The Real Florida

[capttheo1]

This thing makes me so homesick it almost makes me want to cry.

[bigbeninjax]

@capttheo1 Thanks for dropping by again, Jim....you know the door to my channel is always open when you need another Florida fix.

[dimitrigregorieff]

I love old Florida. I live in Jupiter where I own one acre of pristine hammock. Every day that I come home is a dream come true. Thanks for sharing these beautiful pictures.

[bigbeninjax]

@dimitrigregorieff Thanks, Dima, glad you dropped by for a visit....nice to meet someone who appreciates beauty that doesn't come from a container.

[bellamoonnature]

Thoroughly enjoyed my journey through the backblocks of Florida, boppin ' along to the Troggs and our own LRB. Oh, to have seen a shuttle takeoff ~ now that dream has gone up like the vapour left behind it. 'I Love Lucy'. The butterflies were gorgeous.

Beautiful place your backyard!!!! Thanks for sharing your lot.........

Bella

[bigbeninjax]

@bellamoonnature Yes, I'm glad UMG and YT let me keep the music used here, especially the Aussie connection. The Cape area is really going to be decimated by the brain drain now that the shuttle is gone....can't believe the fools in govt didnt even save one for emergencies until a reliable replacement is made.

[bellamoonnature]

@bigbeninjax Oh ~ What would you expect from a government with their very impressive.... (not) track record Ours, are just as daft as your pollies ~ sad to say......

Bella

[bigbeninjax]

@bellamoonnature That's for sure....some of the policies I hear about in Australia I would have never expected ten years ago. I guess the Crocodile Dundee spirit has been sucked dry......to put it nicely.

[capttheo1]

It always makes me kind of sad whenever I see those rotting out, collapsing piers, sometimes with the remains of a building on it. Just thinking that an era when it was still in use came to an end. Such a pity.

[bigbeninjax]

@capttheo1 I agree....each time I go to Cedar Key I fully expect the old "Honeymoon Cottage" (at 4:41) to be gone....from the weight of the pelicans if nothing else. At least plenty of artists have painted it to keep the memory going when that day comes. Thanks for dropping by again!

[HildaJeanAM]

beautiful place...awesome video with great music!

[capttheo1]

You, sir, are a giant among mere mortals.

[bigbeninjax]

@capttheo1 Oh, you've seen my picture next to that clock??? LOL.

Thanks, Jim. Come back anytime!

[fluiera]

You made me dream about Florida'

Nice american place!

I have to see it

Thank you

[fluiera]

I will be back to see this video

My internet connection is kind of slow right now.

I am sure Florida its a nice place and I am going to visit it pretty soon.

[timquinn66]

I love this video. I like your pics of ireland too. I lived in ireland and i little kid. From age 5 and on i grew up in Jacksonville and Clay County. This video reminds me alot of how Clay County was in the 70's

[bigbeninjax]

Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed them. Yes, I can remember when the WAPE studio was the 'end of the world' south of Orange Park on US 17. No more!

[timquinn66]

NO way, right by the Jiffy food store ? I lived in Fleming oaks for about 4 years. My brother said you cant even recognize it now. so Sad

[bigbeninjax]

Yep, that was a nice ride in the country. And, of course, there was no Fleming Island except for a few old houses around the old church on the river.

[timquinn66]

I agree. I loved old church road. Also across from Fleming Oaks was jsut a small farm and a hew houses on that road as well. Its nice to find someone familiar with that area....lol...I'll continue to watch some more of your videos

Thanks again

[sproutcentral]

Looks nice Ben.

Spent a few days in Orlando back in '86. It was quite warm if I remember correctly.

Visited the Kennedy Spaceport & the EPCOT Center (hey, I was a tourist).

Cheers, Dave.

[bigbeninjax]

If you went in 86 to the KSC, you probably got to go into the Vehicle Assembly Building....incredible to see the shuttle hanging in there and there's still lots of room left-over. They claim if the a/c gets turned off, clouds form near the ceiling. Yeah, you Aussies are probably the only ones who can handle all that asphalt and heat in Orlando.

[roadbiketraveller]

Thank you for sharing your part of this wonderful world with us.

.x.

[promiseIsaih60]

Hey, thi7s is a REALLY NICE VIDEO of Florida TOTALLY unexpected!! 5 stars for this one!!

[bigbeninjax]

Thanks very much, promiseIsaih60, glad you came along for the trip.

[promiseIsaih60]

You're welcome! I'm originally from The Cape [Cape Cod Ma] so I know what it's like when big developers come in with dollar signs flashing in their eyes. I hope the Floridians keep their area as beautful & undeveloped as possible! I shared this with my sis [in NorthPalm Beach] & she loved it! :)

[bigbeninjax]

Yep, there's a number of great beaches and places to go still. Ironically, since you're from the Cape and know good clam chowder, I suspect, a place called Tony's Seafood in Cedar Key (where a number of the Christmas, my birthday, and dock pics were taken) recently won Best Clam Chowder in the US. It's a New England style, not that awful Manhattan variety. You'd love it. We always bring back quarts of it.

[bigbeninjax]

The contest was at the Newport Yacht Club in RI, no less.

[promiseIsaih60]

PS: What's the name of the 2nd song in the video? I know it's from the 80's & I LOVE 80's music but I can't seem to remember the name or group ~ ?

[scottytoohottie123]

been to florida aswell,there are some amazing place's around the everglade's,we ended up in the key's,love and respect scotty and libby:0)ps superb clarity on your picture's

[bigbeninjax]

Thanks so much, Scot & Libbie, for dropping by!

For those who have never been there, Scottie and Libbie have a great channel full of travel videos of interesting places they've been. Check 'em out!

[promiseIsaih60]

Sorry, i meant the 3RD SONG!! [sorry, brain dead here on a Sunday afternoon 8) ]

[bigbeninjax]

Yeah, I was wondering how you could've missed the title of 'Wild Thing' (by the Troggs, btw). LOL.

The third one is Life in One Day by Howard Jones. Fourth is Reminiscing by Little River Band....and the last one needs no introduction. ;)

But, hey, Sunday afternoons were meant for shutting the brain down.....like sitting on a dock of the bay.

[promiseIsaih60]

thanks bigbeninjax! :) Yeah, Sundays are precious to me as I'm busy enough during the week. There's still a few places here in the Western part of Mass that are nice. Good to see this video. Thanks for the info on the clam chowder~ I'll pass that on to my sis~ Good to see that Hope Springs Eternal~:)

[bigbeninjax]

Yep, I remember some nice scenery there on my way up to Vermont and Canada. You should make a video!

[Emmz732]

beautiful :)

[Hamburg4U]

yeah, great pictures my friend!

specially I like your relax-picture at 6:57 LOL ;o)

[bigbeninjax]

Yes, Christian, I needed relief from all the stress of watching too many videos on Youtube! I think I achieved nirvana that day!

[Hamburg4U]

You watching to much videos on youtube?

That is not necessary!

It is enough if you watch my videos. LOL ;-)

[bigbeninjax]

I can't take THAT much excitement!

[CDmagz]

Ben thank you so much for sending, this was just amazing

What you can see in only a hour drive from your home, wow

Thank you also for sending this as a video response

Hugzzz

Jolanda

[bigbeninjax]

Thanks, Jolanda, glad to help a worthy cause.

[Fagapperd14]

Thanks for sharing this fabulous video Ben.

No wonder you are such a happy man.

All the best for you and yours.

Rafael

[monello198]

i know what you mean about remembering who is who..

sometimes i even think i'm English..

lol

great video dear friend..

;-}~

[bigbeninjax]

Thanks for stopping by, Mikee. English? Even Alzheimer's patients don't forget that! LOL

[CaifeBreak]

Now this is the Florida that we need to see more of! No Disney, no major league sports venues, no "got to be seen there" hot spots. This is a great video showing the real Florida. Thanks for a great cruise down memory lane : ) We just don't get to physically visit FL often enough.

[bigbeninjax]

Thanks so much, caifebreak. Next time you're coming back this way let me know, I'll be glad to show you some of the places in this video. Won't even have to walk out of the house for some them!

[weathermanspike]

Thats a wonderful video, enjoyed it so much! Haven`t heard that great songs for some years now. Thanks for sharing!!! 5*****

[bigbeninjax]

BTW, it's great to be a Florida Gator! National Champs Football....again!

[RedKruzer]

Ben,

An exquisite tour.

Photographically, musically & edit.

Love the back porch chairs.

Happy Birthday. Time in the Bottle Stuff, spending it with Otis.

In feb, going to home mother & father in law, Dick Koos, left us in New Port Ritchey- from where I too photographed eagles nests...love your humor, down/up strokes...life is the trip

[BigLoveZone]

I had to come see for myself. That does look like Florida!

[dabiribd]

Hi Big Ben,

Happy holidays and wish you have an awesome new year

ltl ben

[letufi]

beautiful butterflies!!! thanks

[bigbeninjax]

Hi, Leti! Thanks for stopping by again. I hope you had a wonderful Christmas....glad you got to see our little hometown here dressed up in her Christmas lights.

[tarstella]

absolutely beautiful. i love this pictures... man, that was a great show ;)- thanks for posting it

[bigbeninjax]

Tarstella, you're everywhere! Ha! Thanks for watching and the sub. Come back anytime.

[lukessummer]

What a great place to live, And not at all how the rest of the world imagines Florida to be...It seems the old adage is true, JUDGE NOT LEST YE...

And a Salvador Dali museum as well!!...Sorry, but that is just plain showing off! LOL!

[RedKruzer]

perceptive.

I missed the Dali home.

[bigbeninjax]

Ah, man, that was a great birthday!

[klondikebobby]

I hate (yes the word is HATE) Florida - What was beautiful is now clogged with the junk and egos of the spoilers - Walls of junk condos blocking off the very views of the coast that THEY have scrambled to see. My son moved down to St Petes ( from Seattle) and my sister lives near Disney World so I am forced to occasionally visit them - Your vidoe gives me hope that there is still a bit of REAL FLORIDA left - I will search it out next time I'm there -

[bigbeninjax]

Yes, klondike, I'm inclined to agree with you about Orlando/Disney and the coastal condos. They are not the real Florida, just a source of revenue to fleece the Yankees and keep my taxes lower. LOL Next time in St. Pete, drive north along US 98 to Apalachicola...right along the Gulf. Stop in Panacea. All you can eat scallops for $11.98 Yum! Maybe stay a night or two in Apalachicola at an old B&B. No condos, loads of seafood, working fishing town, small town charm, great beach.

[klondikebobby]

bigbeninjax - Thank you for your suggestions - you have given me hope - As a matter of fact I'm visiting my son in St Petes at the end of April and I will be sure to check out your recommendations - Klondikebob

[bigbeninjax]

Aside from the 'real' Florida, while you're in St. Pete don't miss the Salvador Dali museum. The man was incredible. Be sure to take one of the docent tours AFTER you have walked around for awhile. I guarantee you'll be fascinated. It's a very large collection of his works, very easy to get to, and has a nice setting right on Tampa Bay.

[RedKruzer]

Ben,

Colleen & I will take you up on that this Feb

[bigbeninjax]

Thanks RK, If you're in the Gainesville area, dewdropinn and we'll step out the back door and you can see the above pics in person. I'll send you my cell number in private....too many crazies like jratt2 and lukessummer on Youtube who might misuse it if I post it here. LOL

[lilitusa]

I live in the Space Coast and hate to see trees coming down to build houses and shopping centers; more people moving in and more cars on the streets. In five years everything has changed a lot.

Some pictures of your video remind me of the Keys and others of St Augustine. May I know in what area you live?

Regards.

[bigbeninjax]

We live in north central Florida. The "keys" pictures are actually the Cedar Key area in the Big Bend area of the Gulf. No St. Aug pictures here, but ironically, I just spent the weekend there and got some nice pics and vid that I wish I had incorporated here.

Thanks for commenting!

[flowerchildA]

sorry...edit for my last post, which says...has a big front PORCH.

[flowerchildA]

see those wild turkeys in our yard too..we live in a house built in 1922 we restored...has a big front ..mom and dads house on a lake...built in 1898...gotta love the old Florida..plan on seeing it all before I pass to the next life...Take care and thanks for all the beautiful pictures.

[flowerchildA]

also spent summers at the Atlantic coast..Daytona Beach Bike week...rode a harley from Tampa to Daytona...rode back in 17 degree weather...had on my dads old black leather jacket he wore when he rode his harley on the Tampa Police Dept.

[bigbeninjax]

Wow, you rode a Harley in 17 degrees? That sounds brutal! Great that you could do it in your dad's jacket, tho. Too many people just don't have time for tradition any more. So we need to remember the past and look towards the future. Thanks so much for posting your interesting tidbits of old Florida, too!

[flowerchildA]

I'm born and raised Florida native....see those sand hill cranes in my back yard...watched them do a dance ...I've swam with the gators..grew up climbing grandfather oaks and swinging from the highest limb on a swing made from a burlap sack stuffed with moss..spent summers at the gulf of mexico..endured 4 hurricanes back to back

[bigbeninjax]

Yes, letufi, Fla is about 400 miles from north to south, crossing the Tropic of Cancer, so there is a lot of variety in climate and vegetation....no glaciers, tho, like Argentina! At 1:54 those are wild turkeys (the ones in the grocery store are usually solid white) in our backyard. At 2:04 are sand hill cranes who migrate here in January and Feb.--Yep, that's me on my birthday!

[letufi]

thamks for sharing-

really I didnt know Florida had so much vegetation, I thought it had palms only-

the road to your grandmothers house is beautiful Bigben:

ans wow that porch,I woukd like to have one like that in the little house Im going to build-

which birds are the ones in 1.54?and 2.06,2.10?

Cute Lucy-

How lovely so much buttreflies!

Its you in 6.59?so relax?

[gulfgypsy]

Thank you! There's so much more to Florida than sand, sea, sinkholes & snowbirds. Some areas the growth is thick and almost primodial and you half expect encounter some long forgotten spieces. It's those paths not often taken, where you see the real world. Glad you had such a perfect birthday!! May all of them yet to be, be as wonderful!

[efada]

Your pictures has made me realise something... as soon as I'm able I'm going to do some real traveling stopping to take in the sights... not just chase round the world stopping here and there for a day or two. Thanks for sharing the beauty and openning my eyes to it.

[bigbeninjax]

Well, be sure to stop in and say 'Howdy' if you're in this neck of the woods!

[dabiribd]

Pretty awesome video Big Ben.

Thank you

ltl Ben

[jratt2]

Nice one bigben, I really enjoyed this! You seem to have mastered the fine art of relaxation - great images and soundtrack from a gorgeous part of the world. I have a great interest in birds so I'll be back with an American field guide to try to identify those pictured here. Happy New Year from dark, windy and rainy Ireland!

[bigbeninjax]

Thanks, jratt2, I'd tell ya their names but that would ruin the thrill of discovery for ya, wouldn't it? I have to admit this was probably my most enjoyable video to shoot....no rain!

PS--no ducks were harmed in the making of this video.

[jratt2]

lol

[Irisheyes7411]

Ben,

Happy belated birthday...I didn't know! What day was it...are you a Sagittarius?! And amazing pictures...efada better watch out!

And as far as the bustrip to Ireland...this Northeast girl (up to her eyes in SNOW!) could have REALLY used a dry-run to FLORIDA! (And I would have baked you a cake if you had invited me!!!) LOL! Carolyn

[bigbeninjax]

Thanks, Carolyn. Yep, not too many folks can celebrate their birthday in December (5th) bare-footed! Guess we'll have to book ahead for next year since my better half and Tom have birthdays that week, too. The B&B only has 10 rooms!  Cool bar, tho.

[3Elvis]

Ben, Florida looks so nice and cozy must go there someday! Some very enjoyable footage -- good job! Btw Rick's fish house is def a joint I'd go to for enjoying my seafood dinner ;o)

All the best

Rick :o)

[bigbeninjax]

Yep, Rick knows how to cook seafood.......and steaks, too, at his steakhouse across the street (yeah, it's a small town).

[char4him99]

Loved it. Terrific job.. Great music too.. May the 'real' Florida remain a mystery to all the 'tourists'.

Just lovely.

[bigbeninjax]

Thanks, char4him99. Yes, let's keep it a secret. It's not quite on the Endangered Species list, yet, but it's getting close.

[char4him99]

Well so many people are moving in and changing things. I grew up in the Florida Panhandle

[bigbeninjax]

That's actually one at 4:50.....they grow 'em big down in Florida!

We still gotta get a driver for that busload in Ireland, too. Call Carolyn.

[tps607]

Ben,thanks for taking us along on your birthday get-away...but where is the shot of those big mosquitos!?