Thursday, March 10, 2022

Another Hump Day Passes


Friday-eve Dawns
Tequesta, FL
March 10, 2022
Hump Day has come and gone for another week and I scarcely noticed it. Chris and I enjoyed a beautiful bike ride through a State Park and then accomplished errands during the afternoon. Following all of that, we spent a quiet evening alone with the animals. The exciting part of the bike ride was that during the ride we saw four tortoises and a black racer snake and a kestrel, ignoring of course the multitudes of small lizards that scurry in front of the bike tires. We just have to believe that the lizards are faster than we are or we would be stopping every few feet to let them pass. 

And now it is Friday-eve, but my excitement for the day is waning a bit because it is becoming just another day. Today's big event should include a trip to Costco for supplies that we require in large quantities. I do enjoy shopping in Florida because the stores, like Costco, sell wine. Most of America outside of Maryland knows Costco sells wine and that the Kirkland label is generally very drinkable wine at a solid price-point.

Well the weekend is coming--I realize that weekends during the in-season mean that the beaches are full and the traffic is heavy. 

I like mid-week activities.


-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Wednesday, March 9, 2022

Along the Water

Along the Intracoastal Waterway
Jupiter Island, FL
March 8, 2022

Happy Hour has moved forward one hour. 

It used to be that Happy Hour began promptly at 5 PM. It seems, however, that with the winter and the desire to be on a beach somewhere to enjoy the day's end, that the earlier sunset times, now about 5:45 PM pushed Happy Hour forward to 4 PM.  

The new earlier Happy hour has remained the new, beach time Happy Hour, which is not a bad thing. I'm not sure what will happen on Sunday as sunset times become 7:30 PM due to daylight saving time. Sitting along the ocean or the intracoastal provides a relaxing ending to the day's activities. We often meet friends and connect about projects and the pace of retired life in Florida.

Last evening as we reclined under the shade of the mangroves, we were able to enjoy the activity on the water. There were boats of all kinds and personal watercraft zipping around. One of the most interesting was the boat puling a large tube where the intent seemed to be to determine who could remain on the tube the longest whilst the boat accelerated at great speed. It reminded me of my many failed mechanical bull riding attempts. 

And it all happens along the water.


-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Tuesday, March 8, 2022

Reward at the Halfway Point

 

Sunday morning's bike ride of just short of 20 miles had a reward at the mid-point. The reward, at the very southern tip of Singer Island, was a stunning view of the wild Atlantic Ocean across the shipping channel leading into West Palm Beach.
The View from Southern Tip of Singer Island
Palm Beach Shores, FL
March 6, 2022

The ride was enjoyable beginning near Juno Beach just north of the famous pier. The ride down A1A and then US 1 to Singer Island was not as scary as it might have been, being that it was Sunday morning. Biking along US 1 is always exciting, even with the bike lane, because the lane is too narrow. There is something disconcerting about a large semi-truck passing within a few feet of my handlebars, just saying. 

Once my riding partner and I turned onto Jack Nicklaus Drive leading onto Singer Island proper, the traffic lightened and the bike path widened. I actually did pause in front of Jack Nicklaus' mailbox and looked at his house. From there is was a really scenic ride though John D. MacArthur Beach State Park along the banks of Lake Worth. After leaving the park it was into the resort end of Singer Island. The resorts vary from towering buildings to two story retro sites that can appeal to every taste. The stop for the quick break and image was in the middle of a Marriott complex. 

The ride back to where the car was parked seemed faster and looking at the splits, it was--likely due to the quartering tailwind. Traffic had increased since our earlier departure, but it was still tolerable. 

The 1 hour 36 minute ride was the longest of my adult life. The only time I remember riding longer was one weekend when I was a freshman in college, two friends and I rode from the University of Miami across southern Florida through the Everglades to near Naples and slept for a bit before riding back arriving late Sunday night. We were a bit crazy back then. That we actually survived, since we had only small generator lights on our bikes and were riding through the wilds of Florida during the night, is far more impressive now that I understand the perils than back when we did it. Of course, almost 50 years ago, there were a lot more "wild" and a bit less traffic than now. To this day, I don't remember if it was 90 miles round trip or 90 miles each way--but 90 miles definitely sticks in my mind. Funny, I would never do something like that now without a GPS--but back then all we had was a roadmap.


-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL



Monday, March 7, 2022

Monday Musings - March 7, 2022

 


1. Welcome to March 2022. Today is the first Monday of the month. There are 42 Mondays remaining in the year. Spring officially begins in 13 days!

Marley and the Turtle
Tequesta, FL
March 6, 2022
2. The cat and the turtle. Marley is a cat and she is the clear queen of her home. A new item, a wooden turtle, was introduced into her domain the the other day and it apparently has created some conflict. Marley was noticed trying to decide if the turtle was friend or foe last evening. The turtle, of course being wooden, did not back down from Marley's advance causing her to retreat. 

3. After biking over 30 miles during the past two days, I am going to take a break today. Yesterday's ride, just short of 20 miles, took me to the southern tip of Singer Island where I could look out across the shipping channel and to the Atlantic Ocean with its roiling waves. It looked to be a rough day to be out on the ocean. While facing a left-quartering headwind for most of the ride down Singer Island, it became a right quartering tailwind for the ride back ad resulted I a much more enjoyable and faster return trip. 

4. The Russian invasion of Ukraine is abhorrent. I am amazed at the number of people who have suddenly become foreign policy experts or military experts without any experience in either. Many of these same people were rendering unfounded and incorrect COVID medical opinions just two weeks ago. The situation revolving around Ukraine is very complicated and a mis-step could have dire consequences for the planet. I am watching the Biden administration navigate a complex world situation. This is a war and all of the instruments of national power are being employed as effectively as perhaps has ever been done by the U.S. Remember, war is hell and making this worse, the survival of the Russian Federation is in play making the end game and exit strategy even more complicated and dangerous.

5. Chris returns from her trip to Maryland today. Yay! Finnegan is more than ready to welcome her home.

6. Today in History. On March 7, 1965, in Selma, Alabama, a 600-person civil rights demonstration ends in violence when marchers are attacked and beaten by white state troopers and sheriff’s deputies. The day's events became known as "Bloody Sunday."

The demonstrators—led by civil rights activists John Lewis of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and Hosea Williams of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference—were commemorating the recent fatal shooting of Jimmie Lee Jackson, a 26-year-old church deacon, by state trooper James Bonard Fowler. The group planned to march the 54 miles from Selma to Montgomery, the state capital. Just as they crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge outside Selma, they were ordered to disperse. Moments later, police assaulted them with tear gas, bullwhips and billy clubs. Lewis, then 25, was one of 17 marchers hospitalized; dozens more were treated for injuries. 




Russia detains at least 4,640 people on Sunday during protests, says independent monitoring group - CNN

300 Shots Fired, 280 Russian Tanks Gone: US Missiles In Ukrainian Hands - NDTV

Republicans weigh approach for Ketanji Brown Jackson nomination fight - CNN

Biden Caught Between Inflation and Calls to Ban Russian Oil - The Wall Street Journal

Global Markets Fall After Oil Hits $130 a Barrel - The Wall Street Journal

After Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, Moldova worries it might be next - The Washington Post

In rare trip to Venezuela, U.S. officials discuss that nation’s oil exports amid a proposal to ban Russian fuel - The Washington Post

Ukraine decries 'immoral' stunt after Moscow says it will let civilians flee — to Russia - Reuters

Russian no show at U.N. court hearings on Ukrainian war - Reuters

'Putin will not stop in Ukraine', Lithuanian president warns Blinken - Reuters


Note: the "n" key on my keyboard is malfunctioning. If there are too many or missing n's, please excuse the inattention of the editor.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Sunday, March 6, 2022

Tortoise


 

I was treated to a bike ride in a new area yesterday. A friend and I went north of Hobe Sound and rode into Port Salerno. Part of the ride included the Seabranch Preserve State Park which has a very nice riding trail through the Florida scrub. We enjoyed a very pleasurable 12-plus mile ride. 
Tortoise Eating
Seabranch Preserve State Park, FL
March 5, 2022

I never actually took an image of the scrubland or the trail, but I was able to record a tortoise eating along the trail--which is essentially a wide sidewalk. 

The tortoise I imaged was not the only one seen during the ride. One the way back through the park to where the vehicle was parked two more tortoises were found. It was unclear whether one was the same one I imaged or not. One of the two tortoises demonstrated that these are not slow moving creatures. The tortoise did not like being watched and made a speedy, for a tortoise, escape into the brush. I was actually impressed with its speed. 

The ride yesterday was an out and back with some exploration of Port Salerno along the waterfront. The ride is mostly flat. While the wind was strong, it only affected the ride on the way back, of course, since the winds were from the southeast. The trees did a good job of keeping the wind from becoming too much of a nuisance. Riding directly into a strong wind is not a lot of fun. 

The total time of the ride was just over one-hour. A pleasant pace and an enjoyable ride.


-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL


Saturday, March 5, 2022

Trucks 'N Tunes - March

 

Trucks 'N Tunes
Tequesta, FL
March 4, 2022

It was the first Friday of the month which means Trucks 'N Tunes in Tequesta. 

Imagine this--an outdoors activity scheduled for March. Of course I first wrote of it during February. 

It was a delightful fun evening of listening to live music and enjoying some of the local food truck cuisine. I went with friends and we sat at the same table from where first enjoyed this activity last month.

The weather was awesome. Beginning in the high 70s as the event began at sunset the temperatures dropped enough that I was happy to have brought my hoodie along for added warmth. Did I mention, no rain and nearly clear skies?

The music was especially good last evening and I enjoyed watching the children using the basketball courts and play areas. It was good to get out and enjoy a fun evening doing something different.


-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Friday, March 4, 2022

Standing on the Shore

Finnegan Ready for Our Beach Walk
Jupiter Island, Florida
March 4, 2022

 I enjoy walking beside the ocean on a beautiful sunny and warm day. There is something calming about the waves hitting the beach and reconnecting with and being reminded of the raw power of nature is exhilarating. 

I have not actually done the morning dog walk on the beach in over two weeks. I can make a lot of excuses and prepare many seemingly impressive reasons, but it mostly revolves around the extra effort to get to the beach--that being hop in the car and drive for less than 5 minutes. It was a bit longer today because I got stopped by the drawbridge.

Today, I decided that we would head to the beach for our morning walk. I use the walk as a warm-up for my daily bike ride. Chris is in Maryland, freezing, and so it was just Finnegan and me. I can tell the seasons are changing. Portuguese man o' wars are washing-up on the beach. Small ones. They are out there and they find their way to the Atlantic beaches at this time of year. There were also, sadly, two dead birds. I did not get close enough to identify them, but I always wonder what could have taken down these fairly large sized  birds?

The walk was a slog today as the tide was in and the sand was soft. We only did a mile--but it was a hard mile. The ocean breeze was light and surprisingly warm. I had expected it to be cooler, but the sun more than compensated for any coolness in the breeze. 

I need to stay connected to the beach and the ocean, after all, that is why I am living here. But, I have been busy with paperwork on my computer: taxes, insurance, registering vehicles, and the like. Hopefully most of this is in the past and I can begin to enjoy more Springtime afternoons on the beach. Spring begins in just 16 short days! Just saying.


-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, Florida

Thursday, March 3, 2022

Sun Kissed Clouds

Silver-lined Clouds and Palm
Tequesta, FL
March 2, 2022

 Morning and evening clouds often reveal their silver lining when the sun hits them just right. 

That was the case yesterday morning looking out towards the east. I saw the silver lining of the clouds illuminated before my eyes. And of course, there was a palm tree perfectly positioned. 

It was a beautiful scene to start the day. And funny, not too much later the clouds took over and we even got some rain. 

I was glad that I had picked yesterday to have my bike serviced since I could not ride due to the wind and weather.

But the clouds in the morning against there bright sky were a great way to start the day.


-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Wednesday, March 2, 2022

There are Still Heroes

 

Most all Americans have been watching carefully the unwarranted Russian invasion of Ukraine. 

I found this quote in the Atlantic Daily email:

Meanwhile, Ukrainians on the ground, including President Volodymyr Zelensky and the everyday citizens taking up arms against the Russian military, have reminded the world what heroism looks like.

Heroism--the world needs heroes right now and we have found them in the Ukrainian people. 

The brave Ukrainians are doing what I imagine many Americans would do if out country were invaded. They are standing in the front lines with the weapons they have. I saw a news report and there was a Ukrainian standing on guard with his double barrel shotgun!

This morning, CNN reported this by the youngest member of the Ukrainian Parliament:

Ukraine's youngest MP: 'If we can survive Stalin, we can survive Putin'

I understand the difficult situation that the United States is in by not wanting to escalate the conflict outside of the borders of Ukraine, but I can only imagine what a few A-10 Warthogs could do to the 40 mile long Russian convoy headed towards Kyiv.

Perhaps Russia should be removed from the UN Security Council. I don't even know if that is possible. 

I can only hope that the mostly-unified world sanctions against Putin have a measurable impact soon. I believe using all of the instruments of national power (DIME) against Russia will work--but, will it be too late to save the brave heroes of Ukraine?



-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL


Tuesday, March 1, 2022

Losing Skills


Happy March 1st! I remember an old adage for March: "In like a lion and out like a lamb." 

With the arrival of March, I have been retired for two months and I have to admit that it seems longer with everything happening around the world. 

My handwriting has never been good. In fact, years ago I gave up writing cursive and turned to block printing. Yesterday, I actually needed to write some information down on paper and it became an interesting event. 

First, my pen would not write. I have used a fountain pen for many years because I like the density of the ink on the paper and because I believe they are more ecologically sound than throw-away pens. Apparently the ink dried in the nib, due to lack of use, and I had to clean everything out to get the pen functioning. This likely happened because I have not written anything in almost two months. 

Next, my hand did not seem to be able to write the letters and numbers smoothly and easily. Have I lost the skill of writing? Most likely yes. I could read what I wrote but it seemed like a chore rather than something that I used to enjoy doing. I guess I have been writing too much on my laptop and not enough on paper. 

I do not think that I will often exercise my writing skills, or lack thereof, in the near future, but I need to take better care of my writing instrument so that it is prepared for infrequent use. I have placed my pen in a container with the nib up so that the ink drains out rather than drying and gumming it up. Time will tell if this is a good solution.

And that is how the first day of the third month of both the year and my retirement begins.


-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

 

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