Hot, cold, stormy and wet

The drive from Galveston to Magnolia Beach is a pleasant trip on secondary roads through farmland and pasture. Approaching Freeport this view changed to refineries and other large industrial complexes – not at all like its namesake in the Bahamas. Became much more scenic as we crossed the huge bridge  / causeway to Port Lavaca (about 10 miles north of Magnolia Beach).

 

 

Heading south we ended up in the village of Magnolia Beach and went right though it to Indianola Beach – which turned out be our final destination (GPS got a big kiss). Huge sand and shell beach with great boondocking features: sheltered tables; washrooms (not perfect but useable); park almost anywhere wide open spaces and the big blue ocean almost at your door (if you park too close – which we did).

 

Drive right onto the beach

 

Norene said get some palm tree pictures. Done.

 

Artistic touristy beach picture. Yes it is crooked. No - I don't care.

This is free. OK we did have to drive 1900 miles.

 

Good old no-name at rest

The weather was lovely when we got here warm (70’s) and rose until Sunday night. It got so hot and buggy near the tables that we decided to move much nearer to the water – enabling a cool ocean swim for Norene and a plunge / yelp / scurry out for Glenn. By 1p m the cold northern winds blew in at a constant high rate (weather radio said up to 35  miles an hour) whipping up whitecaps across Lavaca Bay. Norene likened it to the sound of a freight train that never stopped (at least for the next 24 hours). Here’s what it looked like before we moved a bit inland:

 

Doesn't look like much but the tide is still coming in.

 

Getting closer. Winnebagos don't float. Time to move.

Lots of motorhome rockin’ (due to the wind silly) over Monday and Tuesday until the storm settled down. After 7 days of boondocking (using teeny lights, limited water, not much heat) we caved and put into the nearby rv park for a couple of days. We got over the magic of many lights, heat and hot water by day 2 and went back to primitive for a few more.

Finally released the bikes from their prison behind Smiley and headed south toward the now defunct town of Indianola (originally Indian Point).

 

This is all that's left of the town.

Found a surprise monument to de La Salle on the way and continued down to the marina at land’s end to pose for proof that we really did bike 10-11 miles round trip. Starting to feel a little bit like kids on the bikes now – is this the second childhood we’ve heard about?

Tide's out at land's end.

 

A bit chilly.

Why don't we just watch the tide come in?
Don't feel like sitting on bike for a few more minutes.

On the way back I finally managed to sneak up on this Great Blue Heron – kind of the shy type who couldn’t tolerate me being closer than about 100’. Bit like Norene before my morning shower.

 

This is my best side.

Norene finds Wedding Rings and we scram for the Beach

Forgot to mention Norene found a ring set sitting on a stump at the street as we toured the Historical District. She ended up talking with a neighbour who said the owner is a newlywed and must have taken them off when gardening – she agreed to hold them for the forgetful (probably panicked) bride. Norene got a big gold star today.

 

The beach is pretty commercial but it still has appeal. Misty but still got in a few shots. After an hour of walking we decided to hit the ferry back to Bolivar.

Amusement Park on the Pier seemed deserted today

Norene patiently waiting for photographer to finish his masterpiece

Just a few steps back honey...

Wide sidewalks & street. Beach area is ready for heavy vehicular
and pedestrian traffic.

I'd like to see this kind of enthusiasm in Ontario

Bolivar Peninsula is flat like plywood – I took a few shots of this well cared for rv park but it’s hard to coax topographical interest out of flat.

Lake. Pretty. Flat.



Us and office behind. More flat.

View of event shelter. Still flat but it's a warm flat.

Time to head out to Magnolia Beach. Whole crew (Smiley is hiding) gets a ride on the Bolivar to Galveston ferry.

 

Yes – that ladder really is very close to our windshield. I'm inside reading our insurance policy.

On the way out of town we stopped at Kroeger’s to feed the moho (still nameless). $2.969 per US gallon. For those who think metric that’s about 82 cents a litre. What’s not to love about Texas?

Smiley goes to Galveston Historical District

On the 4^th we jumped into Smiley and headed to Galveston.

Free ferry from Bolivar Peninsula to Galveston Island was preceded by a random Homeland Security inspection including underhood and mirror inspection of the car’s bottom. This got Smiley pretty excited so we let her rest while we walked a chunk of the Historical District.

 

Lots of eye candy here – may of the homes are beautifully restored and a substantial number are plaqued. 75F and partly sunny – we are getting spoiled. A few examples…

 

 

In our home town when a tree bites the big one it becomes firewood and mulch and is replaced by a rooted twig. On Galveston Island some are treasured, carved and varnished. How many creatures can you see?

 

 

This can be a dangerous place to live. This plaque on the front door….

belongs to this house…

 

Might be a good idea to keep a boat on the front porch.

Was this anti solicitation message or the work of a dyslexic pet owner? Didn’t knock. Wanted to though.There must be a good sense of humour inside.

 

 

Norene loves oranges. No – make that Norene LOVES oranges. She wanted to move into this house just for the crop.

After a lovely 90 minute walk we found Smiley at peace and drove off to the beach.

Bambi to Bolivar

We hit the road out of Fontainbleau at a blistering pace (53 mph) and zoomed over on I10 to Sam Houston Jones State Park (near Lake Charles) about 200 miles away.
Actually, it took us almost all day. We can lose any race you can design.

This pretty park is bordered by the Calcasieu River and features tree filled lagoons (swamp like) very near the campsites.

 

Bambi dropped by for a few carrots. Pretty friendly and relaxed.

 

Couldn’t say the same for the 3 local alligators – made no appearance during our stay. Norene was deeply disappointed.

 

 

Sites are close together but full serviced (no sewer in some) pull throughs. Clean and well kept. Trail map could use some help.

Did our usual brisk afternoon stroll on a 4 mile trail that goes around every tree. Much better exercise than the 6 ½ mile walk to the bayou and back at Fontainbleau a couple of days ago.

copied with permission from readontheroad

 Off to Texas. Welcome Center on I10 is terrific and staff very helpful..

 

Finally make it to direct oceanfront when hwy 124 meets hwy 87 and miles of sand and surf present themselves. After joking about Louisiana  mountains (overpasses) we see a whole new version of flat here.

 

See our first arachnid house. It turns out later to be run of the mill but we already had the picture. Bolivar Peninsula folks probably don’t get blizzards and we don’t appreciate hurricanes and storm surges. I’d rather climb than shovel tho’.

 

Home for the next couple of days while we walk beaches and explore Galveston’s beachside and Historical District. 75F and sunny today. But it’s a humid warmth (may have to send myself some hate mail for saying that).

Straight to New Orleans

  Well, not exactly straight...

 We drove from Natchez to Mandreville to the Fontainbleau State Park on the north side of Lake Ponchartrain. This beautiful spot just re-opened about a month ago after a whack from Hurricane Isaac. Big sites.

Picturesque day use area near the beach.

Alien visitor on the beach. Found 1 other one - they may be
a mating pair.... Called local wildlife control folks
who said no worries - too old to procreate.






Norene swears she had nothing to do with the mess
 in these trees at the edge of the bayou

How it all started. These ruins are in the park.

Been out of commission for a while.

Driving the Ponchartrain causeway - longest continuous
bridge in the world. Laser straight and almost 24 miles
long - it ends up in Metarie - just west of New Orleans.

And now for a few photos of historic buildings
in New Orleans...

 

This one has a gory past

Formerly Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop opened (1761). Now a bar
on Bourbon Street (along with many others).

I was last here in 1985. Nothing has changed except
the hair, belly, energy, and a couple of the waitresses.

Mysterious and so continental. Maybe it's the icing sugar
on her nose.

Bourbon Street as dusk settles in. Just starting to wake up.
We decide to hit the road along with about 40,000
commuters. Decision quality 2 out of 10.