This morning Collier County. Gator country. Naples to be precise. Early start. Needs to be. Damn hot. So, without further ado, let me introduce todays special guest runner. The family second in command. It's 'O'. Could have been 'O Dear'. 'O' is for Organiser. I can tell from emails that many are pleased 'O' is entering the blog. More a case of 'O' inserting herself. There's also some 'sister support' out there. For one night only...
Moreover, I sense a problem running with 'O'. In fact, I've been asked to sign an 'Agreement'. Never been faced with such censorship before. Terms? No photos, front or rear. No controlling the pace. No being treated like a military recruit. No references to body parts. Whatever that means. Oh, and a pre read before posting. As I say, for one night only...
Reveille, I mean the wake up call, 0620 hrs. Head west from The Charter Club. We've spent many vacations here down the years. A beautiful location. Past Landings Park. Turn down Broad Ave continuing west. Turn left on 3rd Street, run past the many fine restaurants; Sea Salt, Campellio's, & my personal favourite, Tommy Bahamas. Pace is pretty slow..., I mean steady enough, to 12th Ave - and one of the area's better-known landmarks. Naples Pier. Spectacular for sunsets, it oozes character. The pier sits beautifully as it proudly juts out into the Gulf of Mexico. Beaches are stunning, over 16 kms of pristine sands. However, my Freetown brothers and sisters, these beaches might be special, but not in the same league as the peninsula southeast of Freetown, Sierra Leone.
Naples Pier. This old relic has been here since 1888. Hurricanes and fire have ravaged the old girl over the years. This sturdy old wooden character reminds me fondly of my mother-in-law in some respects.
We jog down the pier past early morning fishermen. At a sitting area half way down there's a group of about 10 elderly folk with a huge thermos of coffee. You get the impression they meet here often, enjoying each other's company and discussing issues of the day. There's gentle laughter and camaraderie as we jog past.
This is one old town. In England Naples would be Bournemouth. Somewhere akin to God's waiting room. 42% of the residents here are apparently 65 years of age or older. Median age is 61 years. In fact, similiar stats to Hesket Newmarket, our home village, where the average age is 87.
We turnaround at the end of the pier. Lots of fishermen casting lines and cleaning fish. A single dolphin playing off the port side. At least I think it's a dolphin.
A little more about Naples. Population 20,000. One word stands out. Wealth. Stinking rich. One of the wealthiest cities in the United States, and the second highest proportion of millionaires per capita. Real estate is among the most expensive in the country, with houses for sale in excess of $40 million. Some of the most luxurious waterfront estates and condos in the world.
Coming, as I have, from West Africa is a contrast of epic proportions. Famous people who have property here include Bill Gates, Donald Trump, Bob Seger, and Buzz Aldrin. There's plenty of old money, as well as the current and retired captains of industry. For the younger folks...
"Knock knock."
"Who's there?"
"Don't mess about, Buzz. Who the (expletive) do you think it is?"
"Sorry Neil."
'O' is holding up pretty well as first light comes. Little pink around the gills maybe, but doing just fine. Some references to sore knees, hips and, "I'm not in the Army you know." I might need a lawyer...
Numerous joggers and cyclists out this morning. Everyone's incredibly friendly. After exiting the pier we head north along Gulf Boulevard. Turn right and head east on 5th Ave. Over half way. We're now in the heart of downtown Naples. 5th Ave South and 3rd Street, where we were earlier, is the shopping district. A mix of swanky restaurants, nice hotels, antique shops, art galleries, expensive fashion, realtors, financial institutions... and Starbucks.
Becoming warmer into the rising sun. 5th Ave is a pleasure to run down. I pause, take a few snaps and catch-up to 'O'. Jog to Tin City. An interesting area of Naples. More authentic. More bohemian. An indoor marketplace and the home for several charter and tour boats. Originally a 1920's clam shelling and oyster processing plant. Retains its quaint boardwalks and tin-topped buildings. No chain operations here. Even has a comedy club...
Over the road a sign for Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens. Took the young folks there yesterday. Frankly, not a great zoo. In fact, only had one animal. A dog. It was a Shitsu...
Turn right out of Tin City and set course for The Charter Club. 'O' is miraculously getting a second wind and pushing on now. We arrive back at the club house just after 0715 hrs. Resort still in bed. Feel virtous. Let's go and sit down by the pool and watch sunrise? I venture into the club and rustle up some much needed coffee. Radio is set on 'Gator Country 101.9 FM'. Two types of music in these parts. Country. The other. Western.
Pitch up a couple of chairs on the lawn by the pool. I might have stretched the parameters of the 'Agreement', but I've enjoyed this run and having 'O' along. Of course, she's by far the best guest runner to-date, no question... (another stipulation in the Agreement...). 'O', one more thing, what hairy legs you have...
Postscript: What and where next? I was due to return Freetown next week. Over the past days BA has extended the suspension of flights into Sierra Leone & Liberia until end 2014. Air France has also ceased operations. The death toll from Ebola has passed 1,500 according to WHO. Most experts believe the figure to be far higher. Business has largely collapsed and regional travel all but impossible. So, see you back in Freetown...
Divas, cheesy I know, but, let's pray for the rainbow after the storm (from Tin City a few days back).
Additional postscript: 'O' wanted me to mention this was her first run for..., ah forget that, he who holds the pen...
Moreover, I sense a problem running with 'O'. In fact, I've been asked to sign an 'Agreement'. Never been faced with such censorship before. Terms? No photos, front or rear. No controlling the pace. No being treated like a military recruit. No references to body parts. Whatever that means. Oh, and a pre read before posting. As I say, for one night only...
Reveille, I mean the wake up call, 0620 hrs. Head west from The Charter Club. We've spent many vacations here down the years. A beautiful location. Past Landings Park. Turn down Broad Ave continuing west. Turn left on 3rd Street, run past the many fine restaurants; Sea Salt, Campellio's, & my personal favourite, Tommy Bahamas. Pace is pretty slow..., I mean steady enough, to 12th Ave - and one of the area's better-known landmarks. Naples Pier. Spectacular for sunsets, it oozes character. The pier sits beautifully as it proudly juts out into the Gulf of Mexico. Beaches are stunning, over 16 kms of pristine sands. However, my Freetown brothers and sisters, these beaches might be special, but not in the same league as the peninsula southeast of Freetown, Sierra Leone.
Naples Pier. This old relic has been here since 1888. Hurricanes and fire have ravaged the old girl over the years. This sturdy old wooden character reminds me fondly of my mother-in-law in some respects.
We jog down the pier past early morning fishermen. At a sitting area half way down there's a group of about 10 elderly folk with a huge thermos of coffee. You get the impression they meet here often, enjoying each other's company and discussing issues of the day. There's gentle laughter and camaraderie as we jog past.
This is one old town. In England Naples would be Bournemouth. Somewhere akin to God's waiting room. 42% of the residents here are apparently 65 years of age or older. Median age is 61 years. In fact, similiar stats to Hesket Newmarket, our home village, where the average age is 87.
We turnaround at the end of the pier. Lots of fishermen casting lines and cleaning fish. A single dolphin playing off the port side. At least I think it's a dolphin.
A little more about Naples. Population 20,000. One word stands out. Wealth. Stinking rich. One of the wealthiest cities in the United States, and the second highest proportion of millionaires per capita. Real estate is among the most expensive in the country, with houses for sale in excess of $40 million. Some of the most luxurious waterfront estates and condos in the world.
Coming, as I have, from West Africa is a contrast of epic proportions. Famous people who have property here include Bill Gates, Donald Trump, Bob Seger, and Buzz Aldrin. There's plenty of old money, as well as the current and retired captains of industry. For the younger folks...
"Knock knock."
"Who's there?"
"Don't mess about, Buzz. Who the (expletive) do you think it is?"
"Sorry Neil."
'O' is holding up pretty well as first light comes. Little pink around the gills maybe, but doing just fine. Some references to sore knees, hips and, "I'm not in the Army you know." I might need a lawyer...
Numerous joggers and cyclists out this morning. Everyone's incredibly friendly. After exiting the pier we head north along Gulf Boulevard. Turn right and head east on 5th Ave. Over half way. We're now in the heart of downtown Naples. 5th Ave South and 3rd Street, where we were earlier, is the shopping district. A mix of swanky restaurants, nice hotels, antique shops, art galleries, expensive fashion, realtors, financial institutions... and Starbucks.
Becoming warmer into the rising sun. 5th Ave is a pleasure to run down. I pause, take a few snaps and catch-up to 'O'. Jog to Tin City. An interesting area of Naples. More authentic. More bohemian. An indoor marketplace and the home for several charter and tour boats. Originally a 1920's clam shelling and oyster processing plant. Retains its quaint boardwalks and tin-topped buildings. No chain operations here. Even has a comedy club...
Over the road a sign for Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens. Took the young folks there yesterday. Frankly, not a great zoo. In fact, only had one animal. A dog. It was a Shitsu...
Turn right out of Tin City and set course for The Charter Club. 'O' is miraculously getting a second wind and pushing on now. We arrive back at the club house just after 0715 hrs. Resort still in bed. Feel virtous. Let's go and sit down by the pool and watch sunrise? I venture into the club and rustle up some much needed coffee. Radio is set on 'Gator Country 101.9 FM'. Two types of music in these parts. Country. The other. Western.
Pitch up a couple of chairs on the lawn by the pool. I might have stretched the parameters of the 'Agreement', but I've enjoyed this run and having 'O' along. Of course, she's by far the best guest runner to-date, no question... (another stipulation in the Agreement...). 'O', one more thing, what hairy legs you have...
Postscript: What and where next? I was due to return Freetown next week. Over the past days BA has extended the suspension of flights into Sierra Leone & Liberia until end 2014. Air France has also ceased operations. The death toll from Ebola has passed 1,500 according to WHO. Most experts believe the figure to be far higher. Business has largely collapsed and regional travel all but impossible. So, see you back in Freetown...
Divas, cheesy I know, but, let's pray for the rainbow after the storm (from Tin City a few days back).
Additional postscript: 'O' wanted me to mention this was her first run for..., ah forget that, he who holds the pen...
