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So, over the weekend (Dec. 9th to be exact), I went looking for the Wilkinson-Baggett Family Cemetery on Chance Drive in Holt, Florida (Link). I was spending the weekend out at my mom's (who lives about 2.7 miles away - another point that was made about me being sooooooo far from their place). I went there to take photos (like I've done at 30+ cemeteries so far), but this one was quite different. I went walking around trying to find it (I didn't pull the drone out and fly over people's houses because they get antsy from what I've seen), and when I couldn't find it (and since my blood sugar was dropping ever so slightly), I decided to head back to the car (and since I had walked around a bit, it took me a little bit of time to get there). Once I got there, there was a pickup truck parked behind my car (off the side of Chance Drive), and there was a guy in the truck (in his late 50's or 60's) sitting in the truck. I walked up, and he asked me who I was. I told him. He then started asking me questions - meanwhile, another girl (mid 30's it looked like - daughter, wife, cousin, I don't judge) walked up carrying a rifle (it looked like a .283), and proceeded to join in on the interogation. I kept answering questions, giving them all the info I had - and they proceeded to act like I had just robbed them (even though I came out of the woods with nothing - showed them my drone, gave them business cards, you name it). When I walked over to the truck where he was sitting (to talk to him), he asked me to back away from him and his vehicle. I would say I was shocked, but not really.

 So, after he called somebody about the cemetery (in his usual smart assed way), the guy on the other end proceeded to tell us that he didn't want anyone taking photos, and then he told the older guy that he wanted to get a sign for the driveway to the cemetery (which I had already seen - I just didn't realize it was the drive to the cemetery), and then he proceeded to tell us that he'd shoot anyone that came there, and shoot any survivors. Ho hum. The usual red neck drivel.

 One of his questions was "Do you think we want you over here taking photos? So that your friends can come back and steal from us?". I said no. Let me elaborate on this a little bit: You live on about 5 acres of land - and there's only one house on it - an abandoned house that's about 100 years old. All the rest are trailers. You essentially live in a big trailer park. Me, I live in a nice gated community in Panama City - which is known as "The Redneck Riviera", but let's be honest, rednecks here have nothing on you. They at least have some class (most, not all, but I digress - in other words, I am straying off topic - duh). That being said, do you possibly think there is ANYTHING on your property that I want besides photos? Let me answer that question for you - not no, but hell no. Your stuff (no matter how nice YOU think it is) is nowhere near impressive to me. I've worked all my life, and I make a good living being a server administrator for a company that writes software for the Air Force, Army, Marines, and Coast Guard. Do you really sit there and think I want your crap? Hell no. Your junk is just that to me - junk. I do not need it. I do not want it. The only thing you have to offer that is of any value to me are photos of a place that was of importance to your family. I see it's not important to you, but again I digress.

 You also said "After you take photos of the cemetery, and then thieves come in and break the headstones, YOU'RE going to be responsible". Nope, I don't think you understand law. Taking a photo of something and putting it on the net doesn't include you in on a crime if a crime happens. Criminals do the crimes - they're responsible. Just because you graduated the 6th grade and think you have a law degree - you don't. You need to leave that to the people who've actually studied it. You're sadly mistaken if you think my taking photos would make me the cause of the crime. You do realize that people take photos of people and things all the time right? It's the way things are now. People have cameras on their phones and they are everywhere. So, if someone took a photo of someone and then 5 minutes later they were murdered, does that mean the photographer was part of it? Or would be charged? No. It doesn't. You see where I'm going with this.

 Now, on to the real reason I was there - I came there to take photos of the cemetery, as my drone has a 20 megapixel camera and can take GREAT photos. I do that as a way for people to see the cemeteries without going to them. See, if there are photos, it stops people from wanting to go there. But in your mind that wouldn't work, as you're looking for somebody to lynch. It's hard to lynch a good guy. I came there to take photos and to put them on Google Maps because I think it's a respectful thing to do. Cemeteries are places for people who have died to be laid to rest, and FOR PEOPLE to come and view the graves and to remember their loved ones. No, I am not getting paid to take photos of them. Do you think I should be? I take them because I still can. I am alive. I have a great drone that can do nice aerial shots. I think it's sorta' a dick move to call the "owner" and then act like I'm a thief (or am in cahoots with thieves) - and that doesn't make me look bad, it makes YOU look bad. Smuck. The "owner" isn't technically off the hook though - you do realize he made a verbal threat, right? That can cause him a whole lot of problems if I were so inclined. You also had that superiority complex going on - do you know that I was also carrying? Yes, I have a concealed carry permit here. Yes, I had my 40 calibur with me. Don't think for one second that if I felt threatened I wouldn't have pulled it. I know it was all about you feeling superior, but that drama BS is for the birds. You unlawfully stopped me and interrogated me, and you sir were not a cop. Your "arrest" powers are nil. Even had I came out of there lying my ass off, there's not a thing you could do about it. NOTHING. Your only resort would have been to call the local law enforcement, or you could have had your lap dog fire on me - which is also a dick move - making HER come there with the rifle so that if anything goes down, she's the one getting arrested. Bravo. Had I decided to bring my weapon into the mix, it would have meant that she'd have been the first person to be in the sights - again, just like you planned, right? What were you thinking? I know that your thinking and mine aren't the same, but come on. Don't you realize that's just a douche move no matter how you handled it?

I was there to take photos of the cemetery and that would have been a great way for him (the "owner") to get some current photos (and great photos). See here (long lost relatives) and here and here and here and here and here and here and here and here and here and here (sorry if you thought you were the only one on the planet that has a family cemetery near your trailer - these are just the ones I've been to around this area - there are still a BOATLOAD more I haven't been to - but will, as time allows). I apologize if I offended you because I didn't walk up to one of your trailers and introduce myself and show my intentions. That cemetery was the first (out of 33+ cemeteries I've taken photos of) that I have ever been accosted at (at near about gunpoint no less). Now, the question is - what are you hiding? Are you growing reefer there, and just afraid I'd happen upon it? Or are you upset that your family tree doesn't branch, and just pissed off at the world? GET OVER IT. You are a human. You have to interact with other humans without holding them hostage - even if you think they're on your property. Again, you are not law enforcement, and you're lucky someone hasn't come along that isn't as forgiving as I am. Consider yourself lucky.

And I know you made a remark about shooting down the drone if I ever came back (provided I wasn't on your property - as you'd much rather shoot me).... Now, let me be the first to tell you (since you obviously aren't very knowledgeable of the law) that shooting down a drone is a FEDERAL CRIME. Yes, I know that your type believes the first thing they should do is shoot at any drone over your property, but as you'll see here. You should REALLY consider running your comments past a law enforcement officer before you do something stupid and irreversible. I know, I know, you don't trust them, but you'd be better off bouncing an idea off of one before you actually follow through with it and wind up in a federal courthouse having to explain why you're a trigger-happy retard that shoots at anything flying over your property. I know you don't like liberals (that was obvious), but when you are before one you'll be lucky if he/she doesn't put you in prison - ignorance of the law isn't an excuse. You've been warned.

And - I know it fits into your little story line that you think my photos would cause VANDALS (not thieves - but I know you just misspoke, kinda' like your sidekick did when she told me I needed to take more insulin because my blood sugar was low - after saying that you were an insulin dependent diabetic) to destoy the cemetery headstones, but do you know how many of the 35 cemeteries that I have thus far photographed that have been vandalized? Go ahead, guess.... The answer is ZERO (that means none). There has been ONE vandalism, and it happened at the Milton Cemetery 2 days before I took photos. I know you wanted to have someone to lynch, but you're going to have to go looking again, because this guy isn't it. Period.

Had you guys let me, I would have photographed the cemetery and gave you guys all the photos - but that part didn't come out because I was being held up. I would have given you copies of all of them. Too bad - it would have been historical, and I for one love old family cemeteries (I've now photographed at least a dozen - none of them are hidden, guarded by a militia, or been vandalized). Your logic is wrong, and you were just trying to force me to say something that would allow you to lynch me without you feeling guilty. Sorry. Not this guy....

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So, Sunday I went and took photos of Devil's Hole in Youngstown, Florida. I wanted to get photos of some more of Ecofina Creek - and there's quite a bit of it there to see. I ended up meeting a woman named Sarah and her daughter - who gave me quite a bit of information on some of the surrounding area, and I definitely enjoyed it (and the company to boot). I have attempted to find her on various Social Media sites, but so far - nothing. I did give them a few of my business cards though (for the drone club, not the photography company), so am hoping they contact me. Her daughter mentioned she works at Coram's, but me being the ever bright person I am totally missed her name and which Coram's (if she even mentioned it - I feel she probably did though). Either way, if you're reading this Sarah, please shoot me a text, an email, or even give me a call. I am wanting to follow up on several of the places you mentioned, and the truth of the matter is that I need to jot it down so I know for sure. I appreciate your info on Sunday, and would love to go to those places you mentioned (even if I need to get prepared to go, it'd still be worthwhile), and if you guys can go, I would absolutely love the company.

Thank you....

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I decided to drive over to Apalachicola and St. George Island - and took quite a few photographs while there. Below is the result of that trip.

Photos from Saint George Island and Apalachicola.

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This is a house here in Panama City that is owned by the Westrock Paper Mill. The story is a tad hazy on what happened there (if anything), but it's a cool looking house none-the-less. I decided to take some photos of it and share them, as this place is fenced off and they don't allow visitors to it unless they have a special event going on (which they do a few times per year). I essentially flew into the property, being careful to keep the drone away from nearby trees and such (because that'd messed things up heavily if I had crashed it). Below you will find the photos... Enjoy!

This is the Martin House - a house that people in this town swear is haunted. I took photos of it because I love old houses, and this one is definitely that. It took some careful navigation - through trees and such, but was well worth the end effort...

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This is a gallery of images I shot in Louisville, Kentucky, and on the other side of the Ohio river in Jefferson, Indiana. I had gone there to take one of the historical tours of the Waverly Hills Sanatorium, as I had been talking to one of their employees (Melanie - the night shift Melanie, not the day shift Melanie, LOL), and she said that while I'd still need to get Tina's permission to fly there, I could book one of their tours and could come up there and bring my drone with me, and that she thought Tina would allow it. I ended up taking my daughter (as everyone else backed out on me - probably because it's such a long drive), so I took my 7 year old daughter. When we got there, I took my drone inside, and talked to Tina (who still works the desk as usual). I told her it was a drone, and asked her if it'd be possible to shoot some photos of the place. She flat out said no - there are no drones allowed on the property. I then told her I drove all the way from Panama City, Florida, and that I had sent about a half dozen emails via the contact form (because they do not provide any other way of contacting them), and that the woman I spoke to (Melanie) seemed to think it was probably possible, and she looked at me with a puzzled look and said "Melanie?", as though she didn't have one working there. She then said "I didn't get any emails. You should have called. The answer is no". So, that sorta' perturbed me a bit. I had been told by Melanie that Tina got the emails, and as such, she knew what was going on - either she fibbed about receiving them, or that says that her "tightly run ship" is obviously not so tightly run, and she's not very good with the job. I'd guess the former. I went ahead and we toured the place (the tour guide was very good, and knew his stuff). So, while touring, I noticed that there was a new subdivision behind Waverly, and so once we finished, my daughter and I left - and we went and found the subdivision behind it. I drove to the very back - parked in a culdesac, and could see Waverly over the trees - so, I launched my drone from there. I didn't have to even move it - I took it up to about 300 feet, and I snapped quite a few photos of the place. There wasn't a single thing either Tina or Charlie could do about it (the current owners). I hate to be that way, but after driving 700 miles (one direction) to take some photos, and when she had well more than enough emails to know I was interested in doing so (and she ignored all of them), I decided to take my own photos and be done with it.

When you go there, you're allowed to take a camera with you. You cannot record the tour (audio or video), which is completely understandable (as that's their bread and butter - even though the information provided is anything but great). I wanted to take a camera with 4 props to get some higher altitude outside shots of the old hospital. That was shot down. The thing is - the 4 props are the very thing that mean that while it'd been nice to have her permission, it absolutely wasn't a necessity. I could have taken a boatload more, but to be honest, I was a tad aggravated, and decided to come back to the house the next day.

I told her in a number of those emails that I would provide them with every photograph and video I take there - everything. I would give them copies of everything, and I would sign away rights to it (so that they could use it in advertising, whatever). The problem was that she was too busy trying to ignore me, and she didn't gather that as an opportunity for her and Charlie. Her loss. I got what I came there to get, as well as a reason to not go back to that area anyway (quite frankly, that area is bad - crime ridden, lots of houses and businesses boarded up, etc.. One of the most telling signs of it all was there was a State Farm office there that was completely fenced in - and there was a chain across the gate, and a security system. When you have to put that much security stuff around a building where they sell insurance - you've got a problem with crime). I'll be the first to admit - I didn't enjoy being there at all

Anyway, enjoy!

Photos I took of Waverly Hills and some of Louisville Kentucky I took while I was there...

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This is a gallery of shots I took in Destin, Florida - over the Destin bridge and at Harbor Docks (who were gracious enough to let me fly my drone from their parking lot after having eaten there). Thanks guys!

Crab Island can be seen from here, and I will be venturing back when the water turns blue (usually summer) for some more incredible photos of the bridge and surrounding areas.