A Very Beautiful Day!

Pelicans just hanging around

Pretty flower

Today was such a beautiful day! Not a cloud in the sky. I went for my walk at Roberts Point Park and saw a few more herons and pelicans. There was a really nice breeze and at its peak reached 78F (26C).

I coloured my hair this morning as the roots were coming out and we have a potluck tomorrow. Also wanted to have it done for Christmas so now that’s overwith. Gordon wasn’t feeling well so he spent most of the day resting and I sat outside and read and did word puzzles.

There are a couple of large souvenir beach type stores right behind us so I checked them out this afternoon but found nothing I couldn’t live without.

A Very Foggy Morning

Some foggy photos that I took on my morning walk

This morning was very foggy and I awoke to the fog horns on the ferries as they cross Redfish Bay on their way to and from Aransas Pass from Port Aransas. I just walked around the area this morning as the fog was too thick to be able to see much in the park.

I called my sister this morning to wish her a Happy Birthday while I was sitting outside enjoying the day. She said that our cousin, Ed called this morning from England to wish her a Happy Birthday. Ed is such a nice man. Except for his height, he reminds me so much of our father. When we were in England in 2000, we stayed with he and his wife, Jean for a couple of days.

After the fog burned off it turned into another bright, sunny and beautiful day so I spent most of the morning and afternoon sitting outside.

Later this afternoon I drove to the post office to get some things mailed and then to the local grocery to pick up a few items that I couldn’t get or forgot yesterday. Then I stopped at one of the touristy shops but didn’t buy anything.

Now we’re in for a quiet night of TV.

A Trip to Rockport

A heron squats by the shore while a dolphin frolics in the channel

This heron was in front of me on the sidewalk when all of a sudden he flew to the top of this structure and made like a weathervane

Here's a pelican sitting on a piling in front of some nice houses. They kind of reminded me of the houses along the water in Curacao

First of all, I want to wish my sister, Betty a Happy Birthday tomorrow. Unfortunately she doesn’t have a computer so I’ve sent my birthday wishes via snail mail.

My walk this morning was under mild, cloudy skies with a temperature of 62F(16C). By the time I got back it was 67F(19C). I walked over to Roberts Point Park again and saw more herons and pelicans as well as some cormorants and the odd dolphin frolicking in the channel. There was also quite a bit of ship traffic and boats leaving the marina to go fishing both commercial fishermen and fishing enthusiasts. Fishing is a really big deal around here.

Late this morning we headed over to Rockport to go to their SuperWalMart. I didn’t really like the one in Aransas Pass that we went to last week. I needed to get some photocopying done so found a UPS Store to do that. Then we went to a couple of RV Dealers to see if we could get a longer sewer hose. The sewers in a lot of these RV parks is at the back and our sewer connection is close to the front. Nope, the longest sewer hose they make is 20 feet. We can join two together but then they leak and that’s not pretty! So, we have to tie a plastic bag around the connector – just not very efficient.

After that unsuccessful attempt, we stopped at McDonald’s to get me an Asian salad. I ordered it, it took forever to get it. McDonald’s sure aren’t very organized. Then on to Taco Bell for Gordon’s Southwest Steak Bowl. Then we tried to find a picnic table but found a nice spot and ate in the truck only to find out when I opened my bag that I got a Caesar Salad instead of an Asian Salad. Not happy! That’s the second time in a couple of weeks that McDonald’s has gotten my order wrong.

After lunch, Gordon dropped me at WalMart and headed out in search of egrets to photograph. I got the shopping done and he got his egret photos so we headed home to Port Aransas.

Just Lazin' Around

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I took this photo yesterday of part of the Marina beside Robert's Point Park

This morning was sunny but not as warm as yesterday morning. Gordon went out to shoot photos at sunrise and wasn’t back yet when I left for my walk. I just walked around the neighbourhood this morning. There’s a housing development behind us. By the time I got back, Gordon was home and had been all around the area shooting photos. He said he took a whack of them! Check them out at www.pbase.com/merriwolf.

Today was spent just lounging around, sitting outside and reading. We had sun all day but we’re to have some cloud tomorrow.

Of Birds and Butterflies

And turtles too!

I started the day with a nice walk to Roberts Point Park. To walk there and back and take some photos it takes about half an hour. The weather was so beautiful I almost felt like I was in the Caribbean. There were a few Great Blue Herons around this morning, one of which is shown above.

The couple we met yesterday had told us they had seen Roseate Spoonbills on the Aransas Pass side so we took the ferry over this morning and drove around the mudflats where they had been seen but they had obviously moved on so we came back to Port Aransas and went to the Leonabelle Turnbul Birding Centre. There we saw all kinds of butterflies and birds including Roseate Spoonbills but they were quite far away.

As it was lunch time, we decided to have lunch at a restaurant. There is a place called Fins just across the road from the RV park. They will cook the fish you catch but they also have a menu. I had the Seafood Gumbo which was very good and Gordon had a hamburger which he said was good as well.

We then took a drive trying to find a way to get closer to the Roseate Spoonbills that we had seen earlier but had no luck there either. On our way back we stopped at Paradise Pond. There were quite a few birds there too but too far away for my camera. I did however get a photograph of some turtles which you will see above.

Our First Day in Port Aransas

Photos from l to r: Me on the jetty; an egret in flight; a handsome little pelican on the fishing pier in town; ships passing in the channel

This morning was very foggy but this afternoon turned out to be sunny and nice reaching about 75F (24C). Gordon went out and took some photos at Roberts Point Park this morning in the fog.

Today we spent most of the day just settling in, getting to know the park. A couple that are here from Madoc, Ontario and used to live in Ottawa dropped by, then we met them again this afternoon on the jetty. There are quite a few RVs here from Ontario. I expect we will meet more of them in the days to come.

The jetty divides the channel where the ships go through to get to the Corpus Christi Harbour from the Gulf and it goes quite a ways out into the water. We didn’t walk all the way to the end but there were lots of people and birds out there. Also there is lots of beach, but you have to drive to get to it.

We got some groceries and then stopped at one of the fishing piers in town. From there you can see the lighthouse although it is far away. Something tells me we’ll be taking a boat cruise to see it and the dolphins. There are lots of dolphins in the channel and they like to jump in front of the ships as they are passing by.

Now in Port Aransas, TX for a Month

Our site at Marina Beach RV Resort

The sun is trying to come out to say good-bye to me at Mustang Island Beach

It was mostly cloudy this morning and 57F (14C). The sun was trying to come out so it made for a very pleasant walk this morning. Unfortunately nothing unusual had washed up on the beach overnight but it was very peaceful with the waves and the sand and I got to say good-bye again to Mustang Island State Park Beach. We’ll be in the area for a month so we might be back but it won’t be the same with just leaving the RV and going for a walk on the beach when I feel like it.

We left Mustang Island State Park around 11:00 a.m. and then stopped at the dump station so we were on our way by 11:20 a.m. and traveled the 13 miles or so to Marina Beach RV Resort. When we arrived the lady that we saw earlier in the week was at church and we didn’t get the site that we had expected but we’re here and we were set up by 2:00 p.m. The sun tried to come out a few times and the temperature reached 72F (22C).

Betty called to see how we are doing and then we went for a walk around the area at dusk. That’s about it for our first day in Port Aransas!

On My Beach Walk

With this sign on the beach and these waves, would you swim here? Some pretty shells though!

It was an interesting walk this morning. I saw a lot of different seashells. It seems that each day the waves bring in different things. I haven’t seen a Portuguese Man O’War since last week and no jellyfish since the beginning of the week but different seashells mostly every day. It’s interesting what nature does. There was even a fish on the beach with no tail and his eyeballs gone. YUCK! Wonder what did that.

This afternoon we watched “Four Weddings and a Funeral” with Hugh Grant. Wasn’t bad, wasn’t great. Then I went for another walk on the beach. Our time here at Mustang Island State Park is drawing to a close (this time we definitely are moving). It was much nicer this afternoon. The wind was almost balmy and I had too many clothes on. There were two surfers out but they were just coming in as I walked by and said the surf wasn’t too good today.

I e-mailed my Christmas letter today. For those of you on my mailing list, although my husband’s given name is Gordon, he is also called David (mostly by my family) and answers to both names, so they are one and the same. I will publish the updated Christmas letter here on my blog at the end of the year.

The 'Short Trip' to Aransas Pass

See the sand drifting in the wind!

It was 46F (8C) and very windy this morning but I dressed in layers and went for my usual walk.

Today we headed over to Aransas Pass to do a little WalMart shopping, mostly groceries but as Gordon went with me this time we found him some braces for his pants and some new slippers. I also got a toque for walking in the wind down here. Now that I have it, I probably won’t need it. I usually wear my baseball cap to keep the sun out of my eyes but the last couple of days there hasn’t been any sun but lots of wind so this will help. I didn’t notice that it’s wool when I bought it so it’s itchy but I won’t be wearing it for long periods.

Going to Aransas Pass entails either driving through Corpus Christi which is the long way or taking the ferry from Port Aransas to Aransas Pass which is the short way. We took the short way. There are usually four ferries running – there is no charge and I have no idea why they don’t build a bridge. It takes all of five minutes to cross the channel on the ferry. You’d think in the long run it would be cheaper to have a bridge.

Lots of Wind and Rain Today!

Note re comments: For the last week or so I have been unable to post comments on other people’s blogspot blogs. I have advised them but nothing seems to have been done. I’ve tried with both Firefox and Internet Explorer. Hope they get it fixed soon!

The rain waited until I finished my walk this morning but it was pleasant and mild when I was out.

This morning I got the laundry done. When I left the rain wasn’t too bad but by the time I got back it was very windy and the rain was heavy and it continued that way throughout the afternoon. The forecast had called for ‘light’ rain. HA! Just after dark the wind went down and the rain stopped at least for now.

No photos taken today.

Another Day at the Beach!

Looks like some weather coming in. Hard to tell the difference between water and sky

Oil rigs in the Gulf

This morning was warm and cloudy. I decided not to take my camera today and wouldn’t you know it, right there on the beach was the great blue heron and hunkered down waiting for some fish to come to him. Oh well, that’s the way it goes. As I walked down the beach he flew down beside me. That would never happen if I had my camera with me.

I had planned to do laundry today but since it was warm and the sun was coming out briefly every now and then, I elected to sit outside and wait till tomorrow to do the laundry as it’s supposed to rain.

We had lots of people come in today. There’s a couple here from Barrie, Ontario and a lady and her dog who have a truck and fifth wheel. She’s planning on selling her house and going full time. That takes guts!

It reached 75F (24C) today and was quite humid but will be much colder tomorrow with 'light' rain. The weather on the radio station that I listen to is saying 57F (14C) for Corpus Christi. It may be a bit warmer here but not much!

We Found a Campsite for the Holidays!

The first photo is of one of many jellyfish that I found on the beach this morning. Lots of them are huge. When I saw the first one I thought it was just a plastic grocery bag until I got closer so that's about the size it is. The second photo is of a dark blue shell that I saw this morning. There were quite a few of these on the beach too as well as ones like I posted yesterday. The third photo is a sign that you're greeted with just before entering the campground area. I have watched for said snakes and haven't seen any. Sure hope it stays that way!

It was sunny, not so windy and much warmer this morning 63F (16C)! I think our high today was 65F (18C).

This afternoon we had to get propane and I wanted to get some stamps and a few groceries so we drove into Port Aransas. I was quite impressed with the IGA store there so we decided we’d look for our RV park in Port Aransas for over Christmas. We looked at one where the sites were fairly tight and then Gordon spotted one that it seemed that we couldn’t get to. We finally found the entrance to Marina Beach RV Resort and found that it is a new resort only opening last year. There were quite a few empty spots and we liked the looks of the place so we signed up for a month beginning this Sunday. We’re right in town and only a short distance from the ferry that takes us to Aransas Pass so it’s a convenient location and the sites are fairly large and easy to get in and out of. It doesn’t have a swimming pool yet but they do have pot lucks, breakfasts and crafts so I’m happy. We shouldn’t have any problem finding the satellites for the internet and TV either.

Glad that’s out of the way, now we can go about enjoying the area!

Beach Stuff

Today was bright and sunny but not very warm when I left for my beach walk. I mentioned yesterday that when the full moon comes, the tides come in farther toward the dunes and you can see from the photo that I took this morning that the tide came in much further last night than it has since we’ve been here at Mustang Island. I also found out that the full moon is this week not next.

I also found a lot of seashells on the beach this morning that were still intact. Some of them were quite large. There were also a lot of little birds (we think, plovers) scurrying around the beach as usual. They are really funny to watch.

Although the day was sunny we only got to about 55F (13C).

We didn’t go out anywhere today, I just walked around the area and the beach looking for the great blue heron which I never did find.

We Didn't Move!

These are photos I took this afternoon. The flowers are sand dune flowers. The heron is at a little viewing pond just across from our campsite and the other one shows the width of the beach as next week during full moon at high tide this will apparently flood.

This morning it was windy again, no sun so we decided to stay where we are this week. I had already gone for my beach walk and thought I was saying good-bye to the beach but as it turned out I got to walk again this afternoon. I sure need the exercise!

We didn't do much else today. Gordon is trying to teach me some Photoshop techniques as you will see above. Wonder if I'll be able to do this by myself next time!

Windy Day but Quiet Time for Us!

We’re back to some semblance of heat this morning. It was 61F (16C) when I got up and went for my beach walk. Today I did get a few photos of the clean beach although it’s not as clean as it was yesterday. It got cloudy and windy later this morning but the temperature remained pretty much the way it was at 8:00 a.m..

We spent the day hanging around the RV reading and I did a little bit of cleaning and also went for another walk.

Tomorrow we move north (aren’t we going the wrong way) to Goose Island State Park just north of Rockport, TX.

Sunny and on the Chilly Side!

It was bright and sunny this morning but only 48F (9C) when I went for my walk. Quite a difference from yesterday morning. The other difference is the beach was clean, no seaweed, no Portuguese Man O’War on the beach so either the wind carried everything out to sea which I think is unlikely or they cleaned the beach during the windstorm yesterday. I didn’t take my camera with me this morning so I don’t have photos.

Today I needed to go to SuperWalMart so Gordon drove me as it’s quite a ways into Corpus Christi and I don't like driving if I don't know where I'm going. On the way we stopped and checked out some campgrounds in Corpus Christi thinking that if we couldn’t find one in Rockport, we could stay in Corpus Christi but didn’t find one that suited us. Fussy eh?

It did reach 59F (15C) today but since it’s turned quite chilly here and will be for a few days we thought about heading south toward South Padre Island instead of going to Goose Island State Park. That’s something you can do if you don’t have reservations but I think we’ve decided to go GISP and look for something in Rockport. I can get around by myself there!

Monthly Expenses for November

Campground Fees - $616.75

Groceries - $417.14

Laundry - $19.50

Wine/Spirits - $0.00 – Under groceries

Entertainment - $86.00

Snacks - $2.85

Eating Out - $112.11

Fuel (Truck) - $431.01

Propane - $22.75

Repairs/Service RV/Truck - $198.37

Misc - $80.36

Insurance - $151.04

Internet/TV - $155.57

Cell Phones - $114.18 – we get a $50 rebate on Gordon’s new cell phone (not reflected)

Medical/Dental - $251.52

Gifts - $0.00

Total - $2709.15

Considering we did a lot of driving this month, we did fairly well. The Medical/Dental may change as I haven’t submitted anything through insurance yet so I’m not sure how much they will pay. Other than that, everything’s pretty self-explanatory.

Photos below are of the USS Lexington. It was the most highly decorated aircraft carrier of World War II and is now a floating museum since its retirement after 48 years of service, a longer tour than any other ship in the U.S. Navy.

Gordon and I in Memphis, TN on our Anniversary

I'm uploading this here so I can use it as my profile photo

A Nasty Day!

I have no idea what this is. Anyone have any ideas?

This photo shows the expanse of beach and the truck camper mentioned in the blog below

Another beautiful morning for my beach walk. This morning there was a truck camper parked on the beach. There are no hookups there but you can dry camp.

From 72F (22C) at 8:00 a.m. by 10:30 a.m. it was 49F (9C) and VERY windy. I’ve never seen the temperature drop that far that quickly. Apparently they had snow in Dallas today so at least we don’t have that. I sat outside this morning after breakfast thinking that it might be my last chance to do so for a while and within about 15 minutes of going out the sun had gone and cloud had set in and it started to rain. It rained on and off for about an hour or so leaving us with the strong winds and low temperatures. Out came the heater again. I had hoped it wasn’t going to be needed until we start heading homeward in the spring.

Later in the afternoon, the power went out, it had been of and on a few times and then it went out for about 45 minutes. We were starting to think that it was going to be a long, cold night when it came back on.

The sun also came out late in the afternoon and the skies began to clear and it warmed up a bit to 52F (11C).

The electric blanket may have to come out again tonight!

A Great Day to be at the Beach!

My walk on the beach this morning was under 78F (26C) temperatures and a fairly strong wind but not enough to blow the sand around. It’s so beautiful! I wasn’t alone this morning. There were a couple of other people walking. Quite a few RVs came into the park yesterday. We’re nowhere near full though.

After breakfast I again sat outside in my lawn chair until the sun left us and it became cloudy and seemed to be cooler although it was still 77F (25C). With the wind blowing it just seems to be cooler.

Birds on the beach

This afternoon I walked down to the beach and just walked around taking photos and listening to the radio. They have a really good oldies station in Corpus Christi 93.9 FM. They play real oldies from the 50’s and 60’s. I thought 1310 AM in Ottawa was good but this one is way better. You’ve got to be really carefully walking barefoot on the beach as they are a lot of Portuguese Man o’War (see photo). Nasty looking things! Their sting is dangerous to humans and has been responsible for deaths and there are lots of them here of all sizes. Needless to say, I either have beach shoes or my sneakers on when I’m on the beach. It was amazing to be on the beach all by myself in the middle of the day. There was no one anywhere that I could see up and down the expanse of beach which goes for miles.

Portuguese Man O'War

Pelicans in flight

This time of year I have a problem making dinner as it's usually too hot to put the oven on and I don't really like to fry meat. There's always the crockpot but I always think of that too late. In the summer, Gordon barbecues but by the time we eat dinner in the late fall/winter/early spring, it’s too dark so tonight I just browned some chicken breasts and put them in with a can of the tomato basil soup (that you can only buy in Canada) mixed with ½ water and ½ cooking wine and we’ll see how it tastes. It’s sort of a poor man’s chicken cacciatore. This soup doesn’t have any wheat flour in it unlike plain tomato soup so I stock up before we leave. We’ll see what this concoction tastes like!

Rockport and Goose Island State Park

Another hot, humid morning for walking on the beach! Just me and the shore birds.

This morning we took the ferry from Port Aransas to Aransas Pass and headed into Rockport. We stayed in Rockport two years ago when we were here. We stopped at the Chamber of Commerce and picked up some brochures on RV Parks and drove along the shoreline and took some more bird photos. There are so many birds there! We stopped for lunch at Taco Bell in Rockport. Then we drove out to Goose Island State Park which is just north of Rockport and decided that we’d like to spend a week there. They have sites that back on the water so we’ll head over there on Sunday for a week. We stopped by the Raintree RV Park where we stayed in 2005 but they are full over Christmas so we’ll have to look elsewhere. We drove back through Corpus Christi instead of taking the ferry and stopped at the H.E.B. grocery store and picked up a few items.

When we got back, I again took my book and headed for my lawn chair.

Just before sunset we went to a spot near us to take some sunset photos. The sunset wasn’t great but there was a heron right in front of the sun so got a few photos there. When we came back the grackles had gathered in front of the camp hosts site. Looks like a remake of the Alfred Hitchcock movie!