DUSK ALONG THE INTERCOASTAL--

We launched ourselves that evening to have dinner at the Riverside Cafe, a joint that advertises itself as being the only location in Vero Beach where folks can dine while watching a sunset over coastal water.  That may be true.  They are on the East side of the intercoastal waterway.

Guests are looking across that waterway toward the setting sun.

The major problem with that, however, is the sun sets behind the Miller-Barber bridge (above) from the restaurant's viewpoint; a source of considerable chagrin to this photographer looking for a dandy sunset photo here.

We considered that problem just another of the evening's anomalies after restaurant prices drove us to burgers and wraps rather than steaks; after I was delivered french fries instead of the potato salad ordered; after I had to chase the waiter down and physically apprehend the mustard he failed to deliver, twice; and, getting refills of our drinks, which was about like pulling a shark out of the nearby waterway with an ultra-light spinning rod.

That series of culinary misadventures, as you might imagine, led to considerable discussion about my hypothesis that today's standard of excellence in this country is mediocrity.

Since the compositional problem with a sunset photo also became evident during our meal we wandered through nearby Riverside Park and enjoyed the approaching sunset sparkling through the American Flag at Riverside's Veteran's Park.

There, we also encountered a squirrel doing an amazing pantomime of thirst at the drinking fountain it was finding inaccessible.  I got the hint and splashed handfuls of water onto the fountain's concrete pad whereupon the little critter hastily solved its thirst problem in spite of my very nearby proximity.

True to the evening's form, it failed to express its appreciation.

And so it goes!