Nostalgia

Avoiding the wildlife theme today for a reason. This same Saturday in 1970 was the beginning for me, being included in a perpetual Sullivan tradition having been carried forward through literal generations. Today being the first ever missed "opening day" of the whitetail deer season in the Deep South, all for a higher priority. In this case to pursue the completion of Recovery Act Road Rehab Phase I in SNP. Although actual work is not allowed during the weekends, I wouldn't want to obscure the views of the Alleghenies on the horizon to the west with heavy equipment and those stop/slow signs we all know. At least my brother sent the modern "text" that he harvested a nice one on the "gasline" stand early this a.m. before the rain set in. No, today I reminisce of the weekends of this past summer with my family, my wife and son who are missed much on this overcast afternoon. The photo is one of the rare moments in our lives when you drop everything, even my fishing rod and grab the cell phone for a quick shot of the secondary rainbow before it disappeared. I've only seen this phenomenon one other occassion in Sevier Co., TN in '99. Ol' River is the location with Ono Island in the background. Only (5) minutes inland through Perdido Pass at Orange Beach, AL, connecting the Gulf of Mexico. Although this area is probably the most populated during peak season, renowned Cayman Is. marine biologist and author Guy Harvey, PhD states that due to the concerted efforts of the local conservation clubs and the charter fishing industry, it remains a premier fishing destination in the U.S. I can personally attest to this as truth! Near the opposite shore is a shallow sand bar where we set anchor and wade in knee depth clear water to view abundant inshore marine life including hermit crabs, stingrays, schools of mullet, speckled trout, and the occasional jack cravelle racing in as an efficient predator before disappearing back into darker water on the shelf of the bar. The beach has its cold days as winds seem unrelenting during the winter months. It will be late spring before we revisit this area known in the tourism industry as the "Emerald Coast".