Tallahassee Florida USA CALL TO CRAWL

[markfletcher]

Hello Tallahasee/Leon & Wakulla County Sketchcrawlers:
Any suggestions where to meet for the 44th crawl in July? Let's try to get a consensus.
IF not we could even have more than one group & meet at more than one location--We have over 50 interested artists on my reminder list now.
Mark

[JohnB]

So, Jennifer and I suddenly realized that the sketchcrawl was this Saturday, and this was the result, already posted out to various individuals, but here it is for the forum. As usual, all are welcome.

--

Hello Crawlers,

Our fearless leader is in Germany and Sketchcrawl is this Saturday. John and I would like to put together an impromptu crawl. Because of the late date, we have picked Lake Ella as a location, in the vicinity of the Black Dog Cafe. We will be there at 10 am and hope you can come too. John says there is a white bulletin board between the cafe and the lake and we can gather there at 1 pm for photos.

John has offered to be the contact person and his cell is (850) 339-0377.

Possible subjects- picnickers, ducks, turtles, herons, squirrels, big
oak tree (climbable!), Vietnam-war-era helicopter, WW2 memorial from
the French, etc

Recommended - sunscreen, bread to lure ducks and turtles, nuts for
squirrels, folding chair, and, it being Tallahassee, possibly an
umbrella

Come have a Crawl!
Jennifer

Hey y'all,
this is John, and I'll be the official Mark fill-in for the day.
Lake Ella's pretty compact and self-explanatory so those duties should
mostly consist of me being a living signpost for the lunchtime
gathering.

Here's the google map -- https://www.google.com/maps/@30.4609771,-84.2793725,18z

Easiest access is by North Monroe. Parking at two main areas is
available, just off of N. Monroe on S. Lake Ella Drive, near the big
oak, and just off N. Monroe on Lake Ella Drive, behind the Black Dog
Cafe. Some streetside parking is available on the Lake Ella Drives,
be careful not to block handicapped ramps.

Public restrooms are on the south side of the lake, again near the big
oak, a bit farther down S. Lake Ella Drive. In a pinch you can go
into the Black Dog, but be nice, buy something when you get done.

There are benches and picnic tables at various places around the lake.

The picnic tables next to Black Dog are often host to older, kinda
road-worn men playing chess. Picturesque! But be polite. Or, sneaky.

There are signs warning about the aggressiveness of the local muscovy
ducks. I've never had any problems with them but, while in nature
they are essentially vegetarian, the park muscovies will happily eat
fried chicken if given the chance. In case of confrontation use your
best judgement.

For those who need coffee, there's the Black Dog Cafe, on the
north-west side of the lake. There's also a convenience store about a
hundred yards south of the park on N. Monroe, same side of the road.
They have Icees!

Commonly occuring water birds include Muscovy ducks, mallards, canada
geese, herring gulls, laughing gulls, great blue herons, green herons,
cormorants. There's also lots of pigeons. Maybe bring a mat to sit
on. Piece of newspaper at least.

Red-eared slider and softshell turtles are common, and will come close
to the shore if tempted with bread, same as the ducks. Probably some
snapping turtles in there but I've never seen one. We're in the
nesting season for softshell turtles, and they tend to do it all in
one go. They're impressively weird-looking animals on land. Maybe if
we're really lucky.

The lake is well-stocked with fish. The largest ones you're likely to
see are triploid grass carp, genetically sterilized at birth with
electric shocks, introduced to manage invasive hydrilla populations.
They like bread too.

Pedestrian traffic around the lake runs counter-clockwise, to a
surprisingly consistent degree. Keep this in mind when in transit or
when choosing a sketching perch.

Latest weather report predicts occasional afternoon showers. Shelter
is available at several places. The southwest side of the park has 5
or 6 separate picnic stations, with concrete floors, picnic tables,
poled roofs. These are often in use by local or transient homeless
people, but they're generally willing to share. The northwest side
has the Black Dog Cafe and various other little shops offering dry
haven in return for some mercantile action. On the south shore at the
end of a spit of land projecting into the lake there's a gazebo. It's
tempting to hide under the big oak but the leaves only keep the rain
off for five minutes tops.

Lunch options include the Black Dog Cafe with bagels, desserts,
quiche?, Mickey's Lakeside Cafe, a nice little soup salad and sandwich
place, or you can spoil your dinner on the sno-cones and fancy nut
brittles offered at other lakeside shops. Just across N. Monroe is
the Golden Corral, a buffet place with a very high quantity/price
ratio. And a bit north of that is a Publix with the usual deli
offerings for a lakeside picnic.

The 1 pm gathering point is on the NW side of the lake at a
free-standing white bulletin board, between the Black Dog and the
lake. From there we can choose a picturesque backdrop for the group
photo and then discuss lunch options. I'll be the older guy,
respectable belly, brown hair, glasses, goatee, black cut-offs, blue
button-down shirt, sandals, and of course sketchbook. I should be in
the vicinity of the lake by 10 a.m and I'm also available for
questions and whatnot throughout the day at 339-0377.

Hope to see y'all tomorrow,
John