Final Days of Vaca in Paradise

I have been home here in FL for almost 2 weeks now and the talk-of-the-town has been what a cold winter this has been. The highs are typically in the low 70s by now but we have been in the upper 50s to low 60s most of the time. And the wind - relentless yesterday. It was blowing 25-32 mph making it feel even cooler.

The big winds have also made for some very large waves - which we rarely get here. The surf on my part of the beach is generally 1-2 feet; more of a rocking motion than a wave. Tuesday night at high tide the waves came a good 20' further up the beach than usual. The erosion overnight was dramatic. There is now a 18" step where the waves crashed high onto the beach. Several years ago they dredged the pass going into the Intercoastal Waterway from the Gulf next to where I live. They pumped the sand onto the Beach and then raked it out with tractors. It looks like we lost in 24 hours about 40% of what they pumped up there in 10 days!

I have had company these last 8 days from IL. We have not been able to ride as much as I would have liked. Just too chilly to go any distance. It's at least 30 miles from my house before you get away from 'town' and the traffic that threatens you for space on the roads. But I do believe they have had a great time anyway. The weather is still 20 degrees warmer than in IL and rain was only a factor a couple of times. Shell hunting on the beach seems to be their number one entertainment. They have at least 3 bags full.

And I'm beginning to think about my near-future plans. They will leave tomorrow - Friday. I plan to stick around til Monday. I need to finish my taxes mostly. Then it's up to Pooler and see my parents for a couple of days and then work my way back to the St. Louis area. I will continue west later in the month and go visit my cuz who is immigrating to Israel the end of April.

I plan to take my bike with me when I leave here. I have never loaded it onto my new trailer but I have a plan in my head. I plan to swing thru Phoenix probably after my visit to CA. AZ Bike Week is April 9th and I have never been before. We'll see if that works out. Plus I get to visit another cuz, if she's not out-of-town. Her job takes her to 6 or 7 different states. She is a big-time kayaker and I'm anxious to try that also.

So the next 5 or 6 weeks is somewhat laid out - an outline, if you will. I'm anxious to get back on the road with my bike again; Travelling the USA!