Why I like living in Florida

[bpdchief]

The Good :
http://s16.postimage.org/rt2f6q1jl/013.jpg (http://postimage.org/image/rt2f6q1jl/)

http://s16.postimage.org/476sya8nl/014.jpg (http://postimage.org/image/476sya8nl/)

http://s16.postimage.org/n9uryy91t/031.jpg (http://postimage.org/image/n9uryy91t/)

http://s16.postimage.org/d50pn4fv5/034.jpg (http://postimage.org/image/d50pn4fv5/)

http://s7.postimage.org/5xny6zhxz/033.jpg (http://postimage.org/image/5xny6zhxz/)
And the slightly scary:


http://s17.postimage.org/6hgz31knf/027.jpg (http://postimage.org/image/6hgz31knf/)

We've got the Coast Guard and Air Force Ghosts to protect us:
http://s13.postimage.org/kb74a547n/025.jpg (http://postimage.org/image/kb74a547n/)
The ghosts fly missions at night... you can hear them, but, they have no lights, so, you can't see them. They fly big circles, pick a car going down the highway, and practice locking their weapons systems on the target. Some nights you can hear the 30mm cannon firing and see the tracers.

http://s13.postimage.org/y8pafg2ab/052.jpg (http://postimage.org/image/y8pafg2ab/)

[mrlmd1]

Occasionally over here to your east we see (and hear) a couple of fighter jets screaming by just off the coast.
And we also have our fair share of those scary fatties in their too small bikinis. I wish they'd go to the Dollar Store and buy a mirror.

[Water Warrior 2]

Hearing night missions and jets going by is the sound of Freedom.

[dentheman]

We occasionally have an AC-130 over Lubbock. I can tell when it has locked on a target by it flying a large circle around the target. There is no mistaking the droning engine sound when one is overhead.

I was stationed at Patrick AFB, FL. for 3 years. It was like a paid vacation. My last assignment before I retired. I wish I was back.

[bpdchief]

You're right WW every now and then someone will complain about the noise from Eglin AFB - the jets taking off with afterburners lit (that's a sight to see at night) shake the plates in your house. The Ghosts rythmic drone from Hurlburt Special Operations Base and some old guy will remind the ungrateful pukes that that is not noise.. It is the Sound of FREEDOM so shut the hell up - you're hurting my ears with your whinning. ha ha

dentheman, you just need to head out on one of those flat endless straight F&M's and make long sweeps pretending there are twisties.

Tomorrow I'm going on a 127 mile ride along the coast then north past I-10 and into the Blackwater River State Forrest then loop back down to Fort Walton Beach.

[alantf]

There is no mistaking the droning engine sound when one is overhead.

Over here it's mainly helicopters flying around. Someone has a huey, & we can never mistake the thwack thwack thwack of the two blade rotor as it goes overhead. The most recognizable noise that I know of. (like the other unmistakeable sound - a zippo lid closing)

Anyone got any more unmistakeable sounds? :)

[Water Warrior 2]

An unmistakeable sound eh. My dog used to drag her feet across the carpet in the bedroom to wake me up when she needed to go outside.
Then there were the cats and their hairballs coming up...........gross.
The sound of a good swing with a #3 wood at the golf course.
The sound of shooting an SK-47 rifle without ear plugs.
The click click click of a dead battery in the car. Not endearing at -40C.

[alantf]

The sound of a good swing with a #3 wood at the golf course.

Like Mark Twain said...........A good walk - spoiled! :lol: :lol:

[dentheman]

During my time in Florida, it became illegal for girls to be near the hiway (A1A, along the Space Coast) in the g-string bikinis because they were distracting drivers. They had to move a certain distance toward the beach before 'uncovering'.

I never saw a LEO enforcing that law.

[mole2]

The Myrtle Beach, SC area has all those views also. I love to ride the bike along the beach at Spring Break and all summer long. We also have our share of helicopters and fighter jets. I love to watch them pass over my house. No problem with noise with me.


:)

[Skunkhome]

There is no mistaking the droning engine sound when one is overhead.


Anyone got any more unmistakeable sounds? :)
The working of the slide on a 12 ga pump shotgun.

[Water Warrior 2]

The sound of a U.S. fighter breaking the sound barrier at night in the Montana mountains. No warning, just a KABOOM and the walls shook leaving me half stunned.

[bpdchief]

First thong I saw down here was on a sweet young thing that weighed an easy 280 and she bent over facing away from me...
I was blind for about a week.

Racking a Remington 870 will stop someone in their tracks. Yell halt all you want they'll keep moving, you rack a shotgun and they'll fight you if you try to make them move :-).

Have to disagree with Twain - there is something satisfying about a good solid hit on a golf ball.

Don't know about an SK but an AK-47 does make a distinctive sound.

I can tell you a 44 mag going past your head makes a very Huey like chopping sound as it tumbles by. Don't recommend anyone experience that one for fun!!

[Water Warrior 2]

Don't know about an SK but an AK-47 does make a distinctive sound.


Might have been an AK-47. Was a Chinese knock off with a bolt action. Does that make any sense? Was a long time ago and I was still reeling around a bit after firing a Sharps Buffalo gun replica. The Sharps recoil was almost beyond belief. My friend was a collector of fire arms and had a truck load of toys that day at the range.

[bpdchief]

Yes the SKS a 7.62x39 caliber very popular rifle and the Chinese are amoung many nations that make a version. Wonderful weapon. Now the Sharps... that's a gun - second only to a Hawkins (IMHO)

[Water Warrior 2]

Way back in 1976 I got to examine and strap on a 44 Magnum with a 10 inch barrel. It had a custom made western style holster. Gary, the owner used it as a back up when rifle hunting wildlife. Gary was a big strong man but he had to admit a 2 handed grip was the only way to shoot that cannon safely.

[alantf]

The Sharps recoil was almost beyond belief.

I remember, in the 1960s, in the Royal Air Force, we still used the WW11 Lee Enfield .303 rifle. After a day on the range we couldn't feel our shoulders for the bruising. Don't know how they used 'em every day for 6 years in WW11.

[Water Warrior 2]

The Sharps recoil was almost beyond belief.

I remember, in the 1960s, in the Royal Air Force, we still used the WW11 Lee Enfield .303 rifle. After a day on the range we couldn't feel our shoulders for the bruising. Don't know how they used 'em every day for 6 years in WW11.
They were dam tough soldiers with a will to win. Wars suck but they have to be fought.

[dentheman]

[quote="Water Warrior":5pkor9pw] The Sharps recoil was almost beyond belief.

I remember, in the 1960s, in the Royal Air Force, we still used the WW11 Lee Enfield .303 rifle. After a day on the range we couldn't feel our shoulders for the bruising. Don't know how they used 'em every day for 6 years in WW11.
They were dam tough soldiers with a will to win. Wars suck but they have to be fought.[/quote:5pkor9pw]
Fire a 30.06 used by the U.S. during WWII, and still used by hunters. I will fire one shot, then not want to shoot any more.

[Water Warrior 2]

From bikinis to bullets in less than 20 posts. Makes a lot of sense when I think about it.

[mole2]

From bikinis to bullets in less than 20 posts. Makes a lot of sense when I think about it.

All we need to do now is tie in some beer drinking. lol


:)

[Water Warrior 2]

Bullets and beer...........no way. Bikinis and beer.............yes way.

[mrlmd1]

:2tup: :2tup:

[cburgess594]

It's the thing that being protected but still the scariest part of all.

[Water Warrior 2]

A coupe German Shepards trained for personel protection would be handy. And you always have a friend to hug.

[Skunkhome]

The Sharps recoil was almost beyond belief.

I remember, in the 1960s, in the Royal Air Force, we still used the WW11 Lee Enfield .303 rifle. After a day on the range we couldn't feel our shoulders for the bruising. Don't know how they used 'em every day for 6 years in WW11.
Fire a 30.06 used by the U.S. during WWII, and still used by hunters. I will fire one shot, then not want to shoot any more.

Well, after about mid 1942 most of the US ground pounders carried Garands. The M 1 Garand did an excellent job of taming the recoil of the 30.06. I once owned an M1 produced by H&R and it was quite pleasant to shoot. I wish I still owned it.
As for shooting them all day during WWII... I think most of the time the struggle was to carry a full sized battle rifle and complement of ammo everyday for the duration of the war. . Most soldiers shot far more rounds in training than they did on the battlefield. I once knew a Big game hunter who carried the lightest .458 Winchester he could get even though the felt recoil was significantly heavier. His reasoning was that on any given hunt he might walk 200 miles carring the rifle to fire it only once or twice.
This brings up another unmistakable sound... That is the sound of the 8 round clip being ejected from a garand after the last shot. The urban legend is that the enemy could hear the clip being ejected and would know you were out of ammo and could not return fire. In truth the battlefield is such a noisy place the sound of clip's ejection goes unnoticed.

Sorry for being so far off original topic but it is all interesting.

[Water Warrior 2]

Being off topic is a good thing in my opinion. We do stray a lot but it also teaches us so much more about our members and their life experiences. We go from apples to oranges and learn something new. Topic switch..........why am I sitting here at my desk when I have a bike to ride and a camera to use? I'm outta here.

[mrlmd1]

Getting back to the topic - taking a few minutes out from riding and got this.
Nothing better than fresh fish for dinner, especially if you catch it right off your dock.
http://s17.postimage.org/qaxb7gs6j/redfish_dinner.jpg (http://postimage.org/image/qaxb7gs6j/)
That's a redfish for all you who don't know. Yummy. I'll post another pic after my S.O. cooks it up if you want to see how good it looks.

[Water Warrior 2]

Getting back to the topic - taking a few minutes out from riding and got this.
Nothing better than fresh fish for dinner, especially if you catch it right off your dock.
http://s17.postimage.org/qaxb7gs6j/redfish_dinner.jpg (http://postimage.org/image/qaxb7gs6j/)
That's a redfish for all you who don't know. Yummy. I'll post another pic after my S.O. cooks it up if you want to see how good it looks.
What!!! You aren't inviting anyone to share your meal?? :poke2:

[dentheman]

Speaking of fish, I will always remember surf fishing in Florida, two weeks after being stationed there; I got a bite, reeled it in, and I had hooked a shark! It was only a couple feet long, but a SHARK! And I was wading in the surf! The largest I caught was a redfish. I didn't know what it was until someone told me and pointed out the identifying spot on the tail.

One never knew what they would catch, and I very rarely went home empty handed. And no license required to fish in the ocean, at least not back then.

[mrlmd1]

WW - c'mon down.
Dentheman- Now you need a FL fishing license, to fish from a boat, the shore, or public docks. No need for one if you're a senior citizen or fishing off your own dock. There are specific seasons open to specific fish throughout the year to limit catches and let stocks regroup. And it amazes me still when people say they're going out fishing for a certain kind of fish. Unless you are pretty specific in where and what bait you use, you really have no clue what you've caught 'till you bring it up to the surface. I've caught reds, trout, flounder, sharks, ladyfish, all with the same bait in the same spot, it all depends what's there at the time. And grouper, snapper, etc. all go after the same bait. So if you catch something, just be happy and call it a good day. And only take what you want to eat, catch and release is still the best way to go.
Scallop season is pretty much fun - you go snorkeling in 4-6' of water over the grassy flats and just dive down and pick 'em up off the bottom, a limit of a bushel a day or a pint of meat/person/day, or 5 bushels/boat. Cleaning them is a chore, unless you use the redneck way with a shop vac to get all the gook out and leave just the meat. Open July 1st- Sept 10th.

[alantf]

Unless you are pretty specific in where and what bait you use, you really have no clue what you've caught 'till you bring it up to the surface.

Fish has always been one of the staples in Tenerife. In Puerto de la Cruz, the local fishermen pull their small open boats up on the sands in the harbour, then take the catch up to a large, stainless covered, table, to sell off what was in the sea half an hour before. Each boat has so many different fish for sale, and I've no idea what the majority are. :)

[Water Warrior 2]

WW - c'mon down.
I would love to drop in for a visit and fish. I have the time but not the slush fund to make it happen. Florida would be quite a trek from here so I would probably drive rather than ride. I don't have near the endurance level required to be a long distance rider. Or maybe I just need a new Gold Wing. :lol:
Lynda's brother and his wife used to winter in Florida for years but haven't gone south for about 3 years now. He has a monster motorhome for major road trips and extended stays.

[Water Warrior 2]

Alantf, years ago we had a very large plate covered with freshly caught Tuna in Skagway Alaska. MMM Good and then some. That was an eye opener for the tastebuds.
At a roadside stop(The Monderosa) we also found the biggest hamburger of our lives. Can you imagine a meat patty needing 4 slices of cheese to cover it. Yeah, it was that big and very tasty. Before we left I had another meat paddy cooked up for the dog. She wasn't hungry again till the next day.