Compared with last week this one was laid back and relaxing.
The weather cooperated allowing us to walk and enjoy the spring-like warmth of
the sunshine and Gulf breezes. Although some mornings the temperatures were in
the low- to mid-40s, it warmed up to the high 60s and low-70s most days. The
fog was extremely heavy many days in the morning hours, but the sun soon burned
it off.
Monday afternoon I rode with friends Marty, Steve and Karen
to Corpus Christi to drop Steve at a hotel for his very early Tuesday morning flight to Flint, Michigan. A few weeks
ago Marty and Steve were notified that there had been a fire in their home in
Flint (which they had rented out), so Steve was flying home to investigate and
get things started to rebuild. (The fog played havoc with Steve's flight plans,
grounding him in Corpus until Wednesday morning.) Thankfully, no one was hurt
in the fire, and the outcome didn't appear to be as bad as the initial photos showed. He's
due to be back Tuesday night, if the weather in Michigan cooperates!
On the way back to Rockport from Corpus Marty, Karen and I
decided to take the opportunity to have dinner out, so we stopped in at
Charlotte Plummer's in Fulton, Texas. As we waited to be served, we watched
oyster boat after oyster boat pull in to the docks to deliver their burlap bags
of fresh oysters onto pallets, which were then loaded onto flatbed trucks for
delivery to the local fish mongers. Dozens of oyster boats call the Fulton
Marina home, so hundreds of bags were loaded—quite unbelievable, considering
that oysters don't mature for harvesting for 18-20 months. As a result of
watching the boats unload, I began wondering about the life-cycle of the
oyster.
"Oysters spawn from the
warm weather in late spring until early fall. Eggs discharged by females are
fertilized in the water by sperm released by males. This is an uncertain event
at best and only a fraction of the eggs becomes fertile. However, spawning of
many oysters at the same time assure an abundance of embryonic oysters.
The fertilized egg
quickly develops into a swimming, shell-bearing larval oyster or "veliger." During the veliger stage, lasting two or three weeks,
larval losses are very high. While in this stage, larvae are distributed
throughout a bay by tidal currents. Currents may carry them upward into water
that is too fresh, or outward into the salty Gulf where they will perish. Many
organisms feed upon the larvae or produce substances which poison them.
Pollution from industrial waste may cause larval death. As a result, the
percentage of larvae that develop to the next, "setting", stage is
probably small (similar to the percentage of eggs that develop into larvae).
However, that small percentage can result in tremendous numbers of tiny
oysters.
Larvae that have settled
to the bottom and cemented themselves to a suitable surface are called "spat," presumably because their golden-brown shells, just visible to
the naked eye, look like specks of tobacco juice. Spat will set upon many
different materials, such as bricks, bottles, cans, tires, even crabs and
turtles. However, oyster shells (both in use and empty) provide the most
abundant, naturally available setting material.
Oyster spat are
gregarious, that is, they tend to settle where some spat are already present.
When spat are plentiful, overcrowding may occur but this tendency helps to
maintain the oyster population on established reefs and is a means by which new
reefs may evolve. Upon setting, the tiny
spat begins to secrete new shell in successive layers, expanding in all
dimensions. Special cells in the mantle covering secrete most of the shell
material, although it can also be deposited by mantle cells within the valves.
The oyster can, in effect, patch up its old home while building an addition to
it.
Growth of oysters in Texas waters is relatively fast and
occurs throughout the year. Under ideal conditions, spat may reach one inch in
three months, two inches in seven months, and three inches in 15 months.
Nevertheless, growth can be variable and oysters of identical age may differ
markedly in size. Probably most Texas oysters reach the legal market size of
three inches in 18 to 20 months."
There, you have it! Oh, and next weekend is the big
Oysterfest in Fulton, Texas, where close to 200,000 oysters will be eaten over
a 3½ day period! Stay tuned!
Tuesday was just another day in the neighborhood. I attended "stitch and b…" in the morning, followed by laundry, and a walk along Fulton
Beach Road in the afternoon. We considered the walk successful as we saw
redhead ducks, egrets, spoonbills, blue herons, and snowy egrets. So fun, that
we never get tired of seeing them! And, the yuccas are blooming!
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| Redhead Ducks |
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| Snowy Egret |
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| Spoonbill |
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| Blue Heron |
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| Caroline Mallow and Eve's Necklace |
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| New Gold Lantana and Drummond Phlox |
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| Texas Firewheel |
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| Blooming Yuccas |
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| Rose Angels |
Last week, when we visited the Aransas Wildlife Reserve, an
issue with the rear driver side window cropped up (or down…ha!). The window
wouldn't go back up, or down, even though we could hear its motor running.
Finally, after much switch rocking and prodding, we got it up, realizing that
we needed to get it fixed. Dick and friend Bill took the door apart on Thursday,
hoping to rectify the problem. No go. The cable had come off a pulley and there
was no way to get it back on. So…we ordered a new window regulator from
Amazon.com (amazing they have diesel truck parts!) and expect that the window
will be repaired this week.
That afternoon was another rowdy couple of hours playing
Pegs and Jokers, with Bill and Carole, Bob and Sharon, Marvin and Shirley, and
us. This time the women could not get
the guys to give in, so the women lost 2 games to 1—but we’re still on top.
Friday dawned bright and sunny, with temperatures in the
high 60s, heading to the mid-80s. Finally! Along with Marvin and Shirley, we
headed to Goliad, Texas, an area rich in history surrounding Texas' fight for
independence and ranching.
Mission Nuestra Senora Del Espiritu Santo De Zuniga,
Goliad State Park
Our first stop was at the Goliad State Park, which is
comprised of three historic sites: the Mission Nuestra Senora Del Espiritu
Santo De Zuniga, the Mission Nuestra Senior Del Rosario (closed to the public),
and the Presidio La Bahia. These three together reveal 300 years of Texas
history, and memories of American Indian, Spanish, Mexican, and Anglo cultures.
(As a side note, Goliad is the phonetic anagram of Hidalgo, the priest who
became a hero during the Mexican Revolution; the “H” is not pronounced in Spanish.)
Located about 1 mile west of the town of Goliad is the
Mission Nuestra Senora Del Espiritu Santo De Zuniga, a mission established by
Franciscan priests in 1722; after two moves it finally settled in its present
location along the San Antonio River, opposite the river from the Presidio La
Bahia. (The Mission Nuestra Senora Del Espiritu Santo De Zuniga and Presidio La
Bahia were strategically located to protect Camino La Bahia, a major Spanish
trade route to the north and east.)
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| The Mission Nuestra Senora Del Espiritu Santo De Zuniga |
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| A section found of the original mission wall. |
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| Close-up of the altar. |
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| Mission grounds with some of the original rock walls. |
Originally, the hunter-gatherer Indians known as Karankawa,
Aranama and Tamique occupied this land, but with the arrival of the French at
Matagorda Bay and the thousands of Spanish who followed, their lives were to
change forever. The Spanish Crown and the Roman Catholic Church reasoned that
through mission settlements they could hold onto the land, so they began "civilizing and Christianizing" the often unwilling native people with the
intention of making them Spanish citizens.
This Mission life proved destructive to the natives' traditional way of life. The natives agreed to live in the mission in return
for food, shelter and protection from more aggressive tribes. They also agreed
to follow the Mission's discipline and receive instruction from the Roman
Catholic faith, resulting in the gradual erosion and eventual destruction of
their traditional tribal culture.
The chapel and grounds were the center of a busy community.
Ranching became the main occupation here; thousands of wild long-horned cattle
and horses roamed the Mission lands. Supervised by the priests, the men branded
cattle, tilled the soil, chipped stone and mixed mortar; the women spun wool,
made clay pots, ground corn and harvested crops.
The Mission continued to function for over 100 years, until
in 1830 it was forced to close due to the declining Indian populations, lack of
money and political turmoil in Mexico. The buildings were neglected and in
ruin; the stone used in them were used for other construction projects.
The Texas State Park system acquired the site in 1931.
Civilian Conservation Corps worked to restore the Mission from 1935 until 1941.
During the 1970s, Texas Park and Wildlife Department rehabilitated the chapel
and built exhibits in the restored granary to depict life as it had been in the
1700s.
(more photos)
(more photos)
Goliad
Our next stop was the town of Goliad. Founded in 1749 by the
Spanish, Goliad grew into one of Colonial Texas' main towns, and was the site
of the origins of the Texas Longhorns and cattle ranching. The town is rich in
history, as can be seen in the more than 30 buildings recorded as a Texas
Historic Landmark, a State Archeological Landmark, and/or on the National
Register of Historic Places.
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| Goliad Courthouse, 1894, completed at a cost of $67,800. A 1942 hurricane destroyed the picturesque clock tower and turrets In 2003, through House Bill 1341 and the Texas Historical Commission's Texas Historic Courthouse Preservations Program the clock tower and turrets were restored to their original splendor. |
While there, we walked around the Goliad Court House, noting the “hanging tree,” where men were executed for crimes committed. We then had lunch at the “Hanging Tree Restaurant” located across the street.
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| The Goliad Hanging Tree |
Now, for a little more history of this area.
The first offensive action of the Texas Revolution took
place in Goliad in October 1835, when local colonists captured the town and
presidio. In December of that year the first Declaration of Texas Independence
was signed here, and at the same time the "Bloody Arm Flag," the first flag of
Texas Independence, was hoisted above the town www.tpwd.texas.gov/goliad.
(photo of Bloody Arm Flag)
The Presidio La Bahia
Our third and final stop was at Presidio La Bahia, "The Fort
of the Bay." Located 1½ miles west of Goliad, this National Historic Landmark
is considered the world's finest example of a Spanish frontier fort. It's the
most fought over fort in Texas history, having seen participation in six
National Revolutions/Wars of independence.
Originally located on Matagorda Bay, Presidio La Bahia was
moved to its present location in 1749. As a permanent settlement grew up around
the protection of the fort, it was the original Goliad, becoming the second
largest populated settlement in Spanish Texas. The first Declaration of Texas
Independence was signed at the Presidio on December 20, 1835, boldly stating
the intentions of 92 citizens of the settlement.
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| Exterior of part of the Presidio showing the chapel in the background. |
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| Front of the chapel; notice the "Angel of Loreto" high above the door in the niche. |
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| Found on the grounds of the Presidio, this yucca stands well over 12 feet. Marvin is 6 feet tall. |
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| This Spanish Colonial Bell, dated 1748, was used at the Presidio La Bahia, and rang 28 years before the Declaration of Independence was signed. |
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| A list of those who died in the Goliad Massacre, March 27, 1836 |
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Another beautiful day dawned Saturday, with bright sunshine
and mild temperatures reaching into the 70s. That morning was the bi-weekly
craft show held in the clubhouse. Vendors showcase their wares of everything
from hand-made quilts, afghans and dish cloths, to jewelry, second hand audio
tapes, photographs, homemade peanut brittle, and intarsia (a woodworking technique that uses varied shapes,
sizes, and species of wood fitted together to create a mosaic-like picture with
an illusion of depth). During the sale, hot and fresh cinnamon rolls are sold,
too! Yum!
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Afterwards, Dick and I walked along Fulton Beach Road,
capturing photos of egrets, a sandpiper and the ever-present Redhead ducks.
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| Egret: "You lookin' at me?" |
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| Redhead Ducks: bottoms up! |
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| Sandpiper (sorry it's so blurry) |
That afternoon was another round of Pegs and Jokers with Bill
and Carole, Marvin and Shirley, and new friends Jamie and Annie (South Dakota).
Unfortunately, the gals could not pull off a win; the guys won 3 games to zip.
Dang!
Sunday morning we attended the 8:30 service at First Baptist
Church of Rockport. Pastor Jones' sermon series continues from the book of John
in the New Testament: John 12:9-36. "It is possible that I do not understand
God's purposes in my life's circumstances, nor my role in what God is
accomplishing. If God's purposes and glory are going to be realized in my life
and circumstances, I need to die to myself (giving God full control)." Here's
the link to the message: http://fbcrockport.net/online-sermons/
After church we stopped at Walmart
for a few items, followed by breakfast at Caroline's Turtle Bay Café, the ice
cream social at the clubhouse at 2:00, and Pegs and Jokers. We played 2 tables
that afternoon with Marvin and Shirley, Bill and Carole, Bob and Sharon, Jamie
and Annie, 2 new players: Robin (Ohio) and Alice (Nebraska), Dick and me. The
combined results were guys: 3 and women: 3 (Alice played for the guys). Fun
times! While I returned to the camper, Dick took a walk along the water, where
he videotaped "Pearl," the black lab. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6v7Osgx5lFc
I received a phone call from friends Ron and Kathryn, whom we met in Grand Portage, MN last summer, and who are now in Fredericksburg, Texas (where they're from). They plan to come down to see us and scout the area around Rockport within the next couple of weeks. Yippee! It will be so good to see them again!
Well folks, that's it for this
week. Stay tuned for more excitement from the Coastal Bend of Texas next week,
when we’ll be reporting on Oysterfest!
Hugs,
RJ and Gail
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