Morning Light on Aransas Bay
Dawn Light Over Aransas Bay Pier
Sunrise Coffee, Coastal Piers, and the Quiet Magic of Rockport
A few weeks ago, at the end of June, I took my sweetheart down to the Texas Gulf Coast for her birthday, and we ended up in Rockport. Neither one of us had ever been there before, so it was a brand new adventure for both of us. We stayed in a wonderful spot right on the water where the mornings served up sunrises that made getting up early feel like a privilege. This particular shot happened right from our deck while we were sitting with our morning coffee and getting ready to play Wordle. It’s become our daily ritual being together in the early quiet part of each day. During our time in Rockport each morning put on a different show as we watched the first light break over Aransas Bay. This particular morning turned out to be the most dramatic with the sun punching right through a pocket of clouds above a long fishing pier.
Rockport has a great reputation as an arts community, but the natural history around the bay is just as striking. While we were exploring, we made sure to check out the famous Big Tree at Goose Island State Park—an absolute monolith of a coastal live oak that has weathered centuries of Texas weather, standing gnarled and proud near the water. We also spent some time tracking down the local bird rookeries, where the tree tops are practically overloaded with big wading birds nesting in the salt air. Between the local galleries, the incredible birding, and the food at the various spots we tried over our four days there, it's safe to say we are already looking forward to getting back down that way.
There's a quiet rhythm to the Texas coast at dawn before the heat of the day settles in, and sitting there with a coffee and a camera is about as good as retirement gets.
Explore More of My Adventures
Explore a stunning night sky capture of the Milky Way rising over the Mule Ears formation in Big Bend National Park, complete with matting and framing tips.