Monday Blues
If you're retired and do much cruising, Monday is a day you look forward to...all the crazy weekend people go back to work. Here's to all the full time cruisers and our Monday Blues!
Aug. 12 - Aransas Bay, TX
Rockport Harbor
“Some people look for a beautiful place, others make a place beautiful.” - Hazrat Inayat Khan
Another day cruising on Aransas Bay...we could get used to this! We both miss being on the water. I know what you're thinking, we're on the water every day, but living on the boat in the marina is different from actual cruising. Both are great...but we enjoy MOVING on the water.
The main reason for today's cruise was to buy fuel. Stan's been asking the shrimpers in our harbor where they buy diesel and they all told him the best place was in Aransas Pass at Conn Brown Fuel Dock. So that was our first stop. We took on 200 gallons...the price was $1.90 a gallon. That is the lowest price we've paid since we started cruising...wish we could take some back to The Pearl.
Our next stop was at Redfish Willie's for lunch. They're located at the end of Conn Brown Harbor and have wonderful floating docks. It's been a long time since we've pulled up on our boat and had lunch. We enjoyed visiting with other cruisers while we enjoyed the view. I'm sure we'll make this cruise again.
It's very flat along the Texas ICW
Leaving the harbor. That bridge leads out to the ferries that take you to Port Aransas.
Aug. 10 - Aransas Bay Cruise
Rockport Harbor
"The waves of the sea help me get back to me." —Jill Davis
Believe it or not the weather has been slightly cooler...at least here in Rockport. Maybe it's just the lower humidity or maybe we’re adjusting to the Texas heat. Either way the wind was down and we felt it was comfortable enough to take the boat out for a ride. It felt AMAZING to be on the move with the breeze keeping us cool. The water was gorgeous...ok maybe not on Abaco standards, but on south Texas standards it was wonderful. It was a beautiful clear blue green and the bay was full of dolphins. We had as many as nine dolphins at one time playing off the bow of the boat. I think they were as happy to see us on the water, as we were to be there.
We traveled south through Aransas Bay until we got to the Aransas Pass (Lydia Ann) Lighthouse. The lighthouse is about a mile from the Aransas Pass Inlet from the Gulf of Mexico. Ferries carry cars across the bay from Aransas Pass to Port Aransas just past the inlet and it can be a very hectic place. Six or seven ferries maneuver in this area and with lots of barge and ship traffic. We decided we didn't want to be a part of that scene today, so we turned around and headed back to Rockport. One day when we go to Corpus Christi we will deal with that traffic.
Our morning visitors...he comes by almost everyday.
Aransas Pass (Lydia Ann) Lighthouse is the second oldest on the Texas coast and the only light station on the Texas coast to have an on-site caretaker.
The Captain enjoying the day
One of the dolphins coming to play
Dolphins, dolphins, dolphins
Here's a fixer upper that comes with a boat...all it needs is a little work!
Barges...one after the other. The coast of Texas is a busy place.
A tanker heading for the jetties at the Aransas Pass Inlet
Oil platforms are assembled in the area and then taken out into the Gulf.
Rockport Harbor
"The waves of the sea help me get back to me." —Jill Davis
Believe it or not the weather has been slightly cooler...at least here in Rockport. Maybe it's just the lower humidity or maybe we’re adjusting to the Texas heat. Either way the wind was down and we felt it was comfortable enough to take the boat out for a ride. It felt AMAZING to be on the move with the breeze keeping us cool. The water was gorgeous...ok maybe not on Abaco standards, but on south Texas standards it was wonderful. It was a beautiful clear blue green and the bay was full of dolphins. We had as many as nine dolphins at one time playing off the bow of the boat. I think they were as happy to see us on the water, as we were to be there.
We traveled south through Aransas Bay until we got to the Aransas Pass (Lydia Ann) Lighthouse. The lighthouse is about a mile from the Aransas Pass Inlet from the Gulf of Mexico. Ferries carry cars across the bay from Aransas Pass to Port Aransas just past the inlet and it can be a very hectic place. Six or seven ferries maneuver in this area and with lots of barge and ship traffic. We decided we didn't want to be a part of that scene today, so we turned around and headed back to Rockport. One day when we go to Corpus Christi we will deal with that traffic.
Our morning visitors...he comes by almost everyday.
July 31 - Blue Moon & Marley's Birthday
Rockport Harbor
“My soul is full of longing for the secret of the sea, and the heart of the great ocean sends a thrilling pulse through me.” – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Summer heat has arrived...warm nights and even hotter days. I think if this area of Texas had bears, they'd want to hibernate till October. That's what I feel like doing...just wake me up when the north wind begins to blow! Luckily we have an AC system that works well on the boat.
The urge to be moving on the water has been strong lately, but with the heat index near 110º, it just isn't appealing during the day. Evening cruising is much better along the Texas coast in August, so we invited friends to join us for dinner and a cruise to watch the full moon (Blue Moon) come up. A storm blew in during the late afternoon, cooling it off a little, but hindering the view of the sunset and moonrise. There were too many clouds to see it rising above the horizon, but it was beautiful once it was up. We both enjoy being on the water at night and it felt wonderful to be moving.
Rockport has something going on almost every weekend. This weekend was AquaFest. A festival the aquarium puts on to raise money and celebrate Marley's birthday. Marley is the resident moray eel. It's a family event mostly for the kids with lots of games, information booths, food booths, a silent auction and a huge birthday cake for Marley. All the activities took place in front of the boat so we had a front row seat and free admission.
This booth had the best popcorn I think I've ever eaten!
Setting up for the AquaFest
Telling the kids all about Marley
I think this is the largest cake I've ever seen...4'x8'
It looked like a blue norther was blowing in! It did cool it off a little, not much rain, but we had strong winds for a little while.
Ron and Debbie enjoyed the cruise
The star of the evening
Cruising back to Rockport
“My soul is full of longing for the secret of the sea, and the heart of the great ocean sends a thrilling pulse through me.” – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Summer heat has arrived...warm nights and even hotter days. I think if this area of Texas had bears, they'd want to hibernate till October. That's what I feel like doing...just wake me up when the north wind begins to blow! Luckily we have an AC system that works well on the boat.
The urge to be moving on the water has been strong lately, but with the heat index near 110º, it just isn't appealing during the day. Evening cruising is much better along the Texas coast in August, so we invited friends to join us for dinner and a cruise to watch the full moon (Blue Moon) come up. A storm blew in during the late afternoon, cooling it off a little, but hindering the view of the sunset and moonrise. There were too many clouds to see it rising above the horizon, but it was beautiful once it was up. We both enjoy being on the water at night and it felt wonderful to be moving.
Rockport has something going on almost every weekend. This weekend was AquaFest. A festival the aquarium puts on to raise money and celebrate Marley's birthday. Marley is the resident moray eel. It's a family event mostly for the kids with lots of games, information booths, food booths, a silent auction and a huge birthday cake for Marley. All the activities took place in front of the boat so we had a front row seat and free admission.
This booth had the best popcorn I think I've ever eaten!
Back at the dock after a fun evening on the water
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