We knew of course to expect some rain today.  We could see it on the horizon. The dreary clouds were a marked departure from what had been weeks of blue skies and yellow sunshine.

Checking the weather and the tides is standard procedure every morning here on the Island. The intelligence did not however derail our regular breakfast habit.  It was imperative to get that crucial detail of our agenda out of the way. When we had accomplished that particular duty we lapsed into the routine of our daily bike ride.  There was still some sunshine struggling through the canopy of pine branches and palmetto ferns but we could see and feel that dampness was on its way.  Because the high tide was as late as 1:12 p.m. (Calibogue Cay), and the low tide would not be until 7:21 p.m., this meant that if we wished to cycle on the beach this morning and to profit by the southerly wind we had a very narrow window. It was already after 10:00 a.m.  We accordingly decided to enter the beach at nearby Tower Beach.  Initially the sand was somewhat mushy.  This is the southern point of the Island where the Ocean curves into Calibogue Sound and the magnetic effect of the tides is clearly not as powerful as it is on the long Ocean front.  We nonetheless made it past this area and soon were moving quite freely across the packed face of the powdered sand towards our destination, Coligny Park Beach.

We were pleased to reach our port of call. We had escaped the rapid narrowing of the beach as the high tide noticeably advanced. The real relief however was that we wanted to return home.  Our customary enthusiasm for the trek along William Hilton Parkway to Burke’s Beach had evaporated. We were “feeling it” after two weeks of persistent daily cycling.  Even though cycling on the flat sea-level Island is never arduous (and we never “push” ourselves), apparently the rigour of the repeated exercise was taking its toll upon us.  It was therefore a steady but quiet ride  home along the paths.

Because it was still only mid-day we hadn’t the gall to throw in the towel without at least a modest additional effort.  Neither of us was especially hungry but we felt we might tolerate a chowder or bisque at a local dive in a marina at the north end of the Island.  In fact we ended having She Crab soup (with a hint of Sherry in it) which was more than tolerable.  The second courses – tuna melt and burger – were not however anything special, in fact disappointingly plain to a fault.  Any food that is remotely akin to something I can make myself never impresses me.

By this time, we were succumbing to a burgeoning sense of fatigue.  The weight of the mid-day meal had settled upon us. We agreed an afternoon nap was in order.

By the time we returned to the condo, the grey skies were everywhere overhead and rain was imminent.  The next thing I recall was being buried under the duvet and hearing the clatter of the rain on the railings of the balcony.  I slept for about two hours.  As usual the afternoon nap was a better quality of sleep than I normally have at night. My revival from sleep was very gradual but there was no doubt that I was the better for having slept.  I never cease to marvel at the improving effect of sleep. I felt sharp-witted as a result!

My somewhat painful awakening was hastened by having to deal with an email from OnStar, the General Motors satellite connection for diagnostics, telephone and – most recently – WiFi connection.  After consulting my on-line account I was seeing information which was either preposterous or out-of-date.  A telephone call to their Customer Service involved all the usual platitudes one must endure from these companies.  Clearly the OnStar system had incorrectly erased the minutes we had recently purchased for “hands free calling”, allegedly because I had recently had the oil changed.  The clerk naturally sought to dismiss the problem by reinstating the vanished minutes but I wasn’t letting her think for a moment that I was about to roll over on this inadequacy just because I had discovered the error, reported it and stamped my feet long and loudly enough to get compensation – a process which in my opinion hardly spoke well of the company and its unreported mistakes (which frankly amounted to theft). The so-called data plan of OnStar was no better.  There is no reporting on the on-line account of the data consumed or for what; and, the plans which are offered for purchase/renewal do not include the one I currently have.  More inadequacy.  It burns me up to have to career the confused waters of these nibbling companies, a frustration compounded by having dealt recently with similar problems at Bell Canada and Sirius XM Radio.