2009.05.26
Back from a wet -- really wet -- Florida vacation
My wife has been pushing a Disney World trip for a couple of years, wanting to do it while the kids are still at a "good age." Well, we finally did it, yanking them from school for a week and heading down in mid-May when the crowds are lighter than normal the weather is usually great.
Ah, the weather...
Many parts of Florida had been experiencing a terrible drought in early 2009. The end of the drought pretty much coincided with our visit.
It started raining the second evening we were there, and it never stopped. I think Orlando got something like 14 inches. It could have been worse. One area near Daytona Beach had over 24 inches of rain over a span of a few days.
In rain ponchos from Wal-Mart, we braved the deluge at the parks each day. It was wet, but at least it wasn't cold. And the amazing lack of lines -- you could stay on many rides if you wanted -- was great. In fact, given the choice of rain or long lines, I'll take rain every time.
We also swam in the rain. A lot. Only lightning kept us out of the great pool where we were staying.
I slipped over to the gulf coast for a day of wade fishing around normally sunny St. Pete, which averages sunshine 361 days a year. There was no sunshine on that day. But, despite the horrible weather -- rain, wind and occasional lightning -- we caught some fish, including this pretty spotted sea trout.
A side trip to St. Pete is a great getaway for an angler whose family is at the Orlando resorts. In fact, that's the premise of a story I'll be writing for an upcoming outdoors page in The Roanoke Times.
I have a handful of turkey pictures to catch up on, and will post them over the next few days.
What a trip! The hubby and I are headed to Dunnellon's Withalacoochie and Rainbow Rivers next week - then off to Ormond (the very place that got all that rain!) We're hoping it dries out soon! We heard that it's getting better and should be fine by the time we arrive! I will have to show him your story about St. Petersburg when it comes out.
--All we had to do was leave and the weather turned great down there and the rain came to Virginia! Have fun. mt
Comment by NT — May 27, 2009 @ 11:34 am
That's a nice speckled Sea Trout, I had lot's of fun catching them in the Mayport Basin when I was station on board the Philippine Sea. Never could get back into Salt Water Fishing.
How was the Flounder and Red's were doing?
--Thanks, Static, but that trout was actually kind of small. Flounder fishing had tailed off for the season, but redfish action had been really good. We didn't fish for them, though. Just focused on the trout, snook and then fooled around at a dock trying to catch some grouper. I can't wait to go back when conditions are better. mt
Comment by Static Lines — May 27, 2009 @ 5:34 pm