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 – Rockport Texas

January 21, 2018January 20, 2018 ~ John W. Howell ~ 61 Comments

Rockport Texas is a town close to Port Aransas and was hit by Hurricane Harvey as well. Since the sun was out for the first time in ten years, the Producer and I decided to drive there and check up on how my books fared in the bookstores. Although we didn’t locate any books we found a number of things to look at.

This is a shot of a multi-tiered boat storage facility.

Here is one a little closer. This facility was packed with boats when the Hurricane hit.

Here is a shot of old town Rockport. (Excuse the sun glare) The brick gallery (Estelle Stair) is one place where my books are. The gallery is closed. The other place where my books were offered for sale is a bookstore which was blown away.

Here is a photo of across the street. You can see the blue tarp on the building.

I took this photo to give you an idea that Rockport is indeed on the water. This is one of the marinas.

This is a shot of the veteran’s memorial. There are names of Rockport residents who gave their lives in all the wars from 1914 on.

This is the Maritime Museum.

Unknown to us, the Rockport Fulton Market Days was in full swing. A number of pop-up with all kinds of crafts. We had to go look.

Attendees can visit this display and take what they need at no charge.

Here is a “look through” shot showing other displays

A festive occasion.

Terrific yard art

A beautiful Airstream full of clothes

Must have a food stand.

For Dan Antion, I had to take a picture of the soft pretzel booth

Let me leave you with a picture of the bay and beautiful sculpture.

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.

Views of the Neighborhood – New Years Eve

December 31, 2017December 30, 2017 ~ John W. Howell ~ 66 Comments

This week our Coffee Waves shop had its grand re-opening after Hurricane Harvey. Although I wouldn’t usually feature such an event on Views, I thought it significant as one more piece of evidence of a return to normal here in Port Aransas.

I published this trailer picture earlier this fall when Coffee Waves was open for business but not in their building.

Here is the finished building.

Inside the people are lining up.

This is another shot of the interior. I have a close up of the message later.

For the opening, a band is set up.

Festive balloons.

This is the business end.

Here are some of the 120 rotating Gelato flavors.

This is the Gelato menu explaining the difference when compared to ice cream.

A sign telling the world about Port A Strong.

Another sign for out of towners who are in a hurry.

A beautiful place to have a cup and relax.

I will share my post on Instagram and Facebook (as ordered)

This is a close-up of the words on the wall. Pretty much a favorable view of those things that happen to us all. I know in your town, the opening of a coffee shop would not garner a lot of attention. Here, it is news since it is one more step to returning to the life we all love so well. Thanks for joining me.

Views of the Neighborhood – Christmas Eve

December 24, 2017December 23, 2017 ~ John W. Howell ~ 40 Comments

A photo of the Port Aransas Community Tree. A very Happy Holiday to all.

Views of the Neighborhood – Holiday Parade

December 17, 2017December 16, 2017 ~ John W. Howell ~ 62 Comments

This week started the holiday season here in Port Aransas. Like everything else we do here, it was kicked off with a parade. The parade started about a half mile from the community center and ended there with hot cocoa, popcorn, cookies, coffee, and a visit by Santa. The evening was capped with live music and the lighting of the holiday tree. I apologize for the quality of the parade photos. The darkness fell and I really should have had a tripod. I think you can catch the spirit.

The Community center is ready for the Holiday festivities.

The elves are putting out the cookies.

Frosty is waiting to greet everyone.

Frosty’s brother is here too.

The parade and activities were sponsored by the Department of Parks and Recreation.

The tree is waiting to be lighted.

The parade is starting

EMS is here.

A decorated golf cart.

A golf cart with red running lights.

A classic 1948 MG.

The lifeguards are here with a Santa float.

The real Santa on a hook and ladder.

One of Port A’s finest.

Views of the Neighborhood – Snow

December 10, 2017December 9, 2017 ~ John W. Howell ~ 81 Comments

We had an unusual occurrence Friday. We got about an inch of snow and it was the first time since 2004.

We woke up to snow. Here is a shot of the backyard.

A corner with the giant Birds of Paradise.

A third view of the backyard. This photo looks blurry in the distance but that is snowfall.

Lucy makes some tentative steps. She has not seen snow before.

Lucy tries the “Let me go back,” maneuver.

Baily is an old veteran of snow since she went to college in Waco where it snows more. The dogs are blurry because they are running around a full speed.

A shot of the upper palm tree leaves covered with snow.

The palm trees by the hurricane-damaged pool. This is facing East so you can see the snow coming from the North and piling up on the tree trunks.

The cart over to the beach.

A shot from the top of the cart over. The Gulf is to the left.

A photo on the beach. The snow falling makes the horizon look foggy.

One more shot of the beach and Gulf. You can see large snowflakes falling.

I met Tiny on the cart over and he had lost his head over the snow. The cap shows how fast the snow is falling

These are my footprints after about five minutes. You can see the falling snow is filling them in.

Our Hibiscus decided to close up and wait for better weather. I hope you enjoyed the snow. It may be another ten years before we see it again.

Views of the Neighborhood – Island Holiday Market

December 3, 2017December 3, 2017 ~ John W. Howell ~ 54 Comments

Yesterday the Island Holiday Market took place at the newly spruced-up Art Center. The idea is for local artists to have a venue to offer their art. The holiday season is a perfect time and the New Art Center the perfect location.

The outside porch is filled with gift opportunities.

Inside are a number of tables of artwork.

Another view of the tables and shoppers.

While taking photos, I came upon Jo Ann who told me a wonderful story about her grandson Gray. The family lives in Glen Rose, Texas which is near Fort Worth about 400 miles from Port Aransas. Gray loved to visit Port Aransas, and when he heard about the hurricane, he gathered together his ball card collection and offered to sell them to help. What transpired was the adoption of two fourth grade classes here in Port Aransas. Gray plans to have a gift for each child. His grandmother Jo Ann and his Aunt Tammy were in Port Aransas telling Gray’s story.

The card below explains this heartwarming story further, and I’m sure the fourth-grade children of Port Aransas will be happier as a result of Gray’s compassion.

At the same time, the Market was underway the grade sixth through twelve student art show which included entrants from Port Aransas, Flour Bluff, and Seashore Middle Academy were on display.

Here is a representative look at the entrants.

Another view of the competition.

One of the first place awards

Another first for a Ninth grader

A Seashore Academy

This was a second place but made me smile, so I put it in. The art produced by these students was inspiring. I hope you enjoyed the view this week.

Views of the Neighborhood – Recovery

November 26, 2017August 24, 2019 ~ John W. Howell ~ 65 Comments

Today on Views of the Neighborhood I want to give you a glimpse of a few of the merchants who are still not in their buildings but who have decided to start on the road to recovery their own way. Most businesses in Port Aransas lost their buildings. A few have decided to open with some temporary accommodations. I hope you enjoy the view.