A Stew Like Kind Of Day: Sun, Wind, Clouds, Rain, Blue Skies

7:30

A Rose Between The Thorns

Tuesday Morning

I was awake around 5:30, stayed in bed, hoping I would get back to sleep, but couldn't so I turned the coffee on at 6:15, in a dark living room, the Gulf just beginning to be visible from the lanai. This is our last day on Sanibel and I think we will be lucky with the weather though it's going to be a cool day at the beach.  At the moment, it's 55º (6º at Chautauqua), cold by Florida's standards, the high will get only to 68º, with winds up to 25 mph, much like yesterday.  But it will be sunny, mostly clear skies, and no rain.  A perfect day for walking and reading on the beach.

Black Skimmers

Love Letters In The Sand

Yesterday was threatening when we got up, but we decided to go for a long walk anyways, as rain was not supposed to come till 11:00 if you are to believe the weather map.  So off we went, like yesterday, a couple of miles east on Sanibel, to the Lighthouse and pier, the same walk we took yesterday.  I have to admit I am getting somewhat bored with the sameness of the walk though, like any where, it's always different if you look carefully... the people, the beach, the clouds, the water.  I guess I just don't look close enough.  We were gone about two hours and by the time we returned, the sun was out, the wind was whipping our backs, knocking over chairs on the beach it was so strong.  We went back to the condo around 11:00, and Linda and Rich had just gotten back from shopping, picking up a couple more of the great steaks we had on Sunday, with mushrooms, of course.

We went down to the beach around noon, till 1:30, though it was quite windy and cool, so different from the other days.  It was not unpleasant, just cooler and windier then we were used to.  We came up for lunch about 1:30, Evie staying down at the beach.  We ate out on the lanai, and just as we sat down, it began to pour, sending everyone running from the beach back to the condos.  Evie managed to bring our bags up but got soaked.  Within a half hour, the sun came back out, and eventually, we all returned to the windy beach, to read though not swim as it was too cool.

Enjoying A Couple of Yuengling's At The Sundial

We braved the winds, though it got better as the afternoon waned; Evie went off to the west end of Sanibel, intending on meeting us at the Sundial for a beer on her way back.  We walked down to the Sundial around 5:00, met Evie and had a couple of beers at the outdoor bar, reminding us of Tiki Bars in Hawaii Nei.  Lots of people around us, at the Sundial bar, the tables, as it's a busy place.  It was fun to see kids walk up to the bar, order their non alcohol drinks, even chicken wings, and sit at the bar eating them.  Where were their parents?  Off living it up, I suppose?

The beach really settled down on our walk back to the condo around 6:30, the wind dying, the sun setting, the waves smoothing out.  We were back and showered by 7:00, relaxed with wine and cocktails till about 8:00, when Rich and I went down and grilled the two inch thick Kobe New York Strips. They were done perfectly, just as good as the other day, along with mushrooms, baked potatoes and salad, fast becoming our favorite beach meal.  We sat around talking about our kids and grandchildren, what else,  until about 9:30 when we got up, did the dishes, then watched some terrible TV before going to bed.