Tuesday, March 30, 2010

The Watchtower

I love the fire watchtower. You see them a lot in old national forest- and state park-land, especially down south, and out west.

If you've never read it, do yourself a favor and read Ed Abbey's "Desert Solitaire". Great read. Brilliant. And awesome.

Anyway, the fire watchtower is an iconic symbol, and also a touchstone for the Mistah and me. There's something just so cool and retro about it. And when we were down in the 'Glades, staying with our friend Renee, well, this is the tower right outside of her house; we could see it right from our guestroom bed.

Cool, right?

We stared at it for days, and Mistah did his photography thing upon it, then one sunset we decided we needed to climb it. Why not? It was there. And Renee? She opened the gate for us. She's the boss, afterall.

Mom would have hated it.

Sure, it was a little rickety. But up there? It was an awesome view . . .

. . . of Mistah Schleckah and the Fakahatchee behind him.

And of course we brought beers. Duh.

We could see for miles, in one direction . . .

. . . and in another.

And look! We could even see our Westy!

See?

Aw.....

And then the sun began to set, as the sun always does . . .

A dogged, determined orb, that sun is . . .

. . . and when you're way up on high? In the fire watchtower? . . .

. . . oh yeah.

8 comments:

Pickles and Dimes said...

So pretty! Great photos!

Me, You, or Ellie said...

channeling mom here: you climbed down in the dark after drinking?

Oh wait, it was Miller High Life, that doesn't count.

Beautiful shots, love it!

Jacquie

unmitigated me said...

Hey, is that moondog a Mistah Schecklah shot? Awesome!

Me, You, or Ellie said...

This post immediately brought to mind the song "All Along the Watchtower," which I love, love, love!

Dave Van Ronk states of this Dylan song that it's "a mistake from the title on down: a watchtower is not a road or a wall, and you can't go along it."

But, you guys have proved that you can go up it, and down it, and drink beers right inside of it.

Did the wind began to howl???????

beth

XUP said...

What's the big tower next to the house? Also, did you spot any fires while you were up there, saving untold millions of trees and wildlife? Because that would make a really good ending to this story.

Springer Kneeblood said...

OK, now I want to go to Florida. To the watchtower. And now I know that Beth loves "All Along the Watchtower," I also love Beth. Take me with you next time please? Seriously! Take me with you. I'll wash and feed Westy.

Me, You, or Ellie said...

Wash and feed? Now that's a good offer, Ellie.

Captain Dumbass said...

Pretty impressive sunset.