On The Move...

Just in case you were wondering why we hauled out last week, this is the reason! Check out the line of hurricanes/tropical depressions and low pressure systems marching across the Atlantic today! NOAA's National Hurricane Center website provides a look at the latest developments, and most cruisers monitor it daily to keep informed of any threats. The next few weeks of hurricane season are typically the most active, and this year appears to be no exception. We are concerned for our friends in Bermuda, as Hurricane Danielle will be affecting them with high winds and rough seas, but hopefully the storm will turn and move north into the open Atlantic, away from Bermuda, and not be too much of an issue to the US!

TROPICAL WEATHER OUTLOOK
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
200 PM EDT SAT AUG 28 2010

FOR THE NORTH ATLANTIC...CARIBBEAN SEA AND THE GULF OF MEXICO...

THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER IS ISSUING ADVISORIES ON HURRICANE
DANIELLE...LOCATED ABOUT 325 MILES EAST-SOUTHEAST OF BERMUDA...AND
ON TROPICAL STORM EARL...LOCATED ABOUT 660 MILES EAST OF THE
NORTHERN LEEWARD ISLANDS.

1. A BROAD LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM...ASSOCIATED WITH A VIGOROUS TROPICAL
WAVE...IS LOCATED ABOUT 350 MILES WEST-SOUTHWEST OF THE SOUTHERNMOST
CAPE VERDE ISLANDS.  THIS SYSTEM CONTINUES TO SHOW SIGNS OF
ORGANIZATION...AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS REMAIN FAVORABLE FOR A
TROPICAL DEPRESSION TO FORM LATER TONIGHT OR SUNDAY.  THERE
IS A HIGH CHANCE...80 PERCENT...OF THIS SYSTEM BECOMING A TROPICAL
CYCLONE DURING THE NEXT 48 HOURS AS IT MOVES WESTWARD TO WEST-
NORTHWESTWARD AT 15 TO 20 MPH.

While we are keeping a wary eye on the hurricanes on the move, we've been on the move ourselves. Last week we were in Wisconsin, not only to visit relatives, but also to attend Karyn's 30 year high school reunion. Ron came along as well, even though he knew just a handful of folks beforehand. I really enjoyed it; not only did I catch up with my longest-known friends (Jodi and Lori among them, whom I've known since we were age 6 or thereabouts), but saw folks I literally hadn't seen in 30 years, like our senior-year exchange student from Norway! Aksel joined us (returning to the US specifically for this reunion) to share his experiences of travel, life and adventures, and expressed gratitude to everyone for helping fulfill his dream of coming to the United States all those years ago. It was a fun, nostalgic evening, and Ron was wonderful to come along.

Segueing from one transition to another, once back in Florida we headed to Tampa to get Ally off to college! We drove across the state with loaded vehicles and spent the next couple of days getting her belongings moved into her dorm room, getting her books, permits and other essentials, as well as touring the campus and attending a few of the family orientation information sessions. The University of Tampa is in the top tier of U.S. News and World Report’s “America’s Best Colleges", and it seems a good fit with Ally's interests. Situated along the Hillsborough River, the UT campus is gorgeous, with red brick buildings amid palms, oak trees, banana trees and lush tropical foliage. We are hoping Ally enjoys all sorts of new experiences and opportunities as she begins her college adventures! 

Views of U Tampa's Plant Hall, the former Tampa Bay Hotel built in 1891,

with its minarets and moorish domes. The building, which currently 

houses administrative offices of the university, serves as a beautiful 

example of  Moorish Revival architecture.