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.

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.

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.

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.

On the outskirts is the Bean Blossom overlook

Spectacular view.

Another View.

The reason for the trip. My Summa Cum Laude grandaughter. Pay no attention to that old guy beside her.

The state bank building which is now a shop.

A view of the main street.

The county courthouse.

A memorial to those who gave their lives in service to America.

Another view of the main street.

 Peaceful.

Beautiful old building.

Yesterday was the kind of day that we locals like to get away from the beach.

Here is a shot straight out from the cart over at eight AM. Pretty nice.

Here is a photo looking south from the cart over at eight AM. A little congested but nice.

Same straight out view as before taken at four PM (you might be able to squeeze in with a Sherman tank or front loader.)

View looking South at four PM. Yes, that is vehicular hardware as far as the eye can see.

There was an art fair downtown and so rather than showing any more pictures of the crowded beach, I thought you might enjoy the flavor of the Art Fair. The fair was held in the ballpark of the church.  I could not possibly show everything available, so I picked out some that I hope you enjoy.

The Port Aransas Art Center sponsored the Art Fair.

There were different kinds of booths. This is jewelry.

Some exciting oils and prints.

Lifelike oils.

Interesting pottery.

This shot gives you an idea of the scope of the fair.

A local artist Noel Stephenson with an outrageously good painting of a Portuguese Man-of-War

Another view of her work

Photography

Hand-painted glassware

Bird paintings

Of course, a band. In the background, you can see the roof of the church not yet complete.

Because we are a beach town, one would expect at least one painted surfboard. Hope you enjoyed the tour.

From time to time the ARK (Animal Rehabilitation Keep) will release turtles that have been rescued and rehabilitated from injuries.

Yesterday was the day. This photo and the next two are courtesy of the ARK since they were much better than the ones I took. Above is a shot from a drone showing the corridor formed to give the turtles a wide berth to the sea. (turnout is always good for the releases)

Volunteers in their green shirts are showing the turtles to spectators prior to release.

Here is a turtle staying hydrated until release.

This photo and the rest are mine. No release would be complete without some t-shirts which help raise funds for the ARK.

This is the time when Sea turtles begin to come ashore to lay their eggs. They do this from now until August. These moms return to the place where as hatchlings they initially entered the sea.

On Wednesday of this week, a Kemp-Ridley turtle returned to her release spot to lay her eggs. Just in time for Mother’s Day.

Here is a closer shot of her hard at work digging her nest. Once she is complete with the process which includes burying the eggs, volunteers will dig them up and take them to the sanctuary for safe hatching. They will then be released back to the Gulf. The rope will be tossed into the nest before she buries the eggs. This will ensure that the eggs can be easily found. This turtle laid over eighty eggs.

This is a photo of the trail she left on her way to her nest.

She makes a serpentine path.

Here is a close up of her marks in the sand. You can see how her shell makes groves.

To give you an idea of the distance, her nest is between the car on the left and the truck on the right. These vehicles belong to volunteers. I took this shot from the water.

Happy Mother’s Day to all.