I stirred up early Saturday morning, left San Marcos around 5:30am, and made my way to Rockport, Texas. After an excessively foggy drive I checked in at the office to learn I'd have to come back and see if enough people show up for the boat to launch. No sweat. I took that time to wander around the Rockport Harbor. The weather was superb. Perfectly sunny and breezy at just the right temperature. I picked up some trash and saw some prehistoric looking water bugs that you don't notice until they all start to evade your steps. My phone rang and the trip was on!
I packed my bag with my camera and a couple lenses, my shade hat, sunscreen on my face, binoculars, one emergency contraband snackbar (no outside food allowed on the boat), and my jacket. Ready to go! We loaded the Wharf Cat and I found a corner by myself while everyone else was set on climbing to the upper-deck. As soon as we reversed out of our dock and began to exit the harbor I relocated to the bow.
Honorable mention to my whispies in this set. I generally do everything I can to keep hair out of my face but I reached a point on this boat tour where my hair turned into a face massage rather than nuisance. If only that were always the case.
A connection was finally made. I work in water and environmental advocacy in the Texas Hill Country where we cherish every acre of habitat for our Golden-cheeked Warblers, every foot of water in the Edwards Aquifer for our salamanders, every spring bubble for our Texas Wildrice.The freshwater and habitat is just as important at the opposite end of this water's journey. Without clean flowing water in our rivers we can't have abundant blue crab in our bays and estuaries. Without abundant blue crab we can't have Whooping Cranes. Water is the key to life no matter where you go. It's our duty to protect our water resources at all costs. I see the importance from beginning to end.