The $400 Laundry

Tuesday-Thursday December 17-19  2013
Sebastian Inlet State Park

 

 

 

So where is the beach weather?

 

The winds have continued to keep us away from the beach for another two days. And away from kayaking and biking too.  The last time we were at the beach was last Wednesday, December 11th, the last day of Ron Jon’s photo shoot.  He definitely has a connection.  The weather hasn’t been as good since he left.  It’s been over a week since we’ve been to the beach.

Highs have only been in the 60’s the last few days and with 15-20 mph winds it feels pretty darn cold.  I know, I know, those of you in the frozen North where highs are in the 30’s don’t have much sympathy and I don’t blame you but gee, we drove all the way down here to have some warm sunshine. whine..whine…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This morning there was a lovely full moon behind me as I watched the sun rise.  I’ve had the moon behind me as I watch the sun set as well.  The recent sunsets have changed in the last couple of days.   The skies have not been cloudy at all and sunsets have been much less spectacular.  But like a sunrise, any sunset is a good one and being able to see them both over the water is one of the terrific things about this location.

 

 

 

Now about that laundry.

 

With not much else to do yesterday, I decided to do the laundry.  Not enough quarters so I thought I’d bike up to the office and get $5 worth.  The laundry here is fairly limited but the prices are right.   3 washers and 3 dryers in each bathhouse but two of the washers in the first bathhouse don’t work so anyone who wants to do more than one load has to go to the second. 

 

I think I’ll hop on my bike to make the trip to the office a bit faster.  My bike is on the car, hope springs eternal for some biking possibilities.   David is busy.  I’m short.   I go out to get the bike off and it is not cooperating.  I finally manage to get it on the ground, bike up and get my quarters, do the laundry and when I come back David says.   “Did you have a hard time getting the bike off the car”?   And of course the answer is that I ALWAYS have a hard time lifting the bike up or down around neck height.  Seems somehow in getting it off I rammed a hole in the tail light which is a $45 part.  So the cost for doing the laundry just went up from $5.50 to $50.50

 

 

 

So how did it become a $400 laundry?

 

Needless to say I was none too happy to see this.  We’ve replaced a different part of the taillight when David banged it with the bicycle in 2011.  That piece was over $50 too.   Over the past 3 years this Thule bike rack has rubbed marks on the trunk that we can’t buff off.  So this was the straw that broke the camels back.  I think I’m going to have no choicer but to throw some money at it.  We need a new plan for carrying bicycles.  

If anyone has any experience with Honda Accords and hitch racks, please share.   This seems like the perfect answer for ease of on and off except that we tow Ruby on a tow dolly which puts her at an angle and I’m not sure whether the whole  bike thing will be too close to the ground or whether that angle will be too much weight on the hitch. 

 

 

Of course if poor Ruby the sherpa didn’t also have to tote the kayaks then we could put the bikes on the roof.  But we both agree that we just don’t find the sea eagle easy enough to use or substantial enough for the places we like to go.   I like the swagman which runs about $200 and the hitch about $150 so now our laundry cost has risen to $400.   Anybody out there have a Swagman xtc-2?

 

 

 

 

We’re sure hoping the wind will lighten up for Carrie’s visit.  We pick her up on Saturday morning.  Temperatures look good and I suppose given that she’s coming from Maryland she’ll be thrilled with what we are guilty of taking for granted.

 

 

 

 

But today was the day we’ve been waiting for.

 

 

 

Hoo Ray!! We went back out to the beach today. The winds weren’t gone but they were manageable or at least we thought so although other than the surfers, we were about the only people on the beach. No going in the water for me this day. The winds still made the temperatures feel cool and we were out in long pants and long sleeves.

 

 

 

 

 

The day was gorgeous, the skies were blue, the clouds puffy, the waves terrific and the surfers were fun to watch.   We named them the babe, the beau (they came together), fancy man (he did some pretty slick board flipping moves), long board (we’ve seen him before and he is really an excellent surfer who uses a particularly long board) and hat head (for obvious reasons-don’t think we’ve ever seen a surfer with a hat).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We had a great time watching all the antics of all the creatures in and around the water today.   We’re hoping for a series of great days to come.  Carrie will be here day after tomorrow!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here you are ladies – THE END!!