Early?  What do you mean early!?!  I’ve never been early, The only way I’d be there before it starts is to be left over from the last time, so I’m still there.  Early?  Impossible; I’m too relaxed , lei’d back, and never fast enough to get there early.  What?!?  I guess I’ll have to wait til next year.  Nothing wrong with having something to look forward to, plus it’s rainy and chilly, anyhow.  I’ll be doing this again next winter for sure, so I’ll have another shot, so that’s Spring o.c.fotoguy Break for this year! 
    Ever take the time to figure out how to do something right including all the details to assure it’ll work right and be successful?   That’s what I did and I was sure it would be productive.  But…… only to find out no matter how well thought out all those procedures and plans were, they don’t work and you fail!!??!!  I’m back to meandering around where it’s warm in January to May.  I started in Florida (where I began to write this, now I’m in Spring Break land in S. Padre Island, Tx.) then I’ll be going on west.  I’ve accepted the deer hunter’s method of bagging a trophy to see rare wild life.  Deer slayers put a platform up a tree (deer stand), climb up there, and wait til a deer wanders close enough, but doesn’t know what’s coming from above.  I modified that a little to sitting a bit off the trail in an obscure spot, and waiting for a panther, bear or other critter to wander by so I can get a photo.  It works for hunters.  I’ve seen lots of deer heads mounted in hunters’ homes, so that proves it!  Did it work for me?  No!  Why?  I even put my chair where I’ve seen calling cards (piles of fresh feces) often and even seen the critters there before, but when I see them, it’s always a surprise.  I guess that’s the way life is, catch me or you while we’re not looking or paying attention.  That’s how I’ve seen every panther and bear!
    Speaking of surprises I was amazed during my stay at the Blue Fin Inn in Islamorada at mile marker 82 that rents for $55/ngt with the 7th night free, website:  www.keylantern.com, email: klmbfi@keysemail.com & phone 305-664-4572.  I saw Steve and Carol from Ocean City and Dottie and Bill Merrick from White Horse Camp Ground near Ocean Pines who had read my article last summer recommending this motel as a comfortable and reasonably priced place to stay.  Wow! Someone actually reads this stuff!  Tom Welch, the owner of the Seaside Deli at about 75th Street in O.C., wandered up to my campsite one evening!  And someone, actually Ken Shroyer, yelled “Hey Ocean City,” as I was walking the beach at Marco Island and he told me Jim Long played at CJs in Marco Island on Thursdays at happy hour, so that was a must be there.  There’s no better way to spend HH than with Jim Long!!!!  What a surprise to find him in Florida and he was quite surprised when I walked towards him from the crowd.  I wasn’t the only OCer there.  Jim & Dianne Shore were there, too.
    Whoops did I write Spring Break off too soon?  Every day is a good day, rainy, sleet or snow, sunshine is best.  Drizzly and grey, but it is Spring Break.  I went to a sports bar in Port Isabel across the bridge from South Padre Island.  The U of Md Terps were playing NC State in Bball in ACC Tournament on TV.  A band was playing and the partiers were dancing.  Surprise, surprise it’s a country western band and the class of ’52 is doing the Texas 2 step!!  It’s crowded, but the best looking women in the place are the 8 year olds playing video games and 90 year old Gretchen beside me sipping her cold one as she adjusts her oxygen!  A guy who must be in his 80s is dancing with the waitress and loving life.  I’m not sure what these people are taking a break from, but they’re sure having fun and as an extra bonus, the Terps won!  It’s not what I expected, but Spring Break is happening!  It’s amazing stuff, that life deals. 
    There’s one thing that the success of my trip depends on.  That is my car and it is running like a top, thanks to Bumper to Bumper Car Care.  They can make yours run right too (410-641-7707).  Until the next time my praddle is in the Coconut Times, stay warm and if you’re thinking of doing family photos on the beach next summer give me a call, 410-289-7339, and we’ll talk about it.  That number rings on my cell phone, too and it’s always in my pocket.  Have Fun!  Maybe I’ll see you at happy hour somewhere.  I’m off to Big Bend N.P. to camp and kayak the Rio Grande in St. Elena Canyon on the Mexican Border, then on to Organ Pipes Cactus N.M., a hummingbird oasis, and then Patagonia, Az., a new place for me. I’ll be back in Ocean City in May and see you at Spring Fest. Check out more of my travel pics and more at http://picasaweb.google.com/o.c.fotoguy