Perhaps the dumbest thing I've seen in a long time...

I've mentioned "stupid driver tricks" here in the Tropical Tip... this one takes the cake.

A lovely Saturday.  The Blonde said, "I'll let you take me out for breakfast... if we can take the scooters."

"You drive a hard bargain."  I suggested a restaurant we frequent, but have never done breakfast there.  They have live music from 9 to 1 on Saturday mornings - a guy playing fingerstyle guitar and singing.  We've heard him before, he is very talented.

Driving the scoots across the causeway, I had to look twice to see if I was seeing what I thought I saw... yep... there were two persons of the female persuasion who had stopped their car on the causeway (going the other direction).  They got out of the car to take a photo of the water!!

"Why is that bad?" you ask.  Thanks for asking.  The speed limit on the causeway is 55 miles per hour.  Four lanes, two each way.  No shoulder; no place to pull to the side.  It is not unusual to have two cars running side-by-side at 65 mph... with no place to swerve.  The people stopped the car IN THE LANE!  Between people speeding, looking at the water, texting, and driving while involved in all manner of distractions, they are often NOT looking ahead of them.  Imagine stopping on the Interstate... in a traffic lane... to get out and take a photo... with the car doors open.

This would be a way to get seriously dead AND take a bunch of other people out with you.

Stupid.  With a capital S... and all the rest of the letters.

We pulled up to the restaurant...

This place has good lunches with great views of the Laguna Madre (it sits on a pier); we didn't know what to expect with their breakfast.  As it turns out... two big thumbs up.  The food was great, the prices in line, and our waitress was friendly and efficient.  The music was a treat, as were the views out the window.  What's not to like?

The restaurant wasn't busy, so we sat for a while when we were done eating, to enjoy the music.

Out to the scoots.  We have a "routine" on lazy days when we're on the island - I like to drive by the Convention Center to see the Orcas painted on the sides of the building.  Then, we decide if we're going to take a walk.  A walk was in the cards today... we started with a stroll through the butterfly gardens...

There are memorials here, where friends and family have dedicated a tree to someone who has passed.  We took the time to read some of the memorials.  And view some of the flowering plants...

This leads behind the Convention Center, opening to the Laguna Madre...

And a large group of winter visitors: white pelicans...

We walked back around past the Convention Center and to the walkway over the marsh.  I could feel it: today would be the day we'd see an alligator; haven't seen one here in quite a while.  We came across this group of roseate spoonbills...

Checking the marsh closely for a gator...

Other birds, fish, and turtles...

A likely spot...

Nope, still no gator.

More birds...

But, no gator.  Back to the scoots...

Even without a gator sighting, it was a good day to be out and about.  And no stupid people coming back across on the causeway.  Well, none that we came across.  Never under-estimate.