Odds and Ends (Swimming, Snowing, Celebrating)

February 14-22, 2025

Port Royal and Philadelphia

February weather is strange this year – it’s been cold, warm, foggy, and sunny, and sometimes all four in a single day.

Gallinule

Warm afternoons are great in Cypress Wetlands because lots of critters are active.

Our marina dock is a good observation spot, too. Hooded mergansers are really distinctive looking. They tend to stay in groups of at least two and often four or five.

Sometimes at low tide we are lucky enough to observe a stingray looking for a meal.

Stingray by our dock

My school district developed a calendar with a short February break this year. I used this break to head to Philadelphia to do a school visit for International Baccalaureate. I rarely do visits but I jumped at the chance to go back to my hometown.

The best part of this was dinner with my sister and one of my nieces.

The part that wasn’t so great was the polar vortex cold that kept temps below freezing the entire time I was there. The fluffy snow that didn’t accumulate was pretty, though.

Port Royal has a lot of neighborhood celebrations, including a Mardi Gras parade of golf carts. Folks throw beads and candy, and everyone heads to the local brewery where there are food trucks and musical performances, including one from a local high school.

People are serious about their golf cart decorations.

The high school band was great!

Whale Branch Early College HS band

Shellring Brewery is right on Battery Creek and at low tide there’s a sliver of a beach. Kids were able to play there: throwing rocks in the water, climbing trees, and running around.