Easy Street

So one of the first new highway projects to be funded by the economic stimulus farce is to be named the Barack Obama Parkway. It's in Orlando, Florida and runs right to the land of make believe at Walt Disney World. A perfect fit!

There are people researching whether or not this is the first road to be named for a sitting president, but I'd bet good money right now that it is.

How convenient the location is too. If there was anyplace in the country where a street could be located in a more stable, safe, and economically secure place, I don't know where it would be. I'm sure Barry will make certain that all his streets do not go the way of every Martin Luther King Jr. street in the country, which someone once said was "...the last place anyone wants to be!". What an injustice: someone who deserves to be honored that way gets nothing but avenues through ghettos all over the country, and Barry gets the Yellow Brick Road. Figures.

Around the World in One Easy Book

I just finished reading "Sailing Alone Around the World". First published in 1900, it is the true account of the first solo circumnavigation of the world. It's written by Captain Joshua Slocum himself, who completed his voyage in 1898 after three years and three months. He journaled his entire trip which was not non-stop, and so it contains details about ports and people he visited on six continents, as well as all of the different kinds of water he sailed. It could probably be hundreds of pages longer, but he keeps it short and concise...and interesting.

If you're like me and this story was unknown to you, and you've somehow missed it in it's first 110 years in publication, I highly recommend it. It is full of real adventure, sailing savvy (duh!), human insight and humor too. Not to mention a huge dose of respect for the human spirit in the Captain. Really an amazing feat of endurance and discipline, and written amazingly well for a man who only completed third grade!

Not a tale of the sea, but better: real.

Back in the North

Writing tonight from the Northern Compound. Rain is falling steadily and there are happy farmers counting every drop in this year of spring drought. Actually, we have had two nights in the past week with an inch or more of rain, and it's falling lightly, over a period of many hours, which sends it deep into the soil instead of running into the streams.

Yes, we are back in the north. This is actually our second visit, having "opened" on Memorial Day weekend. I have no real excuse for the delay in reporting our return. It certainly doesn't mean that I've lost some appreciation for the area. No, I'm as happy as ever to end the seven month lay-up and return to woods and water, old friends, and the northern life. Nice.

Thankfully, we arrived here to find everything in order. No leaks, no mice and no issues with appliances, and as expected, nothing seems to have changed with the passing of another long winter; which is another blessing of the region and something rare and wonderful.

We're up for a couple weeks this go-round and hopefully more as we get into the heart of summer. We'll enjoy every minute of it too. You have to when the season is so short and the experience so meaningful. It's good to be back. Smell that air!

66 Years Gone

66 years ago today the allies launched the largest sea-land invasion in history on the beaches of Normandy. And less than a year later, after so many gave their lives on that thin stretch of sand, the "Thousand Year Reich" was gone.

Never forget.