§ Walk the Walk....

The last couple of days, the weathermen have been informing us that there was/is a tropical wave in the Gulf heading into the Texas coast. And, that there would be some rain coming in with it. So far this week only the Houston area has received anything significant. Sunday, when I was out walking there was a threat of rain with heavy, dark, clouds, but within an hour's time it was clearing out. Until today. We did get some rainfall, and the sky is still overcast. Maybe some more moisture [much needed] will fall tonight or into tomorrow. I'm keeping my fingers crossed...even tho it'll be like a sauna outdoors, the ground is cracking...so, so dry.

Anyway, out walking Sunday morning. I carried my lensball with me since I had deep pockets in my Capri pants. And altho the water was high, there were a few wildflowers that turned out to be my subjects for the refractive photography. [Tuesday morning I took it with me on my walk along the shore, so more lensball photos to come]. After walking along the Indian Point and Sunset Lakes trail, driving home and over the harbor bridge, I pulled off the freeway to check out the rookery just under the causeway... and then took the detour road [I think I went the wrong way on a one way section...luckily, I got off before something drastic happened]....I checked out the progress of the billion dollar bridge being constructed. I will share those photos at a later date also. For Sunday, this is what I saw:

The "lakes".

The black mangrove is in bloom...this area is thick with mangrove. Also, the scent of the camphor [in bloom] was pretty strong.

Lensball Wildflowers

And Tuesday afternoon I took my latest sketch back out from my portfolio case and erased the little sail boat [from my previous post]. I didn't like it there in the picture. After erasing this boat, I then took out my #5 pencil and drew more cliffs on the horizon to cover up the faint outline left from the boat and added a lighthouse. I'm more satisfied with it now, and will put it back....

Before:





After:

§ Silhouette on Sunday....

I missed out! Bummer!! George Strait, who is a Country's top recording artist [and a part time resident of Rockport Texas where Hurricane Harvey made landfall last month], paid a visit to Rockport this Thursday. Bud and I had other plans, but only if I had known beforehand, I may have got his autograph and perhaps a life time opportunity to get a photo standing by him. Oh well.  Needless to say, all morning I've been humming one of my favorite George Strait songs...Amarillo by Morning.

I just liked this 'cause of the "mushroom-form" cloud seen above my watermark signature

Then, another day, another view of the morning cloud formations and one silhouette that I thought made a mighty pretty scene. These were all taken along the drive into Indian Point Park. The park, early that morning, was still gated shut. But, I sneaked under the gate and walked. I found out that there were still some downed-power lines along the road, so that explained the closure. I didn't stop much for the fact I kept thinking I may be arrested for being there at the time. A hurried walk in and out. But, not before I got a few photos as I quickly focused here and there and made my way back to the beginning; at the gate. Sunset Lakes [an adjacent park via a walking trail] was opened, so once out, I walked and tallied up my 10000 steps there instead...

Early morning clouds above the fishing pier at Indian Point and then, some of the fresh water ponds along the paved park road [3 photos]

The sun rays and the water reflecting the sunshine was awe inspiring this particular morning!!

A lone seagull silhouetted. Distant seagulls calling in the background made for a heavenly, peaceful walk!! Perhaps it was 'cause I was the only fool one to take my chances where everything was closed to human traffic. S'pose?

Along the 2 mile trail, I spotted many birds in the ponds and along the pavement were many plovers and sandpipers. I veered off the trail at one point, through the juniper lined landscaping, to view the Gulf of Mexico [Corpus Christi Bay] and found plenty of gulls and terns and a couple of black skimmers at rest on a shoal in the shallow bay waters.

Coming up on 9500 steps, I reversed my direction and diverted to the area on the opposite side of the trail...

A Great Egret in the vegetation dwarfed the snowy egret beside it as they foraged the standing water. The other image is a 2nd snowy egret that popped up from its hiding while feeding - double the pleasure!!

At a rest stop so I could cool down from the morning heat before getting back into the air conditioned car, I really liked the shadow of the youthful mesquite tree against the fresh water lake. Still, the silence was so terrific, I didn't want to leave all too soon.