Dealing With Winter Island Obstacles

Greetings from Matagorda Peninsula Island. I hope that everyone is doing great, staying warm and staying healthy.

Well the cold and windy northers are coming about every week out here now, with most of them dropping the nighttime and early morning temps into the mid-high 30’s. I’m thankful to have good quilts and a little propane heater to keep me warm at night, and a 75 lb Corky doesn’t hurt either. The constant 20-30 mph north winds howling across the bay is what makes it feel really cold, easily dropping the temperature 10-15 degrees more.

Another thing these hard blowing northers drop every winter is the tide. With at least one norther a week, the bay water tides have been staying extremely low, making it very difficult to leave or return to the island when I need to do so. The narrow inlet leading into the lagoon where my house and pier are located becomes impassable at times, with there being less than a foot depth of water. There are occasions that I have to lift the motor and get out of the boat and push and pull the nearly 21 year old heavy Haynie Bigfoot through the inlet. And there are other times that I’m not even able to do that, and have to anchor outside the lagoon and wait for higher tide to be able to enter back to the cabin. These tides and weather obstacles are just part of living full time out here, and I truly would not change any of it. . . except maybe wish for a secondary airboat during the winter months.

I enjoy driving along the beach during these times of very low winter tides, and being able to see the first gut in the surf, where normally there would be several feet of water, and now it is completely dry. All types of seashells and marine life become exposed and visible, and I witness many of them burying themselves in the wet sand until the tide returns higher. I rarely collect seashells anymore since I have plenty at the cabin, but I will pick up and keep some of the nicer and unusual ones (and give away most of those), if they are the shell only, and not inhabited by a mollusk or hermit crab. There’s just something relaxing and consoling about slowly walking along the beach and looking for nature’s little treasures. I think that I shall forever want to do just that.

Well, that’s it from the island for now. We are all going through some trying times right now, with the political uncertainties and Covid situation. . . just please keep the faith in God and be prepared, and always protect your family. Everyone take care and have a great day.