Monday, November 23, 2015

Weekend Roundup

Resting on Burntpot Island

The weather has finally turned cool, with the mercury dropping to just above the freezing mark overnight.  Finally, a change in the weather.  On Friday, I was paddling in a kayak with just a t-shirt and shorts.  It was a great day even if it was a little windy (12 knots) as I made my way north through the Skidaway Narrows along the Intracoastal Waterway.  Heading south were at least a dozen sailboats, many of which were flying Canadian flags.   Toward the north end of Skidaway Island, I explored a creek around the backside of Burntpot Island and, as it was high tide, paddled through the marsh.  I also got to watch a bald eagle watching me from its perch high in a pine tree.  Paddling back, I was passed by the Savannah Fire boat. 
Bald Eagle

Enlarge to notice the snails on the grass (spartina)
Savannah Fire Boat
Another boat coming out to race
 Saturday afternoon was a day of sailing.  We had strong winds out of the north and the weather was a little cooler.  I still was wearing shorts, but with a long sleeve shirt and a rain jacket.  As soon as we sailed through the marina’s break wall, a wave splashed over the bow and I found myself wishing I’d brought a pair of rain pants.  The racing was exciting.  In almost every race, there were several boats in contention at the finish line and in one, the distance between us and another boat was only inches.  I thought we had taken it, but the committee boat gave the race to the other boat.  Still, it was a great day of sailing and thankfully, we only received a few drops of rain.

waiting for the gun to sound

Sanders in Savannah taken from my iphone
Bernie Sanders was in town last night and spoke to an overflowing crowd (2600 seats and not everyone was able to make it in and the publicity in advance wasn’t that good).  My daughter wanted to go and so I went along with her and a friend.  It was interesting to watch him live.  Personally, I believe the only candidate that has as much energy as he has is Trump (and interestingly, they are both on the extreme of their parties).  He spoke for nearly 90 minutes on pretty much every topic.  He was also funny, but I doubt he has a chance.  It was a pleasure to go with my daughter as she’ll be voting this year and would like to see all the candidates.  I remember in my first election to vote (1976), I got to see Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan (and even shook hands with Nancy) as well as Jimmy Carter and his challenger Eugene McCarthy (with whom I had a cup of coffee).  She shares that same excitement.  

This is Thanksgiving week and it is going to be a crazy week.  My dad is facing potential surgery so I may be making a trip to North Carolina in the middle of the week.  Keep him in your prayers.  
Final view
Sailboat heading south (Friday)


34 comments:

  1. Congrats on your daughter voting for the first time. I still remember my first time voting.

    Escargot on the hoof! I don't think I have ever seen so many snails all in one place.

    Prayers for your father.

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    1. She hasn't vote yet and is a little upset that she turns 18 just a few days after GA's primary... so she'll have to wait till the general elections. As for escargot--it would take a lot of those to snails to make a morsel!

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  2. Sounds/looks lovely. Wishing your dad a speedy recovery.

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  3. I'm hoping Bernie has a chance. We've been doing some campaigning for him. Especially my wife.

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    1. We'll see. I may write more about the rally (he talked a long time and I took 5-6 pages of notes). Interestingly, most of the crowd was either under 30 or older than me (former hippie-types)

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  4. May God bless your father, prayers sent for you all. I really like that fire boat! Such a marvelous home on and off the water you have to enjoy and share with us all!

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  5. How cool to see a bald eagle! It was hard to see the snails in that picture, but those are pretty cool too. Wishing your dad a speedy recovery!

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    1. Thanks, Sherry. Those snails are pretty small (they live on blades of grass) but they can be seen better if you enlarge the photo--I'll have to shot some photos of them with a long lens!

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  6. Thanks. Yes, even blowing the photo up, they are still pretty small but then they hang onto blades of grass and move up and down with the tide

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  7. Blooming Nora is your kid that age now. I remember your photos from London on your trip. Jeepers.

    Sorry about your dad, I wish him all the best.

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    1. Thanks, Vince. That was over four year ago that we were in London

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  8. I took a nearly identical photo of a bald eagle this Fall. Always an exciting sight!

    I'm so happy your daughter has an interest and enthusiasm about politics and wants to hear the candidates. I miss having that sort of optimism.

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    1. Did your eagle refuse to turn around, like mine? Or fly, as I'd love to have a photo of it in the air. Yes, it is good to see optimism in the young.

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  9. I will always remember the first time I voted. I won't say who but the person I voted for was elected as president, so that made me feel good.

    Those are great pictures! Today was the first day here (FL) that the weather was nice but it's going to get warmer during the week.

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    1. Yes, it was exciting to vote the first time. I'm batting around .400 in my voting for winning candidates!

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  10. Great pictures. I've always found water fascinating, particularly as an artist with its reflective qualities.

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  11. Wish your dad the best, hope it's nothing too serious.
    Nice boat in that last pic.

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    1. Yes, that was a very nice boat! what a life it would be, living up north in the summer and down south in the winter.

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  12. I went to see John Edwards at one of his first campaign appearances at the start of the 2008 presidential race. It was here in Columbia and it had a good turnout. He seemed animated and full of energy, but we all know what happened to him.

    I hope Bernie has a chance but frankly I believe the biggest obstacle is not the nomination process but getting the general public to look beyond the simplistic label of "socialist."

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    1. Yeah, John Edwards seemed so exciting and then... I agree with you on Bernie, but I wonder what it means that he is drawing such large crowds with such a label, I don't think that would have happened ten years ago.

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  13. Fantastic pictures. It rained all weekend and it was nice and cool yesterday. Wishing your dad the best.

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  14. It finally cooled off here in Florida too. I love your photos and red kayak!

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  15. That's great that you saw the Berne. I'm hopeful Hillary will pick him up as her running mate and that ticket will make it to the White House. It's so much more pleasant of a thought that the country being Trumped.

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  16. That's awesome. I love the pictures and there are snails all over the place in that one picture. Wow.

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  17. I just love your stories about time spent on water... There's something so peaceful about those marshy places... Love the snails, too!
    All my best to your father and a very happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.

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  18. Nice pictures Sage. I pray for your Dad. All the best
    xo

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  19. Your love of life generally, and the water more specifically is so cool, Sage!

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  20. Oooooo, I love that choppy sea. You're a water baby it seems, enjoy!

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  21. I wish your dad better. Beautiful post.

    Greetings from London.

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  22. Looks like you had a great trip! I love the photo of the bald eagle. Hope your dad's surgery goes well

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