New Arrival

Grandson Fisher is three and he got to talk to Santa about what he wanted for Christmas.  I wasn't there but I am just sure he must have asked for a new baby brother to play with along with all the other stuff.  He most certainly got his wish with the arrival of seven pound seven ounce Gibson Rhodes Gledhill.  A fine looking little lad if I may say so myself.  Fisher, however, is having a little trouble understanding why Gibson did not come ready to play trains or go fishing with quite yet. Maybe another visit with Santa would help. 

Brought to you by: Team Gledhill, Prudential Network Realty Buying or Selling Property in St. Johns Co? Call 904-874-2588 or email info@teamgledhill.com

"Sharing Our Community with Buyers & Sellers...One Snippet at a Time"

 

 

 

 

 

Cousin Luke and Gibson

The Nutcracker

We know Christmas is coming when it is time to obtain tickets to Tchaikovsky's ballet performance of The Nutcracker.  The St. Augustine Ballet and guest artists produce a fine rendition of this Holliday Classic.  This year's performance reunited four Cuban dancers on stage for the first time since they left Cuba.  The event is held at Flagler College's Lewis Auditorium.  Tickets for the two performances go fast so pay attention next year.
This year Barbara invited her two granddaughters to the event.  Rachel and Audrinna enjoyed the afternoon performance and the dinner to follow.  Barbara received flowers even though she did not dance.    http://augustine.com/event/st-augustine-ballet-performs-nutcracker-0
'

Brought to you by: Team Gledhill, Prudential Network Realty Buying or Selling Property in St. Johns Co? Call 904-874-2588 or email info@teamgledhill.com

"Sharing Our Community with Buyers & Sellers...One Snippet at a Time"

Rowboat Construction Update #2

WOW, that took a lot longer than I thought it should take.  Tried to do things the way they were done when I was a kid before fiberglass was available.  I built a strongback form and bent the four side planks into place after attaching them to the bow stem.  They had to be soaked in hot towels and pulled into place with ropes twisted like a tourniquet.  My son Maxwell helped with that part.  Home made clamps held the planks together so I could use copper clinch nails for the lapstrake configuration.  Finally got to the stern transom which was held in place with stainless steel screws after a lot of effort.  The boat was then turned over and faired by sight with a hand plane.  The bottom planks were then installed after being beveled first so they could be caulked later.  The boat was then righted after the bottom was caulked and painted and the keel installed.  The knees, breasthook, seat risers and seats, chines, oarlocks and cleats were then all installed.  Love those nautical terms.  The outside was primed and painted while the inside was oiled like back in the day.   Now I need to find some oars, a trailer, and maybe an old time outboard motor to see if it actually works or I have created some expensive firewood.  Will let you know either way it goes.

Brought to you by: Team Gledhill, Prudential Network Realty Buying or Selling Property in St. Johns Co? Call 904-874-2588 or email info@teamgledhill.com

"Sharing Our Community with Buyers & Sellers...One Snippet at a Time"

 

 

 

 

 

Grandson Fisher wants to know what is taking so long!

Grandson Luke's first snorkeling trip

Summer in Florida is a great time for snorkeling or SCUBA diving in our clear water.  The clearest water is in the Gulf Stream current that flows north off the coast of our state.  In St. Augustine you have to go fifty miles out to experience " the stream".   If you visit the Florida Keys, however, it is just a few miles offshore.  You can also dive and snorkel on the inside of the reef for smoother water that is protected by the coral from Atlantic Ocean swells.  A great place for beginning or young adventurers to experience their first taste of Nemo's habitat.  Daughter Agatha and grandson Luke just returned from Luke's first open ocean snorkeling experience.  They chose a dedicated snorkeling boat operator that let them out in shallow water so they could see more of Sombrero Reef.  A gigantic success.  They then visited "Theater of the Sea" for a dolphin experience and Key West for a Mallory Square sunset.  The seven mile bridge was cool to.  Maybe I will get to go on the next Key's trip.  Go Luke!

  

Brought to you by: Team Gledhill, Prudential Network Realty Buying or Selling Property in St. Johns Co? Call 904-874-2588 or email info@teamgledhill.com

"Sharing Our Community with Buyers & Sellers...One Snippet at a Time"

Rowboat Construction Update #1

As previously stated the idea of building a small rowboat sounds appealing.  The ability of a flat bottomed boat to chase Redfish up the creeks without getting stuck on the bottom tops the list.  A light 12 foot boat would push a lot easier than the 19 foot Deep Vee I was on that did get stuck, would fit in the garage with room to spare, and with a small motor cost much less to operate and maintain.  On line I found an ad for an Old Towne flat bottom row/powerboat from the early 1900's that looked a lot like what my dad built.  You can motor close then break out the oars and sneak up on hungry fish.   No plans available for that one but I did find plans for similar vintage boats that gave me a period construction method.  I started by selecting the best lumber I could find at Home Depot (Lumber Yard Yacht) and  by finding an 1890's wooden Ohio Tool Co. #116  1" Skewed Rabbet Plane.  Just what I needed to make a lapstrake hull.  I then built a table, or jig, or strongback to use as a form to hopefully bend the hull planks on.  Can't have a lopsided or crooked boat. I then learned how to set up the vintage plane and proceeded to make shavings.  Lots of shavings.  No power tools here.  The hardest thing so far has been talking Barbara out of her half of the garage. 

Brought to you by: Team Gledhill, Prudential Network Realty Buying or Selling Property in St. Johns Co? Call 904-874-2588 or email info@teamgledhill.com

"Sharing Our Community with Buyers & Sellers...One Snippet at a Time"

Time For Kingfish

The King Mackerel or Kingfish is a migratory, schooling fish that can grow to 90 pounds.  It has great power for short runs and can leap out of the water like a billfish.  In short, they can really smoke your fishing reel's drag and give your upper body a good workout.  They visit North Florida for an extended summer when the water warms to 70 degrees and higher. You never know what you are going to catch when ocean fishing but a Kingfish is a pretty good bet.  As a kid in South Florida years ago you would aim for Sailfish, Dolphin, or Cobia but would not be upset with the seemingly more abundant Kingfish.  Nice thing about this area, you do not have to go far offshore to find them.  The biggest one I have caught here was just a long cast from the beach.  The Pelicans help you locate the bait pods and the hungry predators are usually already there.  I have been chasing Kings for a long time.  The picture with the skinny kid wearing the snazzy hat is me with my mom back when all boats were wood.  The other pictures are  more current from St. Augustine. 

Brought to you by: Team Gledhill, Prudential Network Realty Buying or Selling Property in St. Johns Co? Call 904-874-2588 or email info@teamgledhill.com

"Sharing Our Community with Buyers & Sellers...One Snippet at a Time"

FREE St. Augustine Beach Concert Series

This is the twelfth year for the "Music by the Sea FREE Concert Series" which starts Wednesday May  14th. and continues thru Wednesday September the 24th. This year 21 different bands will be preforming along with 21 different eateries furnishing food for purchase in the pavilion.  Each Wednesday offers a different band and a different food option with a lot of variety.  Food starts at six and music starts at seven.  If I buy my date dinner we sit in the pavilion for really close to the band seats.  If we choose not to dine we bring our folding chairs and beverages and sit in the sand.   Parking is also FREE till full at the Pier/Pavilion parking lot on historic A1A in St. Augustine Beach.

Brought to you by: Team Gledhill, Prudential Network Realty Buying or Selling Property in St. Johns Co? Call 904-874-2588 or email info@teamgledhill.com

"Sharing Our Community with Buyers & Sellers...One Snippet at a Time"

 

The Lowly Rowboat

As a kid growing up close to Lake Erie after World War  II there were rowboats everywhere.  They were used for everything from recreation to commercial fishing and for search and rescue.  People with big money had inboard motor boats while the average Joe had a rowboat.  Large outboard motors had not been invented or reached the general population yet so a10 hp. motor was a big deal.  You could buy a boat ready made by a company like Old Towne or you could do what my dad and uncle did and build your own.  As a young lad I was shown my uncles latest boat which he was quite proud of.  It was completely submerged in about eight feet of clear water in a small lake.  I must have made lots of points by saying "that must not have been made right if it's sunk like that" not realizing that a wood boat has to soak for three days so the wood swells up and they don't leak.  The first picture below is my parents in the stern of dad's pre WW II rowboat.  After the war he purchased a 7.5 hp. Champion two cylinder which allowed him to zip threw an inlet much faster than rowing.  But he still kept the oars on board  just in case.  The next picture is my mother letting me inspect the bottom of the family boat.  The last picture is the family out for a Sunday ride.  I am the cool guy in the center holding on.  They got many years of use and great memories out of that old home made boat.  Maybe I need to build a rowboat that will hopefully float after a good soaking.

Brought to you by: Team Gledhill, Prudential Network Realty Buying or Selling Property in St. Johns Co? Call 904-874-2588 or email info@teamgledhill.com

"Sharing Our Community with Buyers & Sellers...One Snippet at a Time"

 

 

 

Skiing at the Beech

We were born up north where the weather gets cold.  Barbara could ice skate to school and I could almost see Canada on a clear day.  The idea of being confined inside till summer was out of the question.  I was fortunate that two ski resorts were within an hours drive from our family home.  This clearly had something to do with my affinity for gravity sports.  I was a member of the Ashland College Ski Club, participated in intercollegiate slalom racing, started the New London High School Ski Club,  taught my children how to ski, and probably spent too much time and money on the hill.  After a three year absence from skiing due to a back/knee thing I finally felt well enough to give it a try.  Much to Barbara's surprise everything worked and we had a great time.  YES!

 We choose Beech Mountain North Carolina for the trial by ordeal.  Ski Beech is touted to be the highest ski area east of the Mississippi at 5506 feet of elevation.  The revitalized area offers a high speed quad lift, an alpine village with an ice skating rink and lodge, and a new Umbrella Bar at the top of the mountain offering great views and craft beers.  Not Utah or Colorado but much closer with adequate snow making and grooming for a truly enjoyable experience.  http://www.beechmountainresort.com/

Brought to you by: Team Gledhill, Prudential Network Realty Buying or Selling Property in St. Johns Co? Call 904-874-2588 or email info@teamgledhill.com

"Sharing Our Community with Buyers & Sellers...One Snippet at a Time"