Martin County ATP

The city of Stuart in Martin County, Florida, is located at the southern shoreline of the Saint Lucie River, with the Atlantic Ocean shoreline at its easternmost 'edge'. The North Fork of the St. Lucie River curves northward before flowing into the Atlantic Ocean; the South Fork flows into Lake Okeechobee past a series of locks that control river flow and the discharge of 'matter' into the Lake.

The river's flow is quite steady and it is a wonder why outdoor spas are not a common feature of the region, since skin and muscle tone rejuevenation by means of sloughing within the watery atmosphere is a natural effect. Instead, all kinds of medical and cosmetic procedures are now advertised, with some suspicion that sign-ups are also enforced. As reported to more southerly West Palm Beach television stations, medical-malls have no sidewalk entrances, as most malls do not, and it is ironic that pedestrians might actually be injured in traffic flow while attempting mall entry.

Sidewalks do extend elsewhere throughout the small city, however, over bridges and into small parks. Large birds inhabit the region, feeding on natural habitat cast-offs or creatures collapsed/dead near the new four-lane roadways. Some orange trees remain viable near the new roads, but the fruit deteriorates quickly and disintegrates into brown dust -- an effect similar to that observed at the quince tree in northern California's Panhandle Park near Golden Gate Park, both parks surrounded by a near-constant stream of four-lane traffic and parking.

Other than withstanding the prevailing winds, walking/hiking across the bridges seems not much of a challenge and some people do so often. The railings are designed to deter falls or displacement from the bridge walkways, and also provide a grip if boaters or car-drivers decide to exert a bio-magnetic influence from a distance. There are three major bridges in northern Stuart -- the Roosevelt Bridge where the North and South Forks divide; the bridge over the North Fork to Sewall's Point; and the bridge from Sewall's Point to Hutchinson Island. Walking along Old Saint Lucie Road from the North Fork there can be seen a small street labeled 'Golden Gate', but the reason is not clear.

New malls in the region make it quite the "zoom, zoom" atmosphere. Vehicular traffic along with the river's flow and the wave action along the Atlantic can make Stuart seem to be a pedestrian's worst nightmare, since large birds will also match stride in some places. Asian restaurants have been installed, without much geographical rationale other than the love of a cheap meal or pre-cut buffet options. Lizards abound, and in their linkages do not distinguish themselves from larger alligators or presumably sea serpents and overseas dragons.