It has been a while since I posted about weather. This one is a really a weather report. Since we finished our short cruise on the Upper Mississippi River and stopped at Paducah in August the weather has been bright and sunny. Daytime temperatures have been between 90-99 degrees. With humidity of 95% or higher, it has been sweltering.
People watching at Green Turtle Bay, a marina near the junction of Lake Barkley and Kentucky Lake, led me to believe sweat streaked t-shirts were normal. A great wet V on the front of your shirt, circles under your arms and a long streak down the back were very common. Everyone walked slowly taking advantage of any shade presenting itself. Standing in the shadow of a light post for example. Just as our neighbouring boaters wonder how we tolerate Canadian winters, we wonder how they manage to survive living in a sauna 24/7.
On Labour Day Monday, we were at the Commodore Yacht Club near Nashville, Kentucky. The place had been hopping on Friday night with a club party, followed by a breakfast and lunch on Saturday. Sunday things quietened down and Monday morning the place was empty. I was somewhat surprised given it was a statutory holiday.
However, I decided that I would take the opportunity to wax one side of the boat. We were under cover and given the humidity I was sure I could get the wax off before it dried. Did I mention that it was 97. I know call me a glutton for punishment but it had been on the to-do list for a while. No sooner had I hauled out the cleaner, wax, surgical gloves and broken into a sweat, then the men starting arriving to work on their boats or prep for a family cruise.
I must note that these are southern men, gentlemen in fact. This is the land where they still stand when a woman comes into a room or rises from the table – and believe me this is a nice custom. I haven’t seen it since high school. They hold doors for strangers and exchange pleasantries with everyone.
So there I stood, not glistening like a proper southern belle, but in a full on sweat. Perspiration dripping off my nose, face prints on my shirt where I had wiped my brow and my gloves almost sliding off my hands. They were all kind enough to overlook my dishevel and stop to chat for a few minutes. Perhaps a southern belle would not have been waxing a boat in the first place, but I am certain she would not have been caught doing it.
We are currently on the Tennessee River heading for Chattanooga and just crossed back into Tennessee from Alabama. Thanks to the massive exchange of heat and energy feeding hurricane Ian, we are currently enjoying some of our famous Canadian cool dry air as a strong north wind has dropped the overnight temperatures to 10 0 (F), the daytime high of 770 F and relative humidity of 6%.
What a treat!
Moon Dance IV 
you are having quite the adventure. Hope all goes well as you determine how and where to spend the winter given the devastation in Florida. We currently have power but the AC is not working yet, fear that mold sets in very quickly. However, our place is being checked. We did have some minor screen damage above the door to the deck which I did not know last time you emailed me. We are enjoying sunny fall days…rain coming soon and getting ready for heading south.
LikeLike