Boats, Piers and Sunsets

Rockport got its name from the rock ledge that runs along the shore of bay. Its main economic drivers are tourism, shipping, and fishing. We have been here for three months and spent many hours at various marinas and scouted out interesting piers. Here the marinas are filled primarily with what we call ‘working’ boats. Very few boats are fancy. Boats go out to dredge for oysters and then when the shrimping season opens they trade their dredging buckets for shrimping nets. Both activities are highly regulated and areas where either oysters or shrimp can be harvested are limited and the quantities are also restricted. Both industries have suffered major setbacks in the past few decades from the effects of flooding (too much fresh water dumped in the bay), pollution such as oil spills and then hurricanes! On August 25, 2017, Hurricane Harvey made landfall over Rockport. The devastation was horrific! While some areas in Rockport are fully recovered there are many areas where one sees destruction that can only be attributed to a major hurricane.

There were not nearly enough sunsets to suit us. But this one, with the marina as a foreground, was a keeper.

There were not nearly enough sunsets to suit us. But this one, with the marina as a foreground, was a keeper.

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Just about every time we went out to photograph the piers we saw people fishing.

Just about every time we went out to photograph the piers we saw people fishing.

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This old boat is still working. There is not enough money in oysters and shrimp to allow owners to spend money making them ‘pretty’. If it floats, a boat is put to work!

This old boat is still working. There is not enough money in oysters and shrimp to allow owners to spend money making them ‘pretty’. If it floats, a boat is put to work!

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There are a few pleasure boats docked at this marina. Some of them are used as full time homes. No tires, just sails.

There are a few pleasure boats docked at this marina. Some of them are used as full time homes. No tires, just sails.

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This is the USS Enterprise which is now a floating museum just outside of Corpus Christie.

This is the USS Enterprise which is now a floating museum just outside of Corpus Christie.

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Fog is very common along the shore. Sometimes it burns off by noon, but there are days when it lasts all day.

Fog is very common along the shore. Sometimes it burns off by noon, but there are days when it lasts all day.

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Dredged oysters are thrown on tables where they are sorted. Undersized and dead oysters are thrown back into the water. Fishermen are fined if they keep too many undersized oysters.

Dredged oysters are thrown on tables where they are sorted. Undersized and dead oysters are thrown back into the water. Fishermen are fined if they keep too many undersized oysters.

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Bags of oysters are loaded into trucks that take them to distribution centers and a market near you.

Bags of oysters are loaded into trucks that take them to distribution centers and a market near you.

Every spring an Oyster Festival is held with the proceeds to benefit the Rockport Volunteer Fire Department. theses lovely oysters are shucked as you watch and sell for $1 each. They were very popular, with some folks walking off with a tray of 30!

Every spring an Oyster Festival is held with the proceeds to benefit the Rockport Volunteer Fire Department. theses lovely oysters are shucked as you watch and sell for $1 each. They were very popular, with some folks walking off with a tray of 30!

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Hurricane Harvey destroyed every single private pier. You can drive along the coast and see hundreds of piers like this one.

Hurricane Harvey destroyed every single private pier. You can drive along the coast and see hundreds of piers like this one.

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Steve’s take.

Steve’s take.

Carol’s take. I am smiling because one of the real treats in being here for three months is parking next to my brother and having him stand right next to me and click away. Difference? He uses Canon! Hahahahaha!

Carol’s take. I am smiling because one of the real treats in being here for three months is parking next to my brother and having him stand right next to me and click away. Difference? He uses Canon! Hahahahaha!

Tom’s take. Tom’s is a little fishy, don’t you think? Nope, turns out that this is a three photograph pano!

Tom’s take. Tom’s is a little fishy, don’t you think? Nope, turns out that this is a three photograph pano!

A foggy pier offers a different feel on a cold night.

A foggy pier offers a different feel on a cold night.

Rock and cement barriers such as his one offer protection from rough waves, leaving the marinas with smoother water.

Rock and cement barriers such as his one offer protection from rough waves, leaving the marinas with smoother water.

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These are shrimping nets. The shrimp season starts in November.

These are shrimping nets. The shrimp season starts in November.

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We took the ferry across to Padre Island. There, along a deep channel, is a long rock and cement barrier. It is used by fishermen to get out into the gulf and fish.

We took the ferry across to Padre Island. There, along a deep channel, is a long rock and cement barrier. It is used by fishermen to get out into the gulf and fish.

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Oh, look how the sun lights up that bridge!

Oh, look how the sun lights up that bridge!

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Juguete caro translates to “Expensive toy.”

Juguete caro translates to “Expensive toy.”

Beach foam! I know . . . .

Beach foam! I know . . . .

This area is known for its live oak trees. This is a decent representation of the trees here, some even withstood Hurricane Harvey.

This area is known for its live oak trees. This is a decent representation of the trees here, some even withstood Hurricane Harvey.

A Classy Dock Junkyard

Photographers should not look down while crossing a bridge.  All too often it results in "Let's go down there. We need to check that out."  Short time later there is a U-turn (legal or illegal) and a trip back across the bridge looking for a road down.  Such was this morning's first bridge crossing.

What we found was a very classy dock junkyard.  It is being put together in loving fashion by Rusty, a guy with some money and a whole lot of 'memorabilia'.  Story goes that Rusty built all of the iMax theaters on the west coast and is now 'downsizing' and putting much of it here.  Whatever the story, the 'crime' scene tells all.

 

This store sells books. Very nice ones, in fact. I bought one about oceans and the importance of sustaining them, oceanic ecosystems, tragedies caused by man, etc.  I bought it for a gift.  The photography is inspiring. Only cash is accepted, by the way.

 

Bet the rental on this baby is reasonble.

Then Tom got personal and intimate with this lady.

This is taking container gardening to an extreme.

Every junkyard, to be legitimately classy, has humor.

To be a REAL junkyard, classy or otherwise, you need a DOG.

We spotted a boat entering the marina.  It should feel right at home.

We finally drug ourselves away from these treasures.  Heading south towards Calistoga on some very winding roads, we ended up at Clear Lake for the night. Tomorrow we will meet up with Kati for breakfast and cook up a great photo shoot for the three of us.

Have a great weekend.  We are thinking about you.