This post is part of Just Jot it January, and the prompt word, “hesitation,” comes to us from Wendy. Check out her blog here!

It’s with some hesitation that I tell you about our wonderful day at Bathtub Beach in Stuart, Florida. I know most of you are freezing your tutus off right now, but I assure you, the water was not warm.

Still, I kept going in, little by little, until I was so used to it, eventually I was up to my neck. Not because it was deep, mind you, I squatted down to get there. On one particular walk through some rocks, I found a warmer spot. That’s where I got in as far as I did.

I was not going all the way under for fear that I would get an ear infection or a cold. Coming out of the water into the wind, it could happen.

We went in separate vehicles, but all the cool kids were there. Carrie and Rick, Marinda and John, Cliff and Kimmie, Jimbo and Suzie, Lisa and Lou, Mark and Andrea, and Shy and Lin. We do everything together which makes it so fun. Its lovely when you find your tribe, people that “get you” and want to be with you, and that you love enough to be around yourself.

Anyway, what a glorious day we had. I got to see the coral, up close and out of the water. I found nice, big shells. Pretty shells. A whole and slightly holey sand dollar, a big one! That made the day that much better.

Thank goodness I have had no hesitation going to walking classes several days a week, because it has made me so much stronger. I did need a little help from Marinda as I was coming through some coral, hit a deep spot before getting back up on the beach. But everything else, walking in the deep sand carrying my junk, walking from beach to sandbar and quite a ways out and back, and toting all my stuff back up the hill through the deep sand I owe to exercise!

I think the temperature of the air- 76 degrees – was the warmest so far, but the water was much cooler. Cold, in fact, but not take your breath away, just cold enough to have to get used to it slowly.

I came back with a little souvenir besides shells. A crab tried to snag my foot and cut me in the process. Other than that, I saw no live sealife. No fish, not even a minnow. I imagine that is due to the coral reef that stretches from the peninsula out into the ocean a ways.

I do hope you enjoy my little gallery.

I had some videos that didn’t show up. I’ll get stills and post again later. Without hesitation, one of the best days ever! Exploring a new place with friends!