Wednesday January 4th 2016

Today started foggy and progressed to cloudy followed by sunshine. A cold front went through overnight to cause the wide variation in today’s weather. The temperature still peaked in the mid 70s slightly above the average for this time of year.

Once the weather cleared I went touring in the local area. The major accomplishment was finding the beach in Apollo Beach FL. For the most part it is expensive houses on one little spit of land that juts out into Tampa Bay. However, at one end of the “T” shaped land mass is the Apollo Beach Nature Preserve and Beach. This park recently opened or re-opened after a long building period. They have added breakwaters of rock and concrete parallel to the shore. Additional sand has been brought in and some land has been prepared for grass.

KC135 approaching MacDill AFB over Tampa Bay

It is not really setup for bathing but a few kids were in the water protected by one of the breakwaters. There is plenty of sand for playing or sunbathing. The main use the area was getting was fishing. This beach area is on Tampa Bay where the cooling canal from the power company that has the Manatee Viewing Area is located. The fisherman may be hopping to catch some of the fish that feed in the warmer waters of the canal.

I found the view the most interesting part of the beach experience. Across the bay to the west the skyline of St Petersburg is visible, to the north is the skyline of Tampa. To the northwest the point of land holding MacDill Airforce Base is prominent.

When I arrived at the beach area a KC135 tanker aircraft seem to be practicing approaches to MacDill AFB. It would come in across the bay toward MacDill then bank and climb to the west then repeat the process. I watched it make 2 full circuits and the start of the third. The next time I looked it was nowhere to be seen. It either landed or flew out of the area.

Cargo Ship in Tampa Bay

The shore of Tampa bay is lined with docks. Large cargo ships and tankers are visible in every direction. Some are underway in the bay and others are docked at some of the Port of Tampa piers to the north. With a set of binoculars and a comfortable chair I could watch the shipping all day. There is just lots of activity.