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Vinoy Ad Infinitum

The Vinoy Park beckons constantly, and like a drug-addled junkie I return to her and always, always find something interesting to watch.   



This guy is using his windboard as a platform to fish. 



This was a bit of a poignant scene as an old dog and an old man, both walking with frailty, slowly slipped by me and the bench I was holding down.  I thought how I wouldn't want to be in that guy's shoes knowing what he has in store pretty soon.  Or vice versa.  
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This series of shots shows a heron creeping up on a guy throwing a net out for bait.  When he hauled it in he would pick out the good bait and toss the rest back in the water. This guy was stealing whatever he could find. 



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An osprey surveying the grounds for small varmints, fish or little children for lunch.



Good tourists making their way along the Vinoy.  We like the sound of the bells these carts have, it mean$ money.


Yes, I have a deep and abiding fascination with these ugly/beautiful graceful fliers/ungainly landwalkers.


Two ships passing in the Bay.


This is the place where winterized white pasty flesh comes to be parboiled in April. 


Lots of kayakers here.  Who can blame them, they are mobile, cheap and rugged?


Someone scared off this duck that was doing something right over the retaining wall.


You can even get two-man kayaks.  Even saw a couple Britishers land close by with their inflatable sailboat.  They landed, disassembled the thing, and put it all in a carryall bag.  


Wonder what he has in his trunk.  Or why he has one.


Exerciser either stretching or showing off.


This kid was walking his dog and looking over the wall at whatever was in the water.


Another boatload of dumbasses.  I'll be one of those dumbasses in September.


Gliding heron.


Imagine the evolutionary processes to create this palm tree.  Or, if you are a Creationist, imagine God's roundable coming up with this interesting specimen.  Can't you hear the committee saying, "OK, fellas (they all had to be men, you know), looks good, next week the camel."



Right overhead, heading to Whitted Airport.

Vinoy is great.  Been here dozens of times, always something new, always something to see.  Even now, I'm getting the shakes, a little jittery, I need another Vinoy fix.


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