A Day At the Beach

Blustery night last night.  It was warm enough to have the windows open and the wind came through and almost lifted the blankets off the bed.

We had several options for today, but several of them were less desirable on a windy day so we decided to stick a little close and save the farther excursions for days with better weather.  So we set our sights on the Matagorda area, about a half-hour drive northeast.

Didn’t get started right away, we were basking in the luxury of sleeping in, making a big breakfast, and generally taking our time.  It also took a little bit to fill up with fresh water and dump the waste tanks because all the faucets had been embalmed in insulation and plastic due to the impending cold snap. 

We first ended up at Matagorda Beach, right where the Colorado River joins the Gulf of Mexico.  We took a walk along the jetties there and tried to stay upright.  The wind was super strong, making it difficult to walk at times.  The sand sweeping across the beach made it appear that the entire beach was shifting rapidly into the sea.  There is supposed to be a lot of different bird species here, but we were told that the high wind causes them to hide in the marsh, so bird watching was out.

After an hour of being constantly buffeted by the wind and blasted by blowing sand, we got back into the RV and drove to Bay City to check out the town and pick up some groceries.  The wind was supposed to moderate later in the day, giving us an opportunity to come back here and even camp on the beach overnight.

On the way back out of town we detoured a few miles to Riverside Park, a nice secluded place on the Colorado River, but, arriving there, found out that the entry fee is ten dollars.  Not wanting to spring for ten dollars just for a parking space to make dinner, we drove on and arrived back in Matagorda, to Egret Island, where we drove the RV onto the beach, parked it on the sand and made dinner.  The wind was beginning to moderate by this time and we were able to have dinner and watch the sunset out the window.  We also took a walk on the beach after dinner, made much more pleasant by the sand staying in one place.

We appear to be the only ones here.  A few pickup trucks roared by as it was getting dark, but they have all since left and we have miles of dark beach to ourselves.  What was left of the moon just set, and the stars are coming out in full force.  

Psalm 19 comes to mind...


The heavens declare the glory of God,
      and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
Day to day pours out speech
      and night to night reveals knowledge.

Psalm 8 also...

When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
       the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
what is man that you are mindful of him,
     and the son of man that you care for him?

What a privilege to be a part of this!