Tropical storm blowout

Early on Monday the sun kept trying to break out

High tide and good wave action at the beach

A quartet of seagulls played dodge-the-waves

ORMOND BEACH, FL - - Hurry up and wait best describes our weekend with hurricane / tropical storm Isaias.  How do you describe a storm whose name you can 't pronounce?  (According to Google,  the name is a modified version  of Hebrew for Isaiah.)
     Friday was "batten down the hatches" by securing or moving to a sheltered spot anything which might take flight in the projected 70mph winds.  Gas for the portable generator we have; fresh flashlight batteries; candles and matches were also on the list.  Why a list?  We haven't spent a summer in OB but once in the past 13 years.
    And then the wait.  The storm crawled up a path off the Florida coast on Saturday.  The slow crawl continued on Sunday.  Until 7pm when a band of showers spawned by the storm blew through with heavy rain and strong, gusty winds. 
     The havoc lasted all of 20 minutes.  And that was it.  Sure we got a fair bit of gusting winds during the night, but by dawn Isaias was up the coast and heading for North Carolina. 
     In reality, this was good practice for the next storms coming our way...and there will be more.  Hurricane season lasts until early October. 

Sunday morning on the Halifax River

ORMOND BEACH, FL - - Sometimes I get lucky on my early morning walks.  Heading up the Ormond bridge toward home from beach side I spotted a barge heading up river.  So I waited for it to get closer as
seeing a barge might happen every three-four months.
Click on the photo to enlarge it and check out the fishing pier; new docking area and two boats (homemade houseboat and sailboat) in the background.

Tequila sunrise

The nursery watch cat gets some petting..

...and, apparently, was looking for a bit more tlc

Here's someone who is not tech savvy

Our new 'fiesta' hibiscus

ORMOND BEACH, FL - -  Did the title make you thirsty??  Take your glass; toss in some crushed ice or cubes; add plenty of tequila; some orange juice and a drizzle of grenadine syrup for coloring.  Drink.
     And now the real story:   Over the past few weeks we've spent plenty of yard work time dealing with invasive bamboo; vines ( with and without thorns) and lots of other little things which seem to sprout back up as soon as you cut them off.  This led to Lydia's suggestion of: "Let's go to the nursery to look at plants."
     We checked a local plant place for hibiscus and found their selection of the size we needed wanting.  But not the variety.  I mean how can you not be drawn to a spectacular 'tequila sunrise' coloring.  Thus the Thursday trip to St Augustine where we had shopped before.
     As you can see, we didn't come home with exactly the variety we wanted.  This  just means we'll be heading back up the road in about 10 days when the plant we ordered comes in.
     In the meantime, I stand with shovel in hand ready to dig while my favorite landscaper points out the new home for the 'fiesta' hibiscus.

Hey, lets build a pipeline

A small section of the Alaska Pipeline

ORMOND BEACH, FL - - Nearly 13 years ago (Aug.1, 2007) on one of our Denali NP days-off forays, Lydia and I found an above ground section of the Alaska Pipeline.  The pipeline pumps crude oil, from Prudhoe Bay to Valdez, AK in an 800 mile tech marvel above and below ground.  It began operation in the summer of 1977 after a two year construction exercise in battling mosquitos and melting perma-frost in the summer and severe freezing temps, wind and snow in the winter.

More wandering around

A little color by a dock

The camera angle makes these flowers resemble lobster claws

One, two, three steps to stay safe

ORMOND BEACH, FL - - I'm still walking lots of places, but my trips keep getting earlier and earlier.  You can go at 5am and it's still mid-70's.  As you can tell from the photos I must have slept in.
    There are always more flowering things to shoot photos of.  And every so often a sign catches the eye, like this one on a walkway to the beach.

Optimism

These signs have appeared in random locations in the neighborhood

Scenic trail

A picture perfect summer day  (8/1/12)

ORMOND BEACH, FL - - So here we have fireweed in summer time bloom with some fleece-y clouds; a lake and a bit of snow on the mountains.  We were across the Canadian border from Glacier NP hiking on our days off in Waterton Lakes NP.
     Fireweed and lupine are known to be the first signs of rejuvenation in areas of forest fires up North, but are not to be seen down South where we live.  The colorful plant abounds in colder climates and as winter approaches the flowers turn into a fluff of grey floss signaling (as folk tales have it) that it will soon be snowing.

Happy Fourth of July

Skagway, AK

ORMOND BEACH, FL - - How about having the Royal Canadian Mounted Police marching in your parade on the Fourth?  These marchers were from the nearby Canadian border control post.  And they were in full regalia including the RCMP  trademark red tunics, campaign hat, sam brown belt plus firearm, jodpur trousers and highly polished tall boots. Toss in Old Glory and some vintage automobiles plus a cruise ship at the Main Street dock and you have a very festive Skagway, Alaska circa 2006.
     Skagway is like an island in that you've got the Inland Passage on one side for the cruise ships and Alaska Marine Highway ferry service.  On the other sides of town it's the Coast mountains and the Canadian border about 8 miles up the Klondike Highway.  It's a one road kind of place and that road comes in from Canada and across their border control and then crosses the U.S. border before dropping down to Skagway.
     The middle of nowhere is a fitting description.  This means all supplies - -like groceries and milk  and beer- -come on a weekly barge from the Lower 48 because customs duties and distance from the U.S. make this solution less expensive than truck freight.
     Party on!  But wear a mask and practice social distancing

Crabby meets Big Foot

ORMOMD BEACH, FL - - I've spent more time walking on the beach in the past few weeks than in the 25 years we've lived close by (about 1.5 miles).  For three years prior, our OB residence was a long walk to the ocean.
     Now, with COVID-19 I do long walks nearly every morning  with a choice of six routes of varying lengths.  And the beach stretch, maybe a half mile in length, is a nice break.  Of course, it's getting more crowded with germ spreaders so caution is advised. 
     I nearly stepped on this small crab although since it was already deceased it probably wouldn't have mattered. 

Raindrops

Hibiscus

Sentinel Pass

ORMOND BEACH, FL - - When it's 90-plus outside and we're stuck at home instead of traveling because  too many nasty germs are floating around out there...or any time  when boredom sets in I go check out my archives.
     In this photo I / we are in the Canadian Rockies close by Moraine Lake and Lake Louise  (July10, 2004).  We wanted to do this hike to Sentinel Pass but the sign at the trailhead read: "Groups of 6 or more due to bear activity."  So we waited for a while, but nobody came.  So, we did it anyway.
     Look to the mid-right of this photo; follow the snow up to the top of the pass.  This is where we had lunch and returned on the same trail.
    

Father's Day sunrise

Later, the temperature was a toasty 92 degrees.

New flowers

Dune sunflower

Passion flower

A trio of lilly-like flowers which I can't really identify...

...in purple...

...and yellow

ORMOND BEACH, FL - - I seem to spy all sorts of flowers on my walks around our neighborhood...most of which are very colorful.   Naturally, I can't identify them all but I take photos anyway.

Replacement time

The high mileage 2019 model

New, no mileage 2020 model ready to go

Nice, new and ready to head on out

ORMOND BEACH, FL - - About this time for the last 15 or so years I treat myself to putting on a 'new' pair of Keen sandals.  Living in Florida and being retired there isn't any reason to wear shoes...except for hiking boots and my gym sneaks.  You may ask:  Do you mean you wear sandals when it's cold in the mountains of New Mexico or when it really rains on the Oregon coast?   Yes on both counts although I try to not step in puddles.
     We mainly do our shopping for outdoor / trail wear at REI and other outdoor stores during our wanderings.  A lot of business carry the Keen brand...and they have sales.  So our philosophy is:  If its on sale and it fits then buy and save the pair(s) for the next change over.
     Just like the 'new' pair in two of the photos which were actually purchased in either late 2018 or early 2019.  

Park Scene

ORMOND BEACH, FL - - There are two nice parks near the OB bridge on the opposite side of the Halifax from where we live.  This particular one has a water wheel and a small duck pond.  I thought the play of sun and shade plus some clouds made it appear to be a quiet day. 
     Of course what you don't see is the yoga class in a pavilion just to the right or the runners, dog walkers and parents exercising their small tax deductions.

Are you covered?

ORMOND BEACH, FL - - Not much boat traffic on the Halifax River.  Only the lone sailboat about the center of the photo.  Up until 10 days ago, the traffic heading North was fairly steady.  Mainly because June 1...the official start of Hurricane Season...was at hand.  NOTE:  We haven't been at home in OB past mid-May but once (2016) since we started summer forays in 2006.
   Not being a golfing or fishing or boating person, I asked a sort of recent neighbor who is a sailor-type why June 1 was so important. It seems, and makes good sense, not to be on either coast of Florida during hurricane season.  If you're a boater  you need FL boater insurance.  Not sure what happens if the Coast Guard checks your papers after June 1 and you don't have the right coverage, but it's probably expensive. 

Toe-ing the line

ORMOND BEACH, FL - - A lot of times when I'm out photographing, my shutter finger gets a bit twitchy.  And, bingo!  I've popped off four or five frames without realizing it...or, if I do realize my mistake then I probably have no idea what the photos might be of. 
     Once in a while, they might not be too bad.  With the above photo I could probably spring a paragraph on light and lines and various objects juxtaposing with other things.  But really, this is just an exercise in posting another blog post when nothing even remotely exciting is happening. 

Sunflower ads

ORMOND BEACH, FL - - As the economy gears back up, many businesses have gotten creative to alert their customers (and new ones) they are back to (somewhat) normal.

SHOWTIME: Whistling duck; dancing egret and leery great blue heron

Whistling in the wind

Dancing on the algae while looking for a tidbit

Social distancing...until the gator gets too close

ORMOND BEACH, FL - - We found a lot of activity on our recent visit to Orlando Wetlands Park.  You have to go past the town of
Christmas to get there so this was a real present for us.  Yes, you have to walk a way to get to the Lake(?) with all the action, but the usual suspects from the other areas we've visited recently were all there...and posing.

One Year ago

ORMOND BEACH, FL - -  Here's where we would be without the virus.  On that day in 2019 it was, "Santa Fe here we come!"

Escape to Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge

Black-necked stilt...with fancy pink legs

Great blue heron hiding out

Green heron kiddies...cutting up and making noise

Another of the GHK out in the sun

And a little bit of color

ORMOND BEACH, FL - -   Our trip to Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge on Tuesday was the first break in about 9 weeks.
     There were two things very noticeable:  (1)  Traffic is quite a way down.  On I-95 the big truck traffic didn't overwhelm.  And in 150 miles including connector roads we saw only two motorhomes...and one of those was parked in a driveway and looked lived-in.
     (2)  Social distancing in the restaurant where we had breakfast seemed very 'distant.'  And you took the menu and the salt and pepper packets and the sugar packets with you so they didn't have to throw them out.  Of course, masks and gloves were worn by all servers and staff.
     To really get the inside scoop on our day see Lydia's blog because I would have written about the same only not as wry.  (lydiahinshaw.blogspot.com)   And enjoy the photos.

Social distancing....on the water

ORMOND BEACH, FL - - There's still a bit of boat traffic on the Intercoastal Waterway, which in our area is the Halifax River.  And, a couple of days ago when I shot these pics the river was displaying two different persona...depending on your point of reference.
     The sailboat in the top pic is seen from the top of the Granada Bridge.  The water looks murky.  Note the passenger sitting up front, left.
     About 20 minutes later the second photo is a view from the fishing / walking pier which wraps around the bottom of the bridge (land side).  A powerboat is following a catamaran under a blue sky and blue water.
     The greenery is on beach side with the boats heading North past part of OB and Ormond Beach Shores. 

In the Neighboorhood

Hot coffee and a cool breeze off the Atlantic

Posing for 'Blogger' fame

Getting up there

Yosemite NP's Burro Pass; Sierra Nevada Mtns; 11,100' up there

ORMOND BEACH, FL - - Places we can only dream about now.  A fantastic hike and we could have kept going, but from Burro Pass on you'd need to camp or spend a helluva long time hiking back out.
     This was the Summer of 2008 and we were working in Yosemite...so we spent our days off heading as far away from the central area of the park and this is where we wound up on one such foray.
     It's nearly 12 years on and, at 77, I've slowed a good bit.  My mind says I could do it again, but my body says: "dream on."
     We're just hanging out now staying safe and socially distanced plus walking all around the neighborhood.

Wandering the streets of St. Augustine

ST. AUGUSTINE, FL - - We started out on a trip to the Alligator Farm, but foggy conditions made it smarter to just wander around SA.
     Wander enough on the back - back streets and you'll encounter small religious enclaves.
     Of course, my internal GPS will usually point me in the direction of a coffee spot.  This particular one was "old-style" in keeping with St. Augustine's  claim as 'America's oldest city.'
     When you're nearly surrounded by the Atlantic, the Gulf and rivers all over the place you're probably going to go fishing...thus the attempt at FL  humor.
     So if you can't fish well then you better be a pirate...and park your pirate galleon in the nearest marina.
    Which is guarded by a pair of granite lions at each end of the bridge spanning the inter coastal waterway / Matanzas River.
     If you're just plain lazy then you should see the sights from the red train tour.