Fay

Yesterday when I left work Tropical Storm Fay was blowing in.


I left early to beat the rain.


It looks bad, doesn't it?


But the rain never came -- not until today, when it rained for about one hour. It looks like Fay is a big dud blowing in a disorganized fashion right past us. Which is good! I'm driving to Tampa tomorrow evening and I would rather not be caught in a bunch of blinding tropical storm rain.

Vacation, here I come!

Hurricanes

I have been avoiding posting because I haven't done anything outdoorsy lately and all I've been thinking about is my upcoming vacation to the Virgin Islands.

I was supposed to fly out from Tampa on Wednesday.

Tropical Storm Fay is on track to hit Tampa on Wednesday.

New Experiences

Two amazing things happened this weekend but I don't have any photos.

I went to St. Pete to visit my friend Sheila and her husband took us out in their boat. We chummed for sharks (just to look at, not to kill) and fished (I caught something!) but didn't see any sharks or any other really cool marine-dwelling wildlife -- ooh, except Nathan caught an ENORMOUS sting ray that must have weighed over 100 lbs. And it bled all over the boat deck before he shoved it off, line cut. Fishing is brutal business, people.

Anyway, at sunset we were headed in when I saw a -- what was it? A flipper? A fin?

We turned around and went closer. We were in really shallow grass flats and the tide was low. Nathan's boat doesn't have a propeller, and no I don't know how it works either. While we cruised along slowly trying to see what was down there we went over a bump! A group of manatees was grazing in the bay! (We didn't harm them.) We eventually counted at least seven or eight in two herds, or whatever you call a group of manatees. I'd never seen a manatee before despite being a native Floridian. I didn't realize how big they are or that their breathing makes boils that look like spring boils. Nathan said he'd never seen them in that area. We watched them for a while, then went in.

Confidential to the kayaker we passed: You're so lame for not getting excited and racing over to see the manatees! Why are you even in a kayak?!?

The other cool thing that happened is I tried some of Sheila's natural deodorant. It goes on like a lotion. It's like a miracle paste. I feel like my life has been changed forever. There is NO ODOR under my arms. Even after running around in the sun for a couple hours, sweat pouring off of me. It's a bloody miracle.

Beach Day

This weekend I went to St. Augustine Beach with some friends. I got sunburned. (Yes, I used sunscreen -- 30 SPF. It was very hot and bright.) We played in the waves like five-year-olds.


Florida has the best beaches! After living in Seattle and L.A., I will never take our beaches for granted again.


I haven't been feeling terribly inspired to write in this blog lately, but don't give up on me. I'm sure I will return to being more diligent about posting soon.

Weekend Update

I just discovered an awesome farm store in Micanopy called Mosswood Farm! I got some muslin reusable produce bags, to help reduce my plastic bag consumption more. They also sell all kinds of handmade and organic soaps, detergents, and the like, as well as local honey and homemade bread.

OK, I admit it. My house has finally become unbearably hot. I started sleeping on the couch (the bedroom is stuffier) and have actually turned on the A/C for fifteen minutes before bed the last couple of nights to cool it down enough for me to fall asleep. It works pretty well, luckily!

What I Love about Florida, Pt. 92

I went scalloping for the first time yesterday. It was really, really fun.

We went to a boat ramp just south of Steinhatchee.


The day promised to be beautiful as we motored out toward the Gulf of Mexico.


The captain ran a tight ship. Here he gives the death stare to an unruly mate.


Everyone was out scalloping! Apparently the Florida Bay Scallop comes from "out there" around now to hang out in the shallows. In the photo below you can see the line of boats on the horizon (we got out of town a little late).


Scalloping involves a snorkel and a net bag (and a saltwater fishing license). You swim around, staring into the manatee grass and turtle grass, looking for the mollusks, which are two to three inches in diameter. Then you dive down and grab 'em! In the below photo that white blob is a scallop.


They swim by opening and closing their shells, so they can pinch you if you're not careful. Some of them, when sensing immanent capture, will try to swim away quickly (it's comical!). And although you can't tell in the below photo, the animal itself is actually beautiful. Scallops are filter feeders, so when their shells are open a sort of shaggy filter is visible, ringed with dozens of iridescent purpleish-blue eyes. I've never seen anything like it.


The water was warm and the swimming was ridiculously pleasant. It was a pretty perfect day. Plus, everyone knows boats are my favorite.


But it wasn't over! Then we went to Fanning Springs State Park, which is a new one for me. (Springs being another of my favorites, of course.) It was very crowded (Sunday and a free entry day). And THEN we got boiled peanuts, my favorite food ever!


Another positive about the day is that I only sustained a few minor injuries (re-tore something in my arm, split a toenail, and got a sunburn on my back). I mention this for those of you who know my tendencies.

Thanks, Pally.

p.s. No, I did not eat any of the scallops.

Summer Rain

When I was growing up, I scheduled my summer activities around the rain; it rained every day almost exactly at 4 p.m. The past few years we've had a drought, though, and it either hasn't been raining during the summer or the rain has come at wonky times, I hypothesize because of climate change.*

This summer, global warming notwithstanding, is the first one in five or ten years where the old pattern is sort of returning. Yesterday was the heaviest rain I've seen in years. Of course, it started right around 5, when I leave work. There were sheets of water falling on my car. Roads were flooded. It was scary because I could barely see in front of me. My car is tiny and weighs, like, 40 pounds. Also, I need new windshield wipers.


Apparently we got almost three inches in under an hour. On my street, there was a puddle so deep that when I drove through it at 5 mph, the waves created were taller than my car.


*This is my personal opinion and is not based on any scientific research that probably exists, only I just haven't read it.