Riding the Trails

Trail
Jupiter, FL
September 19, 2024

 Some days when I'm biking, I change up the route to see some different areas. I did a 20-mile ride Thursday and managed to ride a short trail through a forested area that borders a branch of the Loxahatchee River. Riding the trail reminded me of biking the GAP during June. 

Riding the GAP
Connellsville, PA
June 15, 2024

One thing I really enjoyed on the GAP was riding under the canopy of the trees. The trail seemed to be forever under the trees, which was nice, but did make enjoying the scenery difficult. But the smell of the forest and seeing the artifacts from the railroad system upon whose roadbed we were riding made the trek more than interesting. 

Riding the short, about 1 mile, trail near Jupiter rekindles the memories. 

For October, as many have noticed, I am participating in the American Cancer Society Bike 300 Challenge during October. I am happy to have another biking goal to achieve. My page is here: Cancer Fundraising Page.  I have ridden 300 miles during a month on three occasions, the most recent being June 2024 aided by the 160 mile GAP ride. 

GAP - Great Allegheny Passage from Pittsburgh, PA two Cumberland, MD

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Moon in the Palm

 

Moon in the Palm
Tequesta, FL
September 19, 2024

Sometimes when I walk out my door in the morning to allow Finn to do his business, I am confronted with a scene that causes me to stop and consider it for more than a passing moment. Such opportunity presented itself yesterday morning as the sky was only beginning to lighten and the moon was visible through a tall palm in front of my building.

I went back inside to get my phone, with the camera, to capture the scene. I had to wait until Finn had completed his task, but it was only a few minutes. I continue to bed frustrated because cameras do not easily capture the moon, it tends to show up fuzzy despite my best efforts.

By taking the image, I also documented the coconuts on the tree which the community's tree service has not removed. There are coconuts everywhere. I had thought the trimming in June was supposed to prevent the coconuts from forming. I guess not. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Beating the heat on the Water

 

Heading out of Manatee Pocket
Port Salerno, FL
September 18, 2024

The oppressive South Florida heat continued yesterday and with it came the nearly predictable afternoon thunderstorms. Chris and I, along with Fran and Mary, decided to beat the heat and take a boating excursion to our favorite beach and then onto Stuart for lunch. It turned out to be a perfect way plan and we made it back to the marina just before an impressive looking thunderstorm arrived. 

Pelican on the Marker
Peck Lake, FL
September 18, 2024

We were confronted with the King Tides, which are seasonal tides much higher than normal. That meant that upon arriving at our preferred beach, there was not much area to beach the boat since we were near high tide.

I took an image of a pelican on a channel marker. The speed sign, posted lower, is partially underwater due to the higher than normal nature of the King Tides. I believe they are more correctly known as Spring Tides. The dock was actually underwater by a few inches because of the Spring Tide. 

Our Camp on the Beach
Jupiter Island, FL
September 18, 2024

We successfully beached the boat and tied it up. The ocean beach off Peck Lake is perhaps my favorite local beach because it is usually deserted. Best accessed by boat, we have only been there one time when the beach was actually crowded and that was because there were more than a dozen boats beached along the ICW near the short path to leading to the beach. Yesterday it was idyllic--we were alone on a beautiful ocean beach.

Captain Crunch from the Restaurant 
Stuart, FL
September 18, 2024

We stayed on the beach until it was time to head for Stuart, where were had decided to lunch. I figured that from the time we broke camp to arrival at Stuart would be about an hour. I was correct. We arrived at the Stuart City Docks about an hour later after a very nice ride up the St Lucie River. The inland waters were calm and that made the ride enjoyable. As an added benefit, there were very few other boaters out yesterday, as can be seen from the image of the City Dock where we were the only boat tied up. 

We enjoyed a leisurely lunch and then headed back to the marina. We could not see the weather to the south, near the marina, during lunch, but once we got back onto the water it was clear that a strong thunderstorm was headed in that direction. Fortunately, we arrived at the marina before the storm. We observed some exciting lightening bolts, which I estimated were 4-5 miles away--so there was no panic.

Another great boating day and the perfect hump day activity. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Pawns in a Dangerous Game

 

From Reddit

The Republican nominees for president and vice president are lying, hurting people, and doing it intentionally according to their own words.

The situation they have created in Springfield, Ohio, is deplorable. And they see no reason to end the lying. We are faces with the next big lie. The people of Springfield are begin harmed, they are being denied there right to pursue happiness and they are constituents of the VP candidate who admitted to lying to gain press coverage and says it was worth it. Clearly, his view is that the people are pawns for him to achieve power regardless of the damage.

I am reminded of a quote from Germany about 1933. I updated it.  

First they came for the LGBTQ+, and I did not speak out—because I was not a LGBTQ+.

Then they came for the Haitians, and I did not speak out—because I was not Haitian.

Then they came for every immigrant, and I did not speak out—because I was not an immigrant.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

—with respect to Martin Niemöller for the original

Do we really want JD Vance to be one-heartbeat away from having the nuclear codes? Remember, the guy he is nominated to be the vice for is 78 years old and seems to be suffering from PTSD, other potential mental issues along with who knows what physical ailments. 

The following are observations from a Wikipedia article titled Age and Health Concerns about Donald Trump. 

Cognitive decline

Experts for the science publication STAT who analyzed changes in Trump's speeches between 2015 and 2024 noted shorter sentences, more tangents, more repetition and more confusion of words and phrases. The doctors suggested it could just be due to changes in mood or it could indicate the beginning of Alzheimer's.^[39] The sharp rise in all-or-nothing thinking is linked to cognitive decline.^[39]

Family history of dementia

Medical experts have also advised the Washington Post that Trump likely has an elevated genetic risk of dementia.^[6] Nephew Fred Trump III sees signs of the dementia that he saw in Trump's father, Fred Trump Sr.^[40] Fred Trump Sr. was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in October 1991, 8 years before he passed.^[40]

Republicans, and especially Trump, made an issue of Biden's capabilities (real or imagined) which ultimately factored into his decision to withdraw. Perhaps we should be concerned, for real and observable reasons, about Trump's mental abilities.

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Riding in the Heat

Crossing the Loxahatchee River Bridge
Tequesta, FL
September 16, 2024

 As I was completing my bike ride yesterday, I began to feel tired and very hot. It wasn't until I got back home that I discovered why. The temperature had climbed to 88 degrees and the heat index crested 100 degrees. Coupled with the bright sun and no shade during that portion of my ride, it was a potentially dangerous combination.  

Whew.  

Ibis in the Road
Turtle Creek, Tequesta, FL
September 16, 2024

I probably needed to drink more water earlier during my ride. I was in the final two miles of my 18.5 mile ride when I began to feel the effects of the heat and sun.

I made it home safely. And drank a lot of water. 

It was a great way to begin the week. I am hoping to get a lot of biking in since I will be on a cruise next week and unable to bike. 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

Monday Musings - September 16, 2024

 

1. Welcome to the third Monday of September. The month is speeding past meaning that there remain only 15 Monday in the year. 

Kayaks on the Beach
Cove Road Park, FL
September 4, 2024

2. Chris and I completed a 12.5 mile ride on Saturday through Seabranch State Preserve and near Port Salerno. We stopped at Cove Road Park to enjoy the scenery as we looked out upon the ICW. Along the ride we saw three tortoises and enjoyed a relatively quiet Saturday morning. 

3. The news has been crazy lately. I am distressed that some people feel the need to determine the upcoming election through the use of bullets rather than the ballot box. I would hate to have one of the candidates martyred. 

4. Family NFL Report. Family teams went 2-3 this week. The Steelers remain the only undefeated team, while the Ravens are struggling for their first win. 

Ravens (0-2) lost to Raiders (1-1), 23-26 

Steelers (2-0) defeated Broncos (0-2), 13-6

Cowboys (1-1) were blown-out by Saints (2-0), 19-44

Commanders (1-1) defeated Giants (0-2), 21-18

Dolphins (1-1) lost to Bills (2-0), 10-31

5. Financial snapshot past to present:

    S&P 500

         January 15, 2021 - 3768.25 (Last Friday of Trump presidency)

         September 13, 2024 - 5626.02 (Most recent Friday of Biden presidency)

     Change: +1857.77 or 49.30 percent increase

6. Today in History. On September 16, 1620, the Mayflower sails from Plymouth, England, bound for the Americas with 102 passengers. The ship was headed for Virginia, where the colonists—half religious dissenters and half entrepreneurs—had been authorized to settle by the British crown. However, stormy weather and navigational errors forced the Mayflower off course, and on November 21 the “Pilgrims” reached Massachusetts, where they founded the first permanent European settlement in New England in late December.

Thirty-five of the Pilgrims were members of the radical English Separatist Church, who traveled to America to escape the jurisdiction of the Church of England, which they found corrupt. Ten years earlier, English persecution had led a group of Separatists to flee to Holland in search of religious freedom. However, many were dissatisfied with economic opportunities in the Netherlands, and under the direction of William Bradford they decided to immigrate to Virginia, where an English colony had been founded at Jamestown in 1607.

To learn more about the Pilgrims and their time in Leiden, before sailing to England and boarding the Mayflower in Plymouth, read the Pilgrims in Leiden.

Dana Bash and JD Vance clash over baseless claims about Haitian immigrants - CNN

The man detained owns a construction company in Hawaii, had criticized Trump on social media and is a Ukraine supporter - CNN

Germany angers European neighbors as it tightens migration along all land borders - CNN

Boeing strike: bosses bruised, blindsided and on brink of crisis - Reuters

Central European flooding widens as death toll rises - Reuters

US Naval Academy to defend race-conscious admissions policies at trial - Reuters

Ukraine asks UN, ICRC to join humanitarian effort in Russia's Kursk region - Reuters

Ukraine's spy chief says North Korean military aid to Russia presents major battlefield problem - Reuters

Fed Enters Tricky Terrain: Rate Cuts in a Decent Economy - The Wall Street Journal

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL 

#mondaymusings

The Chaos Returns

 And it begins . . . 

Welcoming Sign to Springfield, Ohio
Fox News
September 14, 2024

I am outraged by those who lied and continue to lie about the situation in Springfield, Ohio. They have ruined lives and have thrust the entire community and especially the LEGAL Haitian immigrants living there into the forefront of a very ugly news cycle. 

The situation in Springfield foreshadows the chaos which will once again grip the country if Trump is elected. And he doesn't care about the lives of the people living there. He does not care about the hard working Haitian immigrants or any of the other citizens of Springfield who are suddenly in the center of yet another great lie.

Two hospitals in Springfield, Ohio, were sent into lockdown after bomb threats, police said Saturday, marking the fourth such case in as many days that appears linked to false claims circulating among the far right that Haitian immigrants there are eating domestic pets and wildlife.

Saturday’s threats came even after the woman who started the rumors acknowledged to NBC News that they were unfounded and publicly apologized.  (The Guardian)

Who does Trump care about? Himself. 

I remember the chaos and public unrest during Trump's presidency. He continually pitted groups of people against others. 

A bit more about the situation in Springfield:

Two elementary schools were evacuated, and a middle school was closed Friday morning in the Ohio city of Springfield − the target of false election-year rumorsabout Haitian migrants − "based on information received from the Springfield Police Division," school officials said.

Springfield, located north of Dayton, vaulted to national prominence after former President Donald Trump announced during Tuesday's presidential debate with Vice President Kamala Harris that, "In Springfield they are eating the dogs, the people that came in, they're eating the cats. They're eating the pets of the people that live there." (The Columbus Dispatch)

And what has happened since the reports about dogs and cats being eaten? The Republicans have doubled down rather than admitting to the lie. Trump and Vance cannot admit they are wrong in the face of facts, rather they try to bend the facts to fit their lie.

And to make it worse: 

The all-male, far-right Proud Boys have been spotted marching on the streets of Springfield, Ohio. There has been no confirmation on what they planned to do or where they were headed. (AS)

Remember Charlottesville?

I do not want to go back. We must continue to move forward. 

Happy Sunday.

-- 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

And There We Were

Tequesta Bridge over the Loxahatchee
Tequesta, FL
September 12, 2024

 It was another hot day in South Florida. The heat index topped 100 degrees and it was just unpleasant to be outside during the middle of the afternoon. 

Yet, we were--and both Chris and I enjoyed the day. 

We began the morning with a short 11-mile ride around Tequesta and we enjoyed the evening at our favorite outdoors (open air?) watering hole, Tiki52, with friends. 

From our table at Tiki52
Tequesta, FL
September 12, 2024

Actually, even though the temperature was high, there evening along the intracoastal was very enjoyable. We sat under the Tiki hut rather than at an umbrella table and enjoyed a very pleasant breeze coming off the water. Chris and I were surprised at how comfortable it was to sit at a table in the shade to enjoy the afternoon. The sun is still very hot, but the shade and breeze more than compensated.

As the week comes to an end, it was good to be home. We have completed many small projects and after almost three weeks of travel, we are just happy to wake up in our own bed in the morning. 

Programming Note: Beware Friday the 13th!

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL

More of the Facts - The Debate

 I did some fact checking after the debate Tuesday night. Wow! Amazing.

I was amazed that the Republicans are attacking the moderators. According to CNN: 

Trump talked more than Harris throughout the entire debate broadcast, and finished five minutes ahead after closing statements wrapped. At the end, Trump had spoken for approximately 42 minutes and 52 seconds, while Harris spoke for about 37 minutes and 36 seconds. (CNN)

Why would the side that got a nearly 5 minute time advantage, or a 6 percent advantage, complain about the moderators not being fair? From where I saw the debate the moderators were not being fair to Harris by letting Trump interrupt her and not shutting off his microphone as was agreed. 

I am concerned about the amount of misinformation and outright lies that Trump spoke. According to AP News Fact Checking, here are the most egregious lies of the evening:

- Trump shares inflated numbers around migrants and crime 

- Trump repeats false claims that noncitizens are being sought to vote

- Trump misrepresents crime statistics

- Trump endorses false rumor about immigrants eating pets

- National Guard soldiers on Jan. 6

- Trump falsely claims China is building ‘massive’ auto plants in Mexico

- Trump falsely claims evidence shows he won in 2020

- Trump claims Putin endorsed Harris

- Trump misrepresents key facts of the Central Park Five case

- Harris takes Trump’s ‘bloodbath’ comment out of context

Of the lies, the one that is very concerning is the one about immigrants eating pets. Joyce Vance writes about this lie as follows:

It's not just that the Haitian story is ridiculous. It's not just that it’s a lie. It is both of those things, but it is more than that; it is also dangerous. Dehumanizing people is what makes inhuman treatment of them possible. It’s how you justify the family separation policy that ripped children from their parents, some of them so young that reunification is still elusive more than five years later. In extreme cases, dehumanization is a path towards genocide, the way the Nazis called Jews in Germany vermin and claimed that they spread disease and used the blood of non-Jewish children in rituals as prelude to the Holocaust. Trump is using similar language as a prelude to the proposed mass deportations of migrants that both he and Project 2025 (which he claimed last night he’d never read) call for. Trump and Vance are setting up a society where atrocities against other human beings can be justified by dehumanizing them first.(Civil Discourse)

At times, and I watched the entire debate along with the post-debate commentary, it appeared that Trump forgot against whom he was running. He launched into more than one discourse about Biden and Harris reminded him that she was not Biden.

I remember all of the nasty and inappropriate things Trump said about President Biden in the past. Perhaps Trump should look into the mirror and upon realizing these same things are true about himself; that he is unfit to be president, he should quit the campaign and head out onto a golf course in a golf cart and do what he does best--sulk. That would be far better than continuing to tear the country apart through his lies and misrepresentations.  

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL