While on vacation visiting my brother and sister (IL) every day was packed with fun and relaxation. We spent time at the ocean, frolicking in the waves and enjoyed the warm sun and sand. We ate at an oceanside restaurant that served scruptious seafood. Oysters on the half shell, smoked fish dip, crab cakes, shrimp, scallops - you name it. Yum!

My brother B taught my husband (above) and I the art of catching fish from shore. We had a blast catching fish and a few other sea creatures. B, with a background in DNR and wildlife conservation, was ever so careful to let the creatures go, administering as little contact and trauma to them as possible.

We caught whiting and pompano fish, a sting ray and this fellow, an electric torpedo ray. At first, we thought it was a version of a sting ray, however my brother, while trying to remove the hook, was stunned by a good dose of electric current. Torpedo rays have electric organs in their wings that generate electric current they use as a defense mechanism and to stun their prey. After the initial jolt, B cautiously pushed this fellow back out to sea.


This man brought his pet goose teathered on a leash to the ocean for a swim. It was quite evident that the goose loved the ocean, as he swam and paddled along, bobbing and riding the waves, oblivious of the fact that there weren't any other geese enjoying the same. He'd wade onto the beach, only to go back for more.

Offshore the shrimp boats had their nets strung out and we enjoyed watching them move back and forth across the ocean gathering their haul for the day.

The waves were incredible and the surfer's were enjoying a perfectly beautiful day. Now if you could do this every day, or every weekend, why would you want to live anywhere else?

Labels: "Great Outdoors Restaurant", Best Friend, family, florida, goose, Maggie Summers, ocean, shrimp boats, surfing, torpedo ray

Labels: Best Friend, camera, latte, Nikon, Starbucks