Hootin’ Anni’s

Well, I’m thinking the worst is over for us, as I type this on Wednesday afternoon while there’s still power. The winds are still gusting at around 50 miles per hour here and there, the back yard is a lake, we have a little water seepage in our living room by the patio door. And our hurricane shutters are still closed. It’s like living in a cave still…I can hear the winds howling out the window but as of a little after 4PM cst the rains have subsided to just a gentle mist if not at intervals it’s not raining at all. Most of the morning and all afternoon the computer was unplugged in case of power outages and lightning/thunderstorms off and on. The forecast calls for continuing winds gusting and intermittent showers throughout the evening, into Thursday morning and clearing by midday.

The North Shore beach here was literally washed away to sea. At one time a while ago, the very same area lost all of its beach sand because of tropical storms of the past –and the city eventually built it up. Guess that’s in the agenda soon, once again.

This morning, before the front hit us, Bud and I went out in the car and drove down to the downtown area along the coast…it was the only place that was still open to view the surf and watch the dark, ominous clouds move in. At that time it was reported that Dolly hadn’t made landfall yet [we were out and about around 9am] –it had rained here heavily at times since about 1am. Some of the main streets were already flooded.

Once we got to the section of downtown near the yacht club and t-head, we parked and just got out to watch the clouds rolling…literally rolling. It was eerie. And quite quiet. A few other fools daring souls were watching also. We decided to get back in the car and drive toward the Navy base and stop and watch there…it was DARK and black over in that direction. We made a “U turn” to get on the other side of Ocean Drive going toward the south —the direction of Brownsville, where the eye was going to hit.

We drove about a mile, mile and a half and then it hit us…we drove right into the storm! And I couldn’t see the front of the car let alone which lane I was in. So, forgot that idea and slowly [traveling about 10 miles an hour] we headed back toward our home….

Dolly took forEVER to hit land. Quite a bit of damage to South Padre Island and the town of Brownsville I understand. But, it could have been worse! Here, the beach access roads were closed as of Tuesday night. Which is good for safety’s sake.

I’ll share some photos that I took just before the storm hit us…..

This is by the seawall walkway and beach, looking toward the south –where Dolly was. Bayfront Hotel on the right. Doesn’t look to bad then….

And as I turn about-face from taking the photo above, this is on the other side of Shoreline Drive [the street is actually 6 lanes, but divided by a grass median/parks]. I thought this was quite serene looking during the coming storm building up around us. There seems to be an ‘aura’ around the steeple!!! In just the few seconds from one photo to the next shot…the skies darkened.

To the right of the church in the middle grassed median are palm trees…though they swayed some, it wasn’t yet a ‘full-force’ wind from the tropics at this time, but the sky continues to boil!

From the seawall walkway, I aimed the camera to the Gulf. The clouds were beginning to blacken now a lot [all within a 10 to 15 minute time period]. The waves are looking quite calm only ’cause this area has a man made breaker in the distance to ‘save’ the town from horrendous wave action. It worked, even tho Dolly was about 150 miles to the south, the winds were picking up. I’m sure at the closed beaches the surf was MUCH higher at this point. It’s very evident by the horizon how the frontal system is being pulled southerly toward the eye!!

Now this photo is looking a bit upwards from where I stood. Those dark, blackened clouds were swirling above and the wind whistled at this point. About then, I was checking the photos on my camera view lens to see what I got, and I noticed the photo and how part of the coastline is hidden in rain and fog…that’s when I said to Bud we should drive down toward that area. [more on this below]¹

While slowly driving behind someone creeping down the street, we were hit. We were hit BIG…drove right into the squall! After about 1/2 mile or so driving in this torrential downpour and visibility near nil, I slowly eased over toward the curbside lane to go the other direction…toward home. This was on Louisiana -a beautiful area off Ocean Drive with many older homes [I love this street], and with a center grassy boulevard. I could see somewhat better since the full rain force was blowing from behind us now. When I came to a stop at the light at Louisiana and Alameda, I took this through the windshield. It is looking a bit clear because the windshield wipers were swiping the rains off.

Footnote ¹ From the photos above, the fourth and fifth photos – you’re seeing part of the city landscape –if you enlarge the one with the bend jutting out into the sea [the fifth], you can see the fog/rain bank that we were driving through. The other one with the dark overhanging clouds? Well, let me tell you – After we drove safely home and got back into dry clothes, I turned on the Weather Channel; Dolly hadn’t hit land yet, it has stalled just off shore and built in intensity. Then, I switched over to a local station and watched the ‘news break’ informing everyone that there were several tornado formations spotted minutes ago…one was the exact spot where we stood below the black clouds!! Another tornado was seen near the airport and the path was heading in the direction of our home…but never touched ground that I heard. Also, just after we left the area, several power lines fell onto the streets we just traveled. And the underpass we used to get to the less traveled areas to get home…at the underpass just behind us…the light changed red and a guy slammed on his brakes, hydroplaning and hit another car…slamming that car into a road sign and the sign came through the windshield just missing his head!! Scary. Another, on interstate 37, highway wet…slick, another hydroplaning…smashing into the concrete median and flipped over. Golly. I can’t understand why people don’t slow down when the weather calls for a bit more common sense!!!

So, to end my long saga here, I’m plumb tuckered out from anxiety in a way, glad it’s over for this time until the next storm heads our way. Thursday sometime we’ll both be busy getting all the stuff from the garage we stored from the back yard, that could have been potential projectiles in the high winds, back outside to make room for the car. ROFL

This is the 2nd hurricane here that was too close. The other was Emily two years ago. And I remember one that our son was evacuated from Houston [hurricane Rita]- he came our way for a couple of days ’til the danger was over.

edition #68

Thirteen reasons I like it here along the Gulf.

1]the sea breeze
2]the sparkling water
3]the scenery -including the fabulous water fowl
4]the beaches
5]the closeness of our home to everything here
6]the salty air
7]the mild winters
8]no snow [well, RARELY!]
9]the tropical plants
10]fresh shrimp -from shrimp boats as the come back from their haul!
11]the close proximity to Houston and San Antonio
12]gardening here is super easy…just watch ‘em grow
13]the southern charm/yet city ways – both worlds.

~…end Thursday Thirteen
[click here for commenting]

P J at Bits and Pieces is the Bloggers Over 50 Highlighted Blog of the Month of July! Congratulations. You can pick up this ‘award’ if you wish. Your blog is super. To pick up this just click on the graphic and then open in another window, right click and save.

Well, I’m thinking the worst is over for us, as I type this on Wednesday afternoon while there’s still power. The winds are still gusting at around 50 miles per hour here and there, the back yard is a lake, we have a little water seepage in our living room by the patio door. And our hurricane shutters are still closed. It’s like living in a cave still…I can hear the winds howling out the window but as of a little after 4PM cst the rains have subsided to just a gentle mist if not at intervals it’s not raining at all. Most of the morning and all afternoon the computer was unplugged in case of power outages and lightning/thunderstorms off and on. The forecast calls for continuing winds gusting and intermittent showers throughout the evening, into Thursday morning and clearing by midday.

The North Shore beach here was literally washed away to sea. At one time a while ago, the very same area lost all of its beach sand because of tropical storms of the past –and the city eventually built it up. Guess that’s in the agenda soon, once again.

This morning, before the front hit us, Bud and I went out in the car and drove down to the downtown area along the coast…it was the only place that was still open to view the surf and watch the dark, ominous clouds move in. At that time it was reported that Dolly hadn’t made landfall yet [we were out and about around 9am] –it had rained here heavily at times since about 1am. Some of the main streets were already flooded.

Once we got to the section of downtown near the yacht club and t-head, we parked and just got out to watch the clouds rolling…literally rolling. It was eerie. And quite quiet. A few other fools daring souls were watching also. We decided to get back in the car and drive toward the Navy base and stop and watch there…it was DARK and black over in that direction. We made a “U turn” to get on the other side of Ocean Drive going toward the south —the direction of Brownsville, where the eye was going to hit.

We drove about a mile, mile and a half and then it hit us…we drove right into the storm! And I couldn’t see the front of the car let alone which lane I was in. So, forgot that idea and slowly [traveling about 10 miles an hour] we headed back toward our home….

Dolly took forEVER to hit land. Quite a bit of damage to South Padre Island and the town of Brownsville I understand. But, it could have been worse! Here, the beach access roads were closed as of Tuesday night. Which is good for safety’s sake.

I’ll share some photos that I took just before the storm hit us…..

This is by the seawall walkway and beach, looking toward the south –where Dolly was. Bayfront Hotel on the right. Doesn’t look to bad then….

And as I turn about-face from taking the photo above, this is on the other side of Shoreline Drive [the street is actually 6 lanes, but divided by a grass median/parks]. I thought this was quite serene looking during the coming storm building up around us. There seems to be an ‘aura’ around the steeple!!! In just the few seconds from one photo to the next shot…the skies darkened.

To the right of the church in the middle grassed median are palm trees…though they swayed some, it wasn’t yet a ‘full-force’ wind from the tropics at this time, but the sky continues to boil!

From the seawall walkway, I aimed the camera to the Gulf. The clouds were beginning to blacken now a lot [all within a 10 to 15 minute time period]. The waves are looking quite calm only ’cause this area has a man made breaker in the distance to ‘save’ the town from horrendous wave action. It worked, even tho Dolly was about 150 miles to the south, the winds were picking up. I’m sure at the closed beaches the surf was MUCH higher at this point. It’s very evident by the horizon how the frontal system is being pulled southerly toward the eye!!

Now this photo is looking a bit upwards from where I stood. Those dark, blackened clouds were swirling above and the wind whistled at this point. About then, I was checking the photos on my camera view lens to see what I got, and I noticed the photo and how part of the coastline is hidden in rain and fog…that’s when I said to Bud we should drive down toward that area. [more on this below]¹

While slowly driving behind someone creeping down the street, we were hit. We were hit BIG…drove right into the squall! After about 1/2 mile or so driving in this torrential downpour and visibility near nil, I slowly eased over toward the curbside lane to go the other direction…toward home. This was on Louisiana -a beautiful area off Ocean Drive with many older homes [I love this street], and with a center grassy boulevard. I could see somewhat better since the full rain force was blowing from behind us now. When I came to a stop at the light at Louisiana and Alameda, I took this through the windshield. It is looking a bit clear because the windshield wipers were swiping the rains off.

Footnote ¹ From the photos above, the fourth and fifth photos – you’re seeing part of the city landscape –if you enlarge the one with the bend jutting out into the sea [the fifth], you can see the fog/rain bank that we were driving through. The other one with the dark overhanging clouds? Well, let me tell you – After we drove safely home and got back into dry clothes, I turned on the Weather Channel; Dolly hadn’t hit land yet, it has stalled just off shore and built in intensity. Then, I switched over to a local station and watched the ‘news break’ informing everyone that there were several tornado formations spotted minutes ago…one was the exact spot where we stood below the black clouds!! Another tornado was seen near the airport and the path was heading in the direction of our home…but never touched ground that I heard. Also, just after we left the area, several power lines fell onto the streets we just traveled. And the underpass we used to get to the less traveled areas to get home…at the underpass just behind us…the light changed red and a guy slammed on his brakes, hydroplaning and hit another car…slamming that car into a road sign and the sign came through the windshield just missing his head!! Scary. Another, on interstate 37, highway wet…slick, another hydroplaning…smashing into the concrete median and flipped over. Golly. I can’t understand why people don’t slow down when the weather calls for a bit more common sense!!!

So, to end my long saga here, I’m plumb tuckered out from anxiety in a way, glad it’s over for this time until the next storm heads our way. Thursday sometime we’ll both be busy getting all the stuff from the garage we stored from the back yard, that could have been potential projectiles in the high winds, back outside to make room for the car. ROFL

This is the 2nd hurricane here that was too close. The other was Emily two years ago. And I remember one that our son was evacuated from Houston [hurricane Rita]- he came our way for a couple of days ’til the danger was over.

edition #68

Thirteen reasons I like it here along the Gulf.

1]the sea breeze
2]the sparkling water
3]the scenery -including the fabulous water fowl
4]the beaches
5]the closeness of our home to everything here
6]the salty air
7]the mild winters
8]no snow [well, RARELY!]
9]the tropical plants
10]fresh shrimp -from shrimp boats as the come back from their haul!
11]the close proximity to Houston and San Antonio
12]gardening here is super easy…just watch ‘em grow
13]the southern charm/yet city ways – both worlds.

~…end Thursday Thirteen
[click here for commenting]

P J at Bits and Pieces is the Bloggers Over 50 Highlighted Blog of the Month of July! Congratulations. You can pick up this ‘award’ if you wish. Your blog is super. To pick up this just click on the graphic and then open in another window, right click and save.