Dec 9 - another day flies by

Whew but they go quickly. As planned, we went boating. As planned, we went up to the sandbar, let Abby romp, cruised up to Caribbean Jack's and had lunch, arrived back late afternoon. As expected from the forecast, it was windy and rough. I brought along fishing gear and casted a couple of times while Sandy walked with Abby, but the tide was low and it was not the right time of day. I understand that early is better ... that could be a challenge !

It was warm and mostly sunny so shorts and a t-shirt worked well. We saw dolphins a few times beside the boat ... we never tire of watching them. The birds were busy. There seemed to be schools of small fish in several places and the gulls and pelicans were crashing into the water and making off, or swallowing, their spoils. The water temperature was 64/65, actually a degree warmer than last time out but then it's been warm. At low tide we're seeing the temperature of water that has had a chance to warm up far from the Inlet.

The food was good at CJ's; the only time that we were disappointed with service and food was when we were there with Jason & crew. We are running out of options for casual dining though ... if we had a bigger boat we'd bring our own. I guess that we could still bring our own on this boat -- we even have the plug-in cooler although I'm sure that it wouldn't take kindly to salt water exposure so that is probably a bad idea. Ice is easy so that's probably best.

At one point a Volusia Sheriff's boat went out of it's way to come up beside us and then veered off. He must have been checking our license sticker. It's up-to-date, now valid until December 2009. They waved and went off. I've commented on this before, I think -- it's amazing how many different agencies have jurisdiction in these waters -- Sheriff, Police, Coast Guard, Fish & Game ... and I'm probably missing some.

The boat motor is running well, knock on wood. I run it a long time with fresh water once we get back after a trip out to ensure that there is no salt build-up in the cooling system. I rinse it and the boat down too but the boat has some signs of wear -- sun, salt water, highway travel. I'm again considering that we might do some boat shopping down here. It would be an excellent time to buy. I see boats on lots that have been sitting for a long time. Dealers must be hungry for cash. I've also seen some closures -- business with empty lots and signs on their doors.

Recently I've seen a couple go under -- a Country Kitchen along US 1 just south of Edgewater and, also in Edgewater, the Play Two Grady-White boat dealership that used to be filled with large expensive boats.

Along the Intracoastal Waterway there is one boat for sale. It's a large fishing style boat, probably too large for trailering, with a "must sell" sign on it marking the price down from $43,000 to $39,000. He's obviously not hungry enough because we saw much better deals on boats at the boat show that we attended in September. With all that's on the market he'd probably have to dump it for something in the 20's.

What I really need is a blow-up boat. Something small enough to trailer, something large enough to live on, something cheap enough to buy, something cheap enough to run. Hmmm. Just add water ? Heck, we have lots of that !

Dinner -- we'd agreed that since we were having a big lunch we would have something small for dinner. Sandy's Tuna Tartar recipe on a spinach salad was perfect.

Ok, ok, I'm rambling, but that's what you've come to expect in these blogs.

We watched a couple of videos last night; there are only two left for our viewing pleasure. Hopefully we'll get to those tonight.

Apr 90
-- FL Keys
-- @ Philip's w/kids
-- short video, less than 1 hour

Oct-Jan 91

-- Mom & Dad working in the front yard of the cottage
-- dinner @ Vickerman's
-- Mom's birthday
-- Philip & family in Florida for Christmas
-- Dad / John deer hunting (this is out of order, must have been recorded over the Christmas w/Philip or vice versa) -- anyway, they got a good sized buck. Sandy didn't want to watch the buck being strung up.
-- Dolores Robinson
-- Dorie, Karen ?, husband & kids
-- Uncle Vic
-- continuation of Philip in Florida -- @ beach, @ house, opening presents -- this was quite good.

There are a couple of misc items that I forgot to blog about:

A few days ago I had a near miss ... perhaps ... when I was biking. I was waiting to cross at the light, US 1 & SR 92, just started riding across and there was a road worker who started walking across from the other side talking to me -- and I said, naturally "are you talking to me ?" (stupid, eh?) -- he said yes, that I might NOT want to ride my bike across the intersection because of all the oil on the road. Right ... I picked up my bike and walked across. I had seen the wet area and my mind had written it off as water. One entire lane was wet -- must have been a diesel spill or something. Thank you sir !!

It's Fall in this neck of the woods !! There is a patch of maple trees in Ormond Beach along US 1 and the leaves have just turned colors -- a deep red -- and have started falling. Two weeks later and they'll start growing again ... well, I exaggerate on the regrowth. Along the road on Merritt Island many of the vines that grow up over the trees have their leaves turning a brilliant red. The orange trees along that route have many, many large green oranges. I expect that when we get back in January many will have been picked. I'm sure that people go after these free oranges.

Gas prices continue to go down. At this point the lowest in the area is close to the intersection of US 1 and I95. I saw $1.65 yesterday for "regular". If I go south through Titusville today I might see even lower prices, since they were down more than 10 cents compared to the Daytona area last week when we traveled through there with Bill and Collette. Diesel continues to be just under $1.00 more than gas -- makes you wonder about buying diesel cars -- do you really get 50% better mileage ? The spread among "regular", "plus" and "premium" is also ridiculous in some places. I've come to expect 10 cents + 10 cents, i.e. a total 20 cent spread, from when prices were more stable. Now the spread is anywhere from 20 cents to 55 cents. Our SUV is supposed to take premium but sometimes I put Plus when we're on the road, or if I filled up with Premium the last time I'll mix Plus or Regular in with the remaining half-tank. Beware the gas station without the Premium price displayed !

The plan for today is biking for me and shopping/doctor for Sandy. Having already written today off, that leaves us three days before we head north. We have a reservation at the Econolodge in Beckley WV -- this is a place that we've staying in before that will take Abby. The rooms are ok, clean etc. and there are a number of chain restaurants right across the street -- Outback Steakhouse, Ruby Tuesday or one of those, etc. Sunday to Beckley; Monday to Oakville; Tuesday (for me) to the cottage. That's the plan.

As far as other chores to do here before we leave, there isn't much. I'm going to add some more drippers on the sprinkler hose for the shrubs, which doesn't take much time. I have to tie down the boat cover. I need a haircut. That's about it. The close-up list is short here -- turn down the hot water tank, pump up the tires on the car being left here, turn the fridge to "vacation" mode, set the thermostat temperature to something seasonally-appropriate, perhaps A/C 75F, pack car, dead-bolt garage door ... move on out. There is nothing on the list that if forgotten -- at this time of year -- would be a problem. We'll be back in a little more than a month.

It's time for breakfast ... I'm late.