Sunday, May 26, 2013

Sponge diving, sponges, Osprey, waiting

We are waiting.... There is a weather alert in the Gulf of Mexico with brisk winds and waves that just keeps getting worse. As of today we are here until Thursday  5/30 . We are hoping that we will be on our way before June 1 which coincidentally is the start of hurricane season.
The next leg is 144 miles with no place to duck in so we want a good three day window to leave. 

Meanwhile we are exploring Tarpon Springs, the Sponge Capital of Florida and once of the world. 
In 1905, John Cocoris introduced the technique of sponge diving to Tarpon Springs. Cocoris recruited Greek sponge divers from the Dodecanese Islands of Greece, in particular Kalymnos,Symi and Halki leading, by the 1930s, to a very productive sponge industry in Tarpon Springs, generating millions of dollars a year. The 1953 film Beneath the 12-Mile Reef, depicting sponge diving, takes place and was filmed in Tarpon Springs.[6]
When a red tide algae bloom occurred in 1947, wiping out the sponge fields in that region of the Gulf of Mexico, most of the sponge boats and divers switched to fishing and shrimping for a livelihood. The city then converted most of its sponge-related activities, especially the warehouses where they were sold, into tourist attractions. The Sponge Docks are now mostly shops, restaurants, and museums dedicated to the memory of Tarpon Springs' earlier industry. Most sponges sold on the docks are now imports; relatively few sponges are harvested from the area, although attempts have been made in recent years to restart local sponge harvesting. Led by local businessman George Billiris, in the late 1980s the sponge industry made a comeback, and in the fall of 2007 a record harvest of sponges by a single boat was made.
In 2007 and 2008, Tarpon Springs' mayor, Beverley Billiris, established Sister City relationships with KalymnosHalkiSymi, and Cyprus, honoring the close historical link with these Greek islands.

Tom and I went on one of the tour boats, it was interesting. I have purchased several sponges and really do like washing with the real thing. 



this boat returned from a 16 day run filled
with sponges

around two weeks ago this boat caught fire just
after they topped off the fuel tanks. The owner
did not have insurance, so right now the salvage/
removal is in limbo
they still dive in hard hat suits for the sponges
This is Dave the diver on our boat




what a sponge looks like before it is processed 

we have a pair of Osprey that fly around here
This one landed on the mast... I don't think
it is smiling for the picture

Tom did not appreciate the Osprey sitting on our wind
gauge so he shook the mast, made a neat picture



another early morning visitor

Friday, May 24, 2013

Last one and few odd notes about our road trip

The last part of the exhibits are dedicated to the Korean War and Vietnam. They also have a very moving display POW Table. I did not photograph this because each item on the table symbolized something associated with POW's and MIAs.

We left the museum, Tom still telling me about the various displays and his experiences. We then decided to take the drive down to Clearwater Beach along the Gulf. This was a weird experience after our stay at Fort Myers Beach. This area is very residential not touristy. We drove over 20 miles looking for a restaurant and not finding anything until we were at Clearwater Beach.  We did find Frenchy's Rockaway Grill on the Beach where I finally tried a Grouper Reuben  They really are not bad though not Reuben tasting at all. We went back to the boat and later that evening went to see the new Star Trek movie  at an IMAX.

Car went back on Friday and we are waiting for a weather window to continue on. Think we will enjoy another meal at the Hellas Restaurant this afternoon.

Fair winds 
Stay safe this weekend
made famous on MASH
US ARMY/ USMC 1968
M151-A1 MINESWEEPER

The Ho Chi Minh Trail was a complex network of truck roads
bicycle and foot paths with water routes used to move
supplies and soldiers. The firebase diorama replicates a USMC 81mm
mortar pit during the battle of  Khe Sahn

1923 Model T Huckster
top speed 48 mph
M I turret 
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PART THREE, THE ARMED FORCES MILITARY MUSEUM

The next major exhib is the D-Day Landing / Utah Beach - This was the largest military operation in history and the exhibit includes a oral history by Colonel Leonard Schroeder, (deceased) a local resident who was the first soldier to land on Utah Beach. There is an area representing the french village of St. Mere Eglise where paratroopers dropped in the night before D-Day.
Paratroopers 
Lt. Leonard Schroeder when he enlisted
the actual boots Schroder wore landing on Utah Beach 

1942 Harley-Davidson  WLA



INSIDE A USO CLUB
US ARMY 1943  MULTIPLE GUN MOTOR CARRIER
WWII AND KOREA
1976  Swiss army Condor
equipped with dual rifle mounts, saddlebags, and luggage rack.
It also includes the original tool bag, goggles, chain lock and ID  tag,
plug pouch, clink pouch and manuals


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Part Two inside the Armed Forces Military Museum

We made the rounds through the static displays on the outside. Tom filled me in on quite a few of the things on display. From the outside the museum looks deceivingly small , and that misconception continues when you enter. There is a small store and the reception desk and an exhibit of uniforms through time for all the services. All have been donated by families and were worn in service. Then through some doors where you hear gunfire and planes. We have entered a trench from WW1. They play recordings made by veterans about what happened to them. It is a very surreal experience. 
Circa  1951
U.S. Air Force Lt. Colonel 
CHALLENGE COINS
A challenge coin, usually military, bears an organizations Insignia or emblem
and is carried by the organizations members.. 
A bunker in the trenches of  WW1

Renault FT-17

The next room is Pear Harbor and the South Pacific WW II
The chairs in the display are from Admiral Yamamoto's headquarter in Rabaul.
The model ships displayed are those actually used in the  1950
film Tora! Tora! Tora! 

This floor is a piece of the deck from a Japanese Air craft
carrier 

DUKW 6X6 2 1/2 TON AMPHIBIAN VEHICLE


USMC 1942  M5A1 STUART LIGHT TANK
WWII

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