Flora

 1/21- Vero Beach 

  Not much exciting going on here as we are waiting for some decent weather. Yesterday we did exciting things like laundry. I did get down to the farmers market to pick up some fresh vegetables. We went over to the Riverside Cafe for happy hour and dinner and then walked over to the free concert at the theater. There is free music every Friday and Saturday nights. This was not well attended as it was pretty cold by Florida standards but it was a good show. 

    Watching on the TV at the bar they had a weather alert warning people that with the wind chill it would be dangerously cold and there was a threat of hypothermia and death. It seemed a bit over done considering it was 50 degrees and they were playing football in -30 (with wind chill) up in Buffalo. We saw lots of winter clothes this morning. Apparently this is due to an El Niño forming off Peru and causing moisture to stream across the Gulf and southern Florida. 

   That being said we have been amazed walking around at the lushness of all the plants. The streets here are canopied by ancient live oaks. We see plants that we have as house plants being used as shrubs and hedges. And not to mention all the flowers that are blooming even now. There are rows of hibiscus and cacti that are blooming away. 

    Well there is more big wind forecasted for the next several days so we will sit tight. I have heard there is supposed to be a good weather window to the Bahamas this weekend. I have heard there are hundreds of boats in the area just waiting to make the crossing. If this window materializes there will probably be a mass migration and it will leave all the marinas here empty. It should keep the customs people busy checking everyone in. 

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