Blue Sky Day

 

Blue Spring Sky
Odenton, MD
April 1, 2025

I appreciate a blue sky. 

Blue skies without a cloud, or with few clouds, seem to be rare. Chris and I drove from Florida to Maryland under overcast skies and so yesterday's blue sky was appreciated. 

We have been enjoying the early Springtime flowering trees and bushes. There seems to be color everywhere. The white trees and bushes adorning the hills and alongside the roads almost seem like snowballs being prepared for a fight. And then the reds and greens of the budding trees coupled with the yellow of the forsythia add to the texture of the scene. 

I know many people enjoy the colors of the Autumn, but for me the rebirth after Winter with its explosion of colors is more appealing to me. And then to enjoy a blue clear sky tops off the entire experience. 

Tomorrow is another travel day. We are heading for Ithaca in what may be our last ever trek to the area where we both grew up. 

It is a busy trip.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Cold Saturday

DST is Back Tonight!

The Palm Tree out my Door
Tequesta, FL
March 8, 2025

 It is going to be a nice day. It may become a beach day. But it will have to warm up a bit. The morning started about 54 degrees, but the day is headed for 82 degrees with likely blue skies. 

I have totally been oblivious to the fact that Daylight Saving Time (DST) returns tonight! I am going to lose an hour of sleep. I hope the government finally gets its act together and cancels the return to Standard Time in November. We can only hope. It is funny that the return to DST crept up on me so innocuously. Almost like it was trying to fool me.

In the meantime, I am going to enjoy the bright sunshine and later daylight. The days are longer as well, but that is not a function of DST, it is a function of the Earth moving around the Sun with an axis tilt. 

So I'm looking forward to a great Saturday and Sunday, even if the weekend is one hour shorter. The daylight will at least be one hour later. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Here Comes the Sun, Finally

 It has been a week since the sky was blue and filled with my favorite bright orb, the Sun. 

I had to turn the heat on in our home to keep the temperature at a reasonable level. I am hopeful of switching back to the A/C today or tomorrow. 

By tomorrow our daytime highs will be back into the 70s. Maybe the cold grip is over! Yay. The news had a funny reminder yesterday that it was too cold for sandals, shorts, and short-sleeve shirts. I have to admit--I figured that out on my own. Still haven't donned socks yet, though I am wearing slippers in the house because the floor is colder than normal.

I have not yet happened upon a cold-stunned iguana. I'm not sure I actually want to see one, but I would be very interested if I, by chance, happened upon one. 

I was hoping for a beach day, but the forecasters continue to revise the daily highs downward from the high 70s to the high 60s. 

It is even too cold and rough, because of the wind, for a boating day. 

Maybe, just maybe I can get a bike ride in this afternoon.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

The Cold is Everywhere!

 It is cold. 

Everywhere. 

Even here in South Florida, the past almost four days of rain and cold temperatures have Meade being outside unbearable. 

OK, so I'm whining, I know. I at least am not facing temperatures in the teens with snow, ice, and impossible travel conditions; but I wish it were warmer. 

I have not been able to bike ride since Sunday. It is now Thursday. Tomorrow here in South Florida is supposed to be the coldest day yet--temperatures will possibly dip into the 30s. I may have to wear socks!

Hopefully it will warm up soon. For all of us. 

And then I will complain about the heat!

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Frozen Pond

Runoff Pond
Odenton, MD
January 13, 2025

It is cold!

How cold is it?

It is so cold that I have not seen water in the runoff pond next door since before Christmas. 

I think I am getting used to the cold. Yesterday, the temperature crested 40 degrees and I put new windshield wipers on the truck, in preparation for the return south, without donning my coat. I was not cold! OK, so I was not warm either. I was just surviving the too cold weather.

Grandma Chris with Beck
Glen Burnie, MD
January 13, 2025

I also added air to the tires because they were a bit low due to the cold.

The truck is now ready for the 1000-mile  trek to warmer temperatures. 

I'm not so sure that Chris is ready to return south. We were able to spend some additional time with Beck yesterday. It was good to see him again and he is doing very well, as are his parents. 

But, the frozen pond reminds me that we belong a bit further south. It has been cool in Tequesta, but still warmer than here. 

-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

WX, Ravens, and Beck

Beck goes Home
Annapolis, MD
January 11, 2025

 An amazing thing happened yesterday--the temperature climbed above freezing. It almost felt warm at 33 degrees. I shouldn't get used to it because Tuesday the temps drop below freezing again.  

Last evening, I was happy to watch the Ravens in their first playoff game of the season. They played their nemesis and division foe the Steelers. The Ravens have not done well against the Steelers in recent years, except for this year when they played three times with the Ravens winning two. And so the Ravens move on with a likely date in Buffalo next week, unless the Broncos can find some magic today. 

In other news, Beck was given a clean bill of health and departed the medical center where he was born yesterday. It is reported that Mommy, Daddy, and Baby Beck all got some sleep after they arrived home. That is good because I am sure they all needed some rest after being in the hospital. It is time for them to begin finding a family rhythm. Chris and I are hopeful of visiting grandchild number 4 today. We will have to see how that all goes. 

-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

A Cold Winter's Sun, but Joyful Hearts

 

Cold Winter Sun
Odenton, MD
January 9, 2025

It is cold. 

The temperature has not made it above freezing for two straight days, although we are expecting a high of 33 degrees today! Whoopee!

Although the temperature is freezing, there is joy in our hearts this morning as our newest grandson, Beckett, arrived just after 4 AM this morning weighing in at 9 lbs 1 oz. Mother and father are doing well. He shares a birthday with my Dad who turns 97 years old today. 

Happy Birthday to Beckett and to my Dad!

January 10th must be a good date!

-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

And the Snow Fell

Snow Falling
Odenton, MD
January 6, 2025

 I shoveled snow yesterday. 

It was the first time in three years that I picked up a shovel and moved the cold white stuff around. 

We received a lot of snow, maybe 10 inches. Ugh!

I had a conversation with a 10yo boy yesterday about the snow. He suggested to me that Maryland had never seen as much snow before and I told him about Snowpocalypse in 2010 and the 30 inch blizzard of 2016. We have been hammered before, but not so much in recent years and so it is easy to forget or not know about the big storms of the past.

Snow Selfie
Odenton, MD
January 6, 2025

Schools are closed for the second consecutive day. I, however, expect to get out into the world today for some reason or another.

I did have the experience of helping a neighbor get his car unstuck. It reminded me of old times. Not fond memories of old times, just old times. It always seems that someone's car gets stuck somewhere.

I do miss my palm trees and warm sun. 

-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

Winter Storm Warning - January 2025

 

I guess this is what I get for driving north during December and January--a Winter Storm warning. 

But I was not expecting 7-8 inches of snow. Who dialed that up? 

I think this could be the biggest storm the area has experienced in five years. 

The precipitation forecast for tomorrow is in the image. I am very happy that I did not have any travel planned. I also hope that our unborn grandson does not choose the middle of the storm for his arrival on the planet. 

It should be an exciting time. 

I'm not sure I remember how to shovel snow--just kidding, it is like riding a bike, one never forgets: one shovel at a time. 

I am happy that Ethan made it safely back to Georgia where the snow will miss him, but he will suffer with about a half-inch of cold rain.

I suppose we will be joining the thousands of our new best friends at the grocery store stocking up on consumables. I need to get some ice melt from the hardware store. 

Well, the fun begins this evening. 

-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

Snow--duh!

Evening with Snow on the Lawn
Odenton, MD
January 3, 2025

 Break out the ice scrapers--it is 24 degrees this morning and it snowed last night. So not only is it cold, it is also snow covered and likely many ice patches. BTW, I did not bring an ice scraper with me on this trip. I guess I will use one of my metal credit cards as a substitute.

Chris and I were out last evening to dinner with Jeremy, Julie, and Luke. The snow started as we were driving to dinner and it reminded me of everything I do not like about winter. 

I was amazed at the number of vehicles which suddenly decided that driving 10 mph above the speed limit was suddenly about 40 mph too fast. Ugh. I felt bad for the drivers because I imagined their hands clenched on the steering wheel as their arm muscles started to fail from the previously infrequent use.  

And the serious storm is not due until tomorrow night. 

The important thing is that it snowed. Chris loves snow, me not so much. I guess that is why I pushed to retire in South Florida. 

-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

Warm to Cold, Repeat

Tiki52
Tequesta, FL
December 20, 2024

 The story of my personal weather pattern lately is one of warm to cold and repeat as necessary. 

The cyclical pattern began during November when Chris and I drove north for Thanksgiving. We left the warmth of South Florida for the unusually cold of Maryland. We returned during early December to the warm temperatures we love. 

Now this morning, we are facing cold even here in South Florida as we prepare to journey north for Christmas. I know 51 degrees does not seem cold to many, but we have been enjoying near 80 degree temperatures and it is quite a shock. But of course, nothing like the shock we will experience when we get off our Southwest jet tomorrow in Baltimore facing 30 degree temperatures. 

As a final moment to enjoy warmth before the cold, we enjoyed Happy Hour at Tiki52 last evening. Our favorite member of the waitstaff was working and we enjoyed talking to him while they were not busy. Finnegan has become a regular there as well. 

Well, tomorrow it is back to Maryland and the warm-cold cycle will again repeat!

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

It was so Cold

Solitary Turkey Vulture
Odenton, MD
December 5, 2024

 It was so cold yesterday that the only thing flying when I took Finnegan for a very short walk was a solitary turkey vulture. 

It was so cold that at one point the wind chill, or feels like temperature, was 18 degrees. And yes, that is Fahrenheit. 

It was a bright sunny day, and cold.

I have not ridden my bike since the month began, of course I did not bring it along on the trip because I expected it to be too cold to ride. I only managed 110 miles during November and am 92 miles from logging 5000 miles on my bike! I am hoping the weather is nice in Florida the next two weeks so that I can get a few rides accomplished and maybe cross the 5000 mile threshold. 

Chris and I have been having a wonderful time reconnecting with friends and family and we look forward to more enjoyment when return closer to Christmas. 

-- Bob Doan, Odenton, MD

Clean-up and Cool

Knight Anole
Tequesta, FL
October 10, 2024

 The massive destruction across Florida from Hurricane Milton is only now beginning to be understood. 

Chris and I and our little condo community were very lucky. No major damage and, frankly, aside from a couple fronds and branches, no damage at all. We went over to a friend's house yesterday, they are out of town, to assess damage and they, like us, escaped damage. There were a lot of branches in their yard, but no damage. 

Last evening, as we were sitting on the veranda enjoying the dryer and cooler air that followed the hurricane, we spied a large knight anole on the tree in our yard. It was the first time we had identified this species of lizard in our yard. It was a large lizard, about 12-13 inches in length. It sat on the tree for a great while and I believe it may have decided that our yard is its territory. That may not be a bad thing as they eat bugs and even other lizards. 

Cancer Society 300-mile Challenge Update:

I did not ride yesterday due to debris, winds, and clean-up operations in the area. Thus far, I have logged a total of 124.91 miles. I have 175.09 miles remaining to reach the 300-mile goal. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Morning After the Storm

The Morning After Milton Palm Tree
Tequesta, FL
October 10, 2024

 Although we were not in the hurricane force winds of Milton, we experienced some significant gusts of around 60 mph overnight. The worst seemed about 2:30 AM when both Chris and I were awakened by the howling of the gusts across the storm shutters. We turned on the television for a few minutes to check the progress of the storm. And then, we let the sounds of the wind sing us back to sleep. 

There is widespread damage in the area. I just received a call from the Tequesta Emergency Operations Center advising that we should not drive due to multiple downed power lines. Chris and I are fortunate in that thus far we have not lost power. We are happy to have come through the storm in tact. We will remain in the tropical storm force wind cone for a few more hours, but by this afternoon we should be able to get out and see the community. 

We were very fortunate. There were over 130 tornado warnings issued yesterday. We were lucky that none directly affected us. I do not know how many actual tornados there were, but I know there were multiple tornados and there is a lot of tornado related damage. We were under a tornado watch all day however and a tornado passed about 8 miles from our condo.

We will not head into the areas where we know there is a lot of damage. The last thing they need are "lookie-loos."

Cancer Society 300-mile Challenge Update:

I did not ride yesterday due to tornado watches and warnings in the area. I will not attempt to ride today due to debris. Thus far, I have logged a total of 124.91 miles. I have 175.09 miles remaining to reach the 300-mile goal. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Surviving Milton

 

Sunset before Hurricane Milton
Tequesta, FL
October 9, 2024

Although hurricane Milton has not yet made landfall, we have survived a day of severe thunderstorms and tornados. Chris and I sat on the veranda this afternoon watching the storms pass while drinking wine. We were fortunate as our veranda faces east and the storms were coming from the south. 

The news channels report the worst has passed, WRT the tornados and tonight as Milton makes landfall we will experience tropical storm force winds, but will be spared from the hurricane force winds. 

For the next 18 or so hours we will face Milton's wrath, but we are lucky in that we are not in the direct path of the storm. Chris and I are hearing reports of homes already torn from their foundations, but we remain. 

Thank you to all of you who have wished us well and are praying. I expect tomorrow we will begin cleanup, but we will escape the brunt of the storm. Pray for those in the path of destruction. 

Here is looking for a good night. I have the storm shutters closed in anticipation of a rough night.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Riding in the Rain

Sandhill Cranes under a Tree
Tequesta, FL
October 8, 2024

 I didn't intentionally head out to ride in the rain yesterday, it just happened. I checked the weather radar and the rain was supposed to head out into the ocean, but apparently it changed direction while I was riding. I got wet. Since I was wet and it was not raining too hard, I continued on with my ride until I reached a point where I could head home. 

Once I was wet, I decided to continue. I was riding streets and have all-weather multiple-surface tires on my bike. I needed them for the GAP* ride I did during June. 

Home Goods Prepared for the Hurricane
Tequesta, FL
October 8, 2024

Yesterday I learned where the Sandhill Cranes go during a rainstorm. They go under a tree and that is where I saw them.

Riding after the rains of the past few days presented challenges, mostly standing water on the roadway. There was a lot of water on the roads and sidewalks. In one place the water must have been three inches deep because my shoes got wet when the pedal was at its lowest point. 

Hurricane Milton Update

Hurricane Milton Track with Tropical Storm force wind arrival times
As of 0800 EDT 9 October 2024

Chris and I are prepared. Overnight the track began drifting back to the north, which made me very happy when I checked it out this morning. Many of the businesses are preparing for the storm by boarding the windows. We saw this at Home Goods yesterday. It was a bit eerie seeing the windows boarded like we were living in a war zone--but, we actually are in a weather war zone. I will close my storm shutters later today as the tropical storm winds are expected to arrive overnight and we have trees near the condo. We have only a few larger items to remove from our patio.

Amazingly, the rain maps show very little rain falling during the next two days even though the storm will rage.

Cancer Society 300-mile Challenge Update:

I went on a shorter than desired ride yesterday. I got very wet, but logged 14.36 miles. Thus far, I have logged a total of 124.91 miles. I have 175.09 miles remaining to reach the 300-mile goal. As the winds increase, I may not be able to safely ride, but time will tell. The tropical storm winds are not due until overnight. 

* GAP - Great Allegheny Passage, about 160 miles from Pittsburgh, PA, to Cumberland, MD

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Hurricane Alley--Tropical Storm Warning

 

Forecast Track and Cone, 8 October 2024 at 0700
Hurricane Melton

Chris and I are preparing for the storm. The good news remains that Tequesta remains outside the cone for the storm track, the bad news is that overnight the storm began to track more southerly and is not including Port St. Lucie, which is about 30 miles away and was outside the cone yesterday. 

This is a big event. We have laid in water and foods which require no cooking--like sandwiches, in case we lost power for an extended period of time. The forecast remains that we will see only tropical storm winds and will not face hurricane force winds here. We are under a Tropical Storm Warning. I had a boat reserved for tomorrow; I canceled it. 

But, hurricanes are fickle. I am concerned that the storm is tracking more south. It is also slowing--not a good sign. 

Cancer Society 300-mile Challenge Update:

I managed to get out for a short ride yesterday. I had hoped to get 15 miles or more in, but only made 13.10 before the rain caught up with me. I got wet. Thus far, I have logged a total of 110.55 miles. I have 189.45 miles remaining to reach the 300-mile goal. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Tropical Storm Milton

 Apparently our days of being mostly missed by hurricanes is about to end. 

Tropical Storm Milton, currently in the western Gulf of Mexico, is expected to slam into Western Florida and cruise through north central Florida before exiting into the Atlantic. Ugh. We are anticipating torrential rains and possibly tropical storm force winds. 

Chris and I are keeping a close watch on the forecasts, which seem to indicate a glancing blow right now, but as we all are aware, hurricanes often have a mind of their own! 

I have annotated our location to provide context. These are from about 4 AM this morning and show what I am following in terms of track, rain, and wind. 

It appears we will receive between 6-8 inches of rain, and the winds will remain below about 55 mph. Tuesday night through Friday morning seems to be when the worst of it will be upon us. I hope the storm holds to the northern track they have forecast. I saw one projection where two of the approximate 10 models slid south over us.

Cancer Society 300-mile Challenge Update:

I completed my fifth ride yesterday. I cycled 16.51 miles with Chris around Tequesta and have logged a total of 97.45 miles. I have 202.55 miles remaining to reach the 300 mile goal. With the hurricane settling into the area, riding may be tough until Friday. I will look for a break in the rains to get out. I did do some PM on my bike yesterday so it is fully ready to tackle the remaining miles. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Saturday Promise

Channel 5 Storm Tracker
September 14, 2024

 I woke this morning and checked the weather. I was hoping for a nice day to head off to an area just a bit north with Chris for a bike ride. The temperature was 79 degrees, the dew point was 79 degrees, and the feels like was 88 degrees. Ugh.

When I took Finn out for his morning relief, I could see the dew on the car. 

I think we will still head out for a ride. I would like some different scenery this morning. And while uncomfortable. at least there is no rain in the immediate area. 

I rode 18 miles yesterday, but did not take an image. I guess nothing piqued my interest. Maybe we will see a tortoise this morning. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Stormy Day Blues

Finnegan and Me
Tequesta, FL
August 15, 2024

 Although Chris and I got out and managed a 14-mile ride during the morning, the middle portion of the day consisted of almost continuous thunderstorms. It was, therefore, a rainy and noisy day. 

Finnegan does not like thunder. I think he got traumatized during the Fourth of July celebrations in the neighborhood with all of the loud booms. It may not have helped that we took him with us as we wandered out the end of the street to see some of the fireworks and listen to the booming of the retorts. 

Finn Looking Out the Car Window
Jupiter, FL
August 15, 2024

He has developed a near paralyzing fear of booms. Whenever thunder is in the area he glues himself to me. Now, as most of you are aware, he is Chris's dog and generally has prefers her company to mine. But when the thunder crashed he seeks out the "big dog" for protection. That was the scene yesterday as he laid in my lap trying to blend into the chair while the storms were overhead. 

Chris thought it was cute and snapped an image of the traumatized dog trying to become one with both me and the chair. 

Later, however, he was fine after the storms cleared and we headed out to cast our Florida Primary ballots. As we are not going to be in town for the actual primary day, we took advantage of early voting. Finn even got a sticker announcing that he is a future voter--although I am not sure how that is going to work. Well, this is Florida and almost anything can happen here.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL