Thursday, July 31, 2008
Shades of Blue...and Green
Among the many glorious views we saw in Costa Rica are these images of the rivers emptying into the Pacific Ocean. As we flew down to Drake Bay this is what we saw. Check out the silt flowing into the sea.
Monday, July 28, 2008
Costa Rica, Shades of Green...and Happy Birthday, Don!
I am happy to report that the family returned home safely from our adventure in Central America. What a terrific time we had in Costa Rica. Kurt did a fabulous job of building a terrific itinerary. Thank you, Kurt! Our week was full of wonderful new experiences such as swimming with crocodiles and colorful fish, hiking around an active volcano, chasing whales, hiking in the lush, tropical forests, riding ziplines through the canopy and hanging like Tarzan from ropes.
Our trip was also unexpectedly enriched by meeting interesting new people. Whether it was in an airport, on a hike, at dinner, or in an over-crowded van, we made many new friends from all over the world.
Kurt keeps asking us all what our most favorite experience was on the trip...and I have to admit it's hard to narrow the choice down to one. But wh
at I think I'm coming away from the trip as being most memorable for me is all the outstanding, rich colors that we soaked in while we were there for a week. And I can't say that I ever really knew there that there were that many shades of green in God's box of Crayolas. What a beautiful world we live in! Thank you, God!
at I think I'm coming away from the trip as being most memorable for me is all the outstanding, rich colors that we soaked in while we were there for a week. And I can't say that I ever really knew there that there were that many shades of green in God's box of Crayolas. What a beautiful world we live in! Thank you, God!
And today is Grandpa Don's birthday. I certainly thought of both him and mom while we traveled last week. I think they must be pretty darn impressed with us and our adventures! Happy birthday, Don!
Monday, July 7, 2008
Hurricane Bertha
It looks like we have our first hurricane of the 2008 season...looks like Bertha is headed toward Bermuda. (I sure am glad we decided to NOT take the kids to Bermuda later this month - but instead are headed to Costa Rica!)
Keep your eyes and ears tuned! I'm sure Buddy will be giving us an update soon. Here's an excerpt from the National Weather Center:
...Special feature....Tropical Storm Bertha was upgraded to hurricane at 07/0900 UTC. Hurricane Bertha is centered near 19.3n 50.2w at 07/0900 UTC or about 730 nm E of the northern Leeward Islands moving WNW at 15 kt. Estimated minimum central pressure is 987 mb. Maximum sustained wind speed is 65 kt with gusts to 80 kt. See latest NHC forecast/advisory under AWIPS/WMO headers miatcmat2/wtnt42 knhc for more details. Bertha has developed an eye roughly 15-20 nm in diameter. While a hurricane does not form every year in July in the Atlantic Basin...it has certainly happened before... including in 1996 when another Hurricane Bertha formed... coincidentally also on July 7. Deep convection now surrounds the eye but the largest area remains to the NW. Scattered moderate/ isolated strong convection is within 75 nm of line from 18n51w to 22n49w.
Keep your eyes and ears tuned! I'm sure Buddy will be giving us an update soon. Here's an excerpt from the National Weather Center:
...Special feature....Tropical Storm Bertha was upgraded to hurricane at 07/0900 UTC. Hurricane Bertha is centered near 19.3n 50.2w at 07/0900 UTC or about 730 nm E of the northern Leeward Islands moving WNW at 15 kt. Estimated minimum central pressure is 987 mb. Maximum sustained wind speed is 65 kt with gusts to 80 kt. See latest NHC forecast/advisory under AWIPS/WMO headers miatcmat2/wtnt42 knhc for more details. Bertha has developed an eye roughly 15-20 nm in diameter. While a hurricane does not form every year in July in the Atlantic Basin...it has certainly happened before... including in 1996 when another Hurricane Bertha formed... coincidentally also on July 7. Deep convection now surrounds the eye but the largest area remains to the NW. Scattered moderate/ isolated strong convection is within 75 nm of line from 18n51w to 22n49w.
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Friday, July 4, 2008
Bertha!
Well...it looks like we now have a tropical storm out there to track.
We'll count on Buddy to keep us posted on Bertha's details!
Happy 4th and all that.
Cheers!
Update: Greg Fischel just used the word "interesting" to describe the weather in about 5 days due to Bertha brewing in the Atlantic. Looks like Buddy is right and this is one to keep any eye on.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Tropical Depression #2
So it looks like the disturbance we were watching off the coast of Africa this week is progressing as expected into an organized storm. Here's the track so far of Tropical Depression #2:
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Summertime In Full Swing
Now that it's July summer is in full swing here in Apex. The tomotoes are starting to ripen and so far little wilt or blossom end rot to ruin the fruits of our labor!
Summer also means hurricane season. Brother Buddy, also known to the family as the most reliable source of weather forecasting available to us, has this to say about the tropics:
A new system has emerged from the African coast today. It's a little early to be looking that far east for development, but there seems to be a window of opportunity for this to develop and track across the ocean. Just a heads up. -Buddy
Summer also means hurricane season. Brother Buddy, also known to the family as the most reliable source of weather forecasting available to us, has this to say about the tropics:
A new system has emerged from the African coast today. It's a little early to be looking that far east for development, but there seems to be a window of opportunity for this to develop and track across the ocean. Just a heads up. -Buddy
I guess we'll have to see how that pans out for the Atlantic.
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