Yes, we were woken in the early morning hours (or so I thought...Waz says it was 7am!) by a thunder storm. We were very aware of heavy rain, from our bed, and Waz got up to check that the windows up forward were closed (they were) and then went out the back to bring the basket of towels under shelter. We keep a clothes basket full of rags and old and odd towels handy on the cockpit deck for emergencies (of which we have had enough to warrant keeping it there). No fun when they all get wet and we have to do the Chinese Laundry thing for a day to dry them.
I just asked Warren what we did today!
Nothing, was the reply. Then we thought about it some more.
He was down in the lazarette checking the packing on the rudders, greasing the bearings and doing other small chores here and there. I got the stainless Steel cleaner out and attacked the Passarelle (the thing that lifts the dinghy) and other assorted stainless that needed cleaning. The Pasarelle takes some time to do it properly, having so many little parts, and it is mostly awkward to clean, leaning out over the dinghy, the way it does. I do lift it up and out, but it is still over the dinghy, unless we take the dinghy off. We weren't going to do that today as there was a stiff southerly blowing, a high tide and fast current (with the wind blowing water into the canal) flowing. Not a good time to be out on the water, though neighbors just down a couple of houses chose today to go boating in their runabout. We wondered at their intelligence level, but they made it back in one piece...we watched them dock into the boat lift, from our lofty perch on the flydeck while enjoying some Hummus and chips, late afternoon.
Getting off the boat for a walk was a good choice of activity, even though it was showering intermittently all day.
We decided to drive down to the Charlotte Harbor Beach Park and walk around there, for our constitutional. We had forgotten to take our money with us, so we didn't park there...park and pay, as it was. Instead we returned to a street nearby, parking on the verge and walking down the roads we had driven previously. We stopped to take in the spectacle of a Hawk/falcon sitting on a tree, and then swooping into the vacant lot there, for food. The neighbor across the road said that it is common to see the bird in that area as there are lots of fruit rats and other rodents about. We also spied two gorgeous (as a pair) Osprey circling overhead, riding the thermals straight off the sea. We were adjacent to the Harbor, on this road, and could see the water from where we were standing.
It is always a thrill to us to observe these raptors in their natural habitat.
It started sprinkling while we were a short way from the car, so we hastened back and then drove in and out of the roads that have canals on each side, looking at all the vacant lots...some of which had prices on their For Sale signs. One nice lot was $229k, a bit pricey considering that some of the adjacent homes are no more than $250k. As is often the case, it is less expensive to buy an existing home than to build your own.
We stopped in front of one home for sale to ask an elderly gentleman, the next door neighbor, what the asking price might be. He didn't know and didn't care. He said he is 90 yrs old, has lived in his home for 28 yrs. He was born in 1923, had been in the US Navy during WW2, and had been on a Destroyer in the Pacific, doing carrier escort. He was obviously an intelligent man with a good sense of humor. He hoped we would become his new neighbors, as he needed others there with a sense of humor:). We enjoyed the chat, but it was getting dark and we had another couple of stops to make before going home. The home next door to him is listed at $449k. Waz has it up on the screen of the computer right now. It is about 2,400 sq. ft on just on 1/4 acre with a 40ft concrete dock, a 13k lb boat lift with cover, all on Edgwater Lake. Lovely! Maybe a bit overpriced, but it has underground utilities, which is rare around here. Many pluses...but hey, we aren't buying right now, just terminal lookers!:)
Im off to bed, so night, night. Monday tomorrow! yay!
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