- Date:
2022-12-14 - 2022-12-26
This December's trip to Crystal River was cathartic as usual, but it was overshadowed by the death of my Uncle Leonard Thibadeau within a couple days of my arrival. This was in large part a working vacation, but the change of scenery is still enjoyable.
Also, this was the first time I had used my camera in several months, and I really enjoyed taking some snaps in the Sunshine State. At the advice of my friend Ron I decided to be slightly more abstract with my photos. Overall I believe that these photos capture my frame of mind a lot better than the formal photography style I use most.
Dec 15 - The morning after I arrived. My new computer with the backlit keys from Free IT Athens is set up, and I am ready to work.
Millie in the kitchen at the condo. Dec 15
Rain storm
Throughout the vacation I had the opportunity to visit with Chuck. In this photo we are about to drive through the rain to eat lunch, stop by one of his clients' homes, and stop by The Home Depot in Crystal River for some parts for a future job.
The temperature was pleasant outside despite the rain.
The intersection of US 19 with 5th Street in Crystal River. Dec 15
This restaurant has been here for a long time. They are closed because it is Thursday.
Chuck and I drove past a couple of defunct radio towers. This was previously the home of a low power FM radio station, but the former owner shut down the station and sold the house. The new residents started disassembling the tower without any safety equipment. This was the place where I bought a non-working 1000W FM transmitter for $200, and them proceeded to spend an additional $800 on parts and labor to restore its operation. $1000 for a used 1000W FM broadcast transmitter was an excellent deal.
The FM and Bluetooth boombox that my friend Jeff gave me less than a week prior. This box has decent sound, and I used it for many hours during this vacation.
I made spaghetti twice on this trip, and each time I cooked it lasted me for a couple of days. Other than that I made a bunch of sandwiches, and I went to a couple of the pigout buffets (Golden Corral and Ocean Buffet) with my central Florida buddies.
Went here twice - Once with a group on Friday Dec 16, and once with just Chuck and I on Christmas evening. The group included my friends Tony, Michael, Jim, Anna, Chuck, and Heather.
Heather and her mom in the Ocean Buffet parking lot.
Jim and Chuck. Jim repaired the Nicom NT-1000 FM transmitter. He gave it to me in the parking lot of Ocean Buffet.
On the following morning, Saturday, Dec 17, I drove to KP Hole in Dunnellon to drift-dive Rainbow River twice. This is an easy and scenic dive that I have started doing when I am in the area.
I park at KP Hole park then take the water taxi upstream with my scuba gear. We jump out of the boat upstream and drift back to KP Hole. I do this drift dive twice on one a tank of air. There is nowhere to fill air, so divers must be prepared. Even though I am typically at the bare minimum 500psi of air when I finish the second dive, this dive is an open environment with a maximum depth of 20 feet, so these tolerances are pretty safe.
Brit, the Rainbow Water Taxi owner and captain.
I am no stranger to outdoor showering. These are the shower accommodations at KP Hole. Note my Dr. Bronner's soap.
KP Hole admission is $20 for divers, and the water taxi is $10 per trip. An air fill at Birds Underwater in Crystal River is $6. $46 for a couple of drift dives is completely worth it. I found a way to have a lot of fun inexpensively.
I enjoyed working on the deck while the weather was warm. Later in the trip it cooled off as we experienced unseasonably cold temperatures.
The new clock radio that my mom sent me with. This replaced the defective one.
Long Exposure nighttime shots of Christmas lights across the water on Thursday, Dec 22.
Shots of the Casa Rio condos shot from the dock. Our unit's porch is directly behind the bright light in the center of the photo.
On the morning of Friday, Dec 23 there was a beautiful, complete rainbow visible outside of the condo. It didn't last very long, though. I went back inside to grab my cell phone, and when I returned it was gone.
Rainbow closeup.
My work zone. Multiple computers, a bunch of old iPads, multiple cell phones, 2 dogs, a 1000W Fm Transmitter against the wall, and the boombox from Jeff.
A view from the condo on the evening of Dec 23.
Christmas Eve. This is the Crystal River Christmas Tree at the intersection of US19 and Citrus Avenue.
The water municipality allowed the water to spray from the above-ground pipes (see lower-right of the photo) as a freeze precaution. As a result the water froze on this shrub.
On Christmas day I went Scuba Diving at Hunter Springs Park in Crystal River. This is usually not a very exciting area, but I did see several manatees. One of my objectives on this diving trip was to practice my buoyancy. I though I did pretty well this time. Definitely improving.
Drove home on December 26. Another great vacation in Central Florida.
