Firing up the 4th

 Bring on the 4th!

For those still working it is a perfectly made 4-day weekend possibility. Yay!

But, more importantly, let's celebrate. Safely.

We have a lot to celebrate. We are still America!

I am hoping to find fireworks somewhere around here to enjoy while dodging thunderstorms. 

If traveling--be safe and avoid the airports. I hear that the crush of travelers is going to make air travel a nightmare.

If driving, enjoy sharing the highways with 43 million of your new best friends.

Happy Independence Day!

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Beating the Heat on the Water

Trusty Boat Sea Bean
Jupiter Island, FL
June 28, 2023

 Chris and I have discovered a sure-fire way to beat the oppressive heat: boating!

And we are not the only South Floridians with that idea! Yesterday was a great boating day. We explored parts of the Saint Lucie River as far north as Stuart. After the exploration we headed south to the narrowest part of Jupiter Island along the shores of Peck Lake and enjoyed some of the afternoon both in the ocean and along the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW).

Boys Beating the Heat
Peck Lake, FL
June 28, 2023

We reserved a Cobia 220 dual console boat named Sea Bean for our excursion yesterday. Sea Bean is a great boat and I have already made additional reservations to motor in it again. The boat is one of the nicest handling boats that I have enjoyed since joining the boat club.  

While we were lounging along the shores of Peck Lake, a large group of boys arrived in a boat and on jet skis. They were most interested in jumping into the water from the tower that is just a few yards offshore. They were fun to watch. We remarked, how lucky these boys were to live in Florida and have access to a boat and know where to go to have fun.

The skies were mostly clear and the day was just that much more enjoyable being on the water with a constant breeze. 

And that is how to beat the unrelenting heat!

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Sizzling

 When is hot too hot?

Chris and I discovered too hot yesterday during our shortened 13 mile ride. We started out planning for a 17 mile ride, but as the heat grew more oppressive we shortened it to 13 miles by cutting out a portion of our route. It is not just the thermometer temperature, but the stress index as well that affected us.

We both survived, but decided that we need to begin our rides earlier, like in the 7 AM hour rather than at about 9:40 AM.

Today, we are planning to be smarter. We are headed out onto the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) boating again. Being on the water with a breeze should make the day less oppressive. I still require four boating trips before I can apply to take the open ocean safety course and be allowed out on the Mighty Atlantic. Then I will be truly dangerous.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Jiffy Lube--Get a Second Opinion

Looking North 
North Fork Loxahatchee River, Tequesta, FL
June 26, 2023

 Yesterday was a classic South Florida day. 

Highs in the high 80s with blue skies and puffy clouds. 

I got out for a morning bike ride and took an image of the sky and clouds reflecting on the North Fork of the Loxahatchee River. It was a beautiful scene as I neared the end of my 17-mile ride. 

The day began, however, as I took my truck to the repair shop. Two weeks ago, during its oil change at the local Jiffy Lube establishment, I was informed that the PCV valve needed replacing. They offered to do it for about $400 and seemed quite put-off when I passed on their offer to take my truck to my repair shop.

About mid-day the repair shop called with the news. My PCV valve was operating just as it should. No repair was needed. And furthermore, they did not even charge me for the checking into the possible problem--which blew me away. I am used to paying for at least an hour of labor for things like that. But, my repair shop is very special and it is run by a great guy. Funny, he is so great I almost want to take my vehicles to him more often so I can chat with him. Weird!

So, word to the wise--if Jiffy Lube suggests a repair, get a second opinion!

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Monday Musings - June 26, 2023

 

1. Don't look now, but Summer started last week and today is the last Monday of June. The year is half over and there remain only 26 Mondays until New Year! 

Finnegan on the pillows
Tequesta, FL
June 24, 2023

2. Finnegan is a funny little dog. He has assumed the role of Alpha Dog in the house, which is easy since he is the only dog. He is faithful to Chris and when she departs he waits patiently for her return. Lately, he has begun sleeping on the pillows on the sofa. He has dog beds, but, apparently, the sofa pillows are more to his liking. 

3. My truck will make its second trip to the repair shop within two months today. During early April, the truck needed a new radiator and water pump. Today, the expectation is for a new positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve that was recommended by Jiffy Lube during my overly expensive oil two weeks ago. I am taking the truck to my mechanic for the possible repair. Hopefully it all comes out well. 

4. Can you believe Russia? What a mess. Maybe Putin should get out of Ukraine and clean up his own house.

5. The loss of the submersible mission to the Titanic was tragic.

6. Hey, how about those Orioles? They have the second best record in the American League and the third best record in all of baseball. The All Star Break is almost here--here's hoping the second half of the season is as successful as the first.

7. Today in History. On this day in 1948, U.S. and British pilots begin delivering food and supplies by airplane to Berlin after the city is isolated by a Soviet Union blockade.

When World War II ended in 1945, defeated Germany was divided into Soviet, American, British and French zones of occupation. The city of Berlin, though located within the Soviet zone of occupation, was also split into four sectors, with the Allies taking the western part of the city and the Soviets the eastern. In June 1948, Josef Stalin’s government attempted to consolidate control of the city by cutting off all land and sea routes to West Berlin in order to pressure the Allies to evacuate. As a result, beginning on June 24 the western section of Berlin and its 2 million people were deprived of food, heating fuel and other crucial supplies.

Wagner chief remains under investigation for inciting rebellion, state news says - CNN

Airport worker dies after being ‘ingested’ into plane engine in Texas - CNN

Russia’s Vladimir Putin faced the gravest threat to his authority in decades when forces marched toward Moscow - CNN

North Korea holds rallies denouncing US, warns of nuclear war - Reuters

Rouble pares losses after slumping to 15-month low following aborted mutiny - Reuters

Renewables growth did not dent fossil fuel dominance in 2022, report says - Reuters

Traders Bet Bull Market Is Just Getting Started - The Wall Street Journal

Flight Cancellations, Delays Mount as Thunderstorms Hit East Coast - The Wall Street Journal

Wagner Mutiny Revives U.S. Fears Over Control of Russia’s Nuclear Weapons - The Wall Street Journal

Covid isn’t over, but even the most cautious Americans are moving on - The Washington Post

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Manatees in the Water

 

Chris in the Intracoastal
Jupiter Island, FL
June 24, 2023

Chris and I managed to escape the heat yesterday. In fact, the day presented some uniqueness that we will remember for quite a while. 

We began the day with a bike ride. Not just our usual bike route around Tequesta, but Chris decided she was ready to tackle the drawbridge and wanted to ride along Beach Road on Jupiter Island. And so we took an easy 12 mile ride across the drawbridge and onto Beach Road riding partway up the island. As we rode by some of our favorite beach locations on the intracoastal waterway (ICW), Chris decided that she wanted to come to the beach. 

The weather has not been suitable for beach activity, but yesterday, during the morning hours, the beach was calling! So we shortened our ride, went home, changed from biking gear to swim gear, grabbed our chairs and headed back to the ICW. It was a beautiful time and even though the area was crowded with other Floridians trying to escape from the oppressive heat and humidity, we found an excellent place to enjoy the water.

The highlight of the day, however, came shortly after we arrived and were out in the water near the boating channel. Two manatees, presumably a mother and her calf, came along feasting on the sea grass growing on the bottom of the ICW. They were close enough to shore that many people, including ourselves, paddled out to the relatively shallow water where they were feasting to marvel at the gentle giants. We were able to just make out their forms while they were underwater, but they often pushed their heads out to get air and we could see them clearly. It was an event and the manatees were unconcerned by our presence. Amazingly, no one actually did anything stupid, like trying to touch or disturb them. Even a dog riding on a paddle board was mesmerized by the giant creatures lurking beneath the water's surface.

Although we live in South Florida, manatee encounters are very rare. Both Chris and I enjoyed watching them. Sadly, the water was too deep for me to get my iPhone out to get an image of them, but I will remember our manatee encounter for a long time.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Costco Frustration

 Sometimes it is very frustrating to shop at Costco.

Take yesterday, for example. 

Costco is a 30 minute drive and so Chris and I wait until we require a significant amount of supplies before sojourning down the interstate into the northern reaches of West Palm Beach, the high traffic area, to visit Costco. The store has to be one of the larger Costco warehouses in the entire network. Friday's are not a particularly good day to visit the store due to the volume of shoppers, but we arrived there early yesterday. 

The problem with the Costco we visit is that they are often out of stock on two of the main reasons we shop there: Kirkland Sparkling Mineral Water and Vitamin Water. We are then forced to buy name brand products for more cost and usually less volume. 

It happened again yesterday. It is hard to understand how a Costco could be out of a Kirkland product--but it happens at this store about 50 percent of the time. Yes, I like Pellegrino, I just don't like to pay for it. And at $1 a bottle, the name brand vitamin water, which I like to drink after biking, is a bit pricey. 

Of course, we save a lot on the other things we buy, but the primary reason we head to Costco is the vitamin water and the sparkling water. So, for the next couple of weeks we will be having name brand items in the house. That is just the way it is. 

While I was frustrated that Costco was out of their own brand of items, I did, however, manage to buy a couple dozen of their golf balls while I was there. I would rather lose a $1 golf ball than a $4 ball.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

On the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW)

On the ICW
Jupiter Island, FL
June c22, 2023

 Yesterday was a boating day. 

The thunderstorms held off long enough for Chris and I and two friends to get in a great boating day on the ICW. We actually enjoyed hot sun while sitting on an ocean beach accessible only by boat from the ICW. We motored past some the high end homes on Jupiter Island and we enjoyed looking longingly at the private gold course situated along the ICW upon which we will never swing a club. 

It is fun looking at how the uber-rich live. Some of them have very big boats! Wait, they are so big they might be ships.

It was a great day and it felt good to be back on the water. There are many more places that we are planning to explore including the St Lucie River and the ICW towards Ft Pearce. After four more trips, I can apply for training to allow me to go out on the open Atlantic Ocean! I am looking forward to doing that. 

There is just something great about being out on the water in a boat. We had a 21 foot Hurricane yesterday. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Golfing in the Heat

 

Chris on the 12th Tee
Jupiter Dunes, FL
June 22, 2023

Chris and I could not resist yesterday. We had to get out and hit the golf course yesterday.

We managed to get out early, but it was still very hot and humid. By the time our round was over it was 87 degrees and the humidity was over 90 percent. Did I mention that we walk when we play this course? 

The course is undergoing summer upgrading. I know that sounds funny to golfers up north, but here in South Florida Summer is the low season and courses do their improvements. About half the course was undergoing Tee-box or green improvements. I had an unusually good round, for me. I mean really. I was just 15 over par, which is 3 strokes better than my bogie golf goal. The heat began to get to me at the end and I gave up a few strokes on the last couple holes. Chris also had a very good round. 

We were tired, hot, and more than ready to be done when I finally sank my putt on the 18th. But, we had finished the round and enjoyed our time together.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

For the Birds

Two Canada Geese Families
Odenton, MD
June 10, 2023

 Watching the geese became a daily pastime while we were in Maryland. There was a small catch pond next-door to Nicole's, where we were staying, and two goose families would walk over the small hill and spend part of the day swimming and eating in the relatively protected, fenced pond. 

What was interesting was that there were two goose families with between them 8 goslings. One family had 5 and the other 3 goslings. The goslings were hatched about a week or two apart, meaning one family was developing ahead of the other. But, they all got along and worked together as a small flock.

During the month we were in Maryland, Chris and I watched the geese and marveled at how the goslings so quickly developed from small, almost helpless creatures into beautiful Canadian Geese. We worried about the transient foxes that we occasionally saw at the pond. One day we saw a bunch of feathers and worried that one of the goslings had met an untimely end, but upon further examination I determined that there were not enough feathers. Later that same day we were happy to see the full compliment of both families. 

Since we departed, a week ago, it has been reported that the maturing goslings and their families no longer come to the pond for daily feedings. They are likely now part of a larger flock that will fly around Maryland, but never leave. Perhaps next year there will be additional families in the grouping. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL