Chicago - Wrigley Field Visit / Cubs in World Series

Statue outside the Ticket Office

While this Lowcountry native must confess to being a longtime Atlanta Braves baseball fan, the WGN television station broadcast enough Cubs games over the years to secure at least some interest. So when I was in the Windy City for a visit during the National League (NL) pennant chase, heading down to Wrigley Field for a visit was a must. After waiting in line for three hours for Game One tickets of the NL Championship Series, we found out that the game was officially a sell out and no more tickets were available. What I did secure while near the 'Friendly Confines' was a great feel for the spirit of Chicago Cubs fanes and their thirst for going to the World Series for the first time in 71 years. Go Cubs!

Neat to see all the spirit on display in Chicago

 To view past blog entries about Chicago click on Tall Ship Windy - Shedd Aquarium - Ralph Lauren Restaurant

Stadium Sign

More Cubs Spirit !!

Chicago - Tall Ship Windy and Architectural Tour

My waterline observation of Chicago's waterfront

A recent trip to the Windy City allowed time to explore the North side of town including Wrigley Field, and also to view Chicago’s architecture by boat. A past visit to Chicago two years ago allowed this tourist to attend sightseeing destinations like the Fields Museum of Natural History, and the Shedd Aquarium located on the shore of Lake Michigan. This year I strolled onto Navy Pier and saw a mix of restaurants, entertainment and a striking 148-foot Tall Ship with roots in the Lowcountry.

            

Aft view of Tall Ship Windy

The aptly named Windy is a four masted tall ship that was built at Detyens Shipyard in Charleston in 1996, and has since been stationed in Chicago with a mission to bring sailing cruises to the public. She is constructed of steel with wooden booms, and ornamentation on her three decks. Windy began her 20th Anniversary season of sailing this August, and garnered the flagship award from the City of Chicago by Mayor Richard Daley in 2006.

            

Close Up of the Rigging

Those who love architecture, and open-minded visitors, never tire of the skyline in Chicago, a city dubbed the birthplace of the skyscraper. Movies, television and many other media forms have showcased the striking buildings along the lakefront and also alongside the Chicago River. It turns out that getting on a boat in order to view the architecture is the perfect way to slow down the grinding pace of the city and also to enhance the nuance of being surrounded by towering buildings on all sides.

To view this feature story in the newspaper click on Colletonian.

To view past blog entries on Tall Ships click on Spirit of Carolina - 2009 Charleston Harborfest

To view past blog entries about classic wooden boats click Grace - Aphrodite - Osprey - Annalee - Hinckley

Scenic View !!

2016 Split Vote - To Hunt or to Fish?

Wildlife enthusiasts understand that nature is dialed in deeper to the changing of the seasons, far more than a few extra degrees of temperature will dictate. The live oak acorns are dropping right on cue and the white tail bucks are rutting, while the mullet run is underway and the redfish are chewing. A Presidential decision comes every four years in November, but the decision to Hunt or to Fish is upon us each October.

            

It's a Split Vote for Lowcountry Outdoors - Hunt or Fish?

With the ability to fish all year long for redfish, it seems prudent to take advantage of each legal day of hunting season in fall. However, the intangible factors derived from fishing for redfish in October may be compelling enough to veto that logic. Whether standing on a beach and casting into the surf zone, or riding in a skiff probing creeks mouths and structure, fall can yield some of the most productive redfishing of the year. Anglers can access redfish in the summer, but they also break a healthy sweat on many days, and October can offer a fresher take on the salt air.

            

On the other hand, the biggest and best bucks of the year begin to show up at the venison processors of the Lowcountry in October. Mature bucks that are rarely seen during daylight begins to chase does and they can keep up a pace that dictates they cover lots of ground. Serious deer hunters would rather be in a deer stand during the heart of the rut over any other part of the deer season. Other deer will be on the move in response to mature buck activity, and this can truly be a revealing time to observe the woodlands. Attempting to hunt and fish on the same day takes a commitment of time for sure, but it also stretches your license dollars, and might create a memorable day of sport that lasts a lifetime.

To view this feature article in the newspaper click on Charleston Mercury.

To view past blog entries click on Right to Hunt and Fish in SC  - 2013 Good Weather Toss Up

Hurricane Matthew Yields 10-Point Buck for Persistent Hunter

Rayburn Mulkey and his trophy buck

Deer hunting took a back seat to preparations for Hurricane Matthew during the first week of October, the same time of the year when bucks begin to rut. The brunt of the Hurricane brought a tidal surge to the barrier islands, with plenty of wind and rain throughout the coastal plain. Hunter Rayburn Mulkey spent Sunday October 9 cutting trees blocking roads on John’s Island before getting into his tree stand and harvesting his personal best trophy 10-point buck.

“I knew that it had been extremely windy for 36-hours or more, and I had a hunch that some deer might move on Sunday evening,” said Mulkey. He is employed by The Tree Clinic and they were working on that Sunday doing some emergency clearing of trees that were dangerously close to houses, and across roads. “I got off work and grabbed my camo and got into the deer stand about 6:30 p.m. overlooking a 30-acre hay field. At 7:13 there was only a slight breeze, and a doe came out to my corn pile, and the sun began to set.”

            

Game Camera photo of same buck from 9/10/16

“The pine trees began to cast a shadow over a corner of the field and I noticed a large, dark-colored deer step out,” said Mulkey. “He approached the doe but would not stop moving so I gave him a grunt call and he stopped broadside at 60-yards from me.” His Remington 30 / .06 – caliber rifle barked one time and the buck jumped up before running out into the field and flopping over. Mulkey took a few moments before going down to find his buck, and was elated to verify that this was the same buck that he had on camera.

To view the entire feature story in the newspaper click on Colletonian.

For past blog entries about Opening Days Deer Success Stories click on 2014 Lady Hunter - 2014- 2013 - 2012 - 2011 - 2010 - 2009 

To view past Big Buck Harvests click on 2012 Bear Island Droptine Buck - 2011 Late Eight-Point - 2011 Youth Hunter - 2013 Cooper Buck -  2012 Cedar Knoll Ten-Point - 2012 Twelve-Point Buck - 2012 Draw Hunt Buck - 2012 Halloween Buck - 2013 Donnelly WMA buck - 2014 Gnarly Buck - 2009 Dog Pen Buck - 2011 Rosser Buck - 2012 Crandall Buck - 2011 Man Drive Buck - 2011 Birthday Buck - 2010 Bricketto Buck - 2010 McCarty Buck - 2009 Blogger Buck - 2011 Bowen Buck - 2011 Thanksgiving Buck - 2011 Savannah River Site Bucks - 2011 Santee Delta Man Drive - 2009 ACE Basin Driven Hunt - 2009 Thanksgiving Buck