A couple of goats and a lot of bull!

You'll notice I took this shot from behind a fence. You may remember a previous shot where I leaned over the fence to focus and the bull charged me! The fence is rickety (notice the broken board) and I was afraid it wouldn't hold, but I made a hasty retreat on my bicycle and got away unscathed. I was more careful this time. That bull may be small but he's very protective of those goats!

O'Malley's Alley - downtown Ocala

O'Malley's Alley is a well-known nightspot in downtown Ocala; an old-fashioned Irish bar catering most to the younger set.

Bikes for sale - at Walmart

Red's

Red's is something of an Ocala area institution.  It's located just southwest of the city but its clientele come from all over the area.  Open for breakfast and lunch only, Red's offers good old down-home cooking, and they don't skimp on the portions. 

We've eaten there on a couple of occasions and the place is usually so jammed with people it's hard to find a space in the parking lot.

The Hitching Post of Ocala

If you need a hitch put on your vehicle, or you're looking for hitch-related accessories, the Hitching Post is the place to go. And you'd be wise to ask for Tony, whose picture appears below...Tony will see that you are treated with respect and that your needs are met.

Scene from the Ocala National Golf Club

Potted in Yellow!

Ricky, the Inquisitive Raccoon

Meet Ricky the inquisitive raccoon who lives at the Ocala Golf Club.

Actually I don't know if his name was Ricky - I just made that up.  For some reason he looks sort of like a "Ricky," and he was certainly inquisitive.  I think he intended to beg for food; we did have some nice candy bars in our golf cart that the crows hadn't stolen.   But he decided begging was beneath him and he knew he'd find all the food he needed in neighborhood garbage cans that night. 

So he scampered across the fairway and into the woods.  That was the last we saw of Ricky.

Chili's (Eat in or Take Out)

The theme for the first of August is "Take Away" store or "Fast Food" joint. 

Chili's offers both two options - you can sit inside at the bar or in a booth, or you can order your food "to go."

Click here to see other takes on this theme.

Blessed be the EMTs

When I left the grocery store, she was sitting in a chair by the door, bent over, her face white with concern, as people stood around trying their best to give comfort in her discomfort. Then came the EMTs to carefully put her on a stretcher and carry her to the nearest hospital.

I hope that she has recovered fully and is back grocery shopping.

Every good bench deserves a light

Sports Authority - Ocala.

Traffic jam

This was a little intimidating - to be stuck in traffic behind the load of wood which gives every indication of flying off any minute and crashing into our windshield. But there was nowhere to go, so naturally I took out my point-and-shoot and took a picture.

One of Dr. Duke's "gators"

Dr. James Duke is a highly-regarded orthopedic surgeon located here in Ocala. He's a graduate of the University of Florida, a school which has as its symbol an alligator. People who attend the University of Florida in Gainesville are known as "Gators."

Many of these people are rabid fans. Fanatics.

Ocala is full of U of F alumni. They can also be fanatics.

Dr. Duke has worked with the athletic department at the University of Florida for a number of years so he is doubly involved in the school's efforts to offer a quality college education. He is an avid fan. His office is filled with U of F memorabilia. This gator coiled up on the coffee table in his waiting room is one piece of that memorabilia.

Rainbow...

...just down the street. Like a vision. Perhaps a sign that there still hope for this old, messed-up world?

Scenic at Stone Creek