Jim Martin is a man of many talents which leads Dragonfly Expeditions to call on him as a guide ever more frequently as the company grows.  Imbued with an extraordinary natural enthusiasm and an ability to make just about anyone he encounters take an immediate liking to him, Jim backs up his persona with dedicated research and a love of Florida and its storied history.  Born in Boardman, Ohio sometime deep into the last century, (besides this fact being “technically” correct, Jim also hopefully has a sense of humor) young Jim was surrounded by people who in some way or another were involved in nearby Youngstown’s mighty steel industry.  Despite encroaching development, Jim has childhood memories of bobcats, deer and swift running creeks in the roaming grounds just beyond his back yard.

After graduating from high school and a year spent studying Latin American history at CCNY (City College of New York), Jim left school on an adventure fueled by curiosity and wanderlust. As to his educational plans, he quotes Steinbeck “The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry”. This sense of restlessness had him hopping freights for a couple of years and included a 10 year stint in Canada and various interims in North Carolina, West Virginia, New York and Toronto.  With no regrets, Jim points out that “my curiosity about the world around me has never been dulled by my lack of formal education, and besides wanderlust and sitting do not go hand in hand.”

Equally bohemian was Jim’s choice of income generation over the years.  A self-styled “urban adventurer,” he did the conventional: delivering papers in his home town, sweeping floors and working in Boardman’s first McDonalds, he did the unconventional: spending 3 years writing non-stop, giving his hand at being a musician, and he did the eclectic: being a truck driver, working in book stores and managing several different companies.  But perhaps after his long career journey, Jim has found the ideal application for his talents: Tour Guide Extraordinaire.

After being recommended to Dragonfly Expeditions by his friend and fellow adventurer, Renee Bourdeau, Jim developed a quick affinity to the profession of interpretation.  Already a frequent kayaker, bicyclist and a talented photographer, tour guiding became a natural extension to Jim’s exploratory lifestyle.  Added to his love of reading (with a strong preference for Florida’s history) and his desire to become “one of the best guides in Florida,” Jim is a natural and gifted storyteller.  Enthusiasm, knowledge and great storytelling; these are the trifecta of an ideal Dragonfly Expeditions guide.

It is an exemplary testimony to Florida that this wound up to be the place that put an end to Jim Martin’s wanderings.  From his home base in Dania Beach (for which Jim has researched a new tour), he has put down roots (volunteering with the Fort Lauderdale Historical Society and joining their Speaker’s Bureau) and expanding his scope of tours that he guides.  His mastery of our Cuban Heritage Tour has led to him being affectionately referred to as “Cuban Jim.”  About his Florida home, Jim says “I have travelled across this country and beyond and I must say that Florida has the most beautiful sky that I have ever seen.  It doesn’t matter what time of year.  We are approaching the most volatile time of the year in Florida, weather wise, and it is sure to bring some of the most beautiful sunsets, sunrises, and clouds anywhere in the world.”

Casting out toward a future of challenge and discovery, Jim has committed to a photographic project entitled “Abandoned Vehicles of the Everglades” for Adventure Publishing, a sister company to Dragonfly Expeditions.  He also looks forward to leading multi-day/multi-week tours in the Caribbean Basin and Central America with us.   Regardless of the commitment, Jim Martin’s incredible reliability, kindness and humble gratitude would make him the prized asset of any organization.  We are just happy that he chose ours.

(Thanks to Charles, Megan, Uwe and most importantly, Jim, for contributions to this post. -Brad)