This weekend was absolutely perfect. We spent our time at the beach here at the park and at beach access points north of here to see different sections. The island road just ends about 10 miles north and vehicles pull off on the side to park or camp. The beach there has LOTS of shells to be collected. Four-wheel drive vehicles can drive out onto the beach here. Clayton’s is a big bar and restaurant with live music stages, and they built a new pier that is fun to walk out on. We saw it in the building stage last year, and now it is complete. It is huge and the wood all still looks new.

Today it is 37 degrees with a stiff wind from the north and a windchill below freezing. I’m wearing a sweatshirt and fuzzy socks inside the van, and the furnace is working. I know that doesn’t compare to the high temps in the negatives and severe windchill and two feet of blowing snow in Ankeny, but it is chilling to get out and walk about today. We walked to the boardwalk, and couldn’t see the surf because of the heavy fog which was freezing our faces and messing up our glasses. What a difference a day makes!