Dolphin Watching

One of our favorite pastimes while in the Tropical Tip: dolphin watching...

It's been a great winter here this year - warmer and dryer than usual. Today was chilly by south Texas standards, it took most of the day to warm up to the mid-60s. Clear, crisp, sunny, and breezy; a perfect day to be in a boat with an enclosed helm like the C-Dory. Not many boats out today; we had the dolphin show to ourselves.

For those wondering, Izzy the cat is doing great. She is comfortable on the boat and rides in the truck without whining or puking. It won't be long and we'll find out how she does with long distance traveling with the RV.

Some background: we got a call last friday from a friend we haven't seen in years. John and his wife are vacationing on South Padre Island. John is the guy who taught me to sail years ago. He is also a sailboat dealer; we bought our first sailboat from him. All that isn't so remarkable until you know that John had polio when he was young and has very limited use of his legs. Once in the cockpit of a sailboat, he is a master sailor; you'd never know from his quiet manner that he was a US record-holder for racing. We had supper that night with John and his wife, a delightful evening, catching up on what we've both been doing. I invited them out for a boat ride, but John's wife has an inner-ear condition that keeps her off boats. John called yesterday and asked if the invitation was still open - said he'd really enjoy the chance to get out on the water down here; his wife could walk the beach (which he can't do) and he would go for a boat ride.

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I took John out on Wild Blue today. He told me it was the highlight of his vacation here... I don't know about that, but it was certainly special for me to be able to show him what it is we enjoy so much about this boat. With John's limited mobility, it took us about 45 minutes to get him from our driveway, down the steps to the dock, and then onto the boat. He thanked me for my patience, and I was stunned... I was thinking about how hard he was working just to get TO the boat. This was certainly no small effort on his part. And then the last small hurdle: getting him up onto the co-pilot seat. It certainly made me appreciate my mobility. I admire his gumption.

We had a pleasant ride; I showed him some of Port Isabel's shrimping heritage, we cruised by the marina where we commissioned the sailboat, we went through the swing bridge, across the Laguna, into the jetties, back down the ship channel, and around the island, back to our home. It wasn't the trip, the scenery, or the dolphins... it was about two friends who share a common bond (our love of the water) getting to spend some time together.

John asked plenty of questions about Wild Blue; I was happy to tell him all about it. I recall the hours he gave me years ago, suggesting and encouraging, while I learned about sailing. When we came back to the dock, we just sat in the boat for a while, talking.

I helped him back to his car; once behind the wheel, he was as mobile as any of us. He thanked me again before he left. I was grateful to have the opportunity to spend some time with him on the water. John lives and breathes sailing; he said to me, "I can see why you like this... all of this."

Yeah, what's not to like? I'm glad he understood.

Breaking in "the new kid."

Izzy has been doing great. After a trip to the vet to get her "fixed" (never thought she was broken) and declawed (front only), we have been getting her used to travel mode... time in the boat and time in the truck. She hasn't seen the 5th wheel yet, but that will happen soon enough. In the meantime, she is developing quite a personality... obvious that she and Joan have a real connection. She likes me best for those few moments before feeding time, but the rest of the time, she likes to sit on Joan's lap. When it's playtime, she can go for hours... wish I could summon up some of that energy.




Our decision to spend the winter in the Tropical Tip has been wise so far... our weather here has been truly kind compared to the rest of the country.

We've added a new furry family member... meet Isabella, but she will be known as Izzy (unless she's in trouble). We adopted her from the Animal Shelter. We think she is about 7 - 8 months old, but she's tiny - barely 5 pounds. Not an unusual situation with shelter animals.

She started shy, but within 24 hours has come into her own. Izzy spent most of her previous life in a 3x3 cage, so she didn't have great running and jumping skills. We are working on her "hunting" skills and she has progressed exponentially in the week she has been a part of our family.

Prior to New Year's Eve, she has been out on the boat a couple times... short trips in smooth conditions to get her used to boat traveling.

New Year's Eve would be her first overnight on the boat. I'd have to give her a B+... to get an A, she would have had to ask to take the helm and then cried when we told her it was time to head back in. Yeah, that didn't happen.

The wind was blowing in the mid-teens with gusts around 20 when we anchored for the night in the Laguna Madre. We planned to watch the fireworks off South Padre Island. Izzy did fine... had supper, spent some time exploring all the nooks and crannies in the boat, and settled into the v-berth.

The fireworks display was outstanding...


Izzy didn't flinch during that, and we turned in for the night when the fireworks ended (another great thing about anchoring out: you don't have to fight the crowds and the traffic to drive back home after an event). By midnight, the winds had let up quite a bit, and we were gently rocked to sleep by the motion of the boat. All three of us slept well. I got up around 4:30 to check the anchor set (it was fine)... Izzy took that as: time to jump all around the cabin.

We got up for real shortly after sunrise...


Joan made breakfast (always tastes better on the boat), Izzy had chow, and by the time we were ready to head out, the predicted fog had rolled in. Decisions: head out in the fog or wait for it to lift; we have radar and a great chartplotter... we got ready to go.

Izzy had been doing fine up to this point. Joan went to the bow to check the anchor chain as it came up. I hit the button for the electric windlass, and Izzy's eyes grew to the size of saucers and she went whacko, looking for an exit! I managed to catch her one nanasecond before she completely disappeared into a small opening behind the fridge. She was not a happy cat. Plenty strong though... she put up a fight more like a full-grown bobcat than a 5 pound kitty. I wrestled her into her carrier and came back to the helm. Joan was still up on the bow, unaware of the hand-to-paw combat I just went through... "So, are you going to finish raising the anchor?"

We made our way home. When I brought Izzy back into the house and let her out of her carrier, she flipped me off and ran under a chair. Not exactly the result I was hoping for, but she did fine right up to the windlass incident... no puking, no howling, no drooling. Next time we go out, I'll warn her before I run the windlass... or use the horn in the fog. ;-)

The lights are off the boat and the house is decorated...



Tonight, we went "walking in a winter wonderland"... well, we walked through the neighborhood, admiring the Christmas lights decorating the homes (we aren't the only ones). At 8:00, it was still 70º; instead of coats and boots, we were in shorts and t-shirts... my idea of proper winter attire.

Hope your holidays are Merry & Bright!

December 6th was the Lighted Boat Parade in Port Isabel. We spent a couple days decorating Wild Blue. When Saturday came, the weather was the best we've seen in many years of this parade: temp in the 60s, clear sky, and very little wind! Here's a look at some of the boats:






And here's how Wild Blue looked (for one night)...



Good enough to give us Second Place in our division. The Chamber gave out t-shirts, we had an awards ceremony at Louie's, and everyone who participated (and there were more boats and great displays) brought home some kind of prizes. A great way to start the holiday season!

We spent the last three weeks enroute and around Florida. We cruised for a week with friends, but decided to head for Texas when the weather in the Panhandle turned cold and the forecast for the next month didn't look promising. We are now back in deep south Texas... will spend the holidays here, days cruising the waters of the Gulf and ICW. Maybe we'll do the lighted boat parade again.