Saturday Afternoon

 

Walking onto the Beach
Carlin Park, Jupiter, FL
April 6, 2024

It was off to the beach for Happy Hour with friends yesterday afternoon. 

It had been another beautiful day with crystal blue skies, mild temperatures, and low humidity. 

I passed on a bike ride, but did walk Finnegan for almost 1.5 miles. We kept up a solid 20 minute per mile pace--even with his stops for relief. 

Ultralight over the Ocean
Carlin Park, Jupiter, FL
April 6, 2024

The beach was the highlight of the day which saw me clear some stuff from the garage and make a trip to the storage room. There was a large wedding set-up just on the entrance to the beach and we got to enjoy the wedding music for a while before the ceremony began.

An ultralight provided some entertainment after the wedding departed. It flew over the ocean just off shore and did some circles in the sky. 

The tide was rising and we had to move our chairs back twice as the waves tried to overrun our position. Some of our stuff got wet, but it was just water. Well, and sand!

A great time on the beach and then home. I am very happy the daylight is making it to about 8 PM.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Trucks N' Tunes April 2024

Constitution Park
Tequesta, FL
April 5, 2024

 I enjoyed an evening out at a local park with friends for Happy Hour. It was another in a string of beautiful evenings with moderate temperatures, crystal blue skies, and low humidity. The Village of Tequesta sponsors the event and throngs of people and kids showed up to enjoy the evening. 

The live music and the food trucks are the draw, but the weather provided the exclamation point. I truly enjoy watching the kids, of all ages, race around the park and just enjoy being outside. I wonder if they find it an enjoyable break from computers and smart phones? 

The music was mostly oldies, and I mean old. We recognized songs from the 50s and 60s. Looking around it was clear that most of the people were far too young to appreciate the songs, even though they were not performed very well. The lead singer was having pitch problems and also did not have good command of some of the songs. It was like he learned them yesterday. 

But, it was enjoyable to be out of the house and enjoying a meal with friends. Did I mention Happy Hour? Oh yes ,we also enjoyed Happy Hour before heading out to the food trucks for dinner.

This was the first Trucks N' Tunes since Daylight Saving Time went into effect and it was nice having daylight until almost 8 PM. This was also the last Trucks N' Tunes listed for the year, sadly. I expect the series to resume in November. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Thursday Happy Hour

Tiki52 in the Afternoon
Tequesta, FL
April 4, 2024

 It was off to Tiki52 for Happy Hour last evening. The day was absolutely awesome and the evening was shaping up to be more of the same.

It was good to get out with friends after the day and sit for a while to have some conversation. The place was relatively deserted when we arrived about 5 PM, but by 6 PM it was hopping. All of the tables were full and people were waiting to be seated. I'm glad we like to get to places early to beat the crowd and enjoy a very different ambiance. 

The snowbirds are slowly leaving and soon we will have the venues to ourselves again. I am seeing fewer northern license plates in the parking lots and clogging up the roadways. Traffic can still be horrific in the afternoons. Fortunately, Tiki52 is about a mile from the house and it is right on the water next to a marina. What a perfect spot.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Sliding Out of Easter

Easter in a Yard
Tequesta, FL
March 31, 2024

We still have some of our Easter decorations adorning the house. I know, Easter has passed and now it is onto full-fledged Springtime.

The trees in Florida are leafing and the ones that drop their leaves are becoming green. Every year I get people in the community telling me the trees have died and need to be cut down, I have to remind them that these trees are ones that actually lose their leaves during Autumn. 

I am not sure what the next decorating season is going to be? I guess Independence Day. That should be fun, but we have a lot of travel coming before then. The next two months are crazy busy. Maryland at the end of the month, then Italy in May, followed by a return to Maryland in June for the bike trip over the GAP.

Wow! 

I kind of miss Easter already. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

As the Sun Sets

As the Sun Goes Down
Tequesta, FL
March 30, 2024

During the morning as the sun rises and the evening as the sun sets, the colors of the world seem more vibrant. The golden and reddish hues accentuate the landscape and the sky becomes darker with the clouds reflecting the light of the sun to the ground. 

Even standing right outside of my door, looking towards the setting sun the scene is transformed from what I normally experience by the silhouetted and freshly trimmed palm trees which provide their own exclamation point for the scene. Even the reflected sun from the pool house seems more colorful than during the bright portion of the day. 

Last Saturday evening the sky and the sun caught my eye as I stepped outside. It was one of the evenings that I enjoy most about Florida. A late-March relatively cool evening (in the 70s) with low humidity. And the palm trees. It had been a busy and somewhat melancholy day. We had said good-bye to Luke and the dogs after a fun-filled week and the house seemed very empty and quiet. While we were happy that Luke was reunited with his Dad and Julie, there was a sense of emptiness. We have so few visitors that we truly enjoy each of them and miss them when the house returns to normal. Even the dogs were fun to have around, despite their occasional antics and the need to walk them three times a day. 

The end of the day is a time of reflection. Haha, see what I did there?

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Dinner Guest

Dinner Guest
Port Salerno, FL
April 1, 2024

Chris and I headed out to Port Salerno last evening for Happy Hour and dinner with friends. It was a beautiful spot right along the water near a marina and the boat traffic kept me entertained for most of the evening. 

We were at a place called Shrimpers Grill and Raw Bar, which was very enjoyable. The weather was fantastic with a nice breeze. 

One of the highlights of the evening for me, however, was a waterbird that just enjoyed hanging out on the concreted deck next to us waiting for scraps--which never came. 

It was a nice evening and a great way to start the second quarter of the year. 

Oh yes, I also did get the taxed done and submitted. Thankfully, it was a bit easier this year than last.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Monday Musings - April 1, 2024

 

1. Welcome to 2CY2024. Today also is the first Monday of April meaning that there are 39 Mondays remaining in the year. 

2. Tax Day is 15 days away. I am doing my taxes today!

Found on Facebook

3. It has to be an abomination. I saw a commercial with the self-proclaimed smartest man in the world selling bibles with the Constitution in them. I found the image to the right in a friend's post (thanks Dave) on Facebook. It is so true. And yet, he has a new slogan--Make America Pray Again. Trust me, I am!

4. I hope you are enjoying your Easter Monday!

5. There is a news item below from Reuters about how buyers are not purchasing Tesla's because of Musk. That is true. I have been fascinated by the Tesla since it was introduced, but did not consider buying one when we recently purchased our EV because of Musk. People vote with their wallets and their feet!

6. Today in History. On April 1, 1945, after suffering the loss of 116 planes and damage to three aircraft carriers, 50,000 U.S. combat troops, under the command of Lieutenant General Simon B. Buckner Jr., land on the southwest coast of the Japanese island of Okinawa, 350 miles south of Kyushu, the southern main island of Japan. Determined to seize Okinawa as a base of operations for the army ground and air forces for a later assault on mainland Japan, more than 1,300 ships converged on the island, finally putting ashore 50,000 combat troops.

Anti-Kremlin hackers avenge Navalny's death - CNN

Protesters take to the streets of Jerusalem calling for Netanyahu’s removal - CNN

At least 7 children, ages 12 to 17, were wounded in a shooting in downtown Indianapolis, police say - CNN

Would-be Tesla buyers snub company as Musk's reputation dips - Reuters

Exclusive: Iran alerted Russia to security threat before Moscow attack - Reuters

After bridge collapse, Maryland governor urges Congress to pass funding for rebuild - Reuters

The Newest Home-Buying Puzzle: What to Pay Your Real-Estate Agent - The Wall Street Journal

How Gen Z Is Becoming the Toolbelt Generation - The Wall Street Journal

Wait, does America suddenly have a record number of bees? - The Washington Post

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Easter 2024

 Happy Easter!

It is hard to believe that today is the last day of March and Easter.

We have been experiencing fabulous weather. Cool and dry. It has made being outside a wonderful experience.

We said good-bye to Luke and the dogs yesterday. The house was eerily quiet last evening. I think Finnegan enjoyed being an "only dog" again. I read that they arrived safely back in Maryland during the wee hours of the morning. I'm glad they made it back safely.  

May you find peace and comfort this holiday. 

He is Risen!

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Blow-out

Crossing the Loxahatchee River
Tequesta, FL
March 29, 2024

I had a no kidding bike tire blow-out during my ride yesterday.

It was, as you might expect, very sudden. I was closing in on 15 miles of my planned 16.5 mile ride when suddenly I hear a pop and felt a rush of air on my leg. Not a good situation. I brought my bike to a stop and confirmed what I suspected, my real tire blew out. 

I was concerned that the blow-out was the result of a fully inflated tire combined with the extra weight I have been training with and the heat of the day. Instead of fixing the tire alongside the road and using my expendable supplies, I called Chris to come rescue me with my truck. I took the additional training weight off the bike. The weight consisted of a ten pound weight in the bike bag over the rear tire and, for the first time, I was riding with a camelback water supply. 

Once home, and after cooling down and attending to some other matters, I began the process of determining the cause of the blow-out. I pumped some air into the tire to determine the source of the leak and it immediately became apparent that I had ridden over something that punctured the tire and tube. I never saw it--it had two blade like puncture marks right in the middle of the tread. I noted that the tire was thin from the riding I have been doing and decided to replace the tire while I had everything apart. 

The whole repair process, including going to the bike store, took about an hour and the bike is ready for todays' ride--if I do one. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Cyber Truck On the Road

Tesla Cyber-Truck
I-95 South of Ft Lauderdale
March 27, 2024
Photo by Lucas

 I spied my first Tesla cyber-truck.

It was on I-95 south of Ft Lauderdale the other day coming back from our air boating excursion. 

OK--while it may have looked neat during its introduction a few years ago, it is very different on the road and not at all like a DeLorean. 

Tesla Cyber-Truck
I-95 South of Ft Lauderdale
March 27, 2024
Photo by Lucas

In fact, it does not look too much like a truck.

It cannot be comfortable inside. At least it does not look comfortable. 

I feel pretty sure that this vehicle will go the way of the Dodo and DeLorean.

I wonder if it was driving in the hands free mode, I know that I was at the time. Luke had a better view of it out his window and so I asked him to take the pictures. 

Well, now I have seen it in person.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL