Why am I fighting?

Why am I fighting?

Because it's not a left or right issue. It's about rights and freedom.

Land of the FREE, remember? Liberty and justice for ALL.

You're not free if they're controlling mainstream media.

You're not free if they're stifling free speech.

It's not justice if they're trying to impeach judges because they don't like their ruling.

It's not justice when people don't get due process.  

If you don't agree, sit back and continue to watch this country devolve into a fascist nation. That's what happened in Nazi Germany.

Just know this, I am in this fight. I will not bend the knee to Nazis.

Don't like it? Unfollow. Our views do not align. 

The Traumatic Duo - FElon and Flunk

This post should be short. It's mainly an observation that I want to get out there. 

These are chaotic times. The cultists took the bait and swallowed the hook. It's in their belly now.

FElon and Douche DOGE, have been busy gutting our institution of government, while the Flunk has cratered the stock market, 401k's, and people's entire life savings, and his comment was AMERICANS NEED TO SUFFER. 

Let that sink in. The Traumatic Duo, who were both born into wealth and don't know what suffering is, think that We the People need to suffer.

This makes me so angry. I grew up dirt poor and had to fight to get where I am now. There were times after my dad died that I only got one meal a day, if that. We didn't have heat in the winter, and no cool air in the summer. 

When I got out on my own, I remember having to dig in the couch cushions for .33 cents to buy a can of soup—which I had to walk two miles round trip while suffering from the flu to get. Upon heating it up on the stove and putting it in a bowl, I was so weak that I dropped it on the floor and sat in the middle of the floor and sobbed.

These assholes don't know what suffering is, but I sure as hell hope they find out.

I Will Resist

Here we are again. Seems like my last post was in 2016 about a similar topic. Sadly it's still relevant. I am reviving my old blogs... here, Tumblr, Wordpress so that if anything survives this chaos, the future will know which side of the line I stood on.

Find me on:

Bluesky at @pnerissa.bsky.social 

Tumbler at https://www.tumblr.com/blog/emeraldcoastmermaid

I am not active on Zuckerturd's FB, Instagram or Meta platforms, nor will you find me on Muskrat's site formerly known as Twitter.

Women's March 2025 Fort Walton Beach FL

I Will Resist

I'm reviving my channel, and repurposing it. At my core I'm a lover of nature, and that will always be my calling, but right now, in this moment, in order to preserve any of the things that I and many others love, I will not be silent. This country, the United States of America, was built on freedom and basic rights- the very freedom that the fascists and oligarchs threaten. Let me be very clear: If you are only getting your news from the mainstream media - the very media that Trump and his fascist regime have threatened into telling his false narrative, you are being lied to. Dig deeper. Seek out the independent and non-biased news sources and see that there is a massive movement in this country that will not be silenced - that is not afraid to speak out against the lies. Trump's regime is afraid of the truth - that's why they are intent on controlling the narrative. They want the people to be ignorant. Resist. Educate yourself. Seek out the truth. Expose the lies. Do not let them take away our rights and freedoms. Speak up. Speak out. Speak LOUD. Stand against fascism.

Resources:
https://www.fiftyfifty.one
https://indivisible.org
https://pol-rev.com
https://nvunheard.com

The Cult of Trump

Me &Thunder Great Smoky Mtns Natl Park

I am an American citizen born on American soil, as were both of my parents and their parents before them. My father even served in the United States Army before later becoming a civilian barber. I begin with this caveat because there are some people out there in the Trump camp that firmly believe that if I choose not to support Trump, then I should leave this country. Get it straight, this is my country too and I have every right to be here, just as I have the right to vote for whomever I so shall choose.

Trump's supporters claim that they believe in freedom of speech, but only if it is in support of their candidate. This is where the “get out of OUR country” statements are being thrown about (just do a Twitter search.) They forget that we have to share this country whether we agree with one another or not. As an American citizen I shouldn't have to worry that if I put up a sign in my yard or bumper sticker on my car for “the other guy” that Trump's supporters will vandalize my home and car, but these blind followers of Trump are okay with breaking the law to help their candidate get ahead, and if my property gets damaged in the process, so be it.

I have yet to meet a rational Trump supporter, and to be honest, I can't fathom how they are able to turn a blind eye/ear to his lies, failed business history (4 bankruptcy filings) and ongoing irrational behavior. Do they actually believe he is capable of calmly negotiating any kind of a deal with a foreign power or do they just expect him to bully his way through the talks with Trump's “my way or the highway” mentality? I want a leader that projects knowledge and confidence, not one that looks like he's throwing a tantrum in the sandbox. He claims that he's going to make a lot of changes once he gets in office, but he seems to forget there is a process involved in changing laws and procedures and you can't just make it so with the stroke of a pen.

This is a man that has no idea what it is like to have to struggle for a living. Trump came from a life of privilege, getting his start on the coattails of his father's business and then later receiving a “small” $1 million dollar loan from him to start a real estate business. He can't empathize with a minimum wage family trying to stretch a dollar and put meals on the table for their children, just as he can't understand the concept of 'not' being able to have something or having to choose between those somethings. Maybe this month it's a choice of food on the table or taking one of the kids to the doctor, but don't expect that you can do both.

This election is disheartening, especially with the realization that there are so many cult followers out there loudly asking for more of the special Kool-aid. It's almost as if no one can see or hear the train coming. No one is asking the right questions or demanding answers. And when it all goes to hell in a handbasket they'll start pointing the finger or blame at “the establishment,” but to be sure, it won't be because of anything they did or didn't do, and it certainly won't be due to the blind eye they turned.

Maybe I'm a rare class of person that actually does research into a candidate. I think about the struggles and rights of others and how they might be affected. Perhaps more people should do that as well instead of beat their drum to the march of a mad piper. The media, in particular, should take a step back and re-evaluate their coverage of candidates because they sure as hell aren't giving them equal coverage and that is a disservice to all American voters. 

Don't agree with me? That's your perogative. Just be grateful that you live in a country where we are ALL entitled to a difference of opinion, and no, I don't have to drink the Kool-aid.

How to Create Your Very Own Magical Tools for Spellcraft

Practitioners of magic know the value of having a finely crafted magical tool for spellwork. Learn how to create your own magical stave or wand.

Gem Detail on Magical Staff

For magic practitioners, the decision to create a wand or stave should not be made impulsively. Each magical tool must have a clear purpose behind its creation. A wand, for instance, is a focusing tool for drawing in and directing magical energy.

A stave's purpose could be similar, or it might consist of a more protective nature used for radiating protective energies around it's wielder. Whatever the purpose, the magical tool should be constructed in a respectful manner.

Selecting Wood For Crafting Magical Tools

The choice to use live or dead wood is a hotly debated topic amongst many practitioners of magic. Some would say that you should never use live wood, while others would contend that dead wood lacks any energy to lend toward a magical working. Ultimately the decision to use live or dead wood will lie with the tool wielder's own beliefs and personal path.

When selecting a wood for creating a wand or stave, take time to review the magical properties of wood species and select one that will be consistent with the type of magic the wand will be used for.

The lunar phase should also be noted when creating magical tools. Most new projects should be begun on a new moon and culminate by the full moon.

If collecting from a live tree, ask the tree for permission before making any cuts. Take only enough of the tree to create the desired tool, being careful not to cause any additional damage or trauma to the tree. It is customary to leave a small token or offering in appreciation of the sacrifice.

Creating a Magical Wand or Stave

A good goal for a wand is to have a relatively straight piece of wood that measures from wrist to elbow, and then adjust the size downward from there. Using a piece of fine grain sandpaper, sand off any rough areas along the wood. It is not necessary to remove the bark from the wand, but it may be done if desired.

Willow Wand with Quartz Crystal Point

Once sanded, wipe down the wood with a good mineral or wood oil and then set it aside. Each time the wood begins to dry, oil it again and set it aside. It could take several days for the wood to dry from repeated oiling before it finally stops soaking it in. The oiling process helps preserve the wood and prevents the wood from drying and becoming brittle.

A stave length should be no higher than head height, and may be shortened to whatever feels most comfortable for the practitioner. The stave should be sanded and oiled just as with the wand construction. When the stave or wand is sufficiently dry to the touch, finishing touches may be added such as the carving of runes and symbols, or the mounting of stones.

To seat a crystal into the tip of the wand, choose a crystal that is slightly smaller in diameter than the wood. Carefully bore out a small hole and fill it with gem glue. Insert the largest end of the crystal into the hole and tape it securely until dry. After the glue is dry, remove the tape. From this point wire wrap can be used to better secure the crystal to the wand if desired, or it can be left plain.

During all steps of construction, keep in mind the purpose for constructing a magical tool. Once the wand or stave construction is finished, it can be formally dedicated if the practitioner so desires. Wipe the wood with a fresh bit of oil every few months to help preserve it, and it will last for years to come.

This article is copyrighted by Beverly Hill and first appeared on Suite101.com

Used Car Salesmen

Wow. My track record with salesmen has just been phenomenal (sarcastic) lately. This past week I was car shopping online and stumbled across "the car." You know, the one you've dreamt about and it finally materializes at the right time. Well, it now ranks up there with too good to be true because it had very low miles, was in almost perfect condition, and had a very bad sales person. 


First, let me just say that the online price was very overpriced. I did my research with Nada and Kelly Blue Book and even took the time to check out the car's vehicle report. Smart girl. Information in hand I went down to the dealership to check out this shining beacon of hope and wow! There she was, like something out of a movie; Sparkling and shiny like new. I liked her. A lot. (And FYI, all cars are girls. Think about the fueling process.)


So, oddly enough I had to hunt and hunt for a sales person and finally cornered one. I expressed my interest in the car and we went over to see what we could agree upon. Since the price was conveniently not on the car (but had been posted on the website) I asked, "How much are you asking." He then proceeds to quote me a price $1,000 over what was posted on the website. Talk about insulted! I then offered him a figure under the price guide listings and was quite pleased to see an equally disgusted look on his face. Good. He then came back down to about what the internet price was listed but now I was just mad and walked away. I mean come on! 


As I was walking away I pulled out my trusty cell phone and called my boyfriend. The salesman was still following me so I made sure he heard me tell my beau that the price had actually gone up! The man tried to talk to me for a minute or two more but I politely thanked him and left. Since then I've received two more offers by email, but the car is still grossly overpriced. At this point, after the treatment I received, I don't even think I'd purchase the car if it hit the magic price. 


I'm still trying to figure out if the treatment I received was because I was a woman or if I just looked like a particularly dumb individual when I walked onto the lot. I think next time I will hire a headhunter to go in for me and negotiate the deal. This is ridiculous. No wonder so many people hate car shopping. 

Overzealous Salesperson

OMG! Grab a chair because I'm about to rant! 


I went to a local pet shop this morning to pick up some mice for my snakes, and I thought while there I might grab some meal worms for my Leopard Gecko. One would think this would be a simple enough task considering I have years of experience shopping for my pets. If only! 


I entered the pet shop to the ear piercing shrieks of dozens of large birds. Immediate turn-off for someone with sensitive hearing. Personally, if I owned a pet shop that housed birds, I'd have them in their own room away from the entryway, but I digress. I was greeted by a gentleman I've met once before and who I mistakenly thought might know what he was doing. I told him that I needed mice and he questioned me about the sizes and eventually just gave in and allowed me to go into the feeder room to pick them out and that's when Holy Hell erupted. 


We stepped past the woman who also works there and she immediately started to interrogate me with questions of what kind of snakes do I have? How big are they? Well then, you need this size mouse and this size rat and so forth. Excuse me, but I've done this a time or two and actually know what my snakes will eat, specifically, that Pepe' the Ball Python will not take pre-killed mice or rats and must have a live one. At some point past the arguing I managed to get some frozen mice and a live rat. But alas, the interrogation was far from over. 


While the gentleman tried to ring me up on an aging computer, the woman asked me about my dogs, having noticed I grabbed a handful of sample sized 'Taste of the Wild' dog food packets. I have a Great Pyrenees, a Boxer mix (tripod,) and an American Eskimo dog. 
"Well what do you feed them?"
" Iams Naturals."
"On no! You shouldn't be feeding them any of that, or Science Diet, or Eukanuba, or any of that stuff! It's made with chicken by-products and that's not good for them."
I attempted to remain composed. "I have plans to switch them to 'Taste of the Wild,' but I'm waiting for them to finish with the Iams Naturals."
"They don't need to be on Iams. That's the same as feeding them Road Kill. You don't eat road kill do you?"
"No, I don't, but I'm quite aware of what's in their dog food." I stopped her. "Before you go on, I'm a writer and I do quite a bit of research on the subject. We had a dog die from hemangio sarcoma that was most likely caused by ingredients in his dog food."
"You should feed them 'Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul.' Everything in it is natural and they don't use any by-products. It's better than 'Taste of the Wild.'" 
"I'll probably buy 'Taste of the Wild' before I would buy 'Chicken Soup.'
"Well why?!"
"I don't like that brand."
"Why don't you like it?!"
"Because it's the brand name. I won't buy any of their products. Just like I don't like Wal-mart so I shop at Target."
"But why don't you like 'Chicken Soup?!'
I looked her dead in the eye, "Because it's too Christian."
"Well."
"I'm not buying it."
"Well if you do some research on it you'll see that it's got everything that they need to be healthy. It's better for them than the other one."


By this point I just want to pay for my shit and leave. Then the guy behind the counter remembers that I have flying squirrels and mentions it. 
"Are they flying squirrels are regular squirrels?"
"They're Flying squirrels."
"Oh, you should give them Monkey Biscuits."
"They have some.  I'm actually very careful about what they eat. They're the reason I know so much about the dog food ingredients because they can't have anything with synthetic vitamin K in it."
"Why not?"
"Because animals can't process it and it causes tumors."
"They need a calcium block for ferrets."
"I actually feed them a specially forumlated food that's just for squirrels called Henry's Healthy Blocks. It's got all their vitamins and minerals in it. And they have a deer antler to chew on."
"So, you have a boy and a girl then?"
"No, I decided to have two girls because I don't plan on breeding them."
"Oh, that's good because no one will buy them."


"What did you need the wax worms for?"
"My leopard gecko."
"What are wax worms?"
"They're a soft bodied grub."
"Why can't he have king meal worms?"
"Because I have to cut off the heads for him."
"No! You don't cut off their heads!"
"Yes, you do. If he doesn't kill it and swallows it alive it can tear up his intestines. I've been in herepetology for many years and it's happened to other gecko owners. That's why I like the wax worms."


GAH!!!!


I am never EVER going back. TAKE NOTE small pet shop owners - this is how you run off repeat customers. Don't talk to us like we're stupid and we've never owned a pet before. We will leave your shop, never return and right a blog entry about you so that no one else wanders into Everything Bird in Fort Walton Beach! 

I write like - Dan Brown!

LOL! I just did the writing analysis for "I write like" and apparently I write like Dan Brown, author of the DaVinci Code, Angels and Demons, Deception Point and other fine novels. I can't really be upset because I really like his writing style.

I write like
Dan Brown

I Write Like by Mémoires, Mac journal software. Analyze your writing!

Time to Find a New Doctor

I was watching the news this morning and did a double-take. The doctor that I go to when I'm feeling under the weather is running for U.S. Senate. This raises a couple of interesting points for me, 1) If he is elected then obviously he won't be in his office seeing patients and 2) after visiting his candidate page I learned much more than I wanted to know, like how drastically his opinions differ from mine. Which brings me back to religion and politics and how the two should never be discussed over dinner or in polite company.

I suppose I could fret and fume over this latest development, but ever since the BP fiasco I've lost so much faith in our elected officials that I'm not even sure I'm going to vote. I had no idea the Big Oil owned and controlled our government. Just watching how BP orchestrated the disaster in the Gulf is proof of that. So it would seem that electing officials serves no point if money is all it takes to pull their strings. 


So perhaps I will just put my faith in homeopathic remedies and avoid the doctor all together. If only it were that easy to avoid the effects of corrupt politicians... 

Feds think public can't HANDLE THE TRUTH about toxic dispersants says EP...

Sometimes it amazes me what the American government and BP thinks it can get away with it. Not only is BP paying scientists NOT to reveal their findings, but the government is backing up BP's lies.


It doesn't take a rocket scientist (which is good because BP would probably pay them off too) to figure out that oil and dispersants are toxic. These materials are entering the food chain and will affect everything that it comes in contact with. Just look at a recent report on toxins found in whales or the ongoing results of autopsies performed on Gulf marine animals. The seafood in the Gulf of Mexico is NOT SAFE TO EAT. 


Below is a report from the EPA's senior analyst Hugh Kaufman exposing what the government doesn't want people to know. 

A Review of The Wolf of Tebron; Book 1 (The Gates of Heaven Series)

In "The Wolf of Tebron" the author, C. S. Lakin, seeks to impart a message of faith to the readers by weaving a tale that takes the hero of the story, Joran, on a journey to the four corners of the earth in an effort to rescue his lost love, Charris. Along the way Joran happens across a powerful wolf who joins him on his journey. 

"The Wolf of Tebron" seems to fall short on several key elements of good story telling. Though intended for teen audiences, the writing shifts uncomfortably from overly-simplistic to overly-intellectual, so much so that it will likely go beyond the grasp of an average reader. Combine that with weak character development and a shallow plot and "The Wolf of Tebron" makes for a tedious read. 

From the beginning the characters don't have enough substance to really form a connection with the reader. In his quest, Joran must find his missing wife and rescue her from the villain, the Moon. However, readers never meet the wife initially nor are they given enough information about her to make the readers connect with or feel concerned about her well-being. As a husband, Joran's character fails to give the appearance of being a mature adult with solid family responsibilities. 

After the wolf, Ruyah, formally joins the quest things don't improve much. As a companion, the wolf's dialogue is weak, especially when compared to the wolf's true nature as it is later revealed. The book is confusingly labeled as a fairy tale for teen readers. Most of the dialogue between Joran and his animal acquaintances, Ruyah and Byrp, is more suited for much younger readers while dialogue between Joran and Sola, the mother of the Sun, goes over even Joran's head. 

The story drags in places giving the reader plenty of time to wonder why they should care about Joran and his wife at all. When not conversing with Ruyah, Joran spends much of his time mentally torturing himself with second-guessing and regret. Although the story's message is clearly one of hope and forgiveness, the journey itself isn't as enjoyable. 

*Note: This reader was provided with an advanced copy. Read more reviews here.

Kayaking Near Marianna FL

For those of you who don't follow my adventure blog, Northwest Florida Outdoor Adventure, I had an amazing trip on Merritt Mill Pond this weekend. You can view pictures there, on my Suite101.com article and on my Flickr page. If you live close enough be sure to check out the pond. You'll be glad you did.

Follow me on Twitter! http://twitter.com/pnerissa

BP Oil Spill Still Flowing 80 Days Later

Apparently BP can't do much right except fail. At failure, BP excels! 80 days after the explosion of the Deep Water Horizon oil is still escaping from the well head. The last hope rests with the two relief wells being drilled in an effort to kill the original well. We can expect, if history is any example, that once BP succeeds with stopping the leak that they will expect to be touted as heroes and Saviours of the Gulf; all of the lies, cover-ups and efforts to impede clean-up and relief efforts will magically evaporate and life on the Gulf Coast will go back to normal. Wrong. What stands out instead is the callousness and disregard for the impact to the environment and livelihoods of the residents who live there.

Residents of the Gulf Coast have long memories. If BP thinks that they'll be able to quietly slip into the background they're wrong. Expect new legislation and stricter regulations on off-shore drilling and forget about any chance of allowing drilling off of Florida's coastline. Florida's health and well-being depends on a healthy tourism and fishing industry and there's no room for error from oil companies. The other oil companies can thank BP's fiasco for giving all gulf drilling companies a black eye — maybe they should file a claim with BP. 

Economic impact aside, BP has also made enemies of animal and nature lovers. The images of oiled birds, dead dolphins and sea turtles will haunt BP and other oil companies for decades. Animals may not have voices but their advocates do. The long term effects of the oil and dispersant dumped into the Gulf are yet to be known. Already the impact on endangered species and those species of special concern have been devastating. The oil companies are wrong if they think that they can continue to operate as haphazardly as they have done in the past. The free ride is over.   

*****

Frustrated with the Gulf oil spill crisis? Click here to purchase a FU BP Blue Crab T-Shirt or Tank Top. From now until July 31st Cafe Press has promised to donate up to 10% of all gulf oil related purchases towards the Gulf Restoration Project. 

Crab Sends Special Message to BP

My significant other and his krewe spent the day at Port St. Joe yesterday on a quest for scallops. It was slim pickings as far as scallops go with only one pint being collected between the five snorkelers that went.  Water visibility was a bit poor, however the group did manage to get a few pics with my waterproof camera, including this one of a crab sending a special message to BP. 

Come visit my store on CafePress and own your own FU Crab!

BP Fails Again

 As a resident of the Gulf Coast I've had a front row seat to the fallout from the BP/Deep Water Horizon disaster that is still continuing to flow almost two months after it began, and flowing at an even greater rate than before. In fact, as of this morning the major news stations are reporting 1,680,000 gallons of oil per day! I think the majority of the people affected would agree with me when I say STOP THE DAMN LEAK!!! From where I sit it doesn't appear that BP has been focused on stopping the leak; instead it would appear that all they wanted to do was keep the broken pipe open so they could capture that oil and process it. 


To make matters worse the cleanup effort in the Gulf is being hampered on several fronts; poor communication, lack of a clear chain of command, and an absence of skimmers, booms and barges. Local government needs to take action to protect their own waterways instead of playing a game of wait and see with state and federal powers that be. This is our home and we are the ones with the most to lose!   Get off your behinds and protect our beaches and inland waterways BEFORE it's too late. 


Earlier this week I saw one of BP's new $50 million ad campaign commercials designed to give us all a warm fuzzy feeling. CEO Tony Hayward apologized with a "We're very sorry" and "We will make this right." I've got a question for you Tony; When?? How?? I realize that Mr. Hayward is just a figurehead... something for us to direct our anger at, but never forget that BP is the one pulling the strings. BP has a history of lying to us on a daily basis! After all of the lies why would anyone believe anything that BP has to say. 


One of the new promises that I still can't swallow is the promise that BP will use any profits made from the recovered oil to benefit wildlife. Really? Who exactly will be in charge of reviewing those figures and making sure that money actually does go to wildlife programs? Is it going to be the same people that lied about how much oil was leaking from the well? BP, we can't trust you!!! 


The bottom line is STOP THE LEAK!!! Then get this mess cleaned up!! 

Some Things Are Too Good Not to Share

Giant Plumes of Bullshit Found Forming around BP Headquarters

Isn't that the truth? 

My Love — Hate Relationship with Dolphins

Today I went on a six hour deep sea fishing trip out of Destin, FL in search of a little fishing action and possibly dinner. We started out at 7 a.m. with the weather forecast calling for a 50% chance of rain. Luckily we had smooth sailing and no rain for the entire cruise. It was an hour and a half to our first fishing location so I settled in to enjoy the fresh salt air and absolutely beautiful day. 

At our first stop we fished for a little while in about a hundred feet of water with about half of our passengers managing to catch something, even me (although they were too small to keep.) It was a week before red snapper season opened so everyone that caught red snappers had to release them. A pity because they were nice sized and abundant. My supervisor from my day job came along with his family and he caught a really nice Trigger Fish. He's lucky — he caught it right before the bane of my existence showed up — dolphins. 

Normally I adore dolphins, especially when they're frolicking around my kayak in Choctawhatchee Bay. When the dolphins turned up I was excited at first, that is until I saw what thieving little opportunistic monsters they are. As soon as someone would hook onto a fish (and we were all instructed to reel hard and fast) the dolphins would dive under the boat and steal the fish right off the line! GRRRRRRR. NOT cool!!

Our captain moved the boat about a mile away and we dropped our lines again. No good. The deckhands reiterated that we needed to reel fast and don't let the dolphins get our fish. Dolphins can swim 35-45 mph. Humans cannot reel that fast. 

Again the captain moved our boat. Things weren't looking good. We probably got about a quarter of what we hooked to the surface. Twice I hooked into a huge fish and reeled like mad, only to have Flipper take off with my monster whatever-it-was. GRRRRRRRR. 

The captain then tried to out-run the dolphins to our next location. I managed to land a nice sized red snapper that I then had to release because it was out of season. Then the dolphins showed up again just in time for the captain to blow the horn and call it a day. 

So despite the slim pickings I enjoyed the adventure. I didn't enjoy having an empty stringer and no dinner. I am most disappointed in my beloved dolphins. I love them when they are visiting me in my kayak or fishing along the sand bars. I definitely despise them in earnest when they are harassing the charter I'm on. Bad dolphins!

A Visit to St. Vincent Island

On Saturday we took a trip out to Port St. Joe along the peninsula down to Indian Pass where the tip of St. Vincent Island lies just a half mile from shore across St. Vincent Sound. The island itself is a National Wildlife Refuge where Red Wolves, Sambar Deer, Red and Gray Fox, feral hog, American Alligator, Nine-banded Armadillo, and Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake can all be found living on the island. Visitors are allowed on the island by day and camping is not permitted. To make getting around on the island easier there are a network of gravel roads traversing the island, however only foot and bicycle traffic are permitted. Visitors can take a shuttle boat over from Indian Pass or do like we did and bring your own kayak or canoe.

Our trip from Fort Walton Beach to Port St. Joe took just under three hours. We arrived early and unloaded the kayaks and gear. It only took a few minutes to get underway and it was a short quick jaunt across the pass. Our group consisted of two Hobie SOT kayaks and two SIK kayaks. It was a green flag day (calm) so the group headed out the pass and paddled along the Gulf side of the island, encountering several dolphin pods along the way, until we were about halfway down before we saw one of the roads (#4) and landed there.

We ate a quick lunch, loaded up our backpacks with water bottles and bug spray and headed in to explore the island. Within just a few yards the sea breeze leaves visitors to the mercy of Florida's brutal heat and humidity. Luckily, having lived in Florida for quite a while, we were acclimated but not happy about it. However, in short order we began encountering the wildlife that St. Vincent Island is famous for.

Our first encounter was with a pack of deer flies. DO NOT FORGET to bring your bug spray with you. Deer flies are nasty, painful creatures capable of inflicting painful bites. We applied our bug spray and pushed onward. Our next encounter was watching a feral pig with piglets crossing the road ahead of us. Next we nearly tripped over a large turtle sitting alongside the road in the tall grass. We took pictures and continued on  to our next encounter with a small group of Sambar deer who bolted onto the roadway in front of us. They were too fast for my camera at the first encounter, but we met up with them again about fifteen minutes down the road and I was able to get pictures as they grazed.

Finally the heat was too much, our water levels low, so we headed back to the beach to cool off and head back to the pass. It was an easy paddle back, having paddled into the wind on the way out, however, once at the pass and with the heating of the day the chop in the pass was a bit intimidating. The SOT kayaks negotiated it without problem, while my SIK kayak had quite the wild ride while I tried to keep the kayak from pitching and rolling in the surf. I wouldn't recommend beginners attempt to negotiate the pass.

I finally made it back to the landing, just a little worse for wear. One of our group got overheated and had to cool down, just another side effect of Florida's heat and humidity. Aside from the heat, humidity and negotiating the pass it was a good trip. We're planning another trip soon with an early start to explore the bay side of the island.

Dear BP ‒ Oops Doesn't Cut It

It has been a month since the sinking of the Deep Water Horizon off the coast of Louisiana and still toxic oil continues to spill into the Gulf of Mexico poisoning our waters. Yesterday thick vats of oil slopped into the delicate marshes and bayous of Louisiana killing everything it touched. Where was BP's grand plan to stop it? Oh wait, that was the same Dog & Pony Show that kept reassuring everyone that the oil would be contained, it would never reach shore, no animals would die in the making of this disaster, and the fishing and tourism industry would not be affected. Newsflash BP: Reciting a Mantra of Lies Doesn't Make it So!

Plausible Deniability

BP has tried to distract the public with finger pointing about who is ulitmately to blame for the explosion of the Deep Water Horizon on May 20th ‒ at this point it no longer matters whether it was BP, TransOcean or Haliburton. What matters now is getting the well head sealed and cleaning up the colossal mess that has turned the Gulf of Mexico into a vat of poison. But where is BP? That's right, out spinning more yarns to pull the wool over the eyes of the public (for you Brits that's Southern speak for crafting masterful works of fiction that sugarcoat the truth.)

While sea turtles, dolphins and oil covered pelicans turn up on shore, BP keeps repeating the mantra that “while unfortunate, they are not oil related.” So, you expect the locals to believe that they all just stopped off at the Quicky Lube for an oil change because its something that they like to do for fun? Sorry, we're not buying what you're selling. However, if the Powers That Be at BP would like to join us for a locally caught seafood dinner I'm sure we can whip up some sort of tasty sauce to cover up that nasty non-oil related film that the fish have swam through and ingested.

Compensation From BP

So by now the question begs to be asked of BP: What are you going to do for us now that the fishing and tourist industry is ruined? Are there grand plans in place to replace all of the marine life that is dying off in the Gulf of Mexico? Can you put a price on an endangered sea turtle or West Indian Manatee? Have you ever seen a Diamondback Terrapin in a Louisiana Marsh and did you have a spare to replace the ones that are dying? Can you replace the experience of walking amongst thousands of tiny clicking Fiddler Crabs on a hot summer evening if there are no crabs left to see?

Furthermore, BP, have you truly realized the impact on the fishing villages along the coast? For many fisherman, fishing is their life. If the boat doesn't run, their families don't eat. They can't just go out and get another job because not only does it take time to learn new skill sets, there aren't a lot of alternative jobs in a fishing town. This isn't big city life and it is close-minded to expect them to just pick up and move to where there are other opportunities. These are their homes!

Finally, there's the rest of us that live, work and play in these small communities. Is BP going to be sending all of us checks in the mail to make up the difference in the higher prices that we will now have to pay to buy seafood that has to be imported because fishing in the Gulf has been impacted? Are they going to pay for vacations that we have to take somewhere else because we can't go to our own beach? Will they be building us a giant aquarium where we can go free of charge to see the marine life that we used to be able to see swimming in local waters? Most importantly, will they be cloning endangered species and putting them back so that future generations can see them as well and not just remember them from pictures and stories? Yep, that's what I thought...

Photo by: USFWS/Southeast 

Boiling Creek Revisited — Favorite Florida Float Trips

Once in a while a paddler will come across a river or creek that is so refreshing and pure that it just begs to be revisited. Boiling Creek, located just to the north of the city of Navarre on the Eglin Reservation, is one of these rare gems; a pristine creek of unparalleled beauty and wonder.


The Northern Pitcher Plant in Bloom. (photo by Beverly Hill)

Springtime on Boiling Creek is a magical time. The water lilies, pitcher plants, spadderdock and other wetland plants are in full bloom while flights of damselflies dance in the sky. Osprey soar overhead while secretive otters play hide and seek from the paddlers. Be sure to keep a camera handy. Beauty lies around every bend of the creek, from basking turtles to fish darting through the crystal clear water


Damselfly on a Water Lily. (photo by Beverly Hill)


Water Lily. (photo by Beverly Hill)


Water Lily. (photo by Beverly Hill)


Turtle Basking on a Log. (photo by Beverly Hill)


Aquatic Plants Along Boiling Creek. (photo by Beverly Hill)

For more information on planning a trip on Boiling Creek, be sure to check out this article or read about my previous trip to Boiling Creek here.