It's officially Hurricane Season here in Florida. O Town radio stations add a hurricane lingo line into their weather forecasts. The words we love to hear are "...it's quiet in the tropics." YEAH!
And now, in addition to the dreaded SEASON, there is the VERY GRAVE potential of oil washing up on the (for now) western Florida coastal beaches. The beaches over there are beautiful white sand. My heart breaks with the knowledge that oil IS coming and yet there is nothing to do about it…
Continue
Added by Charlotte Radford on June 3, 2010 at 8:05pm —
1 Comment
Cruising down the Florida intercoastal during the first week of December was extremely COOL! I had never been on an actual sail for several days. It met all my expectations and more. What a wonderful vacation! And I got to be the captain because the hubby couldn't make it. What a lot of responsibility!
I learned several lessons from the great voyage. One of them is that when you take a tool, or really, anything, from its place it is really for the best if you return the… Continue
Added by Charlotte Radford on February 5, 2010 at 5:00pm —
3 Comments
Hurricane season is over for the year and everyone in O Town has breathed a sigh of relief! We can let the emergency kit go for just a bit knowing it's current, but checking it is a habit all of us have for most of the year. One never knows! That goes for sailing too.
Getting ready to sail south on the Florida Inter Coastal towards Sebastian. It's the
Sea Owl sailing with myself as Captain, #1 Son Ben as 1st Mate and #! Son's Friend JP as 2nd Mate. Skills brought to the sail…
Continue
Added by Charlotte Radford on December 4, 2009 at 7:45pm —
4 Comments
Hurricane
Ida missed Florida but as we all know, the further north states got some major weather. O Town was glad to dodge the bullet, as it were.
There were gusty winds on Monday and Tuesday of last week but no rain to speak of. We have gone from twice a week water rationing to once a week water rationing. We do need rain but are glad we didn't get a major storm or flooding. I hope everyone one who was affected is doing all right now.
I am now preparing for a week…
Continue
Added by Charlotte Radford on November 16, 2009 at 8:08pm —
No Comments
So, here we are...almost done with hurricane season...a pretty light one at that...and Ida wants to party! The weather people think she will bring rain, probably on the back end of the storm.
Looks like O Town will get some major rain by Wednesday or Thursday. I hope that it's
only rain. Actually, I hope that Ida doesn't hook up into Florida but only time will tell.
Haven't been out on the water for a while. Next weekend is possible if Ida decides to go elsewhere.…
Continue
Added by Charlotte Radford on November 8, 2009 at 8:11pm —
No Comments
If the weather predictors are to be believed, in 2 days time, Touristtown will be getting 72 degree weather. This after a really hot 2 weeks. Hot even for us.
I guess we will all be getting our parkas out of storage...no, really. We JUST don't like cold weather. In fact, we HATE it. And cold to us is below 75 degrees. LOL This is why I will probably always sail in the south, especially because Florida is the BEST SAILING STATE IN THE US!!!
Got the
Sea Owl out in the…
Continue
Added by Charlotte Radford on October 16, 2009 at 5:08pm —
No Comments
YAY!!
It is so nice to hear the weatherman say that the "tropics are quiet." This has been pretty much a quiet season. Florida used to get a lot of those, but this is the first time for a while that it has been so calm for so long. Gee, we are only up to Fred on the naming.
It means that O Town residents don't become complacent because there may be one just around the corner hiding, but we aren't so anxious...nervous....worried....or whatever! No fighting over flashlights…
Continue
Added by Charlotte Radford on September 26, 2009 at 6:59am —
4 Comments
O Town has been pretty much rain city lately. Big storms and lots of lightening. Hey, there's a price you pay to live in the BEST SAILING STATE IN THE USA!!!
Looks like
Erika may decide to party with Florida, but hoping not. If she stays organized, we could get some major rain. Like we need any more!!! It's rainy season now. Watching the grass grow actually means something here in Touristville.
I'm sure everyone out Bahamas way, and around there are feeling rain and…
Continue
Added by Charlotte Radford on September 2, 2009 at 6:11pm —
2 Comments
Claudette left the party early and caused some major damage in the Florida panhandle and Alabama. Praying for you all.
Looks like Bill is going to cut up the way eastern part of the US, and won't hit land. Ana is now a tropical depression near Jamaica, but won't affect Tourist Town other than some rain as she swirls up on the western side of Florida.
Hope everyone is staying safe and dry. It's getting to be a pretty busy season...at least for now!
Added by Charlotte Radford on August 18, 2009 at 7:37pm —
1 Comment
However, Claudette is going North up the state of Alabama having originated in the far north eastern Gulf. Projected to hit the panhandle of Florida first. Guess she doesn't want to join the party with Ana and Bill.
Bill's path is putting Florida possibly in its path also. At least this is the storm the weather people are talking up during the weather forecasts. Ana is still predicted to go up the Gulf also, and as stated before, the back bands are due to come up the state. Gusty…
Continue
Added by Charlotte Radford on August 16, 2009 at 3:25pm —
2 Comments
Actually, the way that the NOAA has the storm going in the 5 day cone is projected up the east side of Cuba. Too soon to tell where it will [or may not] hit mainland of the US, depends on how strong the storm becomes.
Ana is of more immediate danger to O Town as the 5 day cone has the storm headed north up the western part of Florida. It looks like we will be the back end ot the bands. This means that we will see a lot of rain come Friday and Saturday of this week.
Be…
Continue
Added by Charlotte Radford on August 16, 2009 at 1:29pm —
No Comments
After a really quiet season, the first named Tropical Depression now has a cone of potentially hitting Florida by the weekend.
Sea Owl is ready to go sailing (didn't happen last weekend....long story! LOL). Hubby will be driving over to the marina on Monday to tie down and make sure the Owl is as ready as possible for strong winds and rain.
Endless Wind on her trailer will need to be examined as well to make sure she will be all right too.
Drat it! The first…
Continue
Added by Charlotte Radford on August 15, 2009 at 4:03pm —
1 Comment
So, here I am ready, willing and able to get out on the
Owl a week ago for her maiden voyage...but which didn't happen due to schedule conflicts and all sorts of hurdles in the way!
First of all, hubby's work put him on-call for a weekend (and this never happens). So sailing was out. Poor guy. He had to endure my conniption fit...and it was a DOOZY!!!
After that, we found out that our dear friends, Hans and Sue, sold their 27 foot sailboat, the
Osprey.…
Continue
Added by Charlotte Radford on August 2, 2009 at 5:30pm —
1 Comment
And so it goes. No real big tropical depressions out there yet. Note that operative word: yet. It is our traditionally hot and rainy season here in Touristland,. Rain during the rush hour on your way home from work. more often than not.
Taking out the
Sea Owl this weekend for her maiden voyage. We are taking crew too...my son, Ben and his long time friend, JP. This should be VERY interesting and fun. The way the hubby and I figure it is that the more people on board the more…
Continue
Added by Charlotte Radford on July 23, 2009 at 5:57pm —
2 Comments
July came in quietly in the O town, just a lot of rain which is normal for us. Rain all summer helps us to be green and tropical at Christmas when Florida is the best place to be in the US. Just as it's the
BEST SAILING STATE IN THE US!
Mostly the Tourist Town natives get out of town during this period of time. Helps us avoid the heat AND the tourists. Works for me!
Vacationing in land locked north Texas. Weather here is pretty doggone hot. And NO rain on their…
Continue
Added by Charlotte Radford on July 13, 2009 at 12:12pm —
No Comments
So, there is a tropical depression/storm out there...but it's in the Pacific. As I have stated before, Fl tends to get the hurricanes later in the season. Radio weather people this morning only pointed out that there was a storm in the Pacific and if was named, the name would be Andres. There you go!
We have acquired our NEW SAILBOAT!! A 27 foot Watkins. A boat of OUR DREAMS!!! It was just like having Christmas in June! The hubby and I stayed up half the night…
Continue
Added by Charlotte Radford on June 19, 2009 at 5:54pm —
No Comments
One of the ways you know that the season has "arrived" in the O Town is that the weathermen sign off on the local radio stations with a status report as to whether there are any tropical storms around. Goody! It's been pretty calm out there according to their predictions.
Weather now is rain most days during rush hour. We are getting our lush green look back after our first quarter burning drought. And of course, we are still under water restrictions [which will last probably…
Continue
Added by Charlotte Radford on June 9, 2009 at 8:42pm —
No Comments
Good grief!
It isn't even THE SEASON yet and there's a depression out there. Near North Carolina and not supposed to hit land, but it's already all over the radio. . Here, let me get out my 8 ball to confirm their prediction(s)!
The weather is humid and overcast. Looking at some major storms this evening in the city proper. It's on the radar, so I guess I don't have to consult my 8 ball.
No sailing this weekend as the hubby is sick and the weather looks…
Continue
Added by Charlotte Radford on May 28, 2009 at 8:18pm —
2 Comments
We had rain all last week, pretty much. It's the rainy season here. We are still below our rain average, and there are a lot of places on the East coast that are flooding... Daytona Beach was shown on the news....WOW!!
Hurricane season starts shortly so of course all the radio stations and TV weather programs are featuring people [meteorologists] predicting what is going to happen...like they even have an IDEA!!!! How about I pull out my 8 ball and make the predictions? Bet I can…
Continue
Added by Charlotte Radford on May 27, 2009 at 6:44pm —
8 Comments
We have not had rain for months and it is nice to FINALLY have it. All week, as a matter of fact. My little garden is loving it. I know my water bill is!
There's a terrible secret about O Town drivers...we don't do well driving in rain. We should since it rains a TON here. They don't call Florida a tropical paradise for no reason, don't cha know?
So when everyone gets out on the roads during the rush hours here it's pretty brutal especially when it's raining. The killer…
Continue
Added by Charlotte Radford on May 20, 2009 at 6:30pm —
2 Comments