Ruby Goes Off-Road...For Birds and Seashells

So, today didn't start off too well.  I woke up to see a glorious sunrise over the ocean...but I felt like crap. The head was splitting so I made some coffee, then went back to sleep.  Honestly, I slept most of the day but felt much better when I woke up.  Decided that today would be my "do a lot of nothing" day.

I did a bit of online research about the best shelling beaches on Galveston Island and it appears that the local lore is that the best shelling is to be found on the west end of the island..."past the water towers."  Luckily, I had been on the west end and knew exactly what they meant.

I also decided I needed to do laundry and I remembered a laundromat in that direction.  So I showered, packed up the dirty laundry and was on my way.

Now, the beaches at the very west end of the island are mostly drive on beaches, so I was happy I decided to get a 4 wheel drive Jeep.  She had never been off road or on a beach before, so it was an adventure for both Ruby (my Jeep) and myself.  Actually, the beaches were all still pretty wet from the rain earlier this week, so it was a breeze.

I walked around a bit, but not many shells and only a few fishermen to be seen.  I decided to pack it up to try further down the beach.  All of a sudden, I turned around to find a blue heron hanging out in the greenery behind my car.

He just kind of hung out there watching me for a bit.  I got a bit tired of staring at him and taking pictures, so I took off for further down the beach.  This time, I was not only glad for the 4WD but for the "trail rated" that my Jeep supposedly is.  I had to drive over a ton of rutted and puddle-y sand until I got to the beach bit. There were more fishermen here as well.  More birds too.  Only a few more shells

I think I'm just here the wrong time of the year for shelling.  It's times like this that I really miss Shakelford Banks!  There was also something scary on the beach

Stay awayyyyyyyyy from the scary jellyfish!  They're pretty behind glass at aquariums, but I was stung once as a child and I doan wanna go anywhere near them anymore.

Of course, there were the birds

Look!  Two almost impossible to see pelicans!  I really need a longer lens

I did get a lovely "Johnathan Livingston Seagull" shot here

Here's another heron (well, I believe it's a different one) flying away over a sandbar.

If you're tired of birds...

There was a fisherman there casting a net instead of fishing with a pole like most of the other guys, he was fun to watch.  He's standing on a submerged sandbar.

We're looking across San Luis Pass here to Brazoria County.  This is a treacherous area of water where swimming is now prohibited (although there are always people who will ignore the signs).

I'd been walking awhile and the sun was getting kind of low.  I decided I didn't want to find my way back to the road in the dark, so I started my trek back to the Jeep.

There's my shadow and the red dot in the middle of the horizon there is Ruby.  I had to hike in the sand for a bit. Bounced and jounced my way back to the road before dark and set out to do laundry.

Laundromat was closed...but I checked at the "resort" I'm staying in and there are washers and dryers on the first floor of my building.  Did my laundry...wooohoo.

Decided to get a late dinner at a nice place and thought I would try Gaidos but I got there too late for last seating.   I ended up at Landry's Seafood, which is a chain and was unimpressive.

I did have to stop and get bottled water on the way home and finally had an excuse to stop at Kroger!  I so very much miss Kroger's.  I got to buy a pint of the store brand ice cream and a bag of their store brand no artificial ingredient chocolate drops (y'know...those things like M&M's).

And that was my slow day today.  Nite-Nite!