HEAT
June 21, 2012
We are out of training for hot weather. For the past few weeks the afternoon temps have been in the 70s and 80s. Yesterday, it turned mean and hit mid 90s with little to no breeze. I know that being from Texas automatically makes the word “heat” a debatable thing but the one day transition from 80s to upper 90s causes one to take notice. It was hotter yesterday and will be hotter today than most of Texas. It is a good thing that tomorrow will see a cooling trend. Two years ago, we purchased a product called Shade Tree™ which is a nifty, self supporting awning that fits over the foredeck. Supported by composite bows, it stands tall enough to look like a wagon train cover and is tall enough to stand under. The material is gray silver and it is way cooler than our forest green bimini. Our Dutchman™ sail flaking system prevents use over the boom but I am sure they make one that will work. Anyway, that thing shades the entire deck forward of the mast and I am tempted to hang a hammock there.
Tis the season for locals to get out and about. Several flotillas have made this port on what averages a two week sail about the Bay. From them, we have learned much about the anchorages and harbors here. There are hundreds of destinations as we have said before but the really nice thing is that one can spend two weeks and not get more than about 60 miles from home. One can cross from the Western shore to the Eastern shore and basically drop back a century or two in the process. The Eastern shore is rural whereas the Western shore is more populated. The nice part is that from here, a dozen or so wonderful anchorages and destinations are only 30 or so miles apart which makes for a fine short sail across those two centuries.
The Bay has had its challenges over the years. Where once a thriving oyster industry existed, disease and over harvesting have taken a toll. Efforts are underway to re-establish the oyster beds but that may take a generation or two. The blue crab part of the industry seems fine and I learned something about them (blue crabs). They migrate and in some cases they do so over the entire length of the Bay and beyond. We have seen some that are over seven inches point to point and that makes them huge by Texas standards. We have not seen a single dolphin in this Bay which is sad since they bring so much to the water world. They may be here but we have not seen any. We have seen some nasty looking jellies in the harbor but unlike any in our area. I mentioned “Cabage Heads” that can be used as solid water balloons and folks think we’ve been in the sauce. We have seen only a few of the birds so common to us, pelicans, herons and cranes. Fortunately, there are few seagulls. Maybe it is the time of year.


The picture is of a concept plane offered in the competition for the Raptor contract. It is in my mind the absolute ugliest aircraft I have ever seen..