The word for the week was COLD. As the temperature plummeted, warnings started popping up on our phones. Freeze warnings were dismissed as something we were attempting to avoid in Virginia. If we didn't pay attention to them, maybe it wouldn't feel so awful. The National Weather Service warnings for Falling Iguanas, however, piqued our interest. We awoke Wednesday morning to a windchill of 27 degrees, an interior temperature of 57 (we had forgotten to turn on the heat), and news reports of iguanas indeed falling from the trees further south. I was very thankful that I had kept one fleece sweatshirt onboard "just in case." Note to self: Jacksonville is not far enough south.
Heavy cloud cover obscured the sun and dropped occasional rain showers. Without a car, we stayed onboard and completed a few projects, read (me), and took advantage of a strong wifi signal to stream Netflix (Barry). By Thursday afternoon, the sun and patches of blue sky appeared making for a nice sunset. Friday broke sunny and bright and I anxiously set out to stretch my legs. Nothing like the sight of azaleas and bougainvillea to lift the spirits. Spanish moss is present in almost every single tree and hangs from power lines in large clumps. I could examine the epiphyte's up close in this small sample found at eye level.
While I was out exploring the neighborhood, Barry was walking the docks. He met Neptune, a friendly German Shepherd puppy, and later brought him over to Crossroads for a visit. I walked across the Ortega Bridge, taking in the view of the Jacksonville skyline while pausing for a bridge opening. On the other side of the Ortega River, the walk around the Sadler Point neighborhood was spectacular. Gorgeous homes and immaculate landscaping both took a backseat to the amazing live oaks present in each and every yard. And, yes, I finally was able to shed the fleece for my Friday afternoon yoga session. By far, my favorite marina amenity has been the yoga which offers a nice social outlet as well as the physical challenge.
This week will be our final one in Jacksonville. We have a couple more items to check off the list and a few more sights to see, but its definitely time to head further south so we can finally turn east.
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