant to be home to a multitude of gators
A beautiful stretch of wetlands, meant to be home to a multitude of gators
She dragged me all around looking for the elusive reptiles
She dragged me all around looking for the elusive reptiles
We saw lots of wetland bird species
We saw lots of wetland bird species
Lots of trees draped in Spanish Moss
Lots of trees draped in Spanish Moss
Lots of dragonflys
Lots of dragonflies

 

But we had no luck spotting any alligators.
But alas, no luck spotting any alligators.,

Tuckered out by the heat, we headed to Chowder Teds for his world famous fish stew, then took the ferry across the St.Johns River to Atlantic Beach for a cooling swim.  Sounds great right?  Only problem is Aunty Helen insisted I needed a little more ‘style’ then the rest of the cool dogs on the beach.

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Does my bum look big in these shorts?
Does my bum look big in these shorts?

All too soon Aunty Helen had to go back home to England.

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I got all depressed after she left and because I am still missing one of my humans
I got all depressed after she left and because I am still missing one of my humans
He is still off in England enjoying time with family and friends. Take a note of the jumper. He is going to get a shock when he gets back to 35'C+++humidity back here in Florida
He is still off in England enjoying time with family and friends. Take a note of the jumper. He is going to get a shock when he gets back to 35’C+++humidity back here in Florida

But my depression did not last long because I needed to motivate my remaining human to get projects finished on the boat.

Still Coelaning the cockpit of the boat
Still Coelaning the cockpit of the boat
Getting closer to 10 coats on both sides
Getting closer to 10 coats on both sides
But. of course, something else has to go wrong while your busy with a project. While the human got on with painting, I had to sort out a broken bilge pump in the engine room. A terrible interruption to my normal siesta.
But. of course, something else has to go wrong while your busy with a project. While the human got on with painting, I had to sort out a broken bilge pump in the engine room. A terrible interruption to my normal siesta.

My other human will be home soon, and I can dump all these ‘distractions’ on him.  Hope he is well rested!

I will finish off the blog with some pictures from Clark’s Fish Camp for your amusement.  Enjoy!

Yes the signs do say 'DO NOT TOUCH'
Yes the signs do say ‘DO NOT TOUCH’

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I have 'bearly' started showing you some of the taxidermy
I have ‘bearly’ started showing you some of the taxidermy
Ouch
Ouch

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Don't you guys dare do that to me
Don’t you guys dare do that to me

 

How do they get endangered species? Zoos?
How do they get endangered species? Zoos?

 

Is there anything they will not stuff
Is there anything they will not stuff

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Even the exterior of the place was decorated
Even the exterior of the place was decorated

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It really is a place that ‘has to be seen to be believed’.  The pictures really do not do the place justice.

Our luck is still holding as hurricane number 3 passes well clear of us.  We are up to the letter ‘C’ with hurricane Cristobal.  Who thinks up these names?

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