The Way It Was

 Technology pulled a fast one on us this morning. A phone app that lists local things of interest identified a public aquarium located a mere few miles away. We like aquariums. With our GPS informed of the address, away we drove only to arrive in an industrial park looking at a building where aquariums are manufactured.

Since we were close to Pompano Beach we chose to investigate that. This produced happier results. It is a very attractive beach and, despite a mostly cloudy day, many souls were enjoying a day by the sea.

One of my first impressions was how accommodations for life-guards have picked up ...

from this ...

... to this. And a Jet-Ski too.

There is a pier on this beach ...

... and we explored it.

People fish from the pier, an activity that interests pelicans. I've seen pelican attention to human fishing before. Humans being clumsier at this business than pelicans produces much satisfaction for the pelicans. They are tame creatures and like to pose for pictures ...

A View From The Pier.

While on the pier we spotted a manatee approaching. He swam underneath and played on the other side.

Here he is moving under the pier. The white spot

upper left is a fish somebody was reeling in.

And a video of the manatee at play.

Another nice touch at this beach is a well equipped exercise area.

One can't just sit on the beach all day and get no

exercise. Well, one can, but this is for those who

know better.

After leaving I pulled into a gas station. The price was low and the cars were many, so I followed a car to a pump to wait my turn. The woman got out and went into the convenience store. I learned later she visited the ladies' room, effectively disabling a gas pump for 15 minutes. I backed away and found another pump.

The screen told me to insert my credit card. I did. It told me to enter my zip code. I did. It asked me if I wanted a receipt for $14.98. I did not. I wanted to pump gas. I pressed the cancel button. The computer wasn't interested. 

I entered the convenience store which also had a Dunkin Donuts counter, the only counter being manned. They were all keen to take my order but I didn't want donuts, I wanted the fellow responsible for gas pumps. They found him for me in a back room. He came out to the pump and got it to cancel. Finally I was pumping gas.

Then I pushed the button for a receipt. Nothing. Back into the store. The donut people excitedly rushed to the counter again in hopes of an order but I bee-lined to the back room and found the elusive attendant. I also noticed the woman who abandoned her car at the pump coming out of the ladies' room. Yes I got my receipt. To my astonishment the $14.98 was not erroneously added to it. Sometimes things work.

Our next stop was a Pompano Beach flea market which was far better than the last one we saw. But it was closing at 5:00 pm so our time there was brief.

Another day.