Walking Home From the Car Shop

We don't get many shells on Neptune Beach, at least not whole ones, and this time of the year is no exception. Lots of pieces, but no shells larger than about an inch across. The only whole shell I see this morning is still attached to a recently-deceased crab, legs and all. Usually, we only see the shells of those types of crabs, and they're so fragile that they often crumble like eggshells before you can get them home.

The ocean is calm, the tide is low, and I see a faint hint of a school of dolphins breaking the water just beyond the breakers, pursuing a late breakfast. There's an occasional breeze to relieve the heat of the morning sun, but it's from the west, which means a hot afternoon, possibly with thunderstorms, will be in store.

Seeing the walker ahead of me looking up in the sky, I follow suit. There's something floating up there, about 10 stories up judging from the nearby high-rise condos. A kite? No, it doesn't have the shape of any kite I've seen. As it's merely hovering, not really moving fast, it can't be a pelican. But it's tan like a pelican. As I get nearer, I realize that it's a plastic grocery bag, caught on a wind current, drifting out over the ocean. Never seen one up that high before. I also know that when it finally descends into the water it has a good chance of choking some sea creature who thinks it's going to be a tasty snack. People who litter really annoy me.

Usually, I walk north on my beach walks, but this morning the car needed servicing, so I'm approaching my street from the opposite direction...almost missed it! I do a few stretches on the wooden ramp over the dunes before heading home to start my busy work day. Why don't I do this every morning? The beer can I have to pick up out of my front yard, likely tossed from some cruising, carefree teenager's car window last night, reminds me of all the responsibilities that keep me from doing so. It's time for a nice, long shower!

Spring has finally arrived after a long, cold winter. My azaleas are in full bloom and have never looked prettier! The downside to the lovely flowers is the pollen, which coats my car and everything else. Allergies are now also in full bloom. Walks on the beach will resume this week, however...despite an over-filled to-do list!

Godspeed, Discovery!

This video may not look like much, but it's of the Space Shuttle Discovery as seen from my front porch about a minute and a half after launch. You can see the flame from the boosters as it comes up over my neighbor's palm trees. Then it dims as the fuel tank is jettisoned, and there's a tiny speck of light that's the actual shuttle under its own power. Doesn't look like much on the video, but it's more impressive to the naked eye. Great start to a productive day!

Is spring finally here?

It's our second day of gorgeous, sunny weather, and what luck that they're both on a weekend! Today a girl does yoga to the south, while to the north, men stand by the water's edge in shorts with no shirts on, others walk barefoot, and a group of teenagers play catch with a large ball, a plastic ring, and an oversized Frisbee. A few jellyfish have washed up on shore. The shells are mostly broken, which seems to be the case most of the time in Neptune Beach. The surf is too flat to attract any surfers, and the water temperature is still a little too cool for swimmers to venture out. I and the other Floridians mostly keep our shoes and jackets on, however, as the breeze coming from the northeast is still a little chilly. The walk back home, with my back to the wind, is much more enjoyable. Were the benches on the walkway at the foot of my street not filled upon my return, I would pause to drink it all in a little longer. Rain and colder temps are set to move in tomorrow, so this is but a taste of what's to come shortly.

Alone on the Beach

Even on a winter's day, I don't think I've ever seen the beach this deserted! On my first look to the north, there was not a soul in sight. A cold northerly wind kept me from walking my usual distance. Even my wind-blocking jacket wasn't much help in fending it off. The same wind obviously kept most walkers and joggers at home, as I only saw a few others in my shortened walk. These days are as close as we get to a "northern" style winter, with the clouds looking as if it could snow...and the weather feeling like it. We didn't get any snow with our winter freezes this year, but they did just to the north and west of us. Thank you, gulf stream, for keeping us a little warmer!

Weather Turning Good?

Finally, the nightly freezes have stopped, yesterday's rain has stopped, and temps are back up to a good range for walking the beach! As my lungs clear out this week, I'm hoping to get back into my beach walking.

Brrrr!

No beach walks lately for me! The longest cold snap we've had in over 30 years, combined with my second respiratory infection of the year, has kept me indoors. Pity, too, as I love the beach in winter. But a week from today, the high is supposed to be 70 again -- yippee!