Port-A...Get-Away

Port Aransas or Bust!

As soon as I got off work at 2:30 I drove erratically home to pick up my travel companion, Meghann Rosales. With a very aggressive tempo and an even more aggressive style of packing we were quickly on our way to the beach. We arrived just in time for a walk on the jetty and the sun setting behind us. As you can see things are a little "off" in Port Aransas.

I do not know why, but they say these things.

"Burgers and Fries"

"Hot dogs and Nachos"

We did make it in time for a very nice sunset. Meghann, of course, was good about taking pictures.

Reflecting off the high tide pool.

Our first view of Horace Cadwell Pier, what would end up being our beach hang out. Sunset action.

Shell hunting for the elusive sharks tooth.

After settling in to the Alister Inn in quaint, quirky Port Aransas we headed to eat some sea food that was not caught anywhere near the Gulf of Mexico. Weird thing since we were twenty yards from the Gulf of Mexico. Then we started or first beach adventure, Shell Hunting. The two things that we really wanted to find were a sharks tooth and a full sand dollar. It is questionable whether of not we found either one. We were however armed with a not-very-high lumen headlamp and a flashlight to help us find these things, as it was nighttime.

Meghann says she found a sharks tooth. I am not 100% it is one.

What do you think?

This is the booty Meghann found. She is always the best at fossil hunting.

Sunrise

We arrived to the beach early to see tiny surf, but a beautiful sunrise. Meghann took great pictures of the moment, like this one.

From the pier

From the beach

6:50am wake up time

I was very adamant that we be at the beach at 7:00am for surfing. The report had the surf at 3 stars with 5 foot waves and light winds. As you might see from my expression the surf report was a little off...small and wind chop. I was heart broken once again by the Gulf of Mexico.

In my despair I dragged Meghann on a wild surf chase around the island. Instead of good surf we found many beautiful areas that made it worth the drive. Such as this secluded beach.

These sand dunes with the sun slowly peaking over.

To the pier where a fisher man had tons, literally tons of things.

Finally some fun in the sand!

After the Gulf Coast broke my heart all morning we decided to head back to the Horace Cadwell Pier and have some beach time. It ended up being pretty darn good surfing.

Everyone in the line up waiting for a set to come in, which they did quit often. They were short rides with fast drops.

Here you can see some of the smaller sets coming in that are actually clean and fun to ride.

Thomas taking off on a wave

Thomas doing a frontside turn. (Furthest from photographer)

The beach was not too bad either. Tanning central

Our search for the nature preserve might be in vain

A big part of our daily agenda was to bird watch. I had heard about a nature preserve that had many a bird to view, but it seemed as if every local told us a different way to get there. We drove around the island for a while and ended up at a wildlife educational center and rehabilitation center for injured animals. This is Meghann trying to whisper an endangered, hurt turtle.

We saw many a exotic animal and bird at this locale. This was not one of them. A seagull

There were pelicans all over this dock in the middle of the marsh land area.

Meghann acting like a Pelican, but looking like she might vomit.

Being pretty in the summer heat

Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center

Located in the heart of Port A, this birding center features a lengthy, elevated walkway. Living around and under the walkway are numerous birds, crocodiles, red-ear turtles, snakes and fish.