North Balti Zen

Sounds like it might get you out of pool timer duty though? So...

Not sure. The God of War and Vengeance might know.

Just got back from the 10 days in northern Michigan. If you are ever looking for a quiet out of the way vacation -- I cannot recommend Beaver Island highly enough. Especially ESPECIALLY if you have dogs who like the water. Island is 30 miles NW of Charlevoix, Michigan in the middle of Lake Michigan. Reachable by ferry or a short plane flight. We went by ferry so we could get the car over there. 13 miles long, most of the shoreline was white sand beach. Almost all of it accessible to the public and walkable. Could have the dog off leash almost everywhere without a second thought. Just 600 residents on the island year round - but still several restaurants and pubs including a brewery. And a good grocery. It was heaven. Just seven days of reading, hiking, and staring at the water from the beach. Temps ranged from 65-74 during the day and 52-60 at night. Was almost cool - felt guilty about that given that the pacific NW was boiling at the time as were folks here. And oh my word, if you like star gazing, the island is extraordinary for that. We kayaked in the bays in Lake Michigan. Could have rented boats/jet skis. A TON of fishing (inland lakes and out on Lake Michigan) if that's your jam. It was insanely perfect. https://www.beaverisland.org/ Thus endeth my unsolicited interlude about Beaver Island. But, seriously, it was fantastic. ( I would inflict a few pics on you but no matter what I do - they post sideways)

Had about 30 hours of rain here for the first part of the trip/ arrival at the island mentioned in my previous post. Slipped through southern lower Michigan Friday as all hell was starting to break loose there on radar. Saw on Saturday that Detroit had about six inches of rain Friday night and there were estimates of about 1000 cars caught in significant urban flooding - and a lot of those on the various interstates under overpasses especially where no one had seen high water before. I really think that the aspect of global climate change that we are feeling first is these unreal rain events surrounding stalled fronts and waves of moisture along the lows. Issue in Michigan was they were caught between that brutal high in the pacific NW and a high anchored over the weekend off the east coast. Funneled a lot of moisture up this way.

All good. All warning lights off and driving well. Took about four days. Didn’t have to make a claim. Very fortunate. On an unrelated note, I am on vacation at Beaver Island - which is about 30 miles into Lake Michigan northwest of charlevoix , Michigan - maybe 50 miles south of the UP. Real heat wave here today - hit 74. That’s the hottest it will be this week. This vacation rules.

It's brutal. Frankly, it is kinda frightening.

Still some cicada song here.

Weird. Looked really ominous and dangerous, but just some rolling thunder and rain with this at my part of Balt City.

Dark as nightfall in Balt City.

Good call.

Just don’t get in any Murtaugh level shenanigans and end up with a bomb under the commode this close to the finish line…

That's so very very cool and awesome H20. Congrats on every level.

Always crazy when that happens with storms. Sorry you got missed.

Thanks - confirms my obs. Was amazing seeing the line of angry red just to our south - total crush job there. For my house, it was mostly a steady gentle rain.

Worst. Drought. Ever.

Thanks mappy - it absolutely caught me off-guard.

I don't. I have good car insurance. I have just never considered if it responds to flooded road situations. If you don't know, that's cool. Was just wondering if someone here had some experience with this. Thanks anyway.

I get that it will need to be looked at, yes. Is this the kind of thing that car insurance would cover, is my question.

So, it was bad. For those that know the city - the Univ. Balt School of Law at corner of Mt. Royal and Charles - just before you get to the train station. Right as I crossed over Mt. Royal I realized the water was a LOT higher there than I had suspected. I've never seen high water there so me and the car next to me drove into what you are told not to drive into. It was up to hood level and I think I may have lost contact with the road briefly. I did re-grip, car engine never cut off, and got through it. But now my check engine light is on as is the traction warning light. Got home, parked it, crawled inside, and am getting an early drink. If, when it dries out, those lights stay on, anyone had experience with this and car insurance? Should I make a claim if it ends up being something got damaged due to the high water?

Good grief - this rain in Baltimore is insane.

Turned off pretty quick downtown. Maybe five minutes.

That little shower that popped in North Baltimore City expanded into downtown - fairly torrential rain just opened up.

Put flowers in the planters on Sunday - thought to myself - won't have to water this week. Update: I'm gonna water tonight.

Thanks! That explains how close so many were able to get to it.