Cruise into Fall

Thursday, 9 October 2014
Gulf Waters RV Resort — Port Aransas, Texas
Temps: Hi 86F (30C) / LO 77F (25C)

A few weeks ago Patty, a fellow GWRVR owner, alerted us to an event organized by the Port Aransas Garden Club — a ‘Sail into Fall’ Sunset Cruise; $20 pp including drinks and heavy hors d’oeuvres.  We figured it would be fun, so we bought tickets.

The cruise, which was aboard Island Queen II, was this evening.  In its previous life, the boat operated as a 9-passenger ferry under the name of Janey Briscoe.  Not sure if this boat is the right venue for an event that includes food and drink.  Seating was limited to some benches, and there were no tables to set things on, so we had to juggle our plates and drinks.

After socializing with some of the others from GWRVR, Mui and I went up to the observation deck to enjoy the cruise.  We spent most of the evening chatting with another couple from the resort who also opted for the upper deck.  Dolphins were frolicking in the water and riding the bow wave of the cargo ships transiting the channel; birds were flying about; a feeding frenzy near one of the piers had the captain steering us in that direction for a quick look see.

Heading out from the harbor into the shipping channel connecting to Corpus Christi Bay.

Tankers going in and out of Corpus Christi Bay are frequently seen in the channel.

Fishing vessel returning home at the end of the day.

14 seconds of a Feeding Frenzy!

I wonder if this barge is bringing in some of that propane we use in the motorhome?

The sunset was gorgeous — although it would have been so much nicer had we been at the Aransas Pass/Lydia Ann Lighthouse in time for the changing colors.  I checked when we got home to see if there are tours that land at the lighthouse; alas there are none.

Constructed in the mid-1800’s, the lighthouse was decommissioned in 1952 after a major
channel shift put it a mile from the channel entrance where it had been built.

I’ll wrap up with the sunset photographs I took before we arrived at the lighthouse — a fitting end to a blog post about a sunset cruise.

Overall, though we probably won’t repeat this cruise, we had a good time and are glad we went.