Sights and smells...

J

JamesTXSD

Active member
Sunrise - my favorite time of the day. I love to watch the sky go from black to purple to pink as the sun makes it way up from behind the horizon. When at anchor, I am always up as the light starts to change. Back on land for a while, I like to take a morning walk... nice, but not the same. It's still warm here (was 79º at 6:00 am this morning) and usually still until the seabreeze comes up mid-morning... a great time to watch the light play on the water. This morning, we shoved off while it was still dark; made our way out our canal and into the ICW; east through our swingbridge, just a bit of light in the eastern sky...

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We made our way across the southern Laguna Madre, past the Coast Guard station, to the southern tip of South Padre Island, and then east again to the jetties. There was a line of clouds at the horizon, but still some of the color of the morning...

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And the smells: Joan is not the morning person I am, but she is a trooper. I made coffee for her before we headed out (she is the coffee drinker, but I like the smell). The cabin of the boat was soon filled with the smell of fresh cinnamon rolls and fresh cut fruit, thanks to the Blonde...

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Cinnamon smells and a beautiful endless view of the Gulf - a wonderful way to start the day. The Gulf was calm except for the sportfishers heading out. We stayed out there until the sun got higher and then headed back into the Laguna...

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We decided to take a local tour: through the marina on SPI, across the bay past the lighthouse at Port Isabel...

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By this time, the pink light of morning was changing to full daylight. We crossed under the Queen Isabella Causeway and into the fingers area of Port Isabel. PI is a fishing village, mostly blue collar, but finding itself discovered; an end-of-the-road town, full of character, distinctly different from the high rises and beach shops on South Padre Island...

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We took our time heading home; south under the causeway again, stopping to watch one of the excursion boats showing off the local dolphins. Then into the Brazos-Santiago Ship Channel, watching a freighter go by, then a 140' workboat. Here's the Blonde enjoying her coffee in the cockpit while we slowly made our way around our little island, through the turning basin (the end of the ICW), and into our canal...

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A great start to the day...

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
Jim,
Love the mornings .
Thanks for the post.
I am reminded of the morning we were anchored up on Lake Powell. It, too, was early. I was up with my cup of fresh brewed coffee, taking in the sites and sounds of the morning. Reading a book and listening to the whisteling of the wind in the fishing poles and lines on top of the boat----- wind whisteling????? Pat get up!!! We have to head for Wahweep--- NOW!
:shock: By the time we had the cabin stowed and the anchor up, it was blowing hard. We made it back to the harbor in time to see some of the others come in- Bill & El, Chris, Ken.
We had been on the lake for 4 or 5 days and were scheduled to return that day anyways. We were lucky to have had good weather for the time that we did.

Whether we are at home, on the boat or in the motorhome, I enjoy rising early, making my coffee and greeting the day.
 
Very nicely done, Jim.

You captured your world in a very vivid way. You've portrayed a picture that is quite different from an increasingly blustery and challenging Lake Erie which is buffeted by strong southerly winds this time of year.

Best regards,

Nick
"Valkyrie"

By the way, retirement seems to suit you!
 
Its Just NOT FAIR :mrgreen: :mrgreen: I click and click and click and my pictures turn out all muddy and foggy while yours are spectacular and a delight to see. Jeez, it must have something to do with knowing what you're doing!!

I always look forward to your posts and images.
 
Dear Jim,

There is just no doubt you have photographic, writing, boating and matrimonial talent.

Keep it up. Really appreciate your posts and stories. Your comments on the purchase decision-making process were hilarious, your comments on the speeds we motor at were poignant and both, as usual, right on.

Thanks,

Mark
 
Now that you mentioned it, Barry, alot of the pics from you PNW guys are kind of fuzzy, foggy, and have lots of big green bumps in the middle of alot of dark blue stuff.... Nothing like that here in Kansas. Must be the lenses?
John
 
By the way, thanks Jim and Joan for your postings... 'helps us land-locked ppl keep in touch with the big waters, and the deeper meanings of messing about in/on the water. John
 
drjohn71a":2nxjs9gu said:
By the way, thanks Jim and Joan for your postings... 'helps us land-locked ppl keep in touch with the big waters, and the deeper meanings of messing about in/on the water. John
Click to expand...

For years, I have been a regular participant on a couple sailing forums. We have been fortunate to be able to take winters off for the past 15 years - and I have posted about sailing in the Tropical Tip of Texas and other warm water areas during that time... resulting in scads of nice responses from those in the frozen northland. Of course, I expected them to reciprocate when I was working my butt off during the summer and could only get out on the water on weekends. If I can't be "out there", I enjoy reading about those who are.

This summer (after getting our C-Dory), we had no summer schedule for the first time in our adult lives. It was wonderous and we thoroughly enjoyed being in the PNW and meeting so many great C-Dory people and discovering the joys of traveling with this boat. I write a travel newsletter to keep family informed about our adventures (for over 15 years now). It is also a great "diary" for us, with photos to illustrate the stories. Posting excerpts from that on this forum has been fun for us, as well.

And to Nick and B-C, who mentioned this lifestyle agreeing with us... absolutely! The reward for being a responsible adult for a bunch of years should be the opportunity to be a "kid" again. Yesterday we were up early and went for a 4 mile walk on the beach... then out for the rest of the day on the boat. Today, we rode our bicycles, did a few chores (Joan did yardwork while I got our deck - overlooking the boat - set up again. Then off for a motorcycle ride, and an early supper at a little beach place with a view of the bay. Joan just said, "Let's go out on the boat again first thing in the morning." It's actually better than being a kid, 'cause you can toast the end of a great day with a sundowner (a term I learned here, btw)! :wink

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
Outstanding pictures Jim!

We have some friends here locally that are Winter Texans at Port Aransas on Mustang Isl. We are going to visit them this coming Feb and by viewing your pictures, I am sure I will want to return the following winter and take the boat (to be ordered soon).

Doug DeVore
 
That's one of the things that made me fall in love with this place... the winter visitors aren't called "snowbirds", they are called "Winter Texans" and made to feel like they belong here.

Port A is a fun place. Having your boat there will only make it better (so you will want to bring it here when you get it). Our average daytime highs in February are in the 70s (we are about 180 miles further south from Port A)... if you get tired of that area, come south and check out Port Isabel and South Padre Island. :smiled

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
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