Skip to content

Random Connections

A collection of photography and exploration focusing on Upstate South Carolina and beyond.

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Photos
  • Resources
  • Other Voices
  • Post Archives
  • Home
  • Family
  • Quick Weekend in Florida

Quick Weekend in Florida

Posted on October 19, 2016October 19, 2016 By Tom 1 Comment on Quick Weekend in Florida
Family, Paddling, Photography, Travel

Indian River Sunrise and Moonset-38

We just got back last night from a quick trip down to Florida. Laura had a four-day weekend because it’s Fall Break at Furman, so we took the opportunity to head down and assist her sister Amy with their mom. It was also a birthday weekend for both sisters, so we tried to work in a joint celebration.

We had been worried about damage from Hurricane Matthew. We saw trees down as we traveled down I-95, but the roads were cleared. Down in Florida there were trees and limbs down, but they had been spared the wrath of the storm. Amy had been without power for a couple of days, but now things were pretty much back to normal.

Amy’s birthday was Friday, and Laura’s was Saturday. We made it down late Friday evening, and were able to spend some time celebrating. Mrs. Wright has been doing physical therapy at a rehab center, so we spent a good part of the day over there with her. I had brought my banjo, and she seems to respond well to that. After she went to bed (fairly early) we went out for a nice meal.

However, this was really a work weekend. Our job this weekend was to get Mrs. Wright’s place ready at the memory care facility where she would be moving. It wasn’t a particularly pleasant job, but one that needed to be done. We spent a good bit of time shopping for things she would need, then rented a van and loaded up her bed and other furniture. We were able to accomplish everything we had planned to do, and her room will look homey and ready for her when it comes time to move.

I was able to get one paddling trip in. I set out very early Sunday morning – 5:30, to be exact. It was very windy and the water was bouncing, but I set out anyway. The full Hunter’s Moon was starting to set in the west, and casting reflections on the rippling water.

Indian River Sunrise and Moonset-24
Indian River Sunrise and Moonset-29

I was getting tossed around like a cork in 2-3 foot waves. I only had my small waterproof camera with me, and had to make the best of it. Most of the shots turned out blurry in the low light.

Indian River Sunrise and Moonset-25

To the north there were lightning flashes. I checked the radar and there was a large storm cell about 50 miles up the coast, but it didn’t look like a cause for worry. It was just adding some pyrotechnics to the setting.

Eventually the sky began to brighten to the east. I found myself rotating to try to catch the best shots.

Indian River Sunrise and Moonset-35
Indian River Sunrise and Moonset-34

The lighter skies actually made it easier to photograph the full moon.

Indian River Sunrise and Moonset-42
Indian River Sunrise and Moonset-44

I tried to get a panorama showing both the rising sun and setting moon. The waves were just too bouncy.

Untitled

Eventually the moon sank behind a cloud bank. It looked like the same thing was happening to the east in reverse. The sun was coming up behind some clouds, and it would take longer than I had available to clear the clouds.

Indian River Sunrise and Moonset-48
Indian River Sunrise and Moonset-49
Indian River Sunrise and Moonset-50

Reluctantly, I headed back, battling wind, waves, and an incredibly high incoming tide. As I approached Amy’s channel I noticed that the neighbors at the end of the channel still had their hurricane shutters up. I guess they had not yet returned.

Indian River Sunrise and Moonset-52
Indian River Sunrise and Moonset-53
Indian River Sunrise and Moonset-51

We had one more nice meal at at Harbortown Cove looking out over the water. Interesting shapes formed in the clouds in front of the rising moon, including one that looked like a witch. Appropriate for Halloween.

Untitled
Untitled
Untitled

It was a tiring, but productive trip. We are hoping that Mrs. Wright finishes up her rehab soon, and can get settled into her new digs. At least we now have the place ready for her.

Indian River Sunrise and Moonset-38

Post navigation

❮ Previous Post: In Search of Edward C. Jones – Part 3, the Trek to Spartanburg
Next Post: Witches and Granny Witches ❯

One thought on “Quick Weekend in Florida”

  1. Alan says:
    October 19, 2016 at 4:24 pm

    Such good news!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Categories

  • EdTech (200)
  • Entertainment (202)
  • Family (121)
  • Gear (115)
  • General Technology (99)
  • Geocaching and Maps (208)
  • History and Genealogy (266)
  • Internet (144)
  • Local (451)
  • Miscellaneous (550)
  • Music (196)
  • Paddling (250)
  • Photography (779)
  • Podcast (6)
  • Rambling (227)
  • Rants (161)
  • Recipes (34)
  • Religion (48)
  • Restaurants (165)
  • Science (48)
  • Things Overheard (29)
  • Travel (411)
  • Uncategorized (129)
  • Washington Sabbatical (113)
  • Weirdness (60)

Recent Posts

  • Paddling Up the Long Nose
  • A Bates Old River Two-fer
  • In Search of the Road Builder
  • The Phoenix Riots and Dr. Benjamin Mays – An MLK Day Ramble
  • An Obsession with Steak Knives

Recent Comments

  • Jim Culley on An Obsession with Steak Knives
  • Tom on An Obsession with Steak Knives
  • Jim Culley on An Obsession with Steak Knives
  • Walter Kokoszka on Mysterious Mayucha and The Wolf Pit
  • Elizabeth on The Temple of Health: Ground-Truthing in Antreville

Tags

blogging cemetery Christmas Columbia Edisto River edtech Entertainment family Flickr Florida Furman Furman University gear Georgia geotagging Ghost Town Ghost Towns Google Earth Google Maps GPS Greenville Greenville Chorale history Instructional Technology kayaking Lake Jocassee LCU Lowcountry Unfiltered maps Music North Carolina Paddling Photography rambling restaurant Restaurants review singing social networking South Carolina time-lapse Travel video Washington Washington State
April 2023
S M T W T F S
 1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
30  
« Mar    

Copyright © 2023 Random Connections.

Theme: Oceanly by ScriptsTown