Tuesday, Feb. 4 - Here we are in February. The winter months are sliding along, with folks at home enjoying an especially mild time of it, for the most part. Why did we leave? Well, it's sunny, breezy and around 25 today, so I guess that's a good reason.

We're back at Lake Worth, after a very nice week-end with our dear friend Joyce in Palm City. We arrived on Friday, having dealt with the Miami area traffic for a good part of the day. Maybe it was because the Super Bowl was played there on Sunday. But the traffic was really heavy. We got off the Turnpike, which was packed, to I-95, which was packed, and looked for relief on highway 1. But there is no real relief, because although the traffic was a lot less, the whole highway is built up, from Miami all the way north. So eventually got tired of red light after red light, went back up to 95, and found it not too bad.

We had a pretty laid back time with Joyce and Lily, her little white doggie. There was a little tension, as the roofers have removed the tiles over the entire house, and had left the underlay, awaiting the delivery of the new tiles. Would it leak? Saturday proved that it's leak-proof. It poured most of the day. And all was dry inside, much to Joyce's great relief. So we were relaxed enough to go over to Total Wine, a huge booze shop, where we did our duty to keep the economy going. Sunday, we went to Beall's for shopping. And bought supplies for the Super Bowl. Which was a super game. I was betting on the Chiefs with my friend Marian, so I'm afraid that she came up short once again. No gloating on my part, as I know the worm will turn soon, and I'll be on the wrong side. But 6 out of 7 is not bad.

Yesterday, the roofers were at Joyce's bright and early, so we left the chaos, controlled as it was, and headed south. We have time before checking in here, so went back to our favorite bird place, and wandered about for a couple of hours. Always enjoyable, and got a few good pics to show for it.

We'll be here for the week, then over to Bonita Springs, near Naples, next week, and back to New Port Ritchie the following week. That latter booking will put us fairly close to Clearwater, where Tom and Betty Garrity are staying, so that we can have a chance to get together for a ride and a beer. After that...maybe Homosassa again. We have to go there for sure for at least a week. And so it goes with the Richardson gypsies.

Biked this morning, and will soon go again. Love the trail here. All for now. Maybe a pic or ten. Stay tuned. More later.
First 4 pics, a series showing a silly wood stork having a bath. He puts everything into it, believe me.
Next, another wood stork, this one coming home from the office just a whole lot later than he should have, so wife, down and to the right, is letting him have it.
Then a cute little marsh bunny...just to break the stork saga up a little.
And a purple gallinule, a bird of lovely shades of...you guessed it, purple.
Back to the storks, this time two of them fighting quite vigorously over a good-sized branch, meant for a nest. The guy on the right prevailed, and was soon tucking it away.
Finally, two shots of the dolphins we mentioned visiting in Key Largo. They are quite amazing, and do tremendous work to help a lot of people. A terrific program.