January 26, 2021 Bridges, Fortresses, and Flat Tires

The Liberty Gazette

January 26, 2021

Ely Air Lines

By Mike Ely and Linda Street-Ely

Linda: Another beautiful weekend, another lazy flight, just to get out. The day offered an unlimited ceiling, and it seemed a perfect time to stroll above the beach and take in the view of the waves
splashing up to the sand, the people as little as play figures and their toy cars and trucks. We’d head west past the Intercoastal Waterway, past Seafood Warehouse, the fly-in restaurant on Crystal Beach. Past the bridge under construction near Matagorda. The corkscrew replacement for the old Sargent swing bridge is a real eye-catcher from the air. You can see a cool video on this unique piece of engineering on YouTube. 

To our left, oil derricks working in the Gulf, probably their last few pumps, as they will soon be more victims of censorship, silenced by the corrupt, anti-American devils, and all the energy jobs will soon be gone as well. 2024 is too far away. 

Mike: Meanwhile, we have our wings, and God’s air gives them lift. I had rush-packed a picnic lunch. We tossed the bikes with new cushy seats back into the airplane and entered the Aransas Pass airport into the GPS as the destination. If you know where to look, it’s not hard to find. The runway is on the west side of the town. With prevailing winds from the south, take-offs and landings are usually toward the water, providing a scenic climb-out over the beach. 

The little building that serves as a pilot’s lounge is well-appointed with a dining table and cushiony chairs and sparkling clean restrooms. It’s easy to rent a golf cart at Mustang Beach, too. If you’re not feeling pedestrian, and you don’t have a set of wheels, you can pick from plenty of carts available from local vendors. 

However, since we brought our bikes, the plan was to coast down the beach, through town. Sometimes, though, a little snag can get into the barest of plans one has. Like cycling. My rear tire wouldn’t hold air, and after exhausting all the spare compressed air capsules I had, we put the bikes back in the airplane and set out on foot. With the beach such a short walk, it was no big deal. 

Linda: We picked our spot, opened our thermal lunch pack, and feasted. Over yonder, a big dad held his tiny daughter’s hand as she toddled to the water’s edge. It about covered her feet, but barely touched his big toe. A sweet, young family sat together facing the water, the two little boys working hard on a
spectacular sandcastle. “But we’re not finished yet!” they protested when I asked if I could take a picture. I bet it turned out to be an impressive fortress. 

ElyAirLines.blogspot.com