Work on the spillway is not moving along, but the pier demolition is making progress.
We are salvaging the lumber that we can for future use. The pier pilings are not in very good shape. Most are rotted and have holes completely through them. There should be some better ones near the end.

Kevin Durkee(501) shows us his catch from Florida. The big trout is 26 inches. He and Cyrena went to Port Charlotte and also fished Boca Grande. They also caught a four foot Bonnet Shark on 10 lb. line. He lived in this area for 11 years and says the fish are still in the same places.

Moyra's house is really getting a facelift.

Scott sent this report of his fishing trip this last weekend.

Ray Luna (601) and I finally got a little fishing in this past Sunday. I have not done any fishing since late November. That is way too long. I met Ray at his truck at 7:00 am. We drove to Long's bait stand at the corner of the Fulton Harbor. We were hoping to get an update on the progress of the pier removal because he is also our pier removal contractor, but it turns out he was out of town for the weekend. So we gave his employee a few dollars and walked out with 3 fresh dead crab, a small bag of fresh dead shrimp and 3 large fresh dead mullet. We were motoring out of the Kontiki channel by 7:35 am to a very cloudy, overcast morning. We headed for Tommy Martin's spot but overshot it in a southerly direction by a 1/2 mile because I have a new GPS and do not have all of my old locations marked. No problem, we pulled up at one of the big drains that pours out of Allyn's Bight. Dropped anchor and started the ritual of building bottom rigs, baiting hooks, casting out and setting them in the rod holder. It kind of creates a porcupine look . . . poles sticking out in every direction. On my first pole I put a 1/4 of a crab. While tieing a rig for the second pole the first pole bent over. Before I could scramble to the bow and grab the rod the line went slack. I reeled up a hook with a small remnant of crab left on it. Either the fish bit and let go or he bit and missed the hook. Either way . . . our spirits were high because we had a strong bite within the first few minutes. For the next 45 minutes we experienced nothing. This led to some discussion that sitting in a drain on an incoming tide was probably not the smartest fishing tactic but we kept doing it anyway. We moved up the shoreline to Paul's Mott and set up the same rig. With the exception of a few bait stealing crabs we only had one hit to speak of. Ray landed the largest stingray I have ever seen on a rod and reel. It was in the range of 2' in diameter. It was a beast. After an hour of a lot of nothing we moved again. This time we passed over long reef and moved further up the shoreline heading for Carlos Bay. As we started crossing over Jay Bird Point I slowed for fear it was going to get real shallow. Better to beach the boat at 10 miles per hour than at 30 miles per hour. As we were putting across the shallow reef I decided to do a quick change in strategy. Given the SE wind we were perfectly set for a drift down the reef. We were in 2.5' of water. I changed my rig to a clear 1/2 oz DOA under a cork and Ray went with a 1/2 oz DOA, clear with red flecks, free lining it. After about five casts I had a nice hit and boated an 18" trout. Things were looking up. After another few casts I boated a 17" trout. Things were looking so good Ray changed his rig to match mine. He promptly caught an undersized trout. Shortly after that we dropped into 3' to 4' of water. We spun back around and made two more drifts with out a bite. After that it was time to go in. This was Sunday and we both had to be back home that evening. All said it was another good fishing trip. Great company, beautiful bay, beautiful wildlife and two nice trout in the box. Not bad for a short morning of fishing.

This sign was added on Tuesday. After the hectic spring break week, our HOA had to do something to try to make the point that we pay the tax on this road and only allow access to authorized vehicles and people. For too many years our property was marketed as a part of a non existent entity, Kontiki Beach Resort, and people thought about anyone could have access.
Last week every condo that was available was occupied. I don't recall crowds like this in previous years. It is inevitable that when our place is this crowded, the owners renting for profit and the owners who only want to enjoy their unit, have their interests in competition. One owner called me over to listen to the noise from his renting neighbors. There is no doubt it was loud. He called the management company for that condo and it took them three hours to reach the tenants. It turned out to be over zealous kids playing a Wi game. It sounded like a large kettle drum
Three guests were locked out and one couple had to wait in their car from 7pm until 10pm for the management company to bring out a key to the unit. Two units were double booked.
On Saturday a Phase II guest parked on our property and I asked him to be sure to get a parking permit. He replied that the Phase II office said that he did not need a permit and that I had two choices, leave him alone or find myself in the hospital. I don't know what it is going to take to secure our property. Too many times in the past investors have given their permission to anyone they knew to come use our facilities. We have considered a gate at the entrance in the past and that may be the only thing that will work. Many people every week come out to walk their dogs on the HEB beach. HEB has complained that we don't do enough to limit this access, but I don't know how we can do this without full time security or a gate. We could perhaps put up some "watch out for rattlesnakes signs". Today the guests in 607 encountered another rattler on the HEB beach.
Even with the high occupancy rate last week, the sewer system worked well. We have been operating on one pump for some time now and it worries me. When most people had left, the unit cleanings began on Monday. There are four rental management companies and several owners who rent their own units who lease bayside condos so a number of housekeeping crews were at work. Monday night the bayside sewer backed up. Larry Rabe came out about 10pm and snaked it open. He said the problem again appeared to be heavy duty paper cleaning towels. I hope no cleaning crews are using these and flushing them, but there is no way to know. Something worked its way down the sewer to our remaining lift station pump last night. Again Larry had to come out and reset the control panel.
Spring break is usually a preview of summer operations. I sure hope this year's summer weeks go more smoothly.

Long Nguyen and his crew began dismantling the old pier today. They fought the wind and tide to bring one piece at a time to the shore.

Now that Moyra has sold her house, it is getting some repairs and a new coat of paint. It sure looks different.

This Sheepshead was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Scott and his family took their boat out on Saturday for the first time this year. When they returned Scott said they didn't do any fishing, just boating. However, this fish was between the trailer and boat hull when he trailered the boat.

John Sweeny came by and installed a new irrigation controller for us last week. This upgraded model will accommodate three more sectors to extend the irrigation system to other parts of the property. The grass was in need of water since the old controller had not functioned properly for the last six months. The cost was $350 and it came with a three year warranty.

More than a few spring breakers played in the bay this last week. They don't seem to be concerned about stingrays in the area.

Jack Gibbs and his crew came by last week to replace rotted joists under 501. They worked most of the day.

The reigning champion in the Oysterfest oyster shucking contest was the winner again. Scott Stiles has now won seven years in a row, although this year they had to have a tiebreaker for first. He won $700 for first. In the first round they shuck 24 oysters and it takes them only about two and a half minutes. The people in red shirts are the judges for each contestant. Even after the winner reaches 24, another judge, Danny Cox, a friend of mine, goes through to be sure no oysters have any shell in them. If so, they are not counted. Interestingly, Scott Stiles went to high school in San Antonio, at Central Catholic, at the same time Ray Luna(601) was there.
Also notice the palm trees in the background. They trimmed them for the festival and they look rather strange. This is called the pineapple look for palm trees.

Don sent another picture and note about their next trip to the Fina Docks yesterday.
Went back to Fina Docks today and caught our limit of sheepshead. Dick Waddell was able to go with us today as he accomplished getting the oil changed in his new car!

Don(renting 210) sent this note and picture about their fishing success on Thursday. I hope it portends better fishing in the near future.
Larry, went to the Fina docks in Port Aransas on Thursday, March 10th. Came home with Drum, Redfish and Sheepshead. John
And I caught fish till we got tired and came home.
Absent from our group was fishing buddy Dick Waddell, as he had to get the oil changed in his car!!!
Long Nguyen restarted his project on building the spillway.

Oyster Fest was a big success again this year. The weather was not great Saturday, but Sunday was nice and drew a large crowd. The Eastern Mystic Dancers are always a big draw. This year we will always remember. After the dancers finish their performance, each dancer selects a person from the audience to come on stage, put on a grass skirt, and dance with the belly dancer. The audience applause for each participant determines the winner. This year my son, Ryan, was selected by Kendra and was the choice of the audience as the best in the show. He won a couple of tickets to the group's performance in May and had his picture taken with Kendra. He did a pretty good belly dance himself, but I think it helped to dance with Kendra as she is by far the best performer in the show. Maybe next year I'll wear a headband, dark glasses, a Nike shirt, and a beard and she will pick me. Not!
Friday night a unit in the 300 building had an upstairs water leak and the ceiling fell down. The place was flooded. Servpro came out of Corpus about 1 am and brought their water extraction equipment. They have been back each day this week to check the fans and dehumidifier. Today they said the wall insulation is not drying properly and will have to remove some more drywall. This happened in my house in San Antonio last year and we are talking about a pretty pricey operation these guys have going.
I saw John Cieslewicz and his wife(Sea Shell Shores owners) take their boat out the channel Monday morning about 8:30 they were back by 10:30 with a load or trout. I talked to him this morning and he said they caught 18 trout on plastics and only two were less than 17 inches. The tide is way up and the water temperature is rising. I hope they has brought the larger trout back in. I have not seen a keeper anything caught on the pier since December. Gus's(203)father and brother came down on Thursday and fished off the pier during the day with no results. His dad comes in from Jordan every year and spends a month or more. He is in his mid 70's and a walking history book of middleastern culture, history, and politics. He is fascinating to talk to.
Work has not resumed on the spillway and the pier removal has not begun. I believe each will start soon.

Greg(Phase II 121) put this picture of the snake on his blog today. He skinned it out and nailed it to the board. I looks larger here than the picture I posted with the nearly dead snake on the pavement.
Mike McAdams came by today and repaired the roof on 507. He mentioned that the truck I pictured last week when he was here belonged to his brother who is also in the roofing business. I had wondered why they did the repair work. Mike said his best guess was that if the insurance company decides our roof is too damaged by the hail that they would allow about $128,000. He seems to know how all this works. I guess we will find out soon.
A contractor came by today to install smart meters to replace the existing electrical meters. She got as far as 304 when she wore out. She said her hands were cramped from using the pliers all day to attach the meter securing rings. Their company goal is 45 meters per day, but today she managed only half of that.
Hilda from the AEP called and went over all our security light issues. I verified the new costs with our bookkeeper and we will be saving about 45% over what we have been paying for years.
The guests in 202 this weekend went out on Saturday with guide Tom Radzinsky. He took them to Mesquite Bay and they came back with their limits of drum and reds.
Don and Nell Clark came by today for a visit. They were meeting with a realtor to look at 608. They came within a whisker of buying a unit three years ago. It was good to see them again. Lamar and Sue(503) were here and showed them how the remodeled units look now. I think they will try to buy something here.