Vacation...

One of the downsides of being retired: you don't get a break from it.

We took the scoots out, with a lunch stop planned.  Riding on SPI, we drove by some flowering trees and bushes.  I said, "This reminds me of when we used to vacation in Hawaii: tropical weather, the smell of salt air, flowers, and sun screen."

Joan suggested we try a restaurant we haven't done before: The Painted Marlin.  We have our favorites and tend to go back to them.  The Painted Marlin looked nice from the water, when we took our boat along the small boat channel.  She said, "I checked their menu on-line - they have a nice variety."  That's "code" for: they have stuff that I will eat.

We pulled up in front of the restaurant...

Going inside... well, it is an open air restaurant, with seating inside and out...

We picked a table just to the left of the above photo, with some shade; our view...

Look at that beautiful water - now, this really feels like vacation!  Even better: "Happy Hour lunch selections.  The food was great - we will definitely put this into our "rotation."

After that leisurely lunch, we rode the scoots back across the causeway and onto our island.  "Well, I supposed we should get some time on the boat, huh?" I suggested.  I asked if Rufus wanted to come along... seems to me that he did, but one of us thought it might be too warm for the furry boy (upper 80s mid-afternoon).  He wasn't happy being left behind.  Again.

Heading out...

Even under the bimini, there is a lot of sunlight reflecting around.  We wear neck gators on the boat and the bikes...

OK, I'll play, too...

We intended to keep this outing relatively short - after all, this is vacation today.  If we see some dolphins, fine; if not, fine.

It wasn't long before we saw a couple fins well in front of us - they went for a deep dive when a dumbass in a small runabout ran almost over the top of them.  I will never understand that behavior.

We moved on to that general vicinity.  Joan called out, "Come back - the idiots are gone!"  And...

There were 4 of them, moving right along to the west.  We watched for a bit, then waved good-bye to them...

Heading towards the Port Isabel Channel, this guy gave us a slow pass...

Proof that there are good guys out there.

Back home.  Joan let Rufus out while I was cleaning the boat; she brought him out to the boat, no leash.  He stayed for a while, then walked about on the dock.  When he went around the corner of the house, Joan went after him... don't want him getting too independent.