Sailing Kathryn

Galveston, Oh Galveston, I Can Hear Your Sea Breeze Blowing!

Yes, indeed, we have made it to Galveston. Unfortunately, the sea breezes we hear blowing are more of a roar of 30 knot winds. So this Monday we are REALLY in Galveston and staying put. Instead of lemons we got lemonade. We got a brunch and a guided tour of the city with friends of Bill and Jeanie’s, Brad and Mary Robbins! And what tour guides they were…a delightful breakfast restaurant, a riding tour, visits to a shop called Nautical Antiques and the city museum and library. This, of course, was followed by a stop at the grocery store and liquor/cigar store! Life is good!

Breakfast in Galveston

Unhand me, you cad!

Brad & Mary's son's model of the forms used to build the Galveston sea wall

Which one is the dummy?

Nancy's fish that got away

Now I must go back and update you on our travels to Galveston since the last blog. Marinas and anchorages along the GIW are marginal, to say the least. You get what you get, and don’t throw a fit!!! Adam’s Bayou and Taylor’s Bayou might be a good example of this! Adam’s Bayou was close to Port Arthur, TX and was down a long channel off the GWI. As we came close to the little marina, we could hear a faint bleating sound….hmmm! As we rounded the bend, on a tiny island across from the marina’s dock, were about ten goats and one horse. Don’t ask me why they were there, they just belonged to the man who lived next door. You could smell them, too. J When Steve had called, we were told there was a restaurant on sight! This, of course, brought a smile to Jeanie and Nancy’s faces….one less meal to prepare! Well, yes there was a restaurant and the pictures I have provided, will give you the visual images. It wasn’t the best breakfast we have ever had, but the owner, Lynn, was a most interesting lady to talk to over our meal. She was from Ireland and served in their Air Force. She moved to Canada and then the USA and joined our Air Force. She and husband Ike are now retired. He loves to hunt and she loves to run the restaurant!

We must be in Texas

Reported as having the best breakfast in Texas... Not bad

The next anchorage was Taylor’s Bayou somewhere next to a swamp and an oil refinery. You can just picture it, can’t you? J The Active Captain site that Steve reads for boating info mentioned a slight problem with mosquitoes! OH, MY! That was an understatement! We arrived, set the anchor and then proceeded to sit down for a little happy hour! WHOA! The mosquitoes knew we had arrived and we were their fresh flesh! Answer to that problem was to move down below and close the door. OH, NO! They had moved in and these guys were Texas mosquitoes…huge!!!! We swatted, we ducked, we covered up but nothing helped. They were everywhere and biting! End of story, we just finally went to bed and tried to cover up as much exposed skin as we could!

Cocktails before the mosquitoes attacked!

Finally yesterday, Sunday, Dec. 9^th, we were headed for Galveston Bay. The weather report took the wind out of our sails, since a cold front was coming with high winds! We made the last 60+ miles and pulled into the marina which gave us protection from these forecast winds. They hit around midnight and all night it howled and blew. So, here we are and will try to get out tomorrow morning. With good luck (I know, you have heard this before!), we will try a Gulf crossing straight to Corpus tomorrow or most likely on Wednesday. Yes folks, we will make it! What an adventure

Miscellanious Photos from the GIWW