Wednesday, August 12, 2009

12 August 2009 Back to Miami FL

We are now back in Miami for the last three days and only have to sell our car and then it is back to South Africa. We booked into a Hotel close to the airport that we at least have a shuttle to take us to the terminals. Miami is a busy city, but mainly Cubans here with he top language spoken Spanish. This is also the last Bass Pro Shop on our list and this ones decor was totally different. It resembles a wreck that is under water.

P8120004 Glad I dont work here or have to answer the phone here! P8120014 Lifestyle of the rich Palmtrees eevn on the top of buildings Ocean Boulevard , the Art Deco stretch. Thr Holocaust monument Biscayne Bay Bass Pro Shops Miami a collection of old motors P8120015 P8120034 P8120036 Tarpon Aligator display a Flats boat.

09 – 11 August 2009 The Florida Keys.

 

Seeing that our time is coming to an end in the USA we still have to do the Keys, the little bit of paradise for fishing and diving. The Keys are corral islands at the bottom of Florida and are about 50 miles from the Bahamas and 80 miles from Cuba. But they are stunning and for the kids we found a Hotel that was right on the water. If you step out of the door, it is about three meters to the water on a pier, with clear water where fish were visible. Our mission to catch as many marine species as possible.

The highway to the Keys. Enteing Key Largo P8090008 Boat storage of a different kind. Beautiful palms everywhere. The Bass Pro in Islamorada, has a different feel to it. P8090018 Decor stil plays an integral part of BPS Inside is Ernest Hemmingway's Fishing Boat. P8090035 P8090022 The original fighting chair. The bridge. Eating area. Sleeping quarters The bots are just bigger and more stylish here. Outside is the resaurant area. Here the ocean is a spit away and there were Tarpons everywhere. Walking along the peir we saw some massive Tarpon. Tranquility and then I had to try and play with a Tarpon up close. A large 100 lb Tarpon. It came up to my hand. These are wild Tarpon, but they hang around the fish cleaning stations. We drove further towards Key West to find a nice place to snorkel. Driving in the middle of the ocean. Key West. A fishing boat returning after the day on the water. P8090106 The hurricane monument. The Keys Motel where we stayed Taking the picture from our room. Species 1 Species 1 The channel we fished. All around there are water channels that lead to the ocean. P8090147 Species 2 Species 3 Species 4 A Kingfish, what makes this catch natable are 2 factors. Michi caught a fish and this Kingie chased it, then sven cast his bait into the area where Michi held the fish and it took his bait. Sven did not have a reel on his rod and was fishing with a piesce of line tied to the rod . A remarkable achievement to land this fiesty fighter. A nice Kingfish. Species 6. Species 7. Another remarkable catch of many, as Michelle caught with a handline. Species 8 Michi caught this Barracuda Another Kingfish P8110224 I tricked this needlefish to catch it. Species 11 This fish is not soft, it is a completly boney fish, thats why it stands upright on the table. P8110254 Species 12 This was to be our snokeling and fishing spot. Species 13 Taking the plunge While some fish, others snorkel Species 14

It was a scorcher, but even I took time to fish. Then it was lunch a t the Burger King. Even the Restaurant had a sea feel. I had to take a pick of these gauges, as they bring back memories of my fathers home built boat "Barracuda" Back at the hotel we caught fish, Snorkeled and swam in the most beautiful pool. Note the "Fast food Belly" P8110340 More fishing. Look at the fang on this Snapper and note.......... .... it drew blood by biting Michi during hok removal.