Then Dave said ...: Texas No. 5 --- Rockport

Rockport

Whatever your thoughts of Texas may be, Rockport is probably different. My first introduction to Texas was August in San Antonio. It’s not a fair first impression. I was herded from one place to another, had my head shaved, was issued clothing and gear, and kept from polite society for six weeks. To me, Texas was too large when marching or running. It was too hot, period. It was too new and it was not soon enough when I said goodbye.
I returned a year later for a month in San Angelo. Texas in September on the Edwards Plateau was hot, dry, and dusty. The steaks were huge. The river was muddy. And what didn’t want to bite you wanted to poke you.
Rockport is much more in the vein of Florida and other coastal states. The ground is sandy, and supports patches of tough grasses. Some grasses sprawl and others clump, making homes for wildlife. Burrs do well here and seem as pleased to ride on socks and pant legs as they are to attach themselves to animals. There is often a breeze and the smell of the water is unmistakable as you draw near the coast.
There are lots of bay views. There are rocky beaches. Along the water, egrets, pelicans, seagulls and pigeons gather. Diving birds tilt and disappear, rising several feet away.

Bird Life

Rockport is home to fishermen, both professional and amateur. The shoreline is dotted with marinas that hold a mix of working boats and pleasure craft. Bait shops anchor many of the piers.

Public Pier

Working boats tie up near the more commercial bait shops and get their supplies before they go out each days. There are two types of shrimpers. Bay shrimpers go out and come in daily. Ocean shrimpers go out for several weeks at a time. It's not an easy life. Then again, Texas in some respects is not an easy place to be.

Aransas Bait Co.

The variety of home styles is interesting. Quite a few people live in trailers. Some in trailer parks or RV parks, but many on larger pieces of property where the trailer is the main dwelling. There are smaller homes that are well kept. There are smaller homes that are overgrown. Plant life along the Texas Coast is tenacious. If you're working hard all day long, all the fight may have gone out of you before you get home and decide to wrestle with vines and thorns. There are also larger, nicer homes in enclaves near the water.

Wealth can purchase a lovely view. But there is a price. The pier in the following picture has endured intense sun, salty breezes, and quite a few storms. The homes that cluster along the edge of the bay get the same brutal treatment. Even if you have the money to purchase a home (a modest, unpainted, elevated home just behind the dunes on Mustang Island listed for $1.2 million), make sure you've budgeted for the necessary maintenance.

Weathered Pier

Since it is home to so many Winter Texans, Rockport has created an enviable quality of place. There are a number and variety of eateries. Many of them are devoted to breakfast and lunch trade, closing around 2 p.m. Without visiting any chain restaurant, you could enjoy barbecue with tender brisket slices, Maryland crab cakes (a welcomed transplant called 495 East), steakhouses, Mexican dishes, and quite a few donut parlors.

People have an appreciation for art and color. Like makeup, the color requires frequent application to remain attractive, but bronze shows impressive endurance. Near the aquarium and Rockport Harbor, the town has erected several bronze sculptures in a garden, including porpoises, a turtle, a woman waiting for her sailor to return, and two birds.