Harvey who? Port Aransas celebrated its 107th Birthday with several traditional Old Town Festival events. The Expression Session Surf Contest felt like an ocean-centric revival of the spirit. Folks gathered, cheered, photographed, swam, surfed, ate, laughed and played on the beach. It was a gorgeous day! Thanks to everyone who stepped up to make it happen, especially Cameron Pratt, the first to say, “We’re gonna do this!”
When it’s windy, hot, and crowded on the beach, the evenings on the backside of our island are heavenly.
Light breezes blow through the mangroves in Piper Flats and surround you with a whistling sound. Herons squawk loudly and egrets track your every move.
In Charlie’s Pasture, jackrabbits bound on and off the trails leading you on a good chase. Above water birds loop around, quietly land, then pause just slightly before stepping through the mud flats for an awkward stroll.
Whether you walk, run, bike or boat, the other side of Port Aransas is the best place to be at sunset.
If you weren’t at the Port Aransas Beach Pole Vault meet on Saturday, you missed some red hot action! Temperatures were high and so was that bar over which the athletes fearlessly flung themselves.
The best women’s jump was 14 feet and the men’s was 18 feet. The dedication and effort exhibited by all the competitors was world class.
The coaches will tell you pole vaulting is all about speed, but without that intangible “it factor,” raw talent and quickness only takes you so far. These guys and gals are special athletes. Good luck to all the vaulters and the future world champions that came to Port A to showcase their skills.
Congratulations to Greg West of West Athletics Vaults Crew- It was a spectacular event. Click here for results/info.
Here’s the video
You know those cheesy Father’s Day cards with pictures of fish, boats, and camping gear? Well, at least for most Port A dads, these illustrate common passions. This dad paddled over to the north jetty, yes on a surfboard, and lured in one keeper after another. Frying up the speckled trout was a family affair.
Happy World Oceans Day!
From river racing canoe to ocean cruiser, this boat has been transformed into a unique, single-man exploration vessel. Ask Dave or Des for the whole story and Scott can fill in the Austin viewers.
The Port A Surf-a-rama continued with north by northwest wind conditions all day. It was a Sunday worth re-living!
Sunday, Sunday, Sunday! Monster Wave and Surfer Show at the pier!
more photos of afternoon session to come.
2 kayakers + 2 plastic mattress bags = Happy Earth Day!
As everyone knows, St. Joe’s tends to collect plastic bottles like nobody’s business. One November day a few years ago we hatched a plan and set out to do our part. It was our “earth day.”
We kayaked over to St. Joe’s from the south jetty, strolled the beach and dunes, and stuffed as much plastic as possible in our “trash bags”. Once filled we tied ’em up to our kayak and SUP and launched from the north jetty.
Towing the loot back across the ship channel was the real adventure. High winds made excellent sails of the huge, floating bags and carried us a bit off course. Jen managed to wrap her towing rope, big bag and part of her partner’s gear around a piling near the UTMSI docks. Des got to use his knife and James Derkits took our rescue call. We ended up a bit farther from our truck.
Filming from a fast moving SUP while paddling across the channel was some of the best video I’ve ever taken and never got to see !
I’m mariedreamin’! Sarah Searight is featured this April at the Port Aransas Art Center. She is showcasing acrylic on canvas and watercolor scenes of the ocean, shore birds, surfers, and beach life. Her dynamic creations capture the essence of the sea. Sarah is a local favorite and has a signature style like no other. Stop by and browse or make a piece your own!
Sarah also exhibits her fanciful art at her home studio here in town. “So cool!” 
Oh, yeah… An evening to remember.
A few photos of noon time surf. It was amazing all day, especially our morning session!
Marinedreams 