Pretty impressive...

I have been known to throw some shade towards the weather weasels.  No, really??  Yes, really.

The weasels have been predicting an "early season cold front" to be blowing in this afternoon.  "Around 3:00" to be specific.

I figured we'd have time for a boat cruise, if we got out before noon.  It was warm and humid when I took the cover off the boat... yeah, that same cover I had put on because of the predicted crapola weather coming in.

Heading out...

The dredge was not in the way.  It hasn't moved (or worked) since they moved it INTO the way and then out of the way.  But, I digress.  An osprey watching us as we chugged down the canal...

Here is a sure sign that weather is predicted to impact us from the north...

Those boats are all tied to the seawall along the ICW at South Point Marina.  Their usual docks put them at quite an exposure from north winds.  Tied here, they have some protection.

Looking towards the turning basin...

In that photo above, you can see a large cargo ship (well, bits of it) in the background, moving down the ship channel.  Some birds flying around the bait shrimper and the Gulf shrimper...

And then, the first view of dolphins...

Coming by the boat...

In that photo above, that one went right under the boat.

Joan said, "We aren't going to see you for a while - let's see your pretty face!"

A nice viewing...

We cruised around a bit more, always keeping an eye to the north.  Just nice to be out and about, knowing that it may be a while before we get to do this again.

Heading back towards home, we got another "good-bye viewing"...

And, some fine looking pelicans...

A Great Blue Heron...

Back at our dock before 2:00, I cleaned the boat and put the cover back on.  Still hot and humid, but not particularly threatening looking.  Coming into the house, this little furry fellow was happy to see me...

Yeah, that's "an angle" and a lot of fur - the boy is not that... um, thick.

At 2:54, we heard the first gust, when a broom that was standing on our deck fell over.  Yep, here it comes - a cool north wind!  The temperature dropped almost 20º in about 40 minutes.  The humidity dropped, then started climbing again.  I went out to check the boat - it's tied off good, but that wind has a bite to it.  Yes, I know that is relative.  Places in the northland are getting snow, we may see a few days in the 60s.  It will be a nice change of pace... as long as it doesn't stick around too long.

Credit due: the weather folks got it right on today.  Of course, they were tracking it across the Valley (Rio Grande Valley) as the front moved in from the northwest.

3:51 and the temperature is 68º.  Wind is out of the northwest at 26mph gusting to 32.  Glad to have gotten out on the scoot and the boat today.  And... dolphins!

:-)