Beaches aren't an attraction you typically think of when considering places to go in Texas. In fact, I've noticed people down here are pretty brutal when speaking of beaches such as Galveston. Typical complaints surround the ideas of rocky, disheveled sand, feeble waves and murky water. But Matagorda is an entirely different beach experience, it's in a class of its own.
You get the drill by now - it's the afternoon on a Friday and Jacob and I are en-route to a destination we've been planning for since returning from the last one. Jacob is a beach guy - a surfer and a lover of the ocean and all things that come with it. So he wanted to make a trip to Matagorda beach, about two hours from Houston. The weather was set to be perfect - low 80's and sunny - and so we borrowed a kayak for the weekend, he loaded the camping gear, and I ran out of work on Friday. Matagorda is actually the first trip Jacob and I ever went on months ago. It was only a day trip but it is the one that essentially started it all and one I will surely never forget.
There is something truly unique about this place. When you get to the beach there is no finding parking, paying for meters, or worse - checking into a hotel. You simply put your vehicle into 4-wheel drive and roam the beach until you find your own preference of weekend accommodation. The drive along the coast is a trip in itself. You may pass some fisherman, the occasional group on the beach for a day of drinking and coming up with ridiculous activities such as the one featured below. And if you're really lucky, like in our case, you may even pass an abandoned vehicle immersed in the ocean. But for the most part, it's basically desolate.
Here is the second considerably notable thing about Matadorda, however not so pleasant: there is an overabundance of trash washed up on this beach. I'm talking about the most random items of all shapes and sizes from all over! Jacob and I always talk about how heartbreaking it is to see beautiful mother nature polluted with human mess.
I will say however, photography and the right sunlight can make even garbage look beautiful. And occasionally among the debris you may also find some memorable surprises like these flowers or this coconut Jacob found and I cracked open - almost perfectly.
We drove a few miles, to and through the shockingly empty "nude beach" area until Jacob found the perfect site.
Something I've become very attuned to is when Jacob does something - especially having to do with being outdoors or photography - he does it very meticulously. Everything is done with reason; and this is great for me because it means less worrying and more living in the moment! We set up camp in the precisely picked location (where Jacob raked the shells), made some dinner, listened to some music (a staple in all our travels), had some drinks and enjoyed the sunset.
Saturday I woke up to Jacob screaming my name - and I mean screaming! It was one of those instances where people in the awake world are transported right into your dream world. Anyway – when I realized he was actually screaming my name, it was not just part of my dream, I understood he wanted me to wake up, get out of the tent & catch the sunrise!
After packing up the truck we decided to venture off the beach and drive inland for some off-road scenery. I have to admit, the wilderness is just as remarkable there as looking out over the coast. Check out Finwoodphoto for spectacular illustrations of the location.
Later, we found a new, equally selected camping site, setup shop and headed out for some kayaking. The most amusing part about this venture was carrying a camera out on rough waters. Jacob packed up my camera in his Pelican case – (don’t worry mom- it’s still in perfect condition) and we paddled out. When we would catch a break in the waves, Jacob would pull out the camera and quickly snap a few shots then stuff it back in the case.
We rode the waves in and it was inevitable that the kayak was going to nose-dive. Of course my responsibility was the camera. So Jacob caught a wave, we surfed to shore and as the kayak dumped me into the ocean I held onto that case for dear life keeping it above water level. The camera was the only thing not taken under by the wave. When I came up Jacob was right there...standing and laughing at me, of course…
The sunset that night was a blazing, fire-orange that filled the sky - it was truly incredible. The picture below, by the way, is completely unedited! We harmonized by building a fire of our own on the beach.
At the end of this trip I found myself counting my blessings. The beauty of this world, and the opportunities I have been given, make me want to be a better person, the kind of person deserving of so many heart-stirring moments to life for.