They call him Flipper!

Mile 59.0 - Grassy Key
- Dolphin Research Center

As of Monday, December 10, 2007 at 9:14 AM
Steps: 140762
Miles: 59.86



They call him Flipper, Flipper, faster than lightning,
No-one you see, is smarter than he,
And we know Flipper, lives in a world full of wonder,
Flying there-under, under the sea!

Everyone loves the king of the sea,
Ever so kind and gentle is he,
Tricks he will do when children appear,
And how they laugh when he's near!

They call him Flipper, Flipper, faster than lightning,
No-one you see, is smarter than he,
And we know Flipper, lives in a world full of wonder,
Flying there-under, under the sea!

Flipper was a TV show about a game ranger named Porter Ricks, and his two sons, Sandy and Bud. The show centers around a precocious pet dolphin, named Flipper, and all their adventures. The original Flipper was named Mitzi and she lived from 1958 to 1972. The dolphin had died of a heart attack. Flipper had a stunt double (Mr. Gipper) to do all of the tail walking.

The History of the Dolphin Research Center and Flipper

For more about the Dolphin Research Center, the main website is here



Yes, I know I skipped Marathon on Vaca Key. There is a lot to see there too, the Florida Keys are just loaded with places to visit while I'm walking.

A dose of the real thing...

On Sunday, December 9, 2007, I took the Pennsylvania Railroad train to Barbadoes Island.

Before you scratch your head too hard, I actually walked on the bike path which is on the right of way that was The Pennsylvania Railroad Schuylkill Division built in 1888.



I walked from Valley Forge National Park to Barbadoes Island and back. Which is shown - I went from the left side of the map to the right side and back.



While I could, barely, picture a steam train thundering down the track spewing soot and steam...



...this is what I really saw. This tree gets decorated by someone every year. Its a long walk from the nearest parking lot, carrying the ornaments and all. Luckily, most of the time, the bike and hike crowd enjoy the tree and don't vandalize it.



The view back toward Valley Forge National Park. It was a dreary day, but unlike the cold the Revolutionary War soldier had, I just had a chilly drizzle to deal with and a hot cup of coffee waiting for me at home. Of course, the Revolutionary War soldiers didn't have the song below going on in their heads:

McDonald's is my kind of place
They serve you rattlesnakes
Hamburgers up your nose
French fries between your toes
McDonald's is my kind of place
Last time I went there
They fried my underwear

McDonald's is your kind of place.
They serve you rattlesnakes,
throw milkshakes in your face,
they steal your parking place.
McDonald's is your kind of place.
They put french-fries up your nose,
and pickles 'tween your toes.
McDonald's is your kind of place!

McDonald's is our kind of place
Hamburgers in your face
French fries up your nose
Pickles between your toes
McDonald's is our kind of place
We want our money back
Before we have a heart attack



The trail is just a few feet from the river here.

Dead Santa Me Too-ism

Hopefully the reindeer are safe.

Pigeon Key

Mile 47.0 - Pigeon Key
- Saturday, December 8, 2007

As of December 8, 2007 at 3:05 PM
Steps: 118316
Miles: 50.38

Several years ago, my Dad rented a boat and he and I drove it into the square pool like basin (its a boat dock) and my Mom brought lunch for all of us getting there on Henry the Train. We had a picnic lunch at a table under the white cement gazabo on the left of the square boat basin. I can still feel the breeze on my face and remember how good lunch tasted. I think the boat ride turned out to be 25 or 30 miles long that day. After lunch we walked around the Key, it didn't take long and while we were out on the dock on the Florida Bay side (the top of the picture) a school of barracuda came swimming by.

Since there is an annual art festival held to raise money to help preserve this key, I'm going to use paintings instead of pictures.



Pigeon Key was once the strategic mid-point and work camp location of the Seven-Mile-Bridge Project, as well as the only remaining intact Flagler-era railroad village in the state. Pigeon Key is a 5-acre island now listed on the National Register of Historic Places that is preserving its pioneer-village heritage, while offering modern marine science education programs for youth and adult groups and individuals.



The island and its buildings have been renovated as a world-class educational and research center; facilities include a newly re-opened Fishing Camp, Railroad Museum, deep sea and backcountry Fishing Charters, Dolphin Research Center, Snorkel trips, dorm-style housing, and various tour opportunities.



The only way for most of to get here is to walk, bike, boat, or by Henry the train!



Another long day of walking completed.



The next stop will be the Town/City of Marathon.