Lysa Napolitano, Call Coordinator ~ Century 21 Sundance

Last year I brought you photos of a 9/11 Memorial I attended in Palm Coast that was sponsored by the Palm Coast Red Knights Chapter 11. It was incredible! 400 bikes, a beautiful service, and a picture perfect day who could ask for more?

Getting to do again!

Over the past year I was fortunate to get to know the people who are from Chapter 11 of the Red Knights through other charity events, I asked if they were doing the 9/11 Memorial Ride again? When I was told yes, I was elated. I told their president Joe Vece that I would like to photograph it for them.

We figured out the best spot along their 87 mile route for me to shoot them as they go by, however I didn't know how they were going to arrive there.

1 week before the Memorial/Ride I emailed them and within minutes I received a map and directions and the next day a phone call with directions. We were all set!

Steve and I arrived at Heroes Memorial Park at about 9:10 AM and there were already double the bikes, and they were arriving at a steady pace, filling the park up quickly.

The service opened with again the presentation of colors, the American Flag being brought to Half Mast.

The Ancient City Pipes & Drums was next, they played Amazing Grace so beautifully, words can't describe to you how it made me feel. Next year I'll do video.

We then had a local minister or pastor (and I do apologize for not getting his title correct) give a short but very meaningful service followed by one of his church members and local National Guard member singing God Bless The USA.   

Taps was then played by a member of the Palm Coast Red Knights to finish our 30 minute Memorial Service. We were then briefed by one of the Flagler County Sheriffs Motorcycle and it was bikers to your bikes!

Let me show you what I mean, sit back, relax and enjoy the show!

 

 

Last year I attended the Red Knights 9/11 Memorial Run For The Fallen Hero's and what an experience it was. (Click the link to see the photos and read about it.)

A lot has happened in the past year and I have gotten to know members of the Palm Coast Red Knights while attending charity events around the area, what a super group of people!

These firefighters on bikes, active and retired do so much for folks in our area, you have no idea! They attend charity events for folks with cancer, folks who lost their homes to fires, they were huge supporters of our Annual Bikes And Blues With Mickey Jones benefiting St. Jude Children's Hospital, just to name a few.

Once a year The Red Knights organize a beautiful service for those we lost on 9/11/01 held at Hero's Memorial Park in Palm Coast, FL. The service is like none I've ever attended.

Following the service there is a 85 mile Police Escorted ride through out our beautiful area. It leaves Hero's Memorial Park and heads north to St. John's County, then south back through Flagler County, touches a bit on Volusia County and this year will end at the White Eagle Lounge in Korona.

The ride is going to be this Sunday, 9/7/08.

Sign up begins at 9:00 AM

Hero's Memorial Park on Palm Coast Parkway

The Service will start at 10:00 AM

ALL MOTOR VEHICLES ARE WELCOME!

I'll be there with my camera, doing triple duty this year! Come on out and join us!

The local sheriff was here to arrest my Midori today for GOOD.

She has been arrested for the MDA LOCKUP!

In order for Midori to be released she has to raise bail in the amount of $3,200 and she has so far she has raised $700.

Now, Midori needs our help, she has a long way to go and not a lot of time to raise the rest of that cash.


If you go to her secure site you can donate any amount you want towards her bail.

Midori Miller - MDA's MOST WANTED CITIZEN!

"I'm going behind bars for "GOOD"
PLEASE HELP BAIL ME OUT!
Whether it's $1.00 or $1000
Every dollar counts!
Your donation is my key to freedom but most of all to find a cure for this horrible disease! The disease is not selective..it can hit anyone of any age. A fact that I was not aware of and the worst part..there are many variations of the disease. All which need a cure. Please I urge you to do whatever you can do whether it is a dollar or more to continue this fight so that those that suffer will win.
Be proud of the fact that together we're providing help and hope to kids and adults served by MDA in our community." Midori Miller ~ Centruy 21 Sundance

In fact she is going to start calling her Active Rain friends right for help right now!

Be ready to donate!

Get your credit cards ready or better yet, go to her site and donate now, beat Midori to the punch!

As Midori says, every dollar counts!

Thanks gang!

Last Saturday I awoke at 5am. Unable to go back to sleep, at 7 I decided to get dressed and head back out to the protected area of beach where the Black Skimmers had decided to hatch their babies and see if I could get you some better photos.

Much to my delight the birds had moved to the eastern most point of the protected area and were ready for their close ups!

After taking some 200 photos I wondered what would be the best way to show them all to those of you who wanted to see them. I was really quite proud of a couple.

Then I remembered a post I recently helped Midori do, and thought to myself HEY! I can run with that idea too!

 

Here is a short slide show of my photos from Saturday, July 26 with the Black Skimmer Famly.

A year ago, August of 2007 I told you about how these 3 rare birds had captured the hearts of people around Daytona Beach and managed to block off the beach to cars in my post: Rare Birds Put The Breaks On Beach Driving In Daytona

That post remained on the first page of Florida Information, Volusia County Information and Daytona Beach, FL Information until just recently. You all loved it that much!

Just recently Mom and Dad returned to Daytona Beach, they must love our hospitality! My hairdresser spotted them in the exact same spot they were at last year and we began to wait for the arrival of the baby.

Sunday evening I received a email that the first baby hatched on Friday and a second hatched on Sunday, however the Mom and Dad were not at the same spot, they were further south! I headed out early Monday morning in search of them.

My problem being I have a foot injury right now and am supposed to stay off my foot as much as possible. My friend told me he hiked 2 miles north to find the birds after parking near the Dunlawton Bridge. I can't afford to do that with the foot injury, so I stopped at two beach approaches and asked the gate person what they knew, and both knew nothing! Giving up I went to work and pulled up the newspaper onlineto see what I could find there.

BINGO! The newspaper told me exactly where I could find the happy couple and their new arrivals! Once again on a beach frequented by cars, they have blocked traffic in the area where the birds have nested (YAY!). Midori suggested I look on the internet and find the closest beach walkover and to my delight the walkover is right at the birds location. Now, to just find parking...

I left my house early this morning, found the address easily, parked at a store which warns anyone parking over 30 minutes will be towed. No problem there, I won't be that long! I then found the walkway to the beach and it is a narrow sidewalk between two tall condos, if you don't know it is there, you'd walk or drive right by it.

As I got to the beach, there they were... the proud parents... one baby was out running around with them, all were inside the area blocked off to keep them protected. It is so funny how they know that the area is just for them.

I took almost 200 photos in the 15 minutes I was there, of course I won't bore you with all 200, I picked out the best and will let you browse through them. The baby you do see I think is the one that was hatched on Friday. I am going to try to go back early on Saturday and see if the other baby is out walking around yet.

Hover your mouse pointer over the photos and you'll see a short description on each.

You're probably wondering how I know which bird is which? I really don't, I am going by what I read in the newspaper yesterday. It said that the male bird is smaller then the female.

I'm so excited I got to see this happy little couple again. This is the 2nd pair of birds (different species) that have returned back to Daytona from last year, that is something I've never been able experience before!