USCGC Walnut

The United States Coast Guard Cutter Walnut deployed on May 30, 2010 on a 5,000 mile voyage to its destination in the Gulf of Mexico at Orange Beach, Alabama to assist in the oil spill catastrophe. She is a 225 ft. Juniper Class Sea Going Buoy Tender stationed in Honolulu, Hawaii which also works marine environmental disasters. My family and I watched the Walnut skimming oil just off the beach on Sunday. She was also flanked by another local Coast Guard Cutter working with approximately 100 recreational, commercial charter, and government vessels towing booms and skimming equipment 24 hours per day. BP Oil is paying all vessels to assist in the clean-up effort. The Walnut was just out of camera range so this photo was downloaded from Wiki.

Oil-maggedon

What a change a week can make on the Gulf - bad to worse. I remember the radio descriptions at the onset of the Deepwater Horrizon explosion and subsequent wellhead leak. "Oil-maggedon" was coined from the future end time event Armageddon. Following nine hours on the road yesterday, only to arrive to view an exponential intrusion of crude oil on the beach, my first reaction to the view was I never thought it would happen here. The photo is a 7th floor view from our balcony, one of hundreds of clean-up encampments along the beach from Gulf Shores through the Florida panhandle. To view the expanse of the Gulf and the efforts of hundreds of skimming boats working 24 hours a day, it seems like mopping up a water drop in a bathtub. It looks like a literal city on the water during nighttime. Yet, the wellhead continues to spew more today than in the (2) months past. I attempted to post a video made through the windshield in Bay Minette, Alabama of huge offroad trucks being mobilized to the beach. I think the Federal Government is ramping up for a greater catastrophic influx of crude on the Gulf region. Having seen a CNN report this past week from Tennessee, a local charter fishing captain who took his own life on the bridge of his boat here at Ground Zero leaving a wife and two young sons, I am becoming angry probably to disguise feelings of despair for those whose livelihoods have depended on the Gulf and the bounty she has produced. Its all over now...

Birds Eye View - Water of Waste

June is usually peak season for swimming, sun bathing, and fishing along the emerald waters of Orange Beach, Alabama. This past Saturday morning the parking lots at condos were nearly empty. The beach service chairs with umbrellas remained unoccupied throughout the day. The four boats in this photo are actually two pairs of boats towing oil absorbant skimming booms. A flotilla of 50 pairs of local sportsfishermen, commercial charter fishing vessels, and government boats were working diligently with oil stained hulls throughout the morning until the surf kicked up to the extent that booms in-tow became ineffective. The damage is not from thick black crude. A rainbow colored sheen is visible in still waters. A brown milky mix of oil emulsion rolls at the water's edge of the beach. Safety patrolmen on 4x4 Kubotas, Mules and Rangers were available to discuss the advisory to stay out of the water. Only an occassional visitor would venture in any farther than knee depth. Our government is ramping up equipment in staging areas along the beach for an apparent worse scenario. Large track hoes, off road mining dump trucks, scores of 4x4 all terrain vehicles, and hundreds of port-o-lets are standing by under armed guard in State Parks. Damage claim offices are scattered from Gulf Shores to Perdido Key. The typical wait at any of the local restaurants is about an hour. We were welcomed by management at the entrance of two restaurants during the weekend with only several tables with guests enjoying a meal. Raw oysters and several species of fresh fish have been removed from the menu. The economy of the Gulf South is now under the effect of the worst oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, perhaps the nation. I expect many local businesses who invested their entire livelihood will not survive. I personally did not see any living creatures in the waters. Just the gulls waiting for a handout on the beach. More to follow during weeks ahead.

Spider Man

My wife and I were enjoying some downtime last Saturday on a favorite sandbar located in the middle of Old River near Perdido Pass at Orange Beach, Alabama when a stork flew over and dropped this little boy into my hands. We decided to keep him! Today is our son's 5th birthday. Happy birthday "Spider Man". We will always love you more than you will ever know. You have been such a blessing. Daddy will be home for your birthday party this Saturday.

Remember

There's nothing that I can add to this photo....

Blazing Like a Torch

Having commented on the looming environmental catastrophe in the Gulf in my most recent post, the blog was seemingly incomplete. Some sense of troubled awareness lay deep in my subconciousness. My alarm was set at 3:00 a.m. this past Monday. At 2:50 I was already awake contemplating the five hour drive to the project office in Tennessee. Many things can pass through the mind of the wayward traveler during these early morning hours on I-65. I was recalling the news of the explosion and fire on the Deepwater Horizon, the eventual sinking of this $350,000,000.00 offshore exploration drilling rig (photo attached was taken from the internet and source was not indicated), and the days following with media speculation of this event surpassing the Exxon Valdez spill in the Prince William Sound of Alaska. We love the Emerald Coast of the United States and the real threat of ruin from the continuing uncapped wellhead is heavily burdening my family. Traveling to the beach as often as possible all seasons of the year, we enjoy fishing, viewing the abundance of marine life, and relaxing on some of the whitest sands on earth. During the drive it finally dawned on me that I have studied scripture with unprecedented parallels to the potentially unsurpassed marine disaster. I feel a sense of urgency and invite you to continue reading the following:

The apostle John wrote of a Holy Spirit inspired vision in Revelation 8:10-11 "Then the third angel sounded: And a great star fell from heaven, blazing like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water. The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died from the water, because it was made bitter." (NKJV) When this prophecy becomes fulfilled, the world will be in the period of the Great Tribulation. This writing is not to imply that we are in this period today because this is not the case. The bible also teaches in I Thessalonians 4:16-17 "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord." This event is the Rapture. Many years ago I surrendered my life and asked the Lord Jesus Christ to save me. I know what I know: I am a child of God. I believe in the inerrant, infallible Word of God. I will not be on the face of this earth at the onset of the Great Tribulation.

My friends, surely you are cognizant of the days we are now living. Wars, rumors of wars, and earthquakes occurring daily. It is written "Blessed is he that readeth, they that hear the words of the prophecy of this book, and keep those things which are written therein; for the time is at hand." Revelation 1:3 (KJV) I am thankful that I was not called to be an evangelist and certainly am not attempting to become one today. I am thankful more so for having been given the opportunity to work in places of quiet isolation. "Be still, and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10. If you do not have a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus, I urge you to evaluate your destiny in eternity today. "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him..." Revelation 3:20 You were born with a soul to live forever. There are only two alternatives: accept the gift of enternal life through the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ on a cross at Calvary or eternal separation from God the Father. Hell is a real place of unimaginable sorrow and despair - a great chasm where no man can cross. An Atlanta pastor teacher once stated in his sermon about Hell, "Not believing in Hell is like standing on the beach with an approaching tital wave and stating I don't believe in that huge wave." I have not lived a perfect life, not even close. Those of you who know me personally realize that I am rebellious in my nature. This remains an ongoing battle within. I can say with certainty that having rededicated my life back in '01, the Lord has never failed to meet me in times of my greatest need. I invite you to seek the Lord Jesus Christ today!

OIL - Storm on the Horizon

The nation has recently been awaiting news of the completion of the first of three concrete and steel 100 ton "containment domes" constructed by BP in an all or none effort to corral the 5000 barrel per day wellhead leak south of the Mississippi River delta in the Gulf of Mexico. The photo attached was taken with my cell phone last summer in Orange Beach, Alabama just minutes before a super cell thunderstorm ran us indoors. Friends on the beach this past weekend forwarded photos of containment booms which had been deployed just off the beach that were washed ashore in 8' breakers from strong southerly winds and astronomical high tides. Hopefully, these have been replaced. In my opinion, booms will offer little defense if the wellhead leaks are not contained very soon. The spill will overrun protective booms in moderate surf. In reality, Orange Beach can be cleaned up by hauling off contaminated sands and new sand will be pumped back to the beachhead. The catastrophic damage will be to the abundant marine ecosystem, especially in the estuarine ecosystems of Mississippi and Louisiana. Dr. Guy Harvey stated in an advertisement on Island T.V. last year, "this Gulf is one of the most prolific in the world." So, what is the point of this posting? I confess that I own a gas guzzling Superduty four wheel drive pickup and will always because my lifestyle involves farming, hunting, and offshore sportsfishing. I need a larger truck today with a more powerful engine! Just this past weekend I towed a trailer with 10,200 pounds of agricultural lime to spread on a field. I am heavily dependent on refined crude oil, i.e. gasoline. I will always budget to purchase fuel for my truck, and in reality, at any cost. The petroleum industry in this nation has such an enormous lobby, fuel alternatives are unlikely in my lifetime. Technology exists for nuclear powered vehicles. However, profitability of the petroleum industry is extreme to the extent that the industry can afford to perpetuate itself at all costs. If gasoline reaches $4.00/gallon as a result of the spill, something else in my budget will have to go. I will never believe that an electric engine that will fit under the hood my my truck will tow a John Deere tractor on a tandem axle dual wheeled trailor. Besides, I like the roar of a large V-8 engine and will never become acclimated to the whine of a weak battery powered oversized golf cart engine. As Pres. "W" exclaimed, America is "addicted" to petroleum based fuels. I will not be registering for "rehab". Bring on a nuclear fusion nacelle for my truck with 1000 horsepower output and I'll definitely give it a shot. This is not my attempt to post random mundane satire, and in my nature, I am only interested in TRUTH. The truth is this is the American way. Oil exploration is not going to cease in the Gulf of Mexico, Chukchi & Beaufort Seas north of Alaska, or the Atlantic seaboard recently opened for lease. Historically, the U.S. has been "knee-jerk" reactive with new policies following major catastrophic events and we should expect more intensive environmental impact studies and tighter controls on the petroleum industry. Who will pay the tab? The consumer at the gas pump.

The King Corridor

Reviewing the photos of last summer this fine specimen of a jack cravelle caught my attention. The proper name is Cravelle Jack, Caranx hippos in scientific binomial nomenclature. My nephew, nicknamed Haas (as in Cartwright), was very proud and exhausted following a lengthy battle. We were fishing southwest of Perdido Pass in Orange Beach, Alabama. The bridge is located on the horizon between the (4) condos on the left and the (1) on the right. Thunder Bay Fishing Team were trolling for king mackeral with 30 pound tackle. Terminal gear included feather dusters of various coloration with cigar minnow rigs on 108 pound leaders. Kings are "toothy" and monofilament will not stand up to the king bite. I always drag a tuna teaser with 50 pound tackle well behind the king spread for the occasssional strike of something much larger. Humidity was very high on this July morning and Haas was sweating bullets, in reality to the point of "heat stress", following the battle on the Penn International II 50 TW and Penn Tuna Stick rod. Jacks are the stronger of the fish species in the Gulf of Mexico for its size class, comparable to Amber Jacks which are found in deeper waters. These fish will strip drag and turn sideways in the water column. Its like reeling a 4'x8' sheet of plywood. The best way to save time with jack cravelle is backing down with the boat as with the pelagic species like marlin and tuna. The "king corridor" is about 7 miles southwest of the Perdido Pass. We typically pick up a limit of kings within a few hours in the 40-45 feet depth while trolling parallel to the beach. After reaching the limit we spot for birds, downsize to 20 pound tackle, and target spanish mackeral. Bonita will wreak havoc on Penn 750 spinning reels and usually we run the fish with the boat to preserve the line spool. The Orange Beach charter fleet and most locals fish for the bottom species, red snapper. However, in past years season limits have decreased and fish size minimums have increased to eliminate overfishing the snapper population. There is much controversy over the seasonal regulations and the economic affect on the Gulf Shores and Orange Beach economy. We enjoy trolling for "smokers", i.e. kings that can smoke the drag on Penn 4/0 reels. These fish are very good eating. Note: the larger kings have been determined by marine scientists to contain a high mercury content. Read local advisories regarding a safe size of king mackeral for table fair. If you are interested in marine science I would like to suggest the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation and the Guy Harvey Research Institute. Dr. Harvey's blog is listed on this site under "My Blog List". He has dedicated his life to marine conservation and remains the renowned artist of marine fauna and flora. Sales of his artwork fund his science institutions. The attached photo was taken with my cell phone. Regretably, the quality is not good. Typical coloration of jack cravelle includes beautiful shades of yellow.

Take One for the Gipper!

I expect that Auburn University and University of Alabama students were disappointed in the weather last week during spring break in Gulf Shores. Perhaps they enjoyed a touch of spring on Saturday with sunny skies and highs in the 70s. During my youth we would make up for it with the nightlife! Those were the days! (Uh...that is, many days ago...) Winter has lingered in the Deep South. Each year on "departure Sunday" tired and sunburned traveling students crowd local fast food restaurants in my home town about 100 miles north of the beach. Those with "bronze tans" this year probably purchased it from a tanning salon prior to the spring break roadtrip! This photo was taken last October in Gulf State Park with my cellphone. The Park is located between Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. In the distance beachhomes have either been restored or rebuilt following devastating Hurricane Ivan. Sea Oats waving in the prevailing southwesterly wind are protected in all Gulf South States to preserve the natural community. On family vacations to Santa Rosa Island, Florida during the '60s my family would gather sea oats for home decor. We did not know better. The Gulf State Park is popular during the summer for family portraits of all members wearing the typical khaki shorts and white shirts. For years I stated I would never dress in the "family beach uniform" for a picture. Last year when my wife said it was time for the family beach portrait, I bit the bullet and ironed a pair of khaki shorts pronto! Sometimes you just have to take one for the Gipper!

Where Is This Place?

Back to the blog after a month away as a result of a change on the work front. Last entry mentioned the unusual snow event I encountered during a travel day in the Deep South during February from the Nashville office to home in south Alabama. In the consulting business one must remain flexible and mobile to respond to the needs of the clients. Having just made a commitment for an apartment within close proximity to the office the boss walked by and asked if I could report to a critical project within (20) hours. The answer is always yes...its the nature of the business. The photo reflects fall foliage on the slope of a mountain which is renowned for civil war history and continues to be a primary tourist destination. I met my family here during November on a weekend while I was working in the Shenandoah National Park. This location is midway between northern Virginia and south Alabama. Actually, I met my wife and son on (2) occasions. Sticky Fingers Barbeque became our favorite pastime following visits to the Aquarium and Imax Theater. Figured it out yet? How about a few more hints. See Rock City. See Ruby Falls. The billboards and barn tops advertise this hotspots several hundred miles north or south of Chattanooga, Tennessee. Who would have thought that I would be working 25 miles north three months after the tram ride to the top of Lookout Mountain and the half slab of ribs, slaw, and baked beans downtown. Following a week at the airport extended stay hotel I moved close to the project to escape the Chat traffic. Then were long days of work followed by night internet courses to meet the objectives of the client. Tonight I celebrate the relocation and duration of the new project (in consideration of the status of the national economy-I am blessed), completion of the nightly cram sessions for certifications (passing the final exams), and flexibility to drive home on weekends to be with my family (SNP was a long, long way from home). I look forward to returning to this blog with new photos, new stories, and encounters with the Lord Jesus. "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him." ISAIAH 64:4

Southern Snow

The weather channel reported the snow in the Deep South was a once in a decade event. Departing Nashville shortly after noon on I-65 south I encountered light flurries an hour north of Birmingham, moderate snow in Montgomery, and almost whiteout thirty miles further. It honestly looked like those Dakota blizzards as one, two, and then a third vehicle had lost control and plowed through snow and mud on the right-of-way. My concern early in the journey was to reach home before dark as forecasted temps dropping in the low 20s would re-freeze the precipitation on the interstate. State troopers and DOT crews were posted at many bridges monitoring conditions. What an opportunity today to get back out the the hunting property. A great buck had given us the slip the last week of the Alabama season. Snow would give me an opportunity to look for tracks and other sign to verify that he survived the season. An hour into the walk the familiar tracks were found. We do not often see a buck track in south Alabama with the width of three fingers. Indeed, he had survived and he was still on the property. Following a short pursuit I jumped him from his bed in a thicket where only a dusting of snow had accumulated. Honestly, he was large and very dark in color. I could not get a clear look at his rack. No matter, I had found his core area with scrapes and rubs. I have not hunted this area throughout the years. The snow was very beneficial in this post season scouting expedition. A text message was received by my family hunting partners that 'Ol Three Fingers' will be around next year, and a ladder stand will be waiting on the first day of season. The photo was taken last December in Shenadoah National Park. I've posted this particular buck on several occassions. I became quite fond of him, especially after he allowed me to crawl in snow within four feet while he continue browsing. Hopefully, this fine buck is surviving the immense amount of snow in the Park. Last report was about 3 feet.

Ending Well

Back at work this week following time off to hunt the whitetail deer rut in south Alabama. The schedules worked well this year as the men of the family were able to meet together at the old camp. Hunting was exceptional! The weather ranged from highs near 70F early in the hunt to highs in the low 40sF later in the week. Very heavy rainfall did hamper a day, but most braved the elements in shooting houses none-the-less. Each member of our hunting party was offered an opportunity for a shot at a nice buck. Total for (8) consecutive days of hunting: (8) bucks-(6) of which were in the middle-aged to mature range. (2) complete misses. Quality deer management (QDM) is working on the property and antler development is improving each year. The photo attached unfortunately is not from our hunting property. This buck was photographed on Dec. 15 at Shenandoah National Park, just (7) days before the project I was working on shut down winter. The anticipated yearly rut in south Alabama is typically the last week of January. This year we began observing bucks actively chasing does on January 28. Honestly, it is my opinion that the rut is still active this first week of February. I must admit that I was somewhat rundown toward the end following the daily alarm of 4:50 a.m. Enjoying fellowship and good meals, one has a tendency to stay up too late night after night re-living the day's events. Then, back up early the next morning with expectations of observing and possibly harvesting the buck-of-a-lifetime. Reviewing my diary tonight of Dec. 15, the same day I photographed the exceptional captioned buck, I find my devotional time was centered around reading how Mark (John Mark, author of the Gospel according to Mark) learned how the end well. "Mark eventually accepted the challenges of his ministry-difficulties and all, and ended up a winner", teaches Dr. C. Stanley at In Touch Ministries. "Many of us fail to end well because we mistakenly think that God's call to personal ministry depends on our own skill level. We must depend on God and glorify Him through the end." Dr. Stanley continues, "Much of the Christian life is low-key, tame, and ordinary. This life will be celebrated in heaven." My family members look forward to celebrating with loved ones in heaven. We glorify the Lord today for our blessings of freedom in America, opportunities to live the outdoor lifestyle and pass on the hunting tradition, and to view the hand of God by evidence of what we see and experience in nature.

The Recovery

Saturday morning was not the typical January winter temperature in south Alabama. Following weeks of colder than average temps, 51 degrees seemed balmy, especially with rain and a strong southerly winds. The morning hunt ending around 10:00 a.m. only produced sightings of (1) spike buck at ten yards which appeared extremely nervous and (3) does crossing into heavy cover. Whitetail deer rely on their keen sense of smell and hearing for protection. All of their senses are not optimum during these types of weather conditions and not surprising to me did these animals pass without stopping in the winter wheat, oats, and white Dutch clover. Back to the same stand around 3:00 p.m. conditions remained unchanged. I enjoy the view with a pair of Nikon 10x50 binoculars. These come in handy to check deer gender at long distances and judge smaller bucks which are passed to grow into more mature individuals of the population, a practice of the quality deer management concept. (Google QDMA for more information). 4:00 p.m. - another spike, or possibly the (3) point buck I saw two weekends passed crossed at about 3o0 yards not even paying attention to some does in the green field. The peak rut in this area is generally during the last week of January which is also the last week of the Alabama deer season. It can happen over night, slow buck movement in an afternoon and rutting behavior with bucks running everywhere the next morning. Through years of experience, I've learned that a hunter just has to be in the woods as much a possible to catch the days of peak rutting activity. 5:00 p.m. brought low light conditions from dark overcast skies with continuing steady light rain. Catching movement of a deer crossing at a long distance, I quickly found a tall rack "shooter" buck with the binoculars. During wet conditions, I also take the Remington Model 700 BDL in .270 which "Santa Clause" brought to me when I was about 12 or 13 years of age. That's been a long while back! Having hunted successfully with a Tasco 3x9x40mm scope for many years, I eventually upgraded to a Leupold Vari-X II in 3x9x50mm which gathers more light. The rifle is zeroed in at 100 yards. (Not many locations in south Alabama offer a shot in excess of 100 yards!) The buck stopped long enough for me to get the crosshairs on him. My guess was that he was at about 300 yards so I held 2 inches high above the line of the back and fired. I did not see the typical hind legs high kick innate response following impact. The buck just dropped slightly with his head held high and ran into heavy brush. During the rain I rushed down to the location I believed the buck was standing and found no sign, no tracks, nothing...Running out of daylight I headed back to the truck to get a Maglight to continue the search for any sign that I may have connected with the .270. Each hunter knows the sinking feeling in their stomach when it becomes apparent of a complete miss. Then comes the second guessing of why did I even take a shot at this distance? The longest shot I've ever made is 264 yards. I eventually gave up the search and headed home, replaying the scenario over and over in my mind. Discussing the ballistics for the 130 grain boat tailed soft point over the cell phone with my brother, a very accomplished deer hunter with some big trophy class mounts on the wall, he encouraged me to return the next morning to continue the "forensics" to find some closure for the hunt. Following about an hour of searching on Sunday, I decided as a last resort to walk my line of fire toward the elevated shooting house. What a sense of relief to find hair as a result of impact approximately 50 yards closer than I had estimated. Within a few minutes I found the buck at about 70 yards. The area I hunt has a large predator population of coyotes and bobcats, and the rare sighting of black bears. Unfortunately, the coyotes had already cleaned this 9 point buck from the shoulders through the hind quarters. I recovered the rack for photos to give this buck the dignity he is worthy of. The shot at the determined distance of 250 yards was perfect and humane. Sportsmen never want to waste an animal and will make every effort to recover it. The conditions were all against me on Saturday evening but recovering this buck made all the effort worth while. I am resolved that the coyotes need a feast every now and then! I'm off next week to host my dad, brother, and nephews at the camp for the final week. We have been getting together the last week of January since I moved to Alabama in 2000. Hopefully, I can share some very exciting outdoor encounters from these upcoming adventures in the field.

Big Woods Deep Water

My son's academy hosts a yearly fundraising event. Local landowners donate their favorite deer hunting stands in January for three days. Fathers of students who are accomplished hunters themselves guide those participating in the hunt. The event has grown throughout the years. Hunter success rates are quite impressive and several trophy deer are harvested each year. Most of the hunters are from out-of-state and book a year in advance for the return. Unfortunately, due to my work schedule, I was not able to help this year. However, I did receive a call today from one of the guides. Upon finding him on the roadside shivering with wet feet, he explained that his Pathfinder was, as they say down South, "bawged down" with water in the doors. It was substantially worse then he described. Finding his exhaust pipe almost submerged and the engine off I expected the vehicle would not start. That Nissan fired right up! The vast preponderance of evidence in the photo supports the fact that it took a little work! My four year old cheered "Stuck in the mud! Stuck in the mud!" as the F-250 "bellered" - that's southern for bellowed or moaning in need of relief. I had to get into the horses to accomplish the mission. As I think of all that ice floating around the Pathfinder, I still get chills thinking about my good friend sloshing down the woods road to the nearest house to call. Talk about a bad day, he also lost his cell phone in the mayhem!

A Way to Begin in 2010.

First day of 2010. I remember as a child thinking about how cars would probably be a thing of the past at this point in my life. People would be jetting around in miniture space ships. (LOL!). No, I still enjoy getting to the woods in my '75 CJ-5 Jeep. Out the door now at 10:00 a.m. to the out-of-doors day three of mid-day hunting Alabama. Full moon this week. I've learned that mature bucks have a tendency to move during this time of the day during full moon phases. I've been on a big one which I hope looks like the photo from SNP. Haven't seen him yet. That's why its called hunting and not shooting. Last night a friend brought over some seafood gumbo. We cooked some rice. Talk about a feast with the lasagna my wife prepared. Cajun and Italian! No where else but the Deep South for good food. I brought the new year end with an overfilled stomach and my head on the pillow...

Update: 6:30 p.m. - Cold front blew in today and did it blow. One doe braved the grass patch and then exited as the nor'easter moved the trees.