Kingsley Plantation, located at the end of a long dirt road on the remote Fort George Island northeast of Jacksonville, Florida provides an intriguing look into the history of the First Coast. It wasn’t always as pretty as it is today and as much as modern society deplores slavery and the wretched injustices it imposed on millions of people, it turns out nothing in history is as simple as it might seem.
Kongo attended a National Geographic Photo Workshop in San Francisco last weekend. This is a review of the workshop.
Kongo just finished a 4-day Photo Workshop in San Francisco with National Geographic photographer and photo legend Joe McNally. One of the many things Joe is famous for is his creative use of artificial light to build stunning images. This weekend was no exception. While working with Joe, Kongo was able to take some images too, but without all the equipment Joe normally uses.
So the monkey has been away for awhile. It’s nothing serious (or maybe it is). There’s been way too much business travel for the past few months and the Kongos are now in the midst of looking for a new treehouse in a jungle far, far away. At least far away from America’s Finest City. All the way across the continent to what locals call the “First Coast.” Kongo is moving to Florida.
Loyal followers will recall that the monkey regularly commutes to Florida on business. Regular means just about every week. He’s been shuttling between the East and West Coasts for several years now and has to admit that it’s getting old. So when Kongo’s company began putting pressure on him to relocate it came time for a big decision. Should we pack up and leave wonderful San Diego and move to a RED STATE where there are occasional hurricanes and people drink iced tea with sugar in it? Big decision. Alternatives were maybe launching a full time blogging career (this would probably be a charitable endeavor as nobody is stepping up to actually pay Kongo to write travel blogs), become a professional photographer (Kongo has sold almost $400 in images on Dreamtime in …. wait for it….six months!) Or maybe be a grand girl minder, drive a Meals-on-Wheels delivery truck, or settle down and write that great American novel about coming of age in a monkey troop. Decisions, decisions. When the coin was flipped it went up in the air, got fumbled when the monkey caught it, then he dropped it, and it rolled around and went under the nightstand and then got dragged out with two dust bunnies and tails — the side of the coin designated for Florida.
After two weeks of family guests and three grand girls sitting on laps, the monkey and Mrs. Kongo needed a quick break and hopped a flight to San Francisco for a change of scenery. Since the simian couple grew up in the Bay Area they have been coming back to the City just about every year to get their fix of sour dough bread and San Francisco seafood and visit some of their favorite spots.
If you haven’t visited the new Tiger Trails exhibit at San Diego’s Safari Park you’re missing out. Big time. Kongo spent three hours big game hunting there yesterday and came back with some trophy images.
On the way home from Thanksgiving in Los Angeles, the monkey and Mrs. Kongo were breezing along Friday morning, well ahead of schedule, and decided to make a stop for lunch and a little exploring in San Juan Capistrano. While there they visited the mission.
