Sunday, July 17, 2005

Of fish and toads One thing always leads to another, and so it was with my latest adventure. I was invited to participate in Port Washington's Fish Day parade yesterday by a loose association of groups, which included the Milwaukee chapter of the Sierra Club, Riveredge Nature Center and something called Ozaukee Community Awareness Forum. Led by a banner that read "Wave if you love Lake Michigan," most of the gang walked, carrying lightweight streamers that simulated waves and a big fish swimming in them. I rode in the Outdoor Wisconsin camera boat, along with environmental writer Michael Frome and several others, including three young kids who got a big kick out of being in a parade, rather than watching one. We had a second "Wave" banner hanging from the boat and all wore sky-blue hats with the same message. After the parade, I parked my truck and boat in Michael's driveway, hiked down Powers Street to the restored 1860 lighthouse, then down the wooden staircase to the harbor, where I joined Michael, his wife, June Eastvold, and other marchers at the home of Pat and Amy Wilborn on Harborview Street, strategically located right next to the main entrance gate to Fish Day. The shaded porch of their century-old Cream City Brick home offered cool respite from the heat and sun. A huge portrait of Bob Marley hung in the sunlight on the south wall of their house, greeting Fish Day merry makers. Sierra Club members gathered signatures on postcards to Gov. Doyle, urging him to stand firm on protecting Lake Michigan water from those who would pipe it outside the Great Lakes basin. Harborview Street was a designated motorcycle parking area. As bikers came and went, their throaty mufflers drowned out even the music from Fish Day's Blues Stage, but what's a party without a handful of happy Harley riders? Mike, June and I joined the crowd at the Port Lions Club tent for a fish fry, then retreated to the shady porch, where I met News Graphic columnist Clyde Winter. Clyde and I talked for a couple hours about so many things, I can't begin to recall them all. Suffice it to say he's a rabble-rousing columnist whose opinions generate a lot of letters to the editor from irate readers in the very conservative community that is Ozaukee County. "Writing like this hasn't been published in Ozaukee County since the Civil War," he told me. He gave me copies of a couple of his columns, and I can see why some readers aren't happy. He has definite opinions on everything from the Iraq War and Social Security to hunters as environmentalists. Even if you don't agree with him, it's good to see that the News Graphic prints his stuff for all to debate. I climbed back up the hill to Mike & June's and visited for awhile, then headed home with a borrowed copy of the March/April issue of the Tennessee Conservationist, which Mike loaned me so I could read a piece on box turtles. The turtle piece spells out the plight of the eastern box turtle, which is in decline throughout its range, due to development and collecting for the pet trade. The sad thing is, no one has a good solution to the problem, and it's not clear just how few box turtles there are left. The best we can do at present, the author concludes, is to leave them alone! Another article, on a much lighter note, caught my eye. "The Toadal Vision Story," by Larry Safko, tells how he got the zany idea to photograph toads in miniature human settings. His photos are reminiscent of the taxidermy displays that were popular 50 years ago, featuring frogs, toads, mice, squirrels and other small critters playing musical instruments, enjoying a cigarette or engaged in a serious game of poker. Safko's toads, however, are all alive. Check out his website for a few good laughs. I can't wait for the Toadal Vision 2006 Calendar. It'll beat the heck out of roadkill... BTW, it's been hot here the last couple days, but not as hot as some places. I just spoke with Mike Elliott, who will join me on an outing with Fishing Bug Charters of Racine next Friday. Mike is stuck in the Las Vegas airport, where his plane is delayed, the AC has failed and the temp is sitting at 118 degrees F. He said he was considering taking a cab ride around the airport to keep cool until his flight is called. Later... 8:14:53 PM    comment []