Over the next few days, we are expecting rain. Lots of it.

Unfortunately, that means I won’t be riding my new bike anytime soon. Currently, it’s folded up and stored in the back of the Jeep until our bike cover gets here…hopefully, today.

During a break in the rain, we ran up to the island IGA to find something to cook for dinner tonight. When I suggested seafood, we promptly left to go to the fish market. Why pay for frozen when you can have fresh and cook it yourself??

I was overjoyed when he got back in the vehicle with fresh mahi and shrimp! That will go well on the grill. It was a little bit costly, but still cheaper than going out to eat. By the time you get your meal, a drink, and pay the tax and tip…I don’t need to explain. Everyone knows how expensive things are right now, especially when visiting a touristy place like this.

I want to go over to St Jo like I normally do, alone or with a girlfriend, so we stopped to get a schedule for the jetty boat. Unfortunately, its motor went out, so no telling when that will be up and running again. People with their own boats can get there, but no jetty boat means no St Jo trip for awhile. Bummer. We also drove a little ways down the beach. The rain has stopped for the time being, so it was busy even though the dark clouds are still looming and the flag status is definitely red! People were fishing off the pier and kids were frolicking in the waves; albeit close enough to shore that they weren’t in any danger. Dave is still watching the golf tournament, so if I want to go do anything, I’m on my own. I’ll be so glad when next month gets here and my friends come to visit! Us girls will just take off!

Yesterday, I walked to a nearby gift shop to look for a couple of cheap(ish) shirts because my summer wardrobe is woefully thin. I was lucky enough to find two racer back shirts for $18. Not my kind of prices, but probably the best deal I’m going to find on the island. There’s no Walmart here, and I wasn’t driving to Aransas Pass. You might think, “What’s the big deal about driving there?” Well, you have to go by ferry, which always has a line, drive about ten miles to the store, then repeat that back…but the wait to get back on the island is anywhere from 15-45 minutes, until summertime, then it’s more like an hour!! Same deal about going to fish the flats. You’re better off finding a good spot on the island than trying to go to the flats, which you’d need to plan to spend half a day doing.

We did go fishing yesterday but it turned out to be overwhelming. We were fishing from the pier, fighting the seaweed and the pelicans, losing our bait and tackle over and over again. We caught nothing but seaweed, and I broke off at least three lines on whatever junk sits on the bottom next to the pier. So, I cost us basically all of our tackle and bait. 😌

I know, it’s part of fishing but what an even worse is I might have injured a pelican. I felt horrible, but the darn thing was right behind me as I went to cast out, and he either snapped up my hook or I hooked him, it happened so fast I don’t know, and he flew down into the water flapping like mad. Eventually, he got it out on his own, I wasn’t in a position to help him, but don’t think I’m scared to. I’ve helped free one from a fishing net or a maybe it was fishing line, I don’t remember. We were in Louisiana and Chris’s friend Adam and I were swimming when we noticed the pelican in distress. Believe it or not, the bird let us fuss with him together and finally he was free! That felt great, but what happened yesterday was disheartening. One lady on the pier had a fish, and a different pelican snapped it up and she kicked at it til he let go and flew off. I realize they are pests, but still. That was mean. Just let it go lady.

I did manage to catch a couple of dolphins swimming and eating and a large ship going out to sea.

And the front, guided by the Pilot boat.

Oh yeah, the man-of-war are plentiful right now, which is another reason I don’t mind not getting in the water so much. We’ve been spotting a few washed up on the beach and yesterday, they floated freely in the ship channel below us. I should have taken a pic. They are a type of jellyfish that will sting you pretty bad. I guess there’s a season for them to be so plentiful right now.