One morning I rented a kayak in Port Aransas and paddled into quiet estuaries lined with mangroves and salt marsh grasses. The water reflected sky and tree — glassy, slow. I glided past fiddler crabs and oyster beds, watched fish leap, listened to marsh wrens.
I landed on a small sandbar, unmoored kayak, and explored tidal creeks on foot. The overhead canopy filtered sunlight, birds fluttered, the smell of salt and sea grass was vivid.
Back at The Palms I dried off, showered, and later prepared grilled fish foil packs (fish fillet, sliced zucchini, bell pepper, onion, garlic, butter, herbs, wrapped and baked on grill). I ate outside, watching golden light bounce off palms.
Later in the week, I brought a friend and we repeated the paddle at sunrise — tranquil, pristine, a rare slice of solitude.