Well, So Much For The Snow!

SHIP'S LOG:

I think it was the gust to 55 mph that sort of took the place of the snow. At TYC Clubhouse, the old place rattled and moaned and the rain/snow mix turned to ice. I guess that most places above the snow line, about 6 to 10 miles inland from the coast, got whacked pretty good but down here there wasn't much accumulation, justice everywhere. It made trying to open your car door a real treat!

Though I haven't checked this morning, as I have gotten out of the habit, I am wondering if NOAA is doing a reprise of its weather forecasts for Florida last December. Back then down there they began every 15 minute segment with instructions of how to recognise frostbite! Could be useful as the temp got down to 21(non wind chill) degrees out at Ledge Light. That's more than cold enough.

I have to admit that there are real crazies in the boating community, even around here. Yesterday some guy went out sailing. Whoever he is he is a rather young fellow who owns a wooden boat that is older than he. It is painted an awful yellow and he usually sails with a group of guys and gals his own age. He went out yesterday morning, before the storm was raging, and I hope he got back before it got too bad. When I returned from Portland, see yesterday's blog for that fun story!, there was fog on the river, big-time fog, real pea-soup stuff. The launch driver told me that he had just taken a guy out to his boat, a center console maybe 25 feet. At that time, the wind was 35mph, there was fog, there was a driving rain/snow mix and it was in the high 20's. The launch driver tried to talk the man out of it. True, he was only going about 3 miles, to have his boat hauled out at Pine Island Marina but he was also stupid enough to have his 10 year old son along to enough the trip. I am afraid to scan the local news to see if he made it our not.

Right now, the skies are clear and blue and the wind is down to a breeze. If it wasn't for the fact that it is about 30(maybe) and there is ice everywhere, it could almost be winter in Florida!