23rd Annual Great Chowder Debate

Today was the day of the Great Chowder Debate. Lots and lots of food, fun and people. About 50 local restaurants set up stands and offered their take on the best chowder. Most stands had 2-3 varieties. Talk about creamy, warm, soothing goodness! All laced with different types of seafood...shrimp, lobster, crab, crayfish, conch. After buying a fistful of tickets, we set out a tastin'.

Here are some photos from the day, starting with a breath taking rainbow. I took Stinky Pete out for his morning outing. It was rather dark, the sun just starting to peek out...but stormy looking. I called him to come back in and he took a few steps and then stopped dead in his tracks and looked over his shoulder towards the sky. I stepped further out to see what had his attention. This is what I saw.

Rainbow

Going on our way to the Chowder Debate, we passed Castillo de San Marcos. I have problems getting a good shot of this magnificant fort, but this one didn't turn out too bad. So, until I get a better one, this will have to do.

Castillo de San Marcos

Santa Maria Resaturant

A1A Ale Works

Next we crossed the Bridge of Lions and, as always, I take a shot of the progress of the construction.

Bridge Work

Next stop was the 23rd Annual Great Chowder Debate. It was held on the water at The Conch House Marina. By the way...they had my favorite. As it turns out, it wasn't a chowder, it was a bisque which I traditionally don't care for. But, their Lobster Bisque is magic!

Wood Conch

"Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men."
¸.•*´¨`♥ Gospel of Matthew

Chain

There was beer and more beer.If you got thirsty, they had you covered. Too bad I don't like beer, but it sure is purty :-)

Shock Top Beer

"Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy."
¸.•*´¨`♥ Benjamin Franklin

Painting Clown

Painting the Girl

A slice of the crowd

Chum Bucket

The Beard

"Life's pretty good, and why wouldn't it be? I'm a pirate, after all."
¸.•*´¨`♥ Johnny Depp

Do you see the music?

Today was an early beach day. The earliest we have ever been. Lovely day for it too. The water was calm and pretty. The people were not as many, nor as frenzied. Guess you could say they were calm and pretty too.

This morning we stopped on a bridge over an inner-coastal and I took a couple of shots. This happens to be one of Drew's favorite views. He especially likes the house you see to the left. His dream is to live on an inner-coastal sound. I'm sure a dock will be involved.

The serenity of the inner-coastal waters

The walk from the car to the ocean is always an event.

Tall rugged palms


Blue umbrellas in waiting

Wispy seagrass

It was hard to decide which of these to post. So, what the hey. I'll post all three!

Early morning beauty

Soft waters

Sand and foam

If you are wondering about the title of this post, wonder no more. There is a certain worn shell, conch actually, that makes me think of music when I see it. It started when we vacationed in Playa del Carmen last year. I found beautiful conchs in various stages of disrepair. None were whole. There is something musical about the inner swirls exposed when the shells are broken and tumbled in the ocean floor. But, these conchs all sang to me. So, look very closely at the picture below. Do you see the music?

Singing to me

If not, look a little closer to see the music. I'm sure you can hear the music, too.


Music of the ocean


I display my conchs in a basket with the pointed ends down. It is a gallery of swirls, smooth edges, and soft pastel colors. Music.