USA | Hole In The Donut Cultural Travel

Apples Are King In Hendersonville, North Carolina

Published June 2, 2009 | By Barbara Weibel

If the old wife’s tale is true – that an apple a day keeps the doctor away – folks in Hendersonville, North Carolina should be the healthiest in the state. North Carolina is the 7th largest apple-producing state in the nation and Henderson County is the largest apple-producing county in North Carolina. This was news to me. Although I lived in North Carolina for years and had passed through Hendersonville on occasion, I was unaware that apples were such an important part of the economy.

Downtown Hendersonville's cute Main Street

I am here quite by accident. Keeping my NC real estate license on active status requires me to take eight hours of continuing education each year. I chose to attend classes in Hendersonville because it is a day’s drive from Sarasota, Florida.

Giant apple decorates sidewalk in front of Hendersn County Courthouse

The classes were painful – eight hours trapped in a conference room with a hundred other agents who didn’t want to be there either – but once the disagreeable deed was done, I regained my sanity by investigating this lovely town, nestled in the heart of the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area at the southern end of the Smoky Mountains.

Shaking off the drudgery of the classes, I strolled the length of Hendersonville’s historic Main Street, enjoying this charming downtown that wanders up and down gently rolling hills, with views to the not-too-distant mountains. At the Henderson County Courthouse I paused to examine the curious giant hand-painted apple on the sidewalk. Soon I realized that these apple sculptures were scattered throughout downtown. This program of public art on display, appropriately named â€œA Slice of Hendersonville,â€ showcases apples decorated with images of bluegrass musicians, mountains, valley orchards, sheet music, maps, and even a scene from “Alice In Wonderland.” The local goldsmith Continue reading →

Posted in North Carolina travel |

Tagged apple festival, Art, blogsherpa, downtown, hendersonville, North Carolina, north carolina mountains, photos, Travel, USA, woman |

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Ley Lines Converge At Coral Castle To Create Powerful Energy Spot

Published May 26, 2009 | By Barbara Weibel

Everything happens for a reason. I was on the last leg of my trip home and had every intention of driving straight through to Sarasota when I got a phone call from the contractor I had hired to install a new kitchen in the Key West apartment. Apparently Home Depot no longer keeps the type of cabinets I need in stock; ordering them would take eight weeks, during which time I would be unable to rent the apartment. I had no choice but to detour through Florida City and see if I could buy what I needed at that Home Depot and have it transferred to the Key West store.

Two hours later I headed out again and, rather that retrace my steps to take Alligator Alley across the state, I turned onto Krome Avenue, bound for Tamiami Trail. Passing through downtown Homestead, I noticed banners on the light poles advertising “Coral Castle.” The name was familiar; I vaguely recalled reading about this attraction on the Internet and bookmarking it, thinking it would be an interesting place to visit. I thought briefly about detouring to see it but then dismissed the idea; I really wanted to get back home. Not long afterward the sun started to set and I changed my mind. Crossing through 100 miles of deserted, black Everglades when I was exhausted was simply not a good idea, so I turned back toward Homestead, sure I would find a motel along Rt. 1. Instead, I ran straight into the Coral Castle.

There was no way I could NOT stop. It was quite clear this is where I was supposed to be.

Overview of site, showing massive sculptures mounted atop the perimeter walls

From the moment I stepped through the main gate, I knew this was a powerful place. It positively throbbed with energy. The perimeter of the rectangular area was delineated by a two story wall of coral blocks, within which stood dozens of Continue reading →

Posted in Florida travel |

Tagged blogsherpa, Coral Castle, Edward Leedskalnin, electromagnetic, Florida, geometry, Homestead, ley lines, magnetism, Masonic, Masons, mathematics, photos, south florida, Spirituality, symbolism, Travel, USA, woman |

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Walking Through An Ancient Ocean In The Florida Keys

Published May 23, 2009 | By Barbara Weibel

Is there anyone out there old enough (like me) to remember the classic movie “The Long, Long Trailer,” starring Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz? Well, for the young pups, let me explain. The storyline centers around a cross country road trip in a loooong pull-behind trailer. In one classic comedic scene, Lucy falls out the door of the trailer into the mud; in another she is bounced around the inside of the trailer as she tries to fix dinner while Ricky drives. But the funniest moment of the film is when they are going up the Rockies. Prior to starting up the mountains, Desi demands that Lucy get rid of the ‘pretty’ rocks that she had collected throughout the trip. Unable to bear parting with them, she hides rocks inside drawers and cabinets and tells Desi she has thrown them out. Well, you can just imagine what happens when he starts up that steeeeeep, steeeeep slope.

Now, you may be asking what an old movie has to do with this post. It’s quite simple. I have been a rockhound from the time I was old enough to pick up my first pebble. I carry home rocks from every place I visit. I dig geodes from hillsides, chip crystals out of boulders in quarries, and hunt for fossils in muddy creeks. This has been a constant source of amusement to my family. Although I have moved more than 30 times in my life, I cannot bring myself to part with my gems and minerals. Boxes of rocks were stored at my sister’s house when I lived in Puerto Rico, causing my brother-in-law to grouse incessantly whenever the heavy cartons had to be moved. When I sold my house in North Carolina and moved to Florida I stored most of my personal belongings at my Dad’s house – yes, even the rocks…especially the rocks. So I can relate to the Long, Long Trailer. Like Lucy, I would not have been able to get rid of the rocks.

Visitors Center at Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park overlooks one end of the main quarry

Now that you know this tidbit about me, you can just imagine my excitement when I discovered Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park in the Florida Keys. The site is actually three old quarries where limestone was mined between the early 1900′s to the early 1960′s. The limestone found at these quarries is actually a fossilized coral reef that formed during the higher sea levels of the last interglacial episode, approximately 100,000 to 125,000 years ago. With a sea Continue reading →

Posted in Florida travel |

Tagged blogsherpa, coral reef, Florida, florida keys, Fossil Reef Geological State Park, geology, Islamorada, Keystone, photos, quarry, rockhound, Travel, USA, Windley Key, woman |

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Shaking Hands With A Dolphin

Published May 21, 2009 | By Barbara Weibel

Some years ago, when I was still living on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, I was having lunch at the Rodanthe Pier when I noticed that almost everyone in the restaurant had stepped outside to look at the ocean. Curious to see what had caused such a stir, I followed. The summer sun sparkled off the glassy, perfectly formed waves that rolled in, one after another. I was marveling at the clarity of the water – it was one of those rare days when the Atlantic is so calm that you can see through the waves – when I realized what everyone was looking at. Frolicking within the translucent blue breakers were hundreds of dolphins. Sunlight penetrated the waves, exposing their sleek bodies as gray silhouettes. The dolphins played tag with the waves, alternately surfing along their crests and sliding back down their faces as they bodysurfed to shore. A nanosecond before each wave crashed into the beach, they darted back to deeper water behind a sandbar, waiting for the next swell.

I have seen hundreds of dolphins over the years; I have even surfed beside a dolphin or two who shared a wave with me. But I had never seen so many dolphins in one place, and certainly had never before witnessed such behavior. What animal, other than humans, engages in cooperative group play? Since that day I have believed that dolphins have a higher intelligence and were put on this earth for a very special purpose, but I had no proof. To test my theory, it would be necessary to get up close and personal with dolphins. Fortunately, I was on an extended tour of the Florida Keys, and the Dolphin Research Center on Grassy Key afforded me just such an opportunity.

Amazing high jump

Milton Santini, a local fisherman who lived on the site of the present day center in the mid-1950′s, captured Mitzi and other Atlantic bottlenose dolphins and formed Santiniâ€™s Porpoise School. Mitzi starred in the original pilot movie Flipper, along with five of Santini’s other dolphins. Following Mitzi’s demise in 1972 the Continue reading →

Posted in Florida travel |

Tagged blogsherpa, bottlenose, Dolphin Research Center, Florida, florida keys, Grassy Key, Marathon, marine mammals, photos, porpoises, rehabilitation, rescue, research, Travel, USA, woman |

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Walking Flagler’s Folly To Pigeon Key

Published May 16, 2009 | By Barbara Weibel

Each time I drive across the Seven Mile Bridge on my way to or from Key West I wonder about tiny Pigeon Key, located off the west end of Marathon. The only access to this five-acre rock appears to be via a rusted old bridge that bisects the island. Speeding along the new modern bridge, I have often puzzled over the adjacent older roadway. If it was unsafe, why it was left standing? And if it is safe, why have two giant chunks been cut out of the span, ensuring that it is not used? This time, my curiosity got the better of me. It was time to find out.

Aerial view of tiny Pigeon Key clearly shows the chunk of the old Seven Mile Bridge that has been removed beyond the island. Traffic roars by on the New Seven Mile Bridge at left. Photo courtesy of Pigeon Key Foundation.

Inside the silver Henry Flagler railroad car that now serves as the Pigeon Key Visitor Center and Gift Shop, I discovered that my $11 admission included a boat trip to the island, but instead I opted to walk 2.2 miles along the original Seven Mile Bridge. Under a blazing sun I strolled the narrow two-lane roadway that has been converted for golf cart, bicycle, and pedestrian use. Noticing that the handrails are actually old railroad steel rails, I was reminded that this bridge was originally a railroad trestle for the Florida East Coast Railway.

Walking to Pigeon Key on the old highway, built atop Flagler's railroad trestle.

The railway was the idea of Henry Flagler, who had the good fortune to be a partner of John D. Rockefeller in the firm that eventually became Standard Oil. Long intrigued by Florida, Flagler began constructing luxury hotels on the east coast of the state. He soon realized that Florida’s development potential was hampered by lack of infrastructure and, in 1904, announced his intention to build a railroad from Miami to Key West. Engineers scoffed. Friends thought he had lost his mind. Undeterred, Flagler Continue reading →

Posted in Florida travel |

Tagged blogsherpa, East Coast Railway, Flagler's Folly, Florida, florida keys, history, Little Duck Key, Marathon, marine camp, Overseas Highway, photos, Pigeon Key, Seven Mile Bridge, Travel, USA, Vaca Key, woman |

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Crane Point Museum And Nature Center, Marathon, Florida Keys

Published May 14, 2009 | By Barbara Weibel

Each trip to Key West takes me past sites and attractions that look interesting. I always have the best of intentions – I tell myself I will investigate on my way home – but something always interferes. Fortunately, this trip finally allowed me a few days to wander home unhurriedly, stopping at various places in the middle and upper keys.

My first stop was at the Crane Point Museum and Nature Center in Marathon. It was a sweltering 92 degrees when I hit the trails at 3 p.m., but the temperature cooled the moment I stepped beneath the thick canopy of overarching boughs sheltering the leaf-strewn path. Minimal sunlight penetrated the dense green foliage, casting the path in shadow. Blinking, I walked carefully, waiting for my eyes to adjust to the darker interior.