I spent the afternoon finalizing and posting August to the blog. I know Diane has been lurking!
After 3 months in rehab, my Mom came home yesterday, tired, but glad to be home.
Monday, 9/2/24 ~ It was still hot & humid this morning, forcing us to stay below. Just to get out and do something, we headed out to pick up dog food. We then decided to take A1A up to St Augustine. Clouds were definitely building to north. A1A is always a ride pretty along the ocean. They are doing a lot of work in Flagler Beach. This area took quite a hit during Hurricane Michael a few years ago. At that time, part of A1A was washed away. The road was repaired and useable after a few months, but the dunes needed to be reinforced. They are currently using 2-foot diameter pipes to form a wall that is sunk vertically into and filled with sand. Continuing, we drove over the Bridge of Lyons rather than cruising under it. We couldn’t come this far without having our very favorite pizza at Vinny’s NY Style Pizza at Camachee Cove. We ate at their picnic tables and watched the storm intensify over St. Augustine Beach. We opted to come back via 95 which was a good decision as the skies opened up for a good portion of the trip south.
As we traveled N A1A we watched the storm build. We stayed dry
just north of the storm as we approached St Augustine crossing the Bridge of Lyons
and the view south from Vinney's
Approaching St Augustine from the west, Flagler College undergoing renovations,
The Casa Monica Resort and east on Business Route 1.
Parts of Old Towne and White's patio in the rain
We decided to celebrate with dinner in St Augustine. Walked around before deciding to go to the A1A Ale Works Restaurant and Taproom only to find it is now closed. Pete then suggested OC White’s Seafood and Spirits, just slightly south on A1A. He found it when searching for restaurants where we could eat outside with Tillie. Thankfully, we decided to leave her on board. With the eminent threat of rain, we chose to be seated inside. The heavens opened up shortly after being seated. The downpour was torrential; easily an inch in a half hour. The building is historic- found this on their website:
Friday, 9/13/24 ~ Since we will be heading to NJ next week for a wedding, we both checked that the clothes we had on board were good to go, but couldn’t find my dress shoes. I finally remembered that the needed to be tosses last year due to damage. I went over to the DSW at the outlets and found new pumps.
I am trying to add some variety to our meals. Recently I found a recipe that looked delicious. It’s called "Marry Me Shrimp and Pasta." It was delicious and Pete immediately insisted that I make it many more times in the future.
Saturday, 9/14/24 ~ Pete waited for breeze to start around 2 pm. In prep for our being away from the boat for 10 days, he took down the awning so I could store them in a large vacuum bag. Lines were doubled up also as a precaution for while we are away. 20 minutes later the heavens opened up! Talk about great timing.
Sunday, 9/15/24 ~ There was lots to do today. Miscellaneous chores were completed onboard including scrubbing the boat as well the washing & grooming of Tillie. Pete is really doing a good job. I am just the assistant who makes sure she behaves during grooming. She really enjoys all the attention, especially when I place her on my lap upside down. With her paws up in the air, it is easy to trim her legs, feet and in-between her toes.
As I went to walk Tillie before bed, I also grabbed the garbage. When I opened the top of the can, I heard a “critter’ scratching around at the bottom of the trash can. I am rather proud of myself. I didn’t scream, but did walk quickly in the opposite direction!
Tuesday, 9/17/24 ~ The alarm went off at 2 am and we were leaving the parking lot at 2:40. We packed the car up before heading to bed, so we just had last minute things to carry out to the car.
Pete, Tillie and Buns just chillin'
Thursday, 9/19/24 ~ We had 3 medical appointments in Delaware. Since it was an all-day affair, Tillie was with us. One of us went into the appointment while the other stayed with Tillie. We even managed to meet Pete’s partner George for lunch. Another 12-hour day essentially in the car.
Greg and his work crew have spent the week tending buoys on the Delaware river and the top of the Chesapeake Bay. It was great catching up over dinner.
Friday, 9/20/21 ~ This morning I took a long walk around the neighborhood. Fall is beginning to show her colors as well as some folks already in the spirit of Halloween. Needless to say, I had some fun on my walk!
. . .And my favorite ~ Milkweed!
Mom and her girls
Saturday, 9/21/24 ~ Heather wanted Pete to see her apartment, which he hasn’t seen in the 4 years she has lived there. I have been there a couple of times, but without him. She invited us to come over around 10:30. Since we were due back at Greg and Jenn’s for an afternoon BBQ, we followed her back. Enroute, since we haven’t heard from Chris, I dropped him a text asking if they might have some time for a visit before we head back to Florida. He responded with “We r super busy. I’ll see what we can do!!!” Hum?!
Pete was sooooo hungry, he wanted to head straight to kitchen for bagel & cream cheese. When we arrived Greg was getting something from the car and said “Tillie's in back yard. Why don’t you go through gate.” We did and found all of our family wishing us a “Surprise” 50th Anniversary and it was a total surprise! Not only were Greg. Jenn and Heather there, but our wise cracking son, Chris with Kelli, Hadi and Riley. Deneen and Joe, Steph and Mike, as well as Pete’s brother Jim, Effie, Eleni, Brandon, James, and Sophia and his sister Pat, Mitch and Kaitlyn. The day was perfect - clear and cool, the food - delicious and plentiful, and the day- magical, courtesy of the magician / mentalist Mark. We even had a video call with my brother, Wayne, Matteo, Nikki and her son, Liam in Italy.
THE BEST PARTY ~ EVER!!!
Sunday, 9/22/24 ~We started monitoring our weather apps as well as the news regarding a tropical depression that will be entering the Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday. According to all predictions it looks like it will quickly develop into a very large hurricane that will race north just west of Florida.
Greg and Jenn took us to one of their favorite Italian restaurants where we had a terrific meal. There was so much food that we all had leftovers.
Tuesday, 9/24/24 ~ The wedding we came north for is on Thursday night. This morning’s report on the tropical depression shows it intensifying to a Cat 3 hurricane as it hits the panhandle of Florida, IF it follows the projected course. A deviation to the east could cause problems for the east coast of Florida. We made our decision at 9 am, was packed and heading south by 10 am. We called Howie to let him know we would not be at the wedding. South of DC, we hit rain, some it very heavy. There were at least 5 different accidents, where a total of 4 cars and 1 18-wheeler flipped into the swales. Multiple convoys of power company trucks, tree service companies, flat beds of generators and transformers all heading south. Then I95 is closed in both directions for a couple of miles south of Florence SC due to construction thru December. Relieved we are not driving back to NJ for Thanksgiving, but we will need to check on it prior to coming north for Christmas. The delays added an extra 2 hours to our trip. So glad I had enough audiobooks ready for the trip. We arrived in Daytona at 2 am.
This tells Florida's story
Friday, 9/27/24 ~ We awoke this morning to learn Helene slammed into Georgia, SC & NC mountains & Tennessee with tornados and catastrophic high-water flooding and emergencies in its wake. Atlanta has had severe flooding with many high-water rescues. A weather channel meteorologist, reporting live from the suburbs, rescued a woman whose car was disabled in the rising waters. The Ashefield area of North Carolina has been changed forever. Most people felt they were safe in their homes. Who expected mountains to have severe flooding from a hurricane, for a river to alter its course, homes to be swept off their foundations, or the grounds of the Biltmore hotel to have its grounds inundated?
This tells the rest of the story
A dirty Tillie and her pile of burrs
One of the F-35's over Daytona
A posting on the Facebook caught my interest. It showed one of these maps and stated with the new 2-axis radar, they can track birds. Some birds were trapped in the eye of the hurricane. Most made out much better. I searched and found birdcast.info website with the following:
O.C. White’s has a history dating back to 1790, originally constructed by Don Miguel Ysnardy a prominent St. Augustinian. The building is associated with significant aspects of the history of St. Augustine, the Nation’s oldest city. The House served as one of the first hotels in St. Augustine. The building was eventually bought by the Worth family and remained that way for generations. In 1961 the building was moved to its present location and replicates the Worth House as it appeared in the mid-nineteenth Century.
White’s turned out to be a very good choice. Pete opted for the Pirate Burger while I chose the Shrimp Abaco Sauté (Fresh local shrimp sautéed with garlic, mushrooms, diced tomatoes, and artichoke hearts in a light garlic cream sauce. Served over pasta) YUM! The rain went from torrential to moderately heavy by the time we finished. Pete chivalrous offered to walk with the umbrella back in the rain to get the car. Of course, the rain became heavier as he walked and he was drenched.
Tuesday, 9/10/24 ~ Tillie and I took a walk over to the other side of the marina after some heavy rains. We found a flock of White Ibis in the swale as well as a couple of other interesting photo ops.
Tuesday, 9/10/24 ~ Tillie and I took a walk over to the other side of the marina after some heavy rains. We found a flock of White Ibis in the swale as well as a couple of other interesting photo ops.
Friday, 9/13/24 ~ Since we will be heading to NJ next week for a wedding, we both checked that the clothes we had on board were good to go, but couldn’t find my dress shoes. I finally remembered that the needed to be tosses last year due to damage. I went over to the DSW at the outlets and found new pumps. I am trying to add some variety to our meals. Recently I found a recipe that looked delicious. It’s called "Marry Me Shrimp and Pasta." It was delicious and Pete immediately insisted that I make it many more times in the future.
Saturday, 9/14/24 ~ Pete waited for breeze to start around 2 pm. In prep for our being away from the boat for 10 days, he took down the awning so I could store them in a large vacuum bag. Lines were doubled up also as a precaution for while we are away. 20 minutes later the heavens opened up! Talk about great timing.
Sunday, 9/15/24 ~ There was lots to do today. Miscellaneous chores were completed onboard including scrubbing the boat as well the washing & grooming of Tillie. Pete is really doing a good job. I am just the assistant who makes sure she behaves during grooming. She really enjoys all the attention, especially when I place her on my lap upside down. With her paws up in the air, it is easy to trim her legs, feet and in-between her toes.
As I went to walk Tillie before bed, I also grabbed the garbage. When I opened the top of the can, I heard a “critter’ scratching around at the bottom of the trash can. I am rather proud of myself. I didn’t scream, but did walk quickly in the opposite direction!
This is the first time we have seen temperatures below 70 degrees in months! BURRR! We have become true Floridians. We were glad when the heater in the car kicked on!
We encountered 4 hours of rain that were remnants of Hurricane Francine, which had reorganized off the coast of South Carolina. Midday, Tillie started wining, which was a first. We finally figured out that she wanted my seat! She likes sitting in my seat when we take her with us to medical appointments. With my cardiologist in Miami (5 hours away from Daytona) and the neurologist in West Palm Beach (currently 3 hours away), Pete always offers to drive. Without anyone in the area and being so far away, we don’t feel good leaving her alone on board. We enjoy the audio books while she enjoys being with us.
We hit traffic on and off around DC. We were glad to arrive in Princeton by 8pm (16 hours later) and we were in bed by 9:30.
Wednesday, 9/18/24 ~ I slept 11 hours after no sleep on Monday. I had laid in bed, relaxed but couldn’t sleep. As planned, today was a lazy day, Pete took Tillie for a long walk. Once she was back, she still had an excess of energy in the larger spaces of the house. Buns, one of the cats, put up with most of her antics. She also loves having all the freedom of an enclosed back yard.
We hit traffic on and off around DC. We were glad to arrive in Princeton by 8pm (16 hours later) and we were in bed by 9:30.
Wednesday, 9/18/24 ~ I slept 11 hours after no sleep on Monday. I had laid in bed, relaxed but couldn’t sleep. As planned, today was a lazy day, Pete took Tillie for a long walk. Once she was back, she still had an excess of energy in the larger spaces of the house. Buns, one of the cats, put up with most of her antics. She also loves having all the freedom of an enclosed back yard.
Pete, Tillie and Buns just chillin'
Thursday, 9/19/24 ~ We had 3 medical appointments in Delaware. Since it was an all-day affair, Tillie was with us. One of us went into the appointment while the other stayed with Tillie. We even managed to meet Pete’s partner George for lunch. Another 12-hour day essentially in the car.
Greg and his work crew have spent the week tending buoys on the Delaware river and the top of the Chesapeake Bay. It was great catching up over dinner.
Friday, 9/20/21 ~ This morning I took a long walk around the neighborhood. Fall is beginning to show her colors as well as some folks already in the spirit of Halloween. Needless to say, I had some fun on my walk!
. . .And my favorite ~ Milkweed!
We drove up to Mom & Debi’s to celebrate Mom’s 97th birthday. I had hoped to have it tomorrow, when the kids could make it, but due Deneen, as well as Debi’s girls having a commitment tomorrow, we opted for tonight. As it turns out my sister, Steph, from SC is looking to take a cruise and needs her birth certificate for her passport application. She and her husband came up to take care of it and attended the birthday party. The four of us girls and our hubbies don’t get together as much as we’d like. Once again, the decision was made for a pizza party and a delicious Mocha birthday cake. No fuss, no planning, no cooking! Just relaxing, visiting and enjoying.
Mom and her girls
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| Tillie in her safe place when we left. |
Pete was sooooo hungry, he wanted to head straight to kitchen for bagel & cream cheese. When we arrived Greg was getting something from the car and said “Tillie's in back yard. Why don’t you go through gate.” We did and found all of our family wishing us a “Surprise” 50th Anniversary and it was a total surprise! Not only were Greg. Jenn and Heather there, but our wise cracking son, Chris with Kelli, Hadi and Riley. Deneen and Joe, Steph and Mike, as well as Pete’s brother Jim, Effie, Eleni, Brandon, James, and Sophia and his sister Pat, Mitch and Kaitlyn. The day was perfect - clear and cool, the food - delicious and plentiful, and the day- magical, courtesy of the magician / mentalist Mark. We even had a video call with my brother, Wayne, Matteo, Nikki and her son, Liam in Italy.
Greg and Jenn took us to one of their favorite Italian restaurants where we had a terrific meal. There was so much food that we all had leftovers.
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| One of the many convoys |
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| YUP! Another baby mussel! |
Wednesday, 9/25/24 ~ We removed the canvas connector and rolled up the Bimini, checked the lines and topped off the water tank. I was able to food shop for the couple of items we needed: fruit, yogurt, bread and cold cuts just to tie us over. By mid-afternoon, the first bands rain arrived and were accompanied by steady winds of 25 mph.
Unfortunately, the AC has another HPF error and stopped. Pete is so over these challenges with the AC. The only hose that has not been replaced, because it will be a B1#$% to change. This time he forced a back flow from the unit end through to the pump end and flushed out a number of mussel shells. Proof that the Barnacle Buster was definitely diluted. Thankfully the back flush worked, though we are still not 100% functional. We will baby it until the cooler weather in Ft. Pierce. In the mean time. Pete back watching lots of YouTube videos on the process.
Thursday. 9/26/24 ~ We are fortunate. Today, we had steady winds of about 35-45 with gusts of 64 mph, with some showers & thunderstorms. The west coast of Florida had heavy rains, stronger winds, with flooding and some storm surge. There were photos of Tampa General Hospital with a man-made fence that successfully held out the 4-foot storm surge.
Helene is a huge and traveling north at 25 mph. She was a tropical storm off of Cuba this morning and came ashore in Big Bend area surge shortly after 11pm, as a Cat 4, with140 mph winds, heavy rains, 15-foot storm surge.
Helene is a huge and traveling north at 25 mph. She was a tropical storm off of Cuba this morning and came ashore in Big Bend area surge shortly after 11pm, as a Cat 4, with140 mph winds, heavy rains, 15-foot storm surge.
This tells Florida's story
Friday, 9/27/24 ~ We awoke this morning to learn Helene slammed into Georgia, SC & NC mountains & Tennessee with tornados and catastrophic high-water flooding and emergencies in its wake. Atlanta has had severe flooding with many high-water rescues. A weather channel meteorologist, reporting live from the suburbs, rescued a woman whose car was disabled in the rising waters. The Ashefield area of North Carolina has been changed forever. Most people felt they were safe in their homes. Who expected mountains to have severe flooding from a hurricane, for a river to alter its course, homes to be swept off their foundations, or the grounds of the Biltmore hotel to have its grounds inundated?
This tells the rest of the story
According to Wikipedia:
Favorable conditions led to the cyclone's gradual intensification, and it became a hurricane early on September 25. More pronounced and rapid intensification ensued as Helene traversed the Gulf of Mexico the following day, reaching Category 4 intensity on the evening of September 26. Late on September 26, Helene made landfall at peak intensity in the Big Bend region of Florida, near the city of Perry, with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph (220 km/h). Helene weakened as it moved quickly inland before degenerating to a post-tropical cyclone over Tennessee on September 27. The storm then stalled over the state before dissipating on September 29.
In advance of Helene's expected landfall, the governors of Florida and Georgia declared states of emergency due to the significant impacts expected, including very high storm surge along the coast and hurricane-force gusts as far inland as Atlanta. Hurricane warnings also extended further inland due to Helene's fast motion. The storm caused catastrophic rainfall-triggered flooding, particularly in western North Carolina, eastern Tennessee, and southwestern Virginia and spawned numerous tornadoes. Over 200 deaths have been attributed to Helene, making it the deadliest hurricane to affect the United States since Hurricane Maria in 2017 and the deadliest to strike the continental United States since Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
Saturday, 9/28/24 ~ During Tillie’s walk, Pete met up with Billie and Zoey. The dogs had a blast in the grass. As they tumbled and played, Tillie’s hair collected hundreds of burs. It took both of us over an hour to deburr a small mountain of burrs (probably only about 300, but who is counting.)
In advance of Helene's expected landfall, the governors of Florida and Georgia declared states of emergency due to the significant impacts expected, including very high storm surge along the coast and hurricane-force gusts as far inland as Atlanta. Hurricane warnings also extended further inland due to Helene's fast motion. The storm caused catastrophic rainfall-triggered flooding, particularly in western North Carolina, eastern Tennessee, and southwestern Virginia and spawned numerous tornadoes. Over 200 deaths have been attributed to Helene, making it the deadliest hurricane to affect the United States since Hurricane Maria in 2017 and the deadliest to strike the continental United States since Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
Saturday, 9/28/24 ~ During Tillie’s walk, Pete met up with Billie and Zoey. The dogs had a blast in the grass. As they tumbled and played, Tillie’s hair collected hundreds of burs. It took both of us over an hour to deburr a small mountain of burrs (probably only about 300, but who is counting.)
A dirty Tillie and her pile of burrs
Then it was time for her bath, laundry & rehanging the awing. While hanging the awing I heard the, rocket launch but cloud cover prohibiting viewing. This was the flight of 2 astronauts who will bring the two astronauts who are stranded due to the Boeing Starliner problems back with them in January 2025. Yep! Those astronauts thought they were on a week’s flight in June instead of 7 months. Shades of Gilligan???
The reports from the hurricane affected areas is devastating. The severe flooding has isolated parts of the NC mountains around Ashefield and Pidgeon Forge. Millions still without power, communications, water, food, and most importantly, information. Even Canadian power crews have been called on to help. Some of the affected highways, are not expected to reopen until late 2025 or 2026.
Monday, 9/30/24 ~ For the first time is a long time, we heard the sounds of military aircraft overhead. We saw 4 F-35s on their approach into Daytona Airport for Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
The reports from the hurricane affected areas is devastating. The severe flooding has isolated parts of the NC mountains around Ashefield and Pidgeon Forge. Millions still without power, communications, water, food, and most importantly, information. Even Canadian power crews have been called on to help. Some of the affected highways, are not expected to reopen until late 2025 or 2026.
Monday, 9/30/24 ~ For the first time is a long time, we heard the sounds of military aircraft overhead. We saw 4 F-35s on their approach into Daytona Airport for Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
One of the F-35's over Daytona
Apparently, using radar and weather data, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's BirdCast bird migration map documented more than half a billion birds migrating Thursday night into early Friday. While the hurricane chased birds in Florida and elsewhere to hunker down, the birds west of the hurricane rallied in huge numbers to surf the winds for a better ride heading south to their wintering grounds.
There were about 530 million birds aloft Thursday night with the highest concentrations in Louisiana, Mississippi and other areas west of the hurricane. Conversely, on the BirdCast map, there's a huge black hole from Florida to Kentucky and West Virginia where the birds were not migrating to avoid the circulation of the storm. Apparently, the birds are not preprogramed to get from point A to point B. They seek the most efficient way using the winds.
What started out as a hot, quiet month ended with the heat, humidity still ever present, but with a grim reminder never to underestimate Mother Nature. As we look to October, there are a number of “depressions and waves” making their way across the Atlantic that must be watched.
~ ~ ~ /) ~ ~ K & P
~ ~ ~ /) ~ ~ K & P
