Happy New Year

Ok, it's been a while since I've written, but I've been busy. Can't tell you what, but I'm sure it was something important. The days just fly by!
J
Nothing says New Years like packing up the chilly bin with food and drink and heading to the beach! Well, Mother Nature had something else in mind for our New Year! We started the 3rd of January with intentions of hitting the surf and sand. We woke up to a slightly overcast sky and a little wind. Thinking it would blow over, we continued with our plans. As our packing progressed, so did the clouds. We decided to wait a while to see what would happen. Wow! Just like Seattle, we experienced all 4 seasons in one day! The clouds continued to build, and soon we thought we were hearing thunder. Then came the lightening and we had a good old-fashioned electrical storm! Then the torrential rains, then the wind picked up…….a lot! It was whipping the trees around violently, more thunder, more lightening, then hail!!!!!! The size of grapes, and people running quickly from the park. It continued for about an hour, the hail quit, but the rain was a gully washer and the Avon River started to rise. We unpacked the chilly bin and decided that it would not be a beach day. We just sat in our apt. and watched the weather. Then, the rain stopped, and the sun came out and we were sweltering! Happy New Year! The beach would have to wait.
Yesterday, we tried it again! Wow, what a difference. We chose the one day this year that Christchurch nearly tied the temperature record!!! Yesterday it was 36C/102F here. It hasn’t been that hot since March of 1998! Doesn’t sound so bad by Wenatchee standards, but we are in the land of high electrical prices ($0.24/kwh) and our apt has no heating or air conditioning and full Western exposure and single pane glass (Mr.V just shakes his head about weatherization). Needless to say, it was hot. The beach was lovely, very loud surf, we found grass and a shady palm to perch under and so as the day progressed, we did too, moving our blanket and packs into the shade. We both came away with wee (small) sunburns, but we did our best to keep covered with hats and sunscreens.
We are hoping that it has been a Happy New Year for all of you. We are enjoying the fact that we can walk around in shorts and sleeveless shirts. The "tourist" season is just kicking off, with people back to work after the 3 week holiday and the weather is settling down a bit too.
Must run. I promise not to take so long in between blogs!
We are happy and healthy here.
Jon and Joyce