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| SUNRISE OVER THE DUNES - halfway to Port A |
1- Okay, so I drove to the islands again! Left about 30 minutes before sunrise. A cold front had moved in on Wednesday and the winds were brisk in the morning, but supposedly predicted to subside by mid morning. By the time I reached and crossed the JFK Causeway bridge to turn off Park Road 22 onto State Highway 361, the "Low Tire" light on the dashboard loomed into my face! Everything would still be closed since it was so early in the morning...."Do I stop at a gas station and put air in myself?" "I have no gauge, I wouldn't know but guess the amount of pressure I'm putting in and I don't want to blow a tire on the highway heading there!" This highway is now a two lane island road, being built into a four lane!! So, there are barriers all up and down the shoulders during the destruction construction...I couldn't even pull off to turn around unless I used the beach access roads. I kept going. When I reached Port A, the tire shop was still closed. I was early arriving by about 20 minutes. 
I continued on to my first birding spot and walked the boardwalk. When done there, I got back in the car and drove to the tire shop. I asked for air to be put in the tires...the technician checked all 4 tires. By the time he got to the last one...he found a NAIL IN THE TIRE!! This one was the culprit that made the warning light turn on. He said he could fix it [the tire] right then and there...for $35!! "No thanks, but can I drive it safely to Corpus Christi?" I ask. After testing it with spraying fluid on the nail, there were no air bubbles ... the nail had obviously gotten wedged in the rubber pretty well by now. He said "I'll put in an extra pound, and it'll get you back home safely." I told him thanks and went on my merry way. I didn't immediately turn back home either....I kept on birding! I ended up at the jetty and since the wind was blustery and downright cold, I mainly watched the gulls, pelicans, sandpipers and shrimp boats/ships at anchor out at open waters while sitting in the car. While parked and watching the outdoor activity, I spied a couple of things. One, I really want one! The other: a pelagic bird...pelagic means water only [not a land bird!]. I almost drove right on by it before I noticed it...got photos which I will share on my bird photo blog in the near future. In the meantime, I'll show you what I want in my photos below and a few more.
I finally got too warm so ventured outdoors and walked the jetty.
I continued on to my first birding spot and walked the boardwalk. When done there, I got back in the car and drove to the tire shop. I asked for air to be put in the tires...the technician checked all 4 tires. By the time he got to the last one...he found a NAIL IN THE TIRE!! This one was the culprit that made the warning light turn on. He said he could fix it [the tire] right then and there...for $35!! "No thanks, but can I drive it safely to Corpus Christi?" I ask. After testing it with spraying fluid on the nail, there were no air bubbles ... the nail had obviously gotten wedged in the rubber pretty well by now. He said "I'll put in an extra pound, and it'll get you back home safely." I told him thanks and went on my merry way. I didn't immediately turn back home either....I kept on birding! I ended up at the jetty and since the wind was blustery and downright cold, I mainly watched the gulls, pelicans, sandpipers and shrimp boats/ships at anchor out at open waters while sitting in the car. While parked and watching the outdoor activity, I spied a couple of things. One, I really want one! The other: a pelagic bird...pelagic means water only [not a land bird!]. I almost drove right on by it before I noticed it...got photos which I will share on my bird photo blog in the near future. In the meantime, I'll show you what I want in my photos below and a few more.I finally got too warm so ventured outdoors and walked the jetty.
When I got back to the car, I checked the tire that has a nail for good measure. It was okay. I left for home after texting Bud I was on my way, and to be ready to go to lunch and get the tire fixed and all the tires rotated. Bud stayed home to work on one of the kitchen drawers that kept sneaking open...the runner mechanism had cracked, and he had to replace it all. It now goes shut and stays shut!!!
While the car was being worked on, we walked to Fuddrucker's for a buffalo burger and a drink. After eating, we walked back and they were just pulling our car out of the stall/bay and in no time we were on our way. Cost? FREE! 'Cause we bought our tires there.
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2- Now, my dream....
Ever since a teenager, and growing up with three older brothers who were always working on their cars...being the youngest sister and always in their hair, watching them, I learned a lot about fixing cars. No, I couldn't now with the new cars because of the computers, but to have an old Model A/T car that needs fixing up from scratch....it's always been something I longed to do. Seeing this on the beach as I enjoyed the scenery...it made me cringe and turn green with envy!! Notice the license plates? COLORADO!! I think I shoulda followed him home. hehehehe
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3- A few other photos taken from the car. If they look a bit green, I apologize. They were taken from closed windows and our windows we had professionally tinted making it a bit difficult to get good pictures from inside...
U S Coast Guard leaving [there is a speed limit on the channel]...then out to open, at high speed...were they called out for some disaster? [As I was leaving a USCG helicopter was heading in the same direction! Scary to think.]
...more boats
4- [check the height of the bow of the boat way out on the horizon!! The pitch and rolling of the boat would've made ME SEASICK!!] It rolled as it came down and went back up...nearly disappeared behind the wake/waves. Then, the shrimper going out for the catch!
Gulls Taking Flight and Sandpipers on Jetty Boulders [leeward]
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And to end my post today I have a question: "What would it be like to be the world's FIRST TRILLIONAIRE? Ask Bill Gates!!
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