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.