Wow! Where did the summer go? Seems like just a few weeks ago I was gazing upon tundra flowers, spectacular wildlife, and the dusty roads of the North Slope of Alaska…. Then again, come to think of it, I was. When the weather on the slope changes it changes fast. I was last on the slope for a three week tour of duty. When I arrived there were ducks and swans on every pond. By the time I boarded my plane south, the landscape was a winter wonderland. Snow covered the grassy plain and the very ponds that only weeks before sported a new generation of waterfowl, were again iced over. In a three week period we went from what appeared to be sunny summer day’s too blowing, drifting snow with temperatures in the teens. It was a good time to head south, so I did.

Over the last few days I’ve been in Florida, and man, what a jam-packed few days it has been! On Saturday Terri, Bob and I joined a couple of new friends and headed for Daytona where we found Biketoberfest to be in full swing! Motorcycles of every shape and size were on display. We sat down just off Main Street for a well deserved coffee and watched everything from a giant trike with a V-8 to a tiny miniature chopper, to a rolling hamburger pass along in the perpetual parade that is Biketoberfest. The weather was sunny, mild and inviting. Gone was the heat of earlier visits as even Florida succumbs to the change in season. After a trip down Main Street we hit the River Walk, and then stopped over at Rossmeyers Destination Daytona before heading north to Lake City. We stopped along the way at a little Italian Restaurant chowing down before the 100 plus mile ride back. Exiting with full stomachs we soon realized the ride back would be made on back-roads, in the dark, sharing the road with armadillos, dear and the occasional drunk driver. The night was black and cold, but the trip was worth it. By the time we got to the house we were tired from the stress that comes from worry. It was good to roll into the garage.

Sunday Bob and I drove into Jacksonville and attended the NFL game between the Jacksonville Jaguars and St. Louise Rams. The contest went into overtime with an ultimate victory by the home town team. It was a great day and marked the first time I have ever attended an NFL game. If you have yet to experience a stadium with somewhere in the neighborhood of 30 thousand people all screaming at the same time, well I do recommend that you jump at the chance if the opportunity presents itself.

Yesterday most of the stumps in our yard were ground down to sawdust and what had been a giant pile of limbs and brush was reduced to mostly embers.  The yard is finally beginning to come together. Stump grinding is about the easiest and least expensive way I know of to clear a yard of the leftovers that dot the landscape after clearing a number of trees. Once cleared grass begins to fill in and soon the yard looks like… well, a yard.

Well the temperature is expected to be in the 60’s and 70’s today, so I think I will take advantage of the mild weather and do some work outside or ride… hmmm.