Jan. 28

The nor’easter predicted was in full force when I first looked out this morning. There was no question that this was a weather day.  We arose slowly, had our oatmeal in our room at the Atlantic Ocean Palm Inn and answered our email and did a load of laundry.  My cell phone rang and I was given the news that my 17^th grandchild, Annika Schubert Baldwin had been born in Seattle. My youngest son Emory said both Annika and her mother, Laura were fine.  We were expecting this call and wondered if we might hear while in the boat. So the day off the water was started well.

Verna had given me the name of the executive director, Sharon Shoemaker, of the Flagler affiliate of Habitat that I had overlooked in researching the affiliates along our route.  I called Sharon and found that she was on her way to an appointment very near where we were so we agreed to meet her for lunch. We met her at Shells, a restaurant in Daytona Beach and told our story.  It turns out that her affiliate’s office is only five miles from where we pulled out of the water yesterday.

We tried to walk on the beach in the morning but found waves splashing against the seawall. After returning from lunch and getting some groceries for our dinner, we tried again and were able to get down on the beach for a walk. Scores of beach birds including my friend Willett and a few of his relatives were feeding off the little creatures that live in the sand where the waves only temporarily recede.  Seldom did they fly but their little legs moved quickly enough to let them outrun the incoming waves. There were several species engaged in this routine so I decided that Willet and I have lots of company.