By Geoff Griffin

Location. Location. Location. It’s important in real estate and even more important when it comes to outdoor adventures. Location obviously determines what sports you enjoy, but it also affects mood, adrenaline, relaxation, expectations and even culture and cuisine. Seems hard to believe that water, trees, elevation and temperature could have such an overall effect, but then again, those are the very reasons we get away to the outdoors in the first place. Matagorda County, Texas, gives you a clear reminder of the role of “place”. Halfway between Houston and Corpus Christi on the Gulf of Mexico, the area stands out for its confluence of three different water landscapes. Within just a few miles, one can find the Texas Colorado River- running through traditional Texas prairie and ranch land - on its way to the Matagorda Bay, which is just one narrow piece of land away from the surf of the Gulf of Mexico. While each of the three landscapes provides an array of recreational opportunities ­ tubing or water skiing on the river, kayaking and fishing on the bay, diving and surfing on the beach ­ each setting also creates its own set of expectations and offers its own unique culture.

A day on the river is an experience in laid-back fun. You can enjoy the movement of the water along with the perfect spring and fall weather this part of Texas features. Surrounding the good times on the water is the good ol’ boy (or girl) culture as you cruise by the tall grass and trees. When you’re done, it seems only right to grab some bar-b-q or Tex-Mex. By contrast, an afternoon on the Gulf of Mexico is all about soaking up the sun and getting in tune with the rhythm of the surf. Your sense of adventure grows as you encounter the enormity of the ocean; working up an appetite for the local beach cuisine of fresh seafood.

Finally, Matagorda Bay is where the scenery, and more specifically the wildlife in that scenery, takes center stage. And, like center stage, the Bay attracts your attention. Given its location at the hub of three different ecosystems, the Matagorda Bay Nature Park has lured more than 300 different species of birds. You can find land and water fowl, native and migratory flyers, birds of prey and the preyed upon, from small to large. The Matagorda County Birding Nature Center usually finishes No. 1 out of 1,700 spots nationwide when the Audubon Society holds its annual Christmas Bird Count.

In the 2004 count, 246 species were observed in one day in Matagorda. Hunters to environmentalists flock to the area, and sometimes even a tourist who just wants to get out on the water and birdwatch.

A morning kayak session on East Matagorda Bay, brought both a vigorous workout and spectacle for birds. We launched at sunrise and the combination of light spreading from the east (the direction we were paddling), the overall silence (in between my paddle slopping the water and the beating of wings as a flock of ducks broke overhead), and the calm water, created a Kodak moment.

We paddled through an inlet channel for about half-a-mile while surrounded on both sides by vegetation rising several feet above the water. The plants not only sheltered us from wind but provided a secluded place for a number of beautiful species of birds to hang out as we glided by just yards away. When we weren’t looking off to the side, we spotted flocks of geese and ducks overhead.

Leaving the inlet and heading out into the open bay, changed the landscape entirely. The lack of vegetation invited the wind. The choppy water created a challenge for my back, shoulders and arms and, as we headed across the bay, I was suddenly struck by the Bay’s enormity. By the time we reached the opposite shore, exhausted, I felt like I’d actually accomplished something.

The wind waxed but so did the sun. The January temperatures remained comfortable. Spring and fall are the perfect times for outdoor activities in the area, but Texas winters are also mild enough, if you avoid the occasional storms. Summer is manageable too if you get out before the sun is in full force.

After a good two hours, we headed back to the inlet and our starting point. As we climbed out of the kayaks and onto shore, I couldn’t help but think back to the previous afternoon spent just a couple of miles away, out on a pier jutting into the Gulf of Mexico. On that day, I reveled in the sun while watching the boats go by. Less than 24 hours later, I again felt the warming sun, but was in a completely different mood because of my new surroundings and recent activity. To be able to have two such completely different experiences just two miles and two days apart demonstrates the lure of landscapes in Matagorda County. It also reminded me that the “place” we choose to visit not only determines our sport, but also our mood and mindset as we go about enjoying ourselves.

For more information on other outdoor water activities in the Matagorda County, Texas, area go to www.visitmatagorda.com or call 979-245-8913.
Day on the Bay Services ­ www.dayonthebayserivces.com ­ 979-244-9555
Lower Colorado River Authority ­ www.lcra.com ­ 800-776-5272
Freebird Kayak & Canoe Adventures ­ e-mail freebird3733@aol.com ­ 979-863-7926