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.

Buzz Cut

Wednesday, 8 October 2014
Gulf Waters RV Resort — Port Aransas, Texas
Temps: Hi 86F (30C) / LO 79F (26C)

It’s not just palm trees that get a buzz cut …

The tall palms on 414 (left) and 408 were given a ‘really short’ trim by the landscaping crew.

… sometimes the men who own those trees get one too!

I think Tony and Mui forgot to say ‘stop’ when the barber brought out the #1 clippers!

Palm fronds and hair … will grow out again soon enough ;-)

On the Beach @ GWRVR

Wednesday, 8 October 2014
Gulf Waters RV Resort — Port Aransas, Texas
Temps: Hi 86F (30C) / LO 79F (26C)

Summer is back!  The temps aren’t that bad — reaching only into the mid-80s — but the humidity has definitely risen and the sun is quite brutal where there is no shade.  We’re looking forward to the forecasted front that should cool things off a bit again.

Our friends, Mary and Tony, left to return home this morning.  After seeing them off with our wishes for safe travels, we went back to the routine of living — beginning with a day of errands, which included getting our flu and TDAP shots.  The latter is a once-in-ten-years shot that we were due for; and a good idea before embarking on our four-month overseas adventures — approaching much too fast, I might add.

I really don’t have much to say, so I’ll just shut up and share photos from our last few evenings on the beach with the Zs.  Lots of birds have been joining us at the edge of the water — much to Mary’s delight since she is an avid birder.  No photos of the smaller birds that were flitting about like energizer bunnies, I’m afraid … I don’t take my DSLR to the beach and the SX50 simply can’t keep up with them.

Snowy Egret

Sanderling

Only a video will do to share the clam action our eyes enjoyed.

Willet — dubbed Slick Willy by Mary!

Slick Willy keeping company with a Laughing Gull.

Neighbors drive down in their golf cart to share the colors of sunset on the beach.

Peeping through the palms.

Making childhood memories on the beach.

This gull never did figure out how to eat the big fish it caught;
eventually, he lost the catch while fleeing another gull.

Looking East from the beach ...

… Looking West towards the GWRVR boardwalk — the colors change dramatically.

Royal Tern
[but feel free to tell me otherwise]

American Oystercatcher

Ruddy Turnstone
[again, feel free to tell me otherwise]

This gull caught what looked like an eel and promptly started to swallow it.  wasn’t easy;
the eel was flapping about, wrapping itself around the gull’s bill, but he finally managed
to get it all down.  What shows here is just the last little bit before the final gulp.

One of the highlights of our beach time yesterday was an immature Reddish Egret that was hunting — at least attempting to do so — in the Gulf.  I think he got lucky on at least one of his many tries.

Where there’s action .. there’s video.

And to wrap up this post …

The End!

Knock, Knock … Anybody Home?

Thursday, 2 October 2014
Gulf Waters RV Resort — Port Aransas, Texas
Temps: Hi 86F (30C) / LO 76F (25.5C)

Between having fun with Mary and Tony, and everything else that is going on, not much time to write.  Luckily, the birds that visit the pond provide enough entertainment to generate the occasional post.

We have a variety of birds that come calling at GWRVR.  This Snowy Egret seems to be the shiest of our visitors; flying off at the slightest movement it senses when it comes to hunt at the pond.  I think that shyness is what made its behavior today so funny.  Of course, I realize it was just checking out its own reflection, trying to tap beaks with what it thought was another egret.  But it did bring a smile to our lips and gave us a break from our chores when we stopped to watch it for a while.

I wish they’d just put a “not at home” sign out so I know not to come a-calling.

I remembered to take a short video while I was watching the egret.  Sorry, the quality of the light’s not the greatest, but blame the egret since he chose to visit at the height of noon.

Next up … sunset on the beach.  But that’s for another post.

A Trailer Like You’ve Never Seen Before

Wednesday, 1 October 2014
Gulf Waters RV Resort — Port Aransas, Texas
Temps: Hi 86F (30C) / LO 78F (25.5C)

I'm not one to post random videos from Facebook — or from anywhere else on the web.  But I had to make an exception this time when I saw this trailer and tow vehicle from 1974!

I found the embed link on the Facebook post, but the only way the video shows is if you click in the black box (if it shows), or on the word “Post” in the link below.  I think you’ll enjoy it.

Post by Street FX Motorsport & Graphics.