It was cold Saturday – windy, eyes-watering, go-to-Target-buy-a-hoodie-cold, not just Florida cold.
I never plan well for my photo hikes. I tend to forget things, especially things I need – like hiking shoes, extra batteries for my camera (you know, to use if/when the battery in your camera dies when you’re an hour from home), water, jackets, my driver’s license (which also means I left my purse at home with all my money) and bugs spray (a must-have during the summer.)
This weekend, I neglected to dress for the weather. I guess I took my tourism spiel too seriously and forgot that it indeed gets cold here in the winter. Northwest Florida is a whole different creature than south or even central Florida. The white sands here can definitely be mistaken for snow, and not just in appearance.
Hopefully, I can illustrate the cold in this series of photos. Just think snow, and bone chilling wind…
(I know… all my northern friends are chortling and murmuring ‘wimp,’ while reading about my aversion to the Florida cold. Just remember, it’s all about perspective, and from my perspective, my 47F is like your 17F.)
The pelican? That was my “oh, shit!” moment. He must have been hungry, or lonely. I was on the Okaloosa Island pier in Fort Walton Beach, and this HUGE bird, landing gear down, wings spread, was aiming straight for me. Even when he touched down on the pier deck, he was much too interested in me. I didn’t stay around to chat.
You can click on any image to see a larger photo, or the series as a slideshow.
(Photos shot with a Nikon D60, using an 18-55mm, 55-200mm, 20mm f/2.8 wide-angle, 50mm f/1.8 prime lens, Nikon CoolPix S205 and/or iPhone4)
For more photos, please visit my Flickr photostream.
Thin spiral notebook 
As always, gorgeous pictures. I love the beach at winter time and you captured it beautifully (but watch out for that pelican!)
🙂
Traci
LikeLike
The pelican does have a rather pushy stance. I think I’d leave, too. You captured the cold in your beautiful photos. Thanks for sharing.
LikeLike
I think I’m getting goosebumps. You captured the cold beautifully. I’ve never seen shells on a bed of snow, and I especially like that photo.
Be well, Tara.
xoRobyn
LikeLike
when i was growing up, my grandparents took my sister and I to Disney during the week between christmas and new year. It was always cold or rainy. I’ve always said, if it has a beach, then it better be warm.
I know pelicans are nasty but they’re fun to look at.
LikeLike
Hi Tara – Although I’m originally from Massachusetts, I can totally empathize. We’ve had a cold wave the past week and I could not drag myself out to work outside in the cold and damp. Decided that we always get a “warm wave” in the winter and I’d just wait for that. LOVE the close up of the sand dollar – had to view in slideshow – your photos are too beautiful to just see in the gallery.
LikeLike
I live on Okaloosa Island, so you can imagine my surprise to find your post here . It was a chilly week, I agree.
My photo on today’s post is from my walk to the fishing pier this morning. Are/were you here for a visit?
http://subliminallyrosie.blogspot.com/2013/01/sundays-in-my-city.html
LikeLike
I see that you live here. You can disrgard my question about if you are visiting.
LikeLike
I grew up by the beach. I miss it, and these photos remind me of that so much. I like the shells and the pelican particularly.
LikeLike
“go-to-Target-buy-a-hoodie-cold” we call that spring time here.
Actually it has not been bad this winter.
Is the one picture a broken sand-dollar? Interesting look to it.
LikeLike
It is indeed part of a sand dollar. I rarely find an intact shell, only large shards washed up on the beach.
LikeLike
I understand cold. I was in New Orleans just last weekend, and I dug out a pair of gloves. It was cold to me!
LikeLike
47F in Kansas right now is a warm front. XD
You’re REALLY making me miss Florida, dang it. We’re supposed to hit 50s this week, and then it’s supposed to drop again 😀
LikeLike