Easy on the Mud, Heavy on the Flood, and just this once, Not a Bit of Blood!

Mobs, mud, flood, no blood.  Gotta love a successful weekend! 

The rain started late Thursday and didn't let up until late Friday. About four inches worth - kind of a mini Tropical Storm Fay.  It's no wonder the quilt show was mobbed.  Friday was certainly no beach day! 

Photography was tough, there were so many people meandering every which way - especially between my camera and the quilts.  But I finally got a few shots without too many curly heads in the way.

Best of Show

Best of Show - detail

(a detail of my personal favorite - into triangles this month)

My apologies.  Just ran a search of the desk (and the wastebaskets) and cannot find the program with the names of the quilters and the titles of their entries.  (Try Seaside Piecemakers Quilt Guild for specifics.)

One name I do recognize, because I've seen this one on her wall!

"Buttons" by Irene Watson

Detail of "Buttons"

Irene is the genius (savior) who does machine quilting for so many of us piecers who aren't patient enough to quilt our own tops.  She is an amazingly talented artist.  Buttons won a first place ribbon and she also won a "judges choice" award for another piece.

(whose title I can't remember)

I have been saving old earrings and interesting buttons ever since I saw "Buttons" hanging in the entry of her home.  I like to think my own Lizard Quilt, which Irene quilted last year, would have gotten an honorable mention. 

Maybe. 

Nah, probably not.  Talent at this show runs deep!

Speaking of deep, how about that Little Big Econ?

The deluge turned Saturday's ride into an adventure.

Mike-G, hope you are feeling better.  You missed the flood!

Check out the Econ.  Remember this little water crossing from January?  There's usually a few inches of water here, seldom over the bottom bracket.  You can ride through if you don't mind a little mud, or teeter over on your choice of two log crossings.

January 2010

Same spot after Mini-Fay:

The water is wide.

And deep.

Flagler Trail Bridge

January 2010

Flagler Trail Bridge

March 13, 2010

We estimate the river is up ten feet from last weekend.  Some parts of the trail look to be under water about chest deep. 

Between backtracking, doubletrack, and lots of bushwhacking, we manage fourteen miles before deciding to head back.  On our way out, we meet Inspector Gadget riding in, so we go back in with him for a little more mileage.

Whoa!  The river is still rising!  In less than an hour, the crossings we had just made when bushwhacking, were now also under water.  Yikes!  Time to turn around!  23 miles though, not bad for a flood day. 

After all the rain, the mud, the flood, and the free "bike wash", sunny southern Oleta on Sunday is looking pretty attractive!