Sunrise paddle...

It was 73º, still dark out when I got up this morning.  No breeze.  A good morning for a paddle.

I haven't had the paddleboard in the water since they started work on the dock.  Time to change that status.  I was anxious to see how the new "2 level" water access would work.

Joan was up, but I had no idea she was taking photos.  Time to get the paddleboard wet...

Heading down the canal...

You can see the first bit of pink light on the houses across the canal.  I wasn't planning on a "sunrise" paddle, but the view as I got down the canal made me wish I had brought a camera along.  No, I didn't.  The sun was just coming up on the southeast horizon; the water was perfectly flat.  Not like I'm a speed demon on the board, but I took my time before making the turn to the northeast.

A guy in a fishing boat was coming in - he slowed to where he was barely moving as we passed.  He said, "You doing OK?"

"Yep, thanks for slowing down.  Great morning, isn't it?"

"If you like fishing, the reds are really biting out in the jetties.  Can you fish from that thing?"

"Not me, but I've seen people put a cooler on one of these so they can sit on it and fish."

I paddled two canals over and into the "lake" area.  The sun was now above the horizon, but mostly behind the one small cloud - it made for some very pretty light.  Yeah, really wishing I had a camera with me.  I am not steady on the board, but the GoPro has a waterproof housing.  Maybe next time.

Coming back to the house, I could see Joan on the deck with the camera - proof that it happened...

"How was it?" Joan asked.

"Gorgeous!  Nice way to start the day."

I came back to the dock.  Yes, this is a bit different from what we had...

The tide was up, so I had to lean over to sit on the dock.  Joan took my paddle while I pulled the board up on the dock.  Yep, I am liking this dock arrangement.  We ran a hose down to the dock so I could rinse the salt water off my board and paddle.  When the builder gets the fish cleaning station done, the hose will have a place to live on the dock; convenient for rinsing.

When I came up to the dock, Joan had cut fruit ready on the patio table... this morning just keeps getting better.

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On edit:

Timing...

When we were ready to come in from our morning on the deck, there was a light sprinkle just starting.  A few minutes later, the rumble of thunder, and the downpour started as a front moved in from the north.  Not a winter norther, since it only dropped the temp a few degrees, but the rain came down in earnest... as in: between 2 and 3 inches of rain reported by the National Weather Service in about 45 minutes!

Some local flood warnings.  You just know there are going to be flooded streets out there.

The rain came mostly from the northeast - the direction our bedroom windows face.  Yes, the window area that had a leak.  I guess this will be the test to make sure our builder found and eliminated the way the water was leaked in.

Life's a beach...

We have "beach gear" in the truck, but today was a scooter day.

Another absolutely gorgeous day here in the Tropical Tip.  This may be the first day where I missed having a boat down here... the water was flat, blue-green, and inviting.  Since this is a weekday in late October, there was very little activity on the water.

We rode our scoots north on the island and pulled in at the Clayton's Beach Bar access.  Didn't need anything at the bar, but it was a great day for a beach walk...

When I mentioned "little activity on the water" above, it was more of the same on the beach...

And gentle waves lapping in from the Gulf...

It was warm on the beach; temps pushing into the mid-80s.  We would have gotten an earlier start on it, but we finished the last of the work on the house (for now): getting the blinds re-hung in the bedroom.

This almost feels like a vacation!  :-)

Hey Mr. Spaceman...

Tim, the local weather guy said we'd be able to see the International Space Station pass over between 7:23 and 7:29 this evening.  From the northwest to the southeast.

It was almost directly overhead, so you couldn't see it from our deck (covered)... but, the viewing was just fine from our new dock!  ;-)  Clear; still 81º.

It was bright and moving right along.  OK, it wasn't like watching fireworks, but... it was there.

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On edit: a couple facts about the International Space Station:

Its orbit is 205 miles above the Earth.

The best viewing is when the ISS is lit by the sun, but it is dark where you are viewing.

Here is a link for best time to view:  http://spotthestation.nasa.gov/sightings/

A link to where the ISS is right now:  http://iss.astroviewer.net/

A link for how to spot the ISS:  http://earthsky.org/space/how-to-spot-the-international-space-station

Done...

Well, like the "Soooooo close" from yesterday.

The dock is done.  The leak repair on the windows is done.  All the messing with the hurricane shutters is done.  Today, they installed a new outside water faucet and put the last bit of trim on the dock.  There is still the fish cleaning station that needs to be added to the dock, but that is supposed to be any time.

Joan filled and textured yesterday, painted today.  Then, decided to add a bit more texture in one small area, so there will be one more painting day, tomorrow.

But, really, we are done enough that we started cleaning up all around the outside of the house.  Oh, the workers cleaned up after themselves, but neither of us were willing to walk barefoot around the outside of the house.  We know they were professional builders, 'cause they don't stop to pick up any nail or screw they drop... on the bright side, we have plenty of nails and screws to toss in our "Nails & Screws" holder.  ;-)  Plus, we swept up a pound or two of composite lumber sawdust.

It looks pretty darn good, now.

We celebrated with lunch out at Pier 19 on the island.  For clarity, we have our island (Long Island) and the island (South Padre Island).  Lunch was good, the views were pleasant; the entire restaurant is long and narrow because it was built on what used to be a fishing pier.  There is a row of booths on one side, a row of tables on the other side - everybody gets a water view.  We watched one of the Pilot Boats head out to pick up their pilot from an ocean tug and tow, and the occasional dolphin.

Before heading back home, we drove by the beach.  It was a warm, still day today.  Humid.  The high was in the mid-80s.  The Gulf was as calm as I have ever seen it...

Not much of a crowd on the beach either; definitely in the "in-between season."  I like to think of it as the "we are done messin' with the house for now" season.  ;-)

Soooooooo close...

Caps on the uprights, a new composite step down to the seawall - the only thing left to do on the dock is a fish cleaning station...

You're thinking: "Why does a guy who doesn't fish need a fish cleaning station?"  Thanks for asking.  I think of it as more of a: work table kinda place to put stuff as we come and go from our underneath storage area.  Very handy - it gets plenty of use.  That will go on the end of the dock at the far left of the photo.

The steps to the front door are done.  There should be very little in the way of pounding, sawing, or other noise left.

Joan has really gone after the touch-up around the windows that needs to be done...

Sanding, tapering, filling, more sanding, and texturing - all done.  She'll let it dry overnight, then paint tomorrow.

We are looking forward to getting back into our routine of no schedule... we have had to be up and dressed early, in case the workers had any questions or needed access.

Almost...

It must be an unwritten building code: never completely finish one job while another job waits.  ;-)

The dock is almost done...

The only thing left to do on it is put the railing caps on.  With that in mind the workers started taking apart the steps leading to our front door.  Yes, those steps are getting the same composite lumber update; the white railing is already there.  I am thinking (hoping) that won't take as long.
 

The hurricane shutter guy dropped off some parts yesterday, so this morning, I spruced up the shutters while Joan continued working on the interior around the windows...  Caulking, patching, sanding, and texturing...

Should be ready for the final texture and paint in a day or two.

Getting close.

Railings and dolphins...

The workers were back this morning, working on the railings and trim...

I am told there will be steps... "pretty soon."

I am liking the way it is looking.

Joan has started working on the interior around the bedroom windows... the leak didn't do much, but taking the windows out means we have to reseal around those windows and repaint the walls in that area.

So, after lunch, it was off to get the supplies to get after that job.

On the way across the swing bridge, we saw some dolphins playing in the water near the bridge.  No, we didn't get a photo - there was traffic behind us, so we couldn't stop.  On the way back in, the dolphins were still there; must be some good "fishing" by our bridge today...

Joan shot that with her phone.  Look close, there is a dot near the lower center... yeah, that is one of the dolphins.  Goodness, they look really small after spending the summer viewing Orcas.  ;-)

Jump...

It's been over a week since I could get the paddleboard in the water.

Since there are no workers around the house, I thought I'd plunk the board in this morning.  Joan said, "I think you should wait until they are done with the dock..."

I put on some water-shoes and went down to the dock.  I didn't see any rough edges (and I did ask the builder to round over the edges where I'll get to the water), but there are no steps to get from the upper part of the dock to the lower part.  Oh, there will be, they just aren't in, yet.

I considered putting a two-step stepstool down there... still too much of a reach.  I guess I don't want to work that hard to get some exercise.  ;-)

Joan asked for a "concert," instead.  Yeah, I can do that.

No work being done - let's scoot!

Seems like it has been a while since we had a day with no work being done.  I suggested we get some time on the scooters.  Joan seconded.  Motion carried.

On our way out the door, the guy that trims our tall palm tree out front had started on that... not the same as work being done on the house.  Joan had his money waiting in the drawer - we paid him on the way out.

On a scooter forum I frequent, there is a thread for "scooter tag" - you post a photo of your scoot in front of something; then next person has to post a photo of their scoot in front of something like that, then you post something new for the next "tag."  That last tag posted was of a lighthouse - yeah, I can do that...

That is the Point Isabel Lighthouse, one of the oldest on the Texas coast.  "Tag," your turn.

The roads in south Texas don't have the hills and twisties we can find most places... straight and flat is typical here...

Doesn't mean it isn't pretty - on the other side of the scrub-brush on the right side is the Laguna Madre (the bay, or "Mother Bay")... you just can't see it from the road in this area.  I suggested we drive to Laguna Vista, another small town just north of us.  We have driven through Laguna Vista many times, just never gotten off the main road.  Today, we took a little scenic tour.  Yes, there is a view of the Laguna Madre from some parts of town... probably why they call it Laguna Vista, huh?  ;-)  And a boat ramp...

I had no idea this was here.  Yes, we have nautical charts of this area... the water is very shallow just off the shore here, so we haven't been this way with any of our boats.  This ramp is privately owned by a club - you have to be a member to use the ramp.

While watching one guy spin his tires while trying to pull his boat out, a guy on a bicycle came up to us.  I was expecting the usual questions.  When he asked "How much?" and I responded, I thought he was going to crap his pants.  "Are you kidding?"

"You have been looking at those cheap Chinese scooters, haven't you?"  Then, we had "that discussion."  No, it is not my mission to educate the public about scooters.  I really wouldn't ask a stranger how much they paid for anything, but we get it all the time with these scoots.  People assume you can buy them for $500 or $600 dollars, so I understand the sticker shock.

We decided to head to the island (South Padre Island) for lunch.  Coming back through Port Isabel...

While part of Port Isabel is technically an island, most consider it the mainland.  It is 2 1/2 miles across the Laguna Madre via the Queen Isabela Causeway (give you an idea where our little furry Izzy got her name?).

From the Port Isabel side of the Causeway...

Riding across...

That first shot of these three is at the high point of "the big bridge" (what tug operators call the Causeway) - it is 65' at the peak, from the water.  One of the highest points on a road in the area.  Did I mention it is flat around here?  ;-)

The obligatory shot of the South Padre Island sign...

We had planned to do lunch at Pier 19, a restaurant on a pier above the water.  Here's the view looking back towards the Causeway from the parking lot there...

Yeah, that is the high point.  It was built that way so taller commercial boat/barge traffic can pass under there, the lower section of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway.

Speaking of parking lots, Pier 19's lot was packed... besides the spaces full of cars, there were scads of trucks with boats on trailers parked off to the side.  We guessed there was probably a fishing tournament that must have ended... and, they're gathering in the restaurant at Pier 19.

We were right.  No chance for a table for over an hour, so we moved on.  On the way back to the scoots, we stopped for a moment to watch  a couple pelicans near the pier.  This one was like a little kid: every time I pointed the camera at him, he made a face or turned his head...

We decided to head up the island to Padre Island Brewing Company.  Here's a look at the main road on South Padre Island...

That red car on the left is an MGB - a bunch of English cars went by us.  A perfect day for some top-down driving.  Or scooting.

When we got to Padre Island Brewing, we saw something interesting in the parking lot...

Two PCX scooters!  A red one and a white one; older models, 125cc.  First that we have seen any other PCXes around here.  On our way in, two ladies were on their way out - they headed for those scoots; we visited for a bit.  They live here on the island.  When they heard we live on Long Island, one of them asked, "You ride yours across the Causeway??"

"Sure, all the time."  Apparently, they don't.

She said, "I'm sure the scooter can handle it - I don't trust the other traffic!"  I get that.

Lunch was good.  We rode around on the island a bit.  I decided to pick up a couple more "potential tags"... yes, I know I'm tipping my hand if any of the scooter folks read this.  Here's a sand-castle (Sand Castle Days was a few weeks ago)...

A sand sculpture of sea turtles (in front of Sea Turtle, Inc.)...

Gotta get something with a shark in it...

Heading back across the Causeway...

Look to the left side of the image - you can see the high point of the Causeway, over a mile in the distance.

Heading back to our island, the swing bridge was out...

This bridge swings open to let boat traffic pass on the ICW.  It is the only way onto our island, other than by boat.  The bridge is privately owned and maintained by those of us who own property on the island.  Anyone wanna buy a bridge?  ;-)

Nice to get out on the scoots.  Nice to be doing anything besides over-seeing the work on the house.

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Our own little Queen Isabella...

Step by step...

Well, board by board.

The new and improved dock is taking shape...

Can't imagine they'll meet that "done by today" that I was told.  It'll happen when it happens.

No problem, mon.   (Umm... wrong island)

Partial eclipse...

No, not a section of a Mitsubishi car.

There was a partial eclipse of the sun today.  Locally, the event was to start at 5:08 and be done by 6:51.  From the information, it was only going to be a small part of the sun that would be eclipsed.

Joan made a viewing device, because you aren't supposed to stare into the sun...

You punch a hole in one piece of paper, let the light from the sun shine through that hole onto another piece of paper.  What you'll see is something like this...

Not as much of an impact as staring at the sun, but it does keep you from frying your eyeballs!

After the peak time, I asked Joan what she had in mind for supper... "Dominoes."  The power of suggestion: earlier today, we had discussed how Dominoes stock has been doing well.  A couple years ago, they started an advertising campaign that pretty much admitted that they knew they needed to improve their pizza.  And, apparently, they did.  We haven't had Dominoes in quite a while - I guess we'll see if their pizza improvement is as good as their stock.

On my way to pick up the pizza, I got caught at our swing bridge - a boat on the ICW going through.  Fortunately, not a huge barge, since that usually ties up about 20 minutes.  But, while waiting for the bridge, I had a view of the setting sun...

Yeah, one cloud right over the sun.  All I had was my phone, so it would have been beyond the capability of that lens, anyway.  Still, kinda pretty.

Back to the pizza - it was also the first time we ordered Dominoes on-line.  Just like it is supposed to work, it was ready when I got there (the bridge only slowed me by a couple minutes)

The pizza was better than I remembered.  And, I kinda know my pizza.  ;-)  Back when I was in high school, I dated a blonde girl who worked in a pizza parlor.  Yeah, the same girl, only now it is the Blonde, with a capital B.

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A view of the progress on the dock...

It is coming together.  Certainly better than it looked first thing this morning...

A break...

We needed it - today, we took a break from babysitting workers.

The main thing left to get done is the dock.  Our builder starts on that this morning, and we know we don't have to be here to make sure it is being done the way we want.

This morning, Joan said, "How about let's go out for breakfast?"  Didn't take me long to say, "Sure!"  As we were driving out, we met Pete (the builder) on his way to our place... "Call if you need us for anything."

We drove across the Causeway and had a leisurely breakfast on South Padre Island.  Not wanting to head right home, I suggested a walk.  We drove north to the nature trail by the SPI Convention Center.

I miss the Orcas...

Not sure how Wyland picked what whales for his famous "Whaling Walls," but I have never seen Orcas in the Gulf... but this wall always makes me smile.

From there, it was the walkway across the marsh to the Laguna Madre...

A blessedly gorgeous day here in the Tropical Tip - it was in the 70s when we first got up, but was still 77º around 9:30 when we were walking here.

Heading south on the island, Joan said, "Let's drive by the boat sales place at the marina and pick up a new annual pass for the park."  Who am I to argue with that?

No, I don't have any immediate plans to put a boat at our new dock - I will be happy to get the kayaks and paddleboard out again, though.  We drove into the county park at the southern tip of the island - not many RVs there right now; the summer people have mostly left, the winter people aren't here, yet.

Not much of a crowd on the beach...

And by that, I mean: there were about a dozen "early winter Texans" and a few surfers.  Weekday in late October - so quiet.

We walked a bit, then headed back for home.  Across the Causeway...

Two and a half miles across the Causeway.  The water was quiet and a pretty shade of blue-green.  Joan said, "With all we've been dealing with with the house, seeing this pretty view reminds me of what brought us here in the first place."

Yep.