Forty-five Days out of Singapore

I started the day by going to the beach to suck some of those Gulf shrimp from the sand during low-tide (around eight something in the a.m.) but, had to cut short my gathering of those critters because my pump handle broke -- with only about a dozen shrimp in my bait bucket (and half a dozen to the sea gulls as they beat me to them at times).  I thought that I still might catch some of those Sheepshead at the end of the jetty next to the shipping channel in Port Aransas so, I dried my feet and switched into some socks and my soft hiking shoes.  Afterwards, I thought I could stop in the tackle shop where I bought the pump to get them to glue the handle back on.

When I arrived on the beach by the jetty, I discovered that there were quite a lot of spectators gathered on the jetty and some folks with large video cameras.  At first, I thought they were fishermen and feared the end of the jetty would be full by now -- binoculars proved otherwise and I could see something huge approaching the channel from the east -- the Far East!  Singapore as it turns out and it left 45 days ago on its trip here to Corpus Christi to be worked on and completed.  Another oil rig to be sent 150 miles south of New Orleans and dropped to the floor of the Gulf -- another fishing reef I thought (hopefully not to become another spill disaster like BP's).  This one is owned by Shell as I learned from a guy parked next to me.

Such an impressive sight and I even remembered to leave my camera in the Jeep -- just had to find a baggie for the trip out to the end of the jetty.  Well, the fishing didn't go so well but, such a beautiful day could not be ruined after seeing this spectacle.  I could even see it on the far side of Port Aransas as it manuevered the channel beyond and headed to the south towards Corpus Christi and the shipyards there.

Of course, I ran out of shrimp (instead of tackle) and only caught a couple Sheepshead and one hardhead catfish -- too small to keep.  The wind was blowing out of the south southeast and the waves were really impressive at the end of the jetty -- sometimes spraying water 8 or 10 feet in the air (glad I had my swimsuit on and suntan lotion too).

 

After making the long walk back from the end of the jetty, I stopped by the ferry to see how busy it was and finding it a short line, I headed over to Aransas Pass to refuel the Jeep (15 cents cheaper there).  I made a stop at H.E.B. next to the gas station and picked up a few things and restock my supply of Fish Bites (for the fishing days ahead).  On the way back to the RV park, I stopped at the tackle shop and had them reglue the handle onto my pump.  Almost good as new -- and ready for more "Blisters".