The "Ashlands" from the previous post is a head nod to one of my favorite authors and books: F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. The Ashlands were the gray wasteland the characters sped across from point A to point B -- New York City and the Hamptonesque East Egg, Long Island -- and back again.
More largely the "Ashlands" worked as a metaphor for the age in which they lived: the roaring '20s ... and the desolation that lie beneath its guilded facade.
Tamiami Trail has the same sort of traffic flow. Motorists traveling from coast to coast (point A to point B) -- Miami to Naples and back again -- eyes glued to the windshield, many with little idea what they are passing on the side view.
Whether in its summer swamp stage all filled with water or newly turned to ashes after a winter burn, the view is always the same to those drivers:
A vast terra incognita (full of alligators and snakes) that needs to be crossed.
Do we live in a similar age?
If you've driven down Gulf Shore Boulevard in Naples and had a look at the beach-side mansions, you'd say "yes."
So would Jay Gatsby.
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27 comments:
Betsy and I have found that travel is much more interesting when we leave the interstate and take the back roads. We may not get from Point A to Point B as quickly as we could, but we sure see a lot more of the country.
Hi Bob, I assume that the Tamiami Trail is the main road between Naples and Miami. Are their back roads through the swamps --or is that the only road?? As George says, we enjoy getting off of the 'main' roads and checking out the countryside around us.
Unfortunately though, one doesn't have to be wealthy in order to live their lives just going from Point A to Point B. That's too bad though!!!
Betsy
I've traveled the Tamiami Trail before I-75 was completed and was the only route for those hearty souls inclined to make the trip. Far more interesting when you can pull off and explore a bit, rather than traverse the blandness of Interstate America. I wonder what the Miccosukee think of it all?
Another "interesting" road is 60 (or was it 70?), gator guards, narrow, dark and desolate. Break down and you're in the flow of traffic - such as it was. As I recall, there was a small manual ferry involved barely big enough for two cars. Absolute blackness, other than the stars. The lack of development was one of the more memorable facets of that particular trip.
We have a similar place here.....a shortcut between us and Aviemore, it's a moor called the Dava, so barren but the road is not the best so you barely notice anything but the windscreen! Unlike your road, ours has snowgates at each end!
Love that sky :D
The problem with travel at this point in my life is the limited time. I have to get from point A to point B, or I won't have any time to stay when I arrive. In a few more years, I will have the luxury of taking the long way home.
Rob: Many of us go from here to there without paying enough attention. My photography has given me a new appreciation for all my surroundings.
Really think that blogging has opened my eyes more and I tend to focus on what is around, rather than just gliding blindly by. Nice clip. You did put me to shame though. Think I am only human not to have read The Great Gatsby. How did I get out of school? Anyway always looking for a new book so I will try this old one. Thanks.
Oops That should be, "the only human"
I like your glance backward in this age of forward thinking. Why can't we stop and think clearly before plowing ahead? Driving ambition might ease the ennui for a while, but there are limits/obstacles for some reason.
Interesting comparison between the Great Gatsby 20's and now. I wonder if hard times will make people slow down and pay more attention to what we're doing and why.
Really interesting "my world" and I, too, find the comparison between the 20's and now very interesting. One of the good things about being older these days is that in slowing down is paying attention to a lot of things I didn't feel I had time for before.
This was an interesting my world post. I enjoyed the video.
If only you stop and wander a while, the landscpe changes from barren seeming land to the beauty of the particular animal, bird or plant.
Your social comment I think hits the nail right on the head.
I love literary travel! Thank you for sharing the photos, and the inspiration from the Great Gatsby.
I think I know every road on the island, so I deviate my foot. Great novel to accomany your journey.
Very interesting film.
Thanks for you comments. A few posts I featured the so called "green flash" that is sometimes seen over the gulf at sunset if the conditions are just right. That reminds me of the "green light at the end of Daisy's dock" that Nick Caraway looked out on, speculating the view the Gatsby no doubt looked out on, hoping to get there. That's a different green light than our flash, but there the same in that we find truth and solace in those moments when we slow down and look around us, either at sunset or the sides of the paths we tread upon.
Since we've been blogging we're more likely to get off the main road.And here is so much to see out there.
But Alligator Alley is stilla scarey place.
Very interesting post and literary comparison. I liked reading the comments so far as well. Seems to me that the bloggers here do tend to look beyond the average view.
A good point and so true for so many! However, I noticed the acacia are starting to blossom in my front yard today. How nice to be so in tune with the earth.
The Tamiami Trail is the back road between Naples and Miami and it's best not to walk too far off it! I always found the concept of a swamp burning to be a little strange. I have not been through the Everglades, but have been to Tampa, central Florida and the east coast. I have seen the smoke from fires along I-95. Interesting look at your part of the world! I'll be back again.
It sounds very similar to the terrain here, except for the Alligators!
Great post Robert. When we go on our road trips we usually have the time to get off the freeways to meander along country roads. We get to see so much more that way and are able to stop when anything catches our eye. We would like to get down to Florida again one day. There is a lot more for us than we got a chance to look at a few years back. Always have to leave something for next time :)
Thanks for sharing this. It's so cool to see other parts of the world. I really enjoyed the clip and the reference to The Great Gatsby. It's been a long time since I read that. :-)
We too like the roads less traveled and take them whenever we can. Also, as already commented, blogging has made us look at our surrounds with a fresh eye.
I just asked D if he had read the Great Gatsby ... and he hasn't! (He's much more wide read than I), says he's read more about the author. We now plan to get it out ... hopefully on our next trip to the library!
We've had a good snowfall overnight and today. Even though I would like to see milder, spring like temperatures, I'm happy for the precip .... to help our failing water levels.
We too like the roads less traveled and take them whenever we can. Also, as already commented, blogging has made us look at our surrounds with a fresh eye.
I just asked D if he had read the Great Gatsby ... and he hasn't! (He's much more wide read than I), says he's read more about the author. We now plan to get it out ... hopefully on our next trip to the library!
We've had a good snowfall overnight and today. Even though I would like to see milder, spring like temperatures, I'm happy for the precip .... to help our failing water levels.
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