Views of the Neighborhood – Golf Carts

August 12, 2018August 11, 2018 ~ John W. Howell ~ 64 Comments

This week I thought I would go out and see how the golf cart business is doing. Mid-week I went to Bron’s Beach Carts to take a photo of the lot. I did this so that I could come back on Saturday and take another shot. A lot filled on Wednesday and empty on Saturday means tourists are here. I know not very scientific but better than nothing.

Her is a far away shot of Brons. You can see some carts in the lot.

A closer look at the entrance. Looks like a guy has been waiting quite a while for public transportation.

Here is another shot of the lot. That sign advertises drinks to go. You can get frozen drinks in giant economy sizes.

Here is a shot of the entertainment area. Bron’s has live entertainment weekly. Also, they have a late night bonfire. Coupled with those frozen drinks can you spell fun?

Here is a lounge area

Another close-up. You can see the live music sign on the left. Bron’s has to be the most fun cart rental store on the island.

So here is a shot of the cart lot on Saturday. Nothing but automobiles.

A few carts left, but mostly all gone.

Certainly more cars than carts. I checked some other places, and the results are the same. Here is one example.

Before

After

Looks like the tourists are here for a few more final weekends.

Views of the Neighborhood – The Harbor

August 5, 2018 ~ John W. Howell ~ 68 Comments

It’s such a nice day, I thought a walk around the Marina might be relaxing. Sorry about the lateness of this post. I messed up the scheduling. Hope you enjoy.

The marina is connected to the park. This sign is a Hurricane Harvey survivor.

Lots of nice boats.

Two shrimp trawlers off in the distance.

The PollyAnna and a lot of new slips that are open.

Two nice boats.

I have to alert Deborah that the pole is bent and the sign is straight.

This is named the Jetty Boat and runs people to St Joe’s Island. There is nothing on St Joes except shells.

A sightseeing boat.

Two beautiful fishing boats.

I came home with this picture and told the Producer that I had found our boat. She was not impressed.

More fishing boats across the channel.

Some folks doing some fishing off the harbor jetty. Those are granite rocks.

Always nice to have the Army Corps of Engineers around.

My kind of boat. 35-foot Bertram

Some men working on installing the new docks.

Day fishing boat. Named La Pesca (Why not?).

No fish flag flying.

Views of the Neighborhood -Surf Fishing

July 29, 2018July 28, 2018 ~ John W. Howell ~ 58 Comments

As you can see it is a beautiful day. The surf is calm and the winds have slowed. All this means the surf fisherfolk will be out in force. Good time to cruise around and see what we can see.

A young man making breakfast. There is no fish but plenty of bacon. He obviously stayed the night.

Need to have a full bait bucket. He caught and released a shark.

This is how you surf fish. You wade out with a rod and cast as far as you can.

Getting that line ready.

Couple out for a day of fishing. That grill says they have confidence.

Here is a group who have circled the RVs. Pretty safe from wolves.

Here is a shot that could be called, “retrospective for a chair.” Wonder what happens if there is a bite.

You can barely see the guy on top of the camper in a lounge chair. Looks like a cool spot.

Here is how the resorts put up with the sun. Those umbrellas and chairs are set up by the staff.

They even have portable restrooms at this resort.

This is what they use to groom the sand on the beach.

A couple of poles. Looks like they ditched their owners.

Here is what we all hate. Some idiot from San Antonio putting up caution tape to reserve an area that could accommodate twenty people. The big question, “Where the heck are they?” Probably in bed while you are out here trying to find a place. “Go ahead cut the ribbon and pull in.”

Views of the Neighborhood – When It’s Hot

July 22, 2018July 21, 2018 ~ John W. Howell ~ 80 Comments

There is nothing like Summer in South Texas. The above heat index map was from yesterday at 11:30 AM. We live under the right side of the 0 in the number 103 F. (That’s 39.444 degrees C) The forecasted high could go to 110.

So what does one do to beat the heat around here? Let me tell you the beach and pools are way too hot.

How about a trip to the library?

Hmm. Boarded door and not accepting donations? I would say they are closed.

I know. A stroll through the Marie Science Educational Center.

Does the word, “temporarily” mean like in four or five minutes they will open? Probably not.

We could head over to the candy shop. Of course, it costs about 1000 calories an hour to stay cool there.

Now we are talking. How about painting a ceramic and having it fired? Let’s go inside.

The first thing you see is the pickup rack. This is where the clients pick up their ceramics after they have been fired. You can see some waiting for their owners.

This is Michelle Shook, the owner of Fire It Ceramics. She just moved into a new location after Hurricane Harvey severely damaged her previous shop. The fish she is getting ready to wrap was started by a client before the hurricane hit. It survived in the shop and is being picked up today.

This is a shot of the color rack. As you can see, there are about 280 choices to decorate your piece.

This wall chart gives the client an idea of what their finish will look like after it is fired. So what you do is select your color and then go to this display and check to see if what you have chosen will come out the way you hope. Michelle says, “You don’t have to know how to paint from an artistic sense to do ceramics. All you do is apply paint.”

Here are the workplaces. While we were there, a group was having a birthday. Their group was about ten, so two tables were put together.

Here are some of the ceramics on display. You choose your ceramic and then paint it.

Here are some more.

A supply table and some T-shirts waiting for design

More choices on what to paint.

Here is Michelle again with her large kiln. She had five kilns working at her previous location. She temporarily has two that survived the hurricane and more on order.

Of course, there is always some idiot willing to stick their head into a cut-out and pay considerable sums to get possession of the data file with the picture.

Views of the Neighborhood – Deep Sea Round-Up

July 15, 2018July 14, 2018 ~ John W. Howell ~ 56 Comments

The Deep Sea Round-Up is an annual fishing tournament held in Port Aransas and benefits scholarships for students and community youth activities. It is the 83rd annual

Of course, you need a T-shirt.

And a goofy picture.

The main stage with all the sponsors listed.

The neighborhood pirate ship.

Here is the leaderboard where the leading catches are recorded.

For Dan Antion, a crane used to replace floating docks.

When you come in from fishing, volunteers greet your boat.

They take your fish.

And weigh them. (This is a catfish)

And a trout.

Then your fish is put on the measuring board.

Where it is straightened out and measured.

Then the girth is measured with a tape.

Some kingfish being weighed.

A red snapper being weighed.

Then your fish are brought back to you.

A bucket of red snapper. I hope you enjoyed the view.

Views of the Neighborhood – Fourth of July Parade

July 8, 2018July 7, 2018 ~ John W. Howell ~ 53 Comments

Our neighborhood has a Fourth of July Day day parade. The neighbors decorate, wagons, bikes, and golf carts and have a parade.

The parade was led by four National Guardsmen who volunteered to be with us on the Fourth

Followed by a decorated cart and bicycle.

More bikes and a blue golf cart.

A green cart and a tricycle and a baby tram.

A wagon, a white cart, and an orange bicycle.

After the parade, everyone gathered at the organizer’s house for watermelon and ice cream.

The parade wasn’t big but packed an enjoyment punch. Thanks for coming along.

Views of the Neighborhood – Harvey Update

July 1, 2018June 30, 2018 ~ John W. Howell ~ 64 Comments

I did say I would not be showing the damage of Hurricane Harvey since I felt it too personal. Today I am giving you a view of those places that will in all probability not be repaired and the owners have gone elsewhere.

This home is vacant. Note the color of the sky. That is a haze produced by the blowing sands of the Sahara desert in Africa.

This is a shot of the house that I took before Harvey. I was highlighting the rope on the fence. You can get a good idea of the normal sky color too.

Here are some homes that are being moved to a different location.

I did not realize there are businesses that will buy your home or RV and take it away.

Here is a lot that no longer has a house.

Another house ready to be moved. I was touched by the flag left by the owners.

Here is another lot where the house has been relocated. The car is still there.

This will most likely be torn down.

This was a popular restaurant in Port Aransas. Not sure it will open again.

On a positive note, this convenience store and gas station was totally destroyed but is being rebuilt.

Views of the Neighborhood – Check on the Birding Center

June 24, 2018June 23, 2018 ~ John W. Howell ~ 53 Comments

I decided to go by the Leonabell Turnbull Birding Center to see how much progress has been made on the Hurricane Harvey reconstruction. Join me as we walk about

The Farley boat has been replanted

The plant labels are back. This is a Firecracker plant.

A new information sign with leaflet containers.

This is a sign detailing the recovery plan. It also asks for patience.

I retook this photo since it amazes me how much vegetation was taken by the storm. Those three mothballed oil rigs were not visible before the Hurricane.

The Port Aransas Garden Club has adopted a site at the center.

There is always some idiot who sticks their head in the Alligator sign.

I had hoped to see a lot of birds listed. But we do know Big Bird Little Bird, a coot, a pelican, Kristi, James, and Jane were spotted. I can’t read the frown face

Unfortunately, the access to the birding center is still not repaired.

The alligator’s swamp is still filled with debris (He is fine and living in another part of the reserve)

The Cattails are beautiful.

Reminders not to feed the wildlife anything including yourself. Sorry that the center is still under construction but it looks a lot better than it did. I’ll come back when the walkways are finished.

Views of the Neighborhood – Charlies Pasture

June 17, 2018June 16, 2018 ~ John W. Howell ~ 66 Comments

We have always like to visit Charlies Pasture nature preserve. The last time we were here the Hurricane damage prevented us from entering. There are still no cars allowed but we took a walk past the gate to see how the park fared in the hurricane.

Here is the locked main gate.

You can see the hurricane-damaged sea wall. Those are mothballed drilling rigs in the background

A view of the seawall and the road. Quite a lot of damage.

Another view to give you some perspective.

While we were walking a family of dolphins came up to the seawall. This is the male. It was quite exciting to see them so close to the shore.

I asked how he was doing and he didn’t answer.

He’s starting his dive.

There are a mother and baby in the background as well as the male who is in the foreground

This is the mother and baby. The baby is a half a stroke ahead of the mother.

To give you an idea of the storm power this sea wall used to run all the way across that body of water

A shot showing the breach.

One last shot of papa. Notice the pelican stays pretty close. The dolphin stirs up the fish population, and the pelican is standing by to catch a hapless fish fleeing.

Views of the Neighborhood – Nashville Indiana

June 10, 2018June 9, 2018 ~ John W. Howell ~ 55 Comments

I am in Nashville Indiana to attend the High School graduation of my granddaughter. This week’s Views of the Neighborhood will give you a small taste of the town.