| INSTALLING THE OUT RIG Back at the island, my next job was to figure out a way to install the out rig. I wanted to cut the board in half, lengthwise, and make two out rigs. First I drilled a small hole to see if it was filled with flotation foam or if it was hollow. I did not have electricity or a drill. I used one of those screws that have a loop on one end and which people normally use to hang plants. I inserted a screwdriver into the loop to turn the screw. Once I finished drilling the hole, I found that the board was hollow. I patched it up with some waterproof, marine paste that I had bough to make emergency repairs on the canoe. The board had come from the factory with two holes in it. Through these, I was able to run the aluminum pipes. Now I needed something with which to exert pressure on the board from the outside. I used a BBQ grill. I proceeded to secure the board and the grill in place with duct tape, rope and clamps. It was not a pretty sight. I had no idea if it would hold. |
I tested the canoe with its out rig and was delighted. I could stand on the out rig or the gunwale of the canoe and jump as much and as hard as I wanted to and the canoe would not flip over. I had not provided any cover for my dogs or myself. We had been scorched and close to heat exhaustion by the time we reached the island. Out of an old, discarded aluminum chair, I improvised a small frame in the center of the canoe. On it, I laid and tied down palm fronds, thus providing adequate shade for the dogs. Jan, John and Jen came to the island to visit and told me that they had seen a dead ten-foot gator on the riverbank. Someone had killed the alligator that had been stalking us. Each time anyone came to the island to swim with their children or dogs I showed them the pressed grass. I imagine one of the locals took care of the problem. There are approximately 1.5 million alligators in Florida. The law protects them. Being an animal lover, I agree that they should be protected against unjustifiable and unnecessary slaughter. However, there is something with which I am in total disagreement: the law does not seem to consider an alligator a nuisance or a threat until after it has eaten someone�s child or pet. In all honesty, I felt no regret for this particular alligator. |
 |
| Pam and I trying out the windsurfer board. Photo by Cherie Anderson |
 |
|
EDIBILITY TEST FOR PLANTS Florida is located in the temperate zone but because of the warm waters of the Gulf Stream it has a subtropical climate and ecosystem. A m�lange of both tropical and temperate plants can be seen growing alongside each other, such as: palms, gumbo-limbos, cypress, river-reeds, saw-grass, pines, oaks and willows � just to name a few. |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Beatriz Socorro |