Views of the Neighborhood – Spring Break II

March 18, 2018March 17, 2018 ~ John W. Howell ~ 86 Comments

Here is a shot of a foggy Saturday morning. A few cars and campers. This is looking North.

Another Saturday morning shot looking South.

The same shot looking North in the afternoon

South. The cars are two deep as far as the eye can see.

Down at the sand level, we have the Game Warden looking for drugs

The police asking a crowd to move on.

Only in Texas would you see calf roping on the beach

The Game Warden is the highest level of Law enforcement in the state.

This shot is through the windshield of our golf cart. I just had to have a picture of that ugly truck.

I liked the shot of the dog which I thought was cute.

Now we are into the heart of darkness. Can you feel the bass?

More carrying on. Notice the person in the unicorn head. “Yes, you with the green beads. Do you have a question?”

No spring break day would be complete without an EMS run or ten.

Another familiar scene a State Trooper giving a field sobriety test. Public intoxication is a crime in Texas.

I thought I would throw in a shot of the local gentry taking in the scene.

Let’s leave the tour looking at an excellent, mild, and portable game of beer pong.

Views of the Neighborhood – Whooping Crane Festival

February 25, 2018February 24, 2018 ~ John W. Howell ~ 55 Comments

Here is a description of the festival taken from http://www.whoopingcranefestival.org. You can visit the site for information on events.

This festival in its 22nd year is a one of a kind event, focused on the Whooping Crane, the rarest of cranes and one of the most endangered birds in the world.

The Whooping Crane population is at a record high –an estimated 431 cranes wintered at the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge last year. This summer, a record 63 Whooping Crane chicks fledged on the cranes’ breeding grounds at Wood Buffalo National Park in Canada. The Whooping Crane Festival celebrates the annual return of the cranes to their wintering habitat. The Texas Coastal Bend is the only place where you can see the world’s last naturally occurring population of Whooping Cranes.

World-renowned crane expert, Dr. George Archibald, Co-Founder of the International Crane Foundation, will be one of the featured speakers, along with representatives from Wood Buffalo National Park, Operation Migration, the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, and more. Festival activities include boat tours to view the Whooping Cranes, interactive workshops and seminars, birding and nature boat and bus tours, a painting and wine tasting class and a free nature-related trade show.

A whooping Crane

Visitors from all over the country come to Port Aransas for the festival

The registration desk with a hanging quilt depicting the T-shirts from 20 festivals.

This year’s shirt

The Whooping Crane chicks are hatched in Wood Buffalo National Park in Canada.

Representatives of the International Crane Foundation

Information on the Estuaries program and how to keep the Gulf beautiful.

An overall shot of the room. There were just too many booths to feature here. There were gifts, art, jewelry and more.

The famous King Ranch was represented offering birding tours.

Information for birders on the Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival.

The Port Aransas Animal Rehabilitation Keep was well represented.

Need binoculars?

Fisherman’s Wharf is represented offering tours to the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, home of the Whooping Cranes. This is a model of the Wharf Cat, the boat used for the trip.

If you blow up this photo, you can see which birds have been spotted so far.

A picture of the Wharf Cat and bird enthusiasts waiting to board for the tour.

Another shot

The captain surveying the landlubbers.

Another event that is part of the Whooping Crane Festival is the Wine and Art workshop at the Arts Center

There are wine and snacks too.

Everyone works on their individual rendering of the same piece. Here an artist is drying the background to get ready for the foreground.

Did I mention there was wine?

The artist instructor is demonstrating the application of the foreground.

Here is what each participants piece will look like.

I hope you enjoyed the walk around. It was good to see everyone enjoying themselves.

Views of the Neighborhood – Sure Sign of Recovery

February 18, 2018February 18, 2018 ~ John W. Howell ~ 63 Comments

A sure sign of recovery in any disaster area is when the folks get together to put on a craft or Garage sale. Well, we had both this week. It is almost as if the last five months have led to pent-up sale demand. We will visit both, but I have to warn you the attendance is a lot less than other events in the past. Since there is a scarcity of housing, it is estimated that three out of four Winter Texans could not find a place this year and stayed home or went somewhere else.

The craft sale.

These are crafts made primarily by Winter Texans.

A lot of shell jewelry. The creator is from North Dakota.

Some nice watercolors.

Some original wood art.

A friendly oil painting artist.

Beads and stuff.

This woman painted the crab and heron. Both were honored by being duplicated on the side of a ferry. The crab is on the Mark B. Goode and the heron on the William G. Burnet.

Now on to the city-wide garage sale.

This is one of the stores that the owners decided to move away. They are selling everything.

Slim pickings. They were mobbed early. The Producer and I tend to amble in and miss some stuff.

The city-wide sale is all over town. There is a map which you can use to go to all the stops. We went to the civic center, and that was it other than the store above.

Tables filled with typical garage sale fare.

And like most garage sales there is always someone on the phone. I was interested in whatever was free, but I didn’t want to disturb her.

Stuff.

More stuff.

The sale is sponsored by Keep Port Aransas Beautiful. Donations accepted.

You can also join the organization by paying $10.00 or buying a shirt.

It was good seeing people out and about for these two events.

Views of the Neighborhood – The Fence

February 11, 2018February 10, 2018 ~ John W. Howell ~ 58 Comments

Some of you may recall on one of my tours there was a fence covered with numerous objects found on the beach. Hurricane Harvey took it and there was not enough left to take a photo.

I did have a photo of the original.

I am pleased to report that the fence has been rebuilt.

Here is a shot of the one corner. The items on the new fence have for the most part been donated by residents.

Here is a longer view. That orange plastic thing on the right is a utility connection. The cover is gone, and the city ran out, and the plastic is temporary.

A close up of some of the items.

Another shot.

Pails, flip-flops, sand molds, a rake, and other trinkets that seem insignificant make up the inventory.

I love that shark shovel and the frog.

Here is a photo of a piece of the original fence and the new.

A small poem.

Insignificant by John W. Howell © 2108

A fence of trinkets,

Not important to FEMA . . .

Rebuilt from the heart.

I hope you liked this essay on community spirit.

Thursday – A Little Personal – Lucy and Bailey Face the Elements

February 8, 2018February 7, 2018 ~ John W. Howell ~ 70 Comments

“Hey, Boss.”

“Hi, Lucy. What’s up?”

“Um. Do we have to go for a walk today?”

“What’s the matter? We always go for a walk.”

“The wind chill is in the thirties.”

“Oh, come on you big sissy. You have fur after all.”

“Well ask Bailey. She’ll tell you.”

“Is that right Bailey?”

“Pops. it is a little cold out there.”

“Aw, come on you two. Let’s go.”

“This is not going to be fun, Boss. I’m just sayin’.”

“You have to buck up, Lucy. Look at Bailey.”

“Hey, Lucy. Do you see what I see?”

“My eyes are frozen shut. Tell me.”

“It’s a grader down the beach. Oh, Maddie’s papa is going to like this one.”

“Who wee. The wind is a little stiff, Lucy. Hang on to your ears.”

“I see you are right Bailey. Look the other way. There are front loaders too.”

“What are they doing?”

“They are grooming the beach. Taking sand and putting it back in the water.”

“What? I can’t hear you. This wind is crazy.”

“Look the other way. Just do it.”

“For heaven’s sake, Bailey. I’m freezing. We need to get going.”

“Okay, you lead I’ll follow.”

“Come on, Bailey. Run down here and take a look at that thing.”

“Okay, I see what you mean. That thing sure is noisy. Why does it beep like that when it backs up?

“That is so the slow-witted among us won’t get run over. It’s called a back-up signal. It only makes that noise when it backs up and it is the law.”

“You would have to be pretty dumb to stand behind that thing in the first place.”

“Human regulations for humans. Need I say more?”

“Well, this has been exciting, Lucy. I don’t know about you but that couch is calling my name.”

“I hear it too, Bailey. Let’s grab the humans and head back. I wonder if there is bacon today?”

“Naw you wouldn’t know these two are carnivores. Yogurt and apple for breakfast.”

“Yogurt is tasty.”

“Yeah with some turkey stirred in.”

“Never happen, Bailey.”

“I can dream. Let’s go.”

Views of the Neighborhood – Big Foot

February 4, 2018February 3, 2018 ~ John W. Howell ~ 66 Comments

This week’s View of the Neighborhood follows the Bigfoot Drilling rig as it moves down the Corpus Christi channel to the Gulf of Mexico. The oil and gas rig is headed to a position about 250 miles off New Orleans. It will be anchored in water about a mile deep. Once productive it will deliver 25,000 barrels of oil and 25 million cubic feet of gas per day. It is currently moving in the Gulf at 1.9 knots on a heading of 172 degrees. The rig is 60% owned by Chevron with other partners controlling the balance. The picture above is a storage facility for other platforms. I will use it as a reference for the photos to follow

Here is a shot of Bigfoot from about a mile away. The white boat is a ferry. The rig storage facility is on the right.

Getting closer.

Starting to take form.

Now across from the storage facility. You can get a relative idea of its size compared to the other platforms.

She is being pushed and pulled by eight ocean-going tugs.

A closer shot yet.

This one gives you a good shot of the tugs. For reference, the hight of the legs from the water to the top of the red stripe is 85 feet.

Here is a photo showing the platform as it reaches the mouth of the Gulf.

Views of the Neighborhood – A Peek at the Damage

January 28, 2018January 27, 2018 ~ John W. Howell ~ 53 Comments

I made a point that I was not going to show pictures of the destruction of Hurricane Harvey since I felt it to be an invasion of individual privacy. I still believe that but there are some photos that can be shown which will give you a further idea of the damage of the Hurricane. These were taken yesterday during a rainstorm but will give you an idea. Most of these businesses are going to return.

These buildings have been taken down to the studs.

This is now a shell, ready for renovation

The little store on the left was severely damaged but the bike shop is open.

The damage to the store with the shark was almost total. The shark remained pretty much intact.

This used to be a liquor store and a sno cone stand

Workers repairing the roof of the Islander in the rain

The sea-captain stands alone. His partner is off on a trip.

Even the national chains took a hit. CVS just installed a trailer for prescriptions. Notice the arrow on the parking lot. The wind literally stripped it.

Here is what remains of a gas station and Pizza Hut. They are fixing the building. Not sure on the gas station.

Here is what is left of what we called Mount Debris. It was the holding place for all the debris in town. It was about fifty feet high and more than a football field long It is getting smaller by the day.

Thursday – A Little Personal – Beach Time

January 25, 2018January 24, 2018 ~ John W. Howell ~ 74 Comments

“Well, Lucy. We finally have some time for a good old walk without freezing to death.”

“I know. I’m just wondering about the sun though. There isn’t any.”

“I know, but think of it this way. No panting. Besides look up there. I see some sun.”

“I suppose you are right. We can’t have everything so we should be positive. Let’s go down by the water. Come on humans.”

“Look at that Lucy.”

“What is it?”

“Take a sniff. What does it smell like?”

“Oh, it has a briny, fishy smell.”

“Yeah, you’re right. I wonder?”

“Wonder what?”

“What it tastes like?”

“Muufff. Strong bouquet of fish. Definitely has mouthfeel issues along with a distinctive eel-like finish. Patoo. Not for me.”

“I’ll pass too. Look over there. Shells”

“Hey neat. Good source of calcium.”

“You two leave those shells alone.”

“Yes pops. What’s he doing, Lucy? I don’t want to look.”

“He’s fine.”

“Have I ever shown you my bird dog imitation, Bailey?”

“No. I think you might need to work on it though.”

“How about my tracking bloodhound impersonation?”

“The same advice you gave me.”

“Okay, so who’s the wiseacre dropping plastic shampoo bottles in the Gulf?”

“I would love to test my locking jaw on their leg if I knew.”

“What do you say, humans? You had enough?”

“Yeah, Boss. Look at the cart over way down there. I would hate to have to carry you.”

“I guess you ladies want to go back, huh?”

“Well, here we are, Bailey. I had fun. How about you?”

“Yes indeed. Thanks, parents for the walk.”

“Our pleasure, Ladies. I mean it happens every day but if you want to thank us that is very nice.”

“Hey, Lucy. I have a question.”

“Shoot.”

“How come your leash is always loose.”

“Trustworthy, Bailey. Trustworthy.”

Views of the Neighborhood – Crochet Art

January 14, 2018January 13, 2018 ~ John W. Howell ~ 70 Comments

Today’s view of the neighborhood is very unusual. Every year during the holidays an unknown person decorates the bollards that serve to keep cars away from certain parts of the beach. These decorations are hand crochets, and each one is unique. What is surprising is one day they are not there and the next they are. The same goes for when they disappear. I hope you enjoy this mystery. (Where else but in Port Aransas?)

This will give you an idea of what the bollards do. They keep cars from driving on the beach. The building on the right can be seen from a distance as part of the last photo.

A close up of the work put into the crochet.

A nod to Halloween.

Another close up of a character

This shot gives you a sense of the work.

This shot is to give you an idea of the scope.

Another character close up.

These run all the way back to the twin buildings on the left.

I hope you enjoyed the walk. I wish there were more information on who is responsible for this art. The person is anonymous and wants to remain so.

Views of the Neighborhood – Status of Bird Sanctuaries

January 7, 2018January 6, 2018 ~ John W. Howell ~ 51 Comments

The last time we checked on the status of the bird sanctuaries they were a bit of a mess from the Hurricane Harvey. I am happy to report they are making a comeback.

Here is a photo of Paradise Pond taken shortly after the Hurricane.

Here is what it looks like today.

This is what the actual pond looked like.

Now it is cleaned up.

With a return of birds.

Many birds

Although the tree cover is gone the pond itself is filled with wildfowl

Here is a shot taken at the birding center. Off in the distance are many pink Spoonbills and white egrets. I’m sorry the photo isn’t better, but the birds were out of range.

The birding center still has no access for close up shots. The photo of the Spoonbills and Egrets was taken to the left of this destroyed walkway (which I published two months ago). The important point is the birds have returned. I hope you enjoyed the walk today.