Ernesto the Tropical Storm
30 August 2006 | Tavernier
Hal
Well this storm was quite the disappointment! Either we were in the perfect track for light rain and winds or this storm was very highly over rated.
It rained off and on from about 1200 AM (1200 hrs) Tuesday to about 6:00 PM (1800 hrs) with a light breeze, maybe 20-30 MPH from the east. Then it was still. A really weird still that made you think you might be in the eye, but it lasted until I went to bed at about midnight! I was awakened at 4:30 AM (0430 hrs) by the fender on the starboard side bumping against the piling; the wind had finally arrived but it still has not gotten over 30 MPH. After checking radar, I realized the eye of the Tropical Storm was 30 miles inland and this wind was the backside wind hitting us from the west. I adjust lines, wrote this blog at 5:00 AM (0500 hrs) and plan a retreat back to bed for another 40 winks.
Lesson Learned: Over preparedness in Florida is not a bad thing. We have had tropical storms hit land and head directly the opposite direction that was predicted and we were not ready (remember Katrina, she was a tropical storm just before hitting north Miami and jogging south to find us unprepared and not even on the boat). Better to be prepared and get a restful night sleep then try to play catch up and be up all night!
Hurricane Ernesto is almost over for the Keys. I hope the mainland and the states beyond fairs as well as us.
Fair winds, Hal
P.S. Marianna, Please note the military time in Parenthesis and have Mom tell you about UTC. I hear the morse code is coming along good! Time to set up the H.F. Transmitter?