Grainy but Gorgeous

Sunday, 20 December 2015
Gulf Waters RV Resort — Port Aransas, Texas
Temps: Hi 70F (21C) / Lo 64F (18C)

It’s been a week of gorgeous sunrises here.  For the most part, I’ve been enjoying these colorful starts to our days from our site — often recording the memories with my eyes only … leaving the camera sitting on the dash of the Phaeton — Thursday was an exception.

Sunrise — Thursday Morning — 17 December — Site 408.

This morning’s sunrise, however, proved to be too much of a temptation.  I grabbed the iPhone and headed over to the big pond, hoping to get some reflection shots.  Alas, the breeze was rippling the surface, so I walked the additional steps to the beach access ramp instead.

Today’s colorful sunrise from the beach access pathway.  But wait … it gets better.

I should have grabbed the Fuji camera — I would have gotten better shots … certainly less grainy ones.  But hey, these get the message across.  Except for a little contrast and noise reduction applied in post-processing, the colors are what came out of the iPhone … and more importantly, what I beheld with my eyes.

Certainly a sunrise to remember on a warm December Day just a few days before Christmas!

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P.S.  I published this post using OLW — the Open Source version of Microsoft's Live Writer, which no longer works with Google/Blogger.  Sure, there are some functionalities that are missing, such as the ability to add categories (I simply went into the Blogger html tab after I published this post to add the categories).  But that's a minor irritant.  Just having the ability to write WYSIWYG blog posts offline is priceless.  Thanks to all those who volunteer their time to make OLW possible.  Now could you work your magic and make OLW possible for MAC OS ... pretty please ;-)

© 2004-2015 Two to Travel's Phaeton Journeys.  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED by ERIN ERKUN.

A B&W Kind of Day at #408

Wednesday, 9 December 2015
Gulf Waters RV Resort — Port Aransas, Texas
Temps: Hi 73F (23C) / Lo 64F (18C)

Except for some early morning fog yesterday, the past seven days have been sunny with bright blue skies and comfy temps.  Today’s high actually feels more like 77F (25C) according to the forecast … sure felt downright hot during my beach walk this morning.  But at our pad, we still seek out the sun when we sit outdoors.

On a clear day, you can see Aransas Pass across the water, but when we went for a walk in Port Aransas yesterday morning, you could just make out the ferry terminus on our side of the Corpus Christi Channel.

Nary a complaint from us; we’re loving this December weather and making the most of it white it lasts.  I hear we might get some rain by this weekend.  And that will be OK too — aside from the fact that Texas is still in a drought, I could use the time indoors to reorganize some cabinets now that Mui has completed his TV box-to-storage conversion … but that’s for another post.

A foggy, moody morning from our pad at GWRVR yesterday might qualify for the B&W theme …

… but it would be the exception, not the norm … our days have been looking
mostly like this ever since December rolled around on the calendar.

Rosie Pays Us a Visit

Thursday, 3 December 2015
Gulf Waters RV Resort — Port Aransas, Texas
Temps: Hi 62F (17C) / Lo 53F (12C)

After a week of mostly overcast weather, the sun finally came out today.  Nice to have bright sunshine and blue skies even if the temps are on the coolish side.  Normally we go for our beach walk first thing in the morning, but I waited for the temp to reach the day’s high before going out … Mui was excused to work on a project in the coach, but more on that later.

Anyway, I had just returned to the pad after my walk when what should I see across the pond but a roseate spoonbill.  Granted, its coloring was rather pale — a juvenile would be my guess ... but it was a roseate nonetheless.  The bird was inching its way along the edge of the pond, its bill constantly sweeping below the surface of the water for a tasty tidbit or two.

Giving Thanks on Our Anniversary

Thursday, 26 November 2015
Gulf Waters RV Resort — Port Aransas, Texas
Temps: Hi 77F (25C) / Lo 70F (21C)

Thirty-four years.  That’s how long Mui and I have been married.  Today we took a step into year 35 — and we did so with the dawning of a beautiful day on the beach at GWRVR.

When we got married in İzmir, Turkey in 1981, 26 November happened to fall on Thanksgiving.  Every so many years, the calendar brings us back to this special holiday — perfect for giving thanks for all we have … all we are able to do … times two.

Beginning Year 35 with a beautiful sunrise.

What made today extra special was that we got to celebrate it with friends here at GWRVR.  We were asked to bring dessert to the Thanksgiving dinner our friends were hosting at their pad.  So, Mui had the idea to surprise everyone with an anniversary cake.  Laughter and camaraderie … the crowning touch on our day.

Our dessert contribution to Thanksgiving dinner — surprise!

Happy Anniversary to us … and here’s to many, many more happy returns.

We’re Baack!

Wednesday, 25 November 2015
Gulf Waters RV Resort — Port Aransas, Texas
Temps: Hi 73F (23C) / Lo 71F (22C)

Actually, we returned from our trip to Europe on 14 November.  Hard to believe it has been nearly two weeks since we left NCL Jade in the Port of Houston following a 16-day cruise across the Big Pond.  We’ve been keeping busy with “getting settled again” chores, so perhaps the quick passage of time shouldn’t come as a surprise.

Hello Port of Houston!