Rain (delayed posting)

Campground

Tom bailing out the dinghy

It has been raining off and on, mostly on, all week since we have been at Virginia Key Grassroots Festival. Clothes, towels, shoes – all wet. I don't have a dry pair of shoes left. It's kind of depressing, especially since this is the first time they have had this festival here, there are a lot of people camping, most of them are wet, and some are thinking about going home early.

There have been two separate occasions when we have had 3 – 4 inches of rain come down in one storm. Fortunately, the ground is sandy so it is soaking in fairly quickly, but there are still large “ponds” in some areas. It is supposed to turn cold tonight and only be in the 60's tomorrow. All because of some strange tropical disturbance in Central America. Or at least that's what we've been told.

I guess we cannot complain too much. We have had almost perfect weather for the whole month previous to this, and it looks to be turning nice again next week. It's just unfortunate for the festival people. Many of these folks came all the way from New York to attend. The same organizers put on Shakori Hills in NC and another festival in Trumansburg, NY. They have “followers” that travel around to many different venues. It's pretty interesting to talk to these people about their lifestyles, which aren't too dissimilar to our present lifestyle, only theirs is on land. Following the music.

Jimbo's

Down the road from the park grounds is a place called Jimbo's. It's a little collection of shacks, painted buses, and liveaboard boats which advertises on its road sign “beer, smoked fish dip, cigarettes, gatorade, and energy drinks.” Interesting assortment of wares. There are many cyclists that ride in the park so I guess the gatorade and energy drinks are for them. Jimbo's apparently attracts an eclectic mix of patrons though from Harley riders to families with kids who come to the park to go to the beach here. Sometimes they have a band playing on a little stage. Haven't been here except during the day but I bet it gets even more interesting at night.

Sunday is the last day of the festival and we are heading south again after that, hoping the rain is over for a while. And also hoping for a better internet connection which has been missing for the last week.