And when it rains on your parade, look up rather than down. Without the rain, there would be no rainbow. Gilbert K. Chesterton


The elements are conspiring to keep me off the beach.  I arrived home from the Poconos chomping at the bit to get some sand between my toes.  Due to an outbreak of red tide on Manasota Key it is wise to stay away from the beach.  Breathing the toxic air surrounding an algae bloom & the resulting dead fish washed up on the shoreline can result in non-stop coughing, watering eyes, & lingering effects for those who have compromised breathing issues.


 Today we have a tropical low just sitting off the SWFL coast.  We are enjoying the much needed rain.  Hopefully, It takes care of the red tide and pushes it way off shore. For those folks who make their livings on the Gulf of Mexico it means a few days of down time. TEB's favorite shell guide Capt. Brian took the rainy days to organize his back porch.  I too have been cleaning & organizing some closets. (although the shells on Capt. Brian's back porch look like way more fun than my old clothes) Once this rain & red tide are past us there are some awesome, I mean awesome negative low tides on the calender for the end of November & December.


This is what the tide charts look like from the Tide Graph V2.4 app when it is installed on your smart phone. The tides in red text are minus lows.






Give it a try.  The widget is interactive.


The Tide Graph V2.4 is a great way to track the tides any where in the continental US.  This app for your smart phone is really awesome for tracking the tides. Drag the circle over to see the tide change hourly. Click the map box to change locations. If you install the app on your smart phone you can  click on tables to see an entire month. Notice on the monthly tides the minus low tides are in red.  Isn't that better than playing Angry Birds!  The tropical lows wash in some amazing shells once the rain stops.  That first low tide after the Gulf of Mexico stops churning can be a bonanza.  Planning a shelling excursion can be all that much better by learning how to time the tides.


PS - Check out the new addition to the right sidebar that says "Mote Marine".  You can check the conditions of almost any beach on SWFL.

Comments

  1. NanaDianaOctober 18, 2011 at 5:04 PM

    Oh- I remember the dreaded red tides! YUCK! I am working on my closets too...AND the basement...something you FL folks don't have to worry about- filling a basement with junk!

    I went back and read some of your earlier posts today. Loved the one about the beach and finding the shark teeth sitting right on top of the pile.

    Hope you are having a great week! xo Diana

    ReplyDelete
  2. rjerdeeOctober 18, 2011 at 5:11 PM

    Ahhh, red tide...just when the October weather gets to be truly gorgeous! Loving the rain....watching my lemon tree out the window...delicious fruit burgeoning on its limbs...a good way to spend a rainy day indoors.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Capt. Brian HolawayOctober 18, 2011 at 7:57 PM

    Sorry to hear the red tide is up your way. The south end of Cayo has been red tide free as of Yesterday. (Knock on sand) Only the tides and wind will tell. I liked your quote " look up rather than down" I am thankful to go to Cayo Costa as much as I do. I appericiate every rainbow. Thanks for a great blog and quote as usual. Your shelling/ fossiling buddy, Capt. Brian

    ReplyDelete
  4. Kim@Snug HarborOctober 18, 2011 at 10:12 PM

    Ick - I hate red tide. I hope the storm blows it all away. I bet the sharks teeth are just laying on the beach, just waiting for you. In that special spot.... Ahhhhhhh....

    ReplyDelete
  5. Loui♥October 19, 2011 at 12:16 AM

    Hi K~
    sorry you are indoors cleaning closets and watching the rain falling.. I did that yesterday..well somewhat.. mostly I visited bloggy friends,, hope the red tide goes far far away..
    Having experienced it.. I can attest to the toxicity!! just keep looking upward..and soon you'll be back on the beach!!
    Happy shelling..
    Loui♥

    ReplyDelete
  6. DellaOctober 19, 2011 at 6:48 AM

    Hope you can get your toes in some beach sand SOON! Bah red tide go away! Oh, and welcome home!

    ReplyDelete
  7. ShellladyOctober 19, 2011 at 12:01 PM

    I will be back on Sanibel the week of the 7th...hopefully this storm will 'stir things up' a bit and push that red tide out!! I can't wait to get a report on your first trip back on the beach!!

    ReplyDelete
  8. LindaOctober 20, 2011 at 4:30 PM

    I remember red tides last October when we went down to San Diego to see our boys...that is the only time I've seen it around here. Sorry you can't be at the beach...but rain is a good thing!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Gypsea NurseOctober 20, 2011 at 5:20 PM

    Yikes... I am moving out on Wednesday... perhaps I can push that red tide away!!
    Smiles~
    Gypsea Nurse

    ReplyDelete
  10. Everything CoastalOctober 20, 2011 at 7:01 PM

    Hi! Great tip on the tide app, I have one on my ipad, and one on my iphone. Comes in pretty handy if my plan is to go sea glass hunting!

    Thanks for stopping by the Everything Coastal Blog!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Suwannee RefugeeOctober 21, 2011 at 11:21 AM

    Thanks for the heads up on the app. I downloaded it and it looks great!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Heart n SoulOctober 24, 2011 at 5:46 AM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete

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