May 22 ~ Hudson Beach (Florida)
May 22, 2006 ~ A journal entry written while at the beach...
I have had this journal for months, and intended it for Florida stuff. [It has a red cover with palm tree design and each of the 200 pages are etched in a shadow design, same as on the cover. So, I'm using RED ink!] I finally got the pages numbered this morning. I'm at Hudson Beach.
I tried to return a Jurassic Park II DVD that Dustin checked out last week (and watched daily!). It was DUE at Noon yesterday (Sunday). I intended to return it on Saturday, so now I suppose I'll have to pay a fine -- Yuk! BlockBuster wasn't open at 9AM, so I went to McDonald's for a bacon-egg-cheese McGriddle and coffee, then came to the beach. [Later: Yea! for BlockBuster's! They have a 5-day grace period, and there was no fine!]
It was 'still' when I arrived; the water appeared as blue-gray glass. But now a breeze is blowing in from the Gulf. It is WARM, probably in upper 70's, maybe low 80's--had to use A/C in the Explorer while driving. The sky is heavily overcast, and the water is the same shade of blue-gray -- Could be almost dreary, but not quite. There's a BEAUTY to the scene! At first I could hardly discern the horizon. The water and sky blended in unison, giving an erie lack of direction, surreal! It seemed I was viewing a contemporary, abstract watercolor... Directional posts jut from the water; several boats hover on the surface. Birds in flight dot the scene.
I hear the sharp whine of an aircraft, then it appears -- a brilliant blue ultralight craft with bright stripes in rainbow shades of red, orange, yellow, green adorning the wings and tail. It is equipped with pontoons of white with a gray 'cow' design. The front is open, and it's a much more sophisticated craft than the 'parachute' style we're used to seeing in Alaska. Kevin would LOVE this one! :) I'll see if I can find one on the Internet to send to him! [Later: I found one similar at <http://www.key-biscayne.com/kb/recreation/ultralight/photogallery/2.shtml>]
Very cool! It circles around and lands in front of me, then taxies to a dock at the end of the canal on the right where a man is waiting. They talk, and it looks as if they might tie-down, but the pilot never left his craft, except to wade in the water and fool around a bit, flipping the tail of his craft up and down, demonstrating some feature to his friend. Within 10-15 minutes he shoved off with the help of his friend so that the wings didn't clip the dock, then headed out to sea, revved his engine, and taxied to take off. Interesting and quite a sight! He circled back to 'buzz' his friend on the dock before flying off toward the south.
An hour and a half has gone by and the horizon is now distinct. The water is quite gray compared to the blue in the solid mass of clouds above. A breeze has disturbed the incoming tide and the water ripples. People stroll along the board walk and some stop to chat. [After last year's hurricane damage, the old board walk was torn out and a new CONCRETE walk is in its place!] A bright coral sea-kayak travels close to shore. A Bald Eagle and a smaller bird are 'duffing it out' in the air! I can only assume that since the smaller bird is acting more aggressively that Mr. Eagle has attempted to disturb her nest. She chases him off, as they fly up the canal, bantering all the way!
With a much larger, appreciative audience to view the happenings, the ultralight reappears, circles numerous times, until the gentleman on land is seen on his second floor deck, then comes down to the dock again. The ultralight circles and lands -- they speak briefly while a large cabin cruiser comes in from the Gulf, heading into the next canal to the north, and causing quite a wake. The ultralight rides out the wake-waves, then turns toward the Gulf, taxies out, revs it up, and takes off, circling around to 'buzz' his friend one more time, and then heads north this time.
Well, it's 11AM -- I've been here long enough, and need to return this delinquent DVD to BlockBuster!
Until next time, Linda
posted by Lyn Wynters @ 3:28 PM
0 comments
