Galveston, Oh Galveston !

Galveston Island RV Resort
Galveston, TX
January, 22, 2018

We landed on Galveston Island January 19th by ferry from Bolivar Peninsula.  


The Texas DOT provides the free ride which takes about 30 minutes. 







What a great welcoming committee we had !

A private company began the ferry service in1929 with two wood-hulled ferries which carried 25 cars at a time and made 6 round trips a day.  By 1930, the ferries were sold to the state and for more than 12 years charged 25 cents for a ride.  The rides became free around 1949 and have remained that way since.  Today, there is a fleet of 5 ferries that can carry up to 70 vehicles each.  Ferries run 24 hours a day 365 days a week.  I also read that according to the national ferry report, its the fifth largest ferry system in the U.S. 
Galveston Island RV Resort  is a perfect spot to call home with spacious, level, concrete pads and a large, clean off-leash puppy park.  It is located on the west end of the island.





 

Our first wake-up Saturday morning...looking right towards the beach.

We are across the street from the Gulf with easy walking access and the best part...the pups can go too !  

Looking left...our site backs up to a large open space.

Saturday was a busy "errands" day.  Our first stop was the Galveston Island Visitor's Center. 








It is housed in the 1859 Ashton Villa, one of the oldest brick homes in Texas.








In 2008, Hurricane Ike left it's mark.














By the time we were done with grocery shopping, etc. the fog had rolled in and hung around through Sunday with  on/off again rain showers as well.  No worries, we enjoyed a much needed rest/lazy day!

Monday dawned with cool temps and bright sunshine...yippee !  The plan...beach time and exploring the marsh along West Bay via FM 3005.  Seawall Blvd/San Luis Pass Road/FM 3005 are all the same road which parallels the Gulf.  It runs from one end of the island to the other.  It's a pleasant, easy drive with colorful homes on stilts, folks strolling along the tide looking for shells or fishing,  and some surfers enjoying the waves.  The best thing...no high-rises !      

At the west end of Galveston, there is a $2.00 toll both and bridge that takes you over to the mainland.  






This morning we headed that way to the Kelly Hamby Nature Trail just across the bridge.  

It is a short boardwalk through "a forrest" of salt cedars (ranchers planted them years ago for the cattle) and tamarisk trees with various sea grasses.     





The trail winds it's way to the ocean...

Joe and I enjoyed a quiet walk on the beach.  There weren't many birds... just a few Snowy Plovers 

 and a lonely Ring-billed Gull.

The waves were crashing...music to my ears...

and we were the only ones around !  Doesn't get much better.

Our next stop was also on the mainland...San Luis Pass County Park.  


We drove Pearl right down to the beach.  Did you know the beach is a public highway and the speed limit is 15 mph?  We didn't...that's pretty cool. 

We weren't the only ones enjoying a beautiful day.  The pelicans were happy too !

Once we returned to the island, we did more exploring in the marshes along West Bay.  I'll save that for another post so until next time...

HAPPY TRAILS !

The Harborwalk

Pine Mt. RV Resort
Pine Mt., Georgia
December 2017

Joe and I have moved on to Pine Mountain, GA.  We arrived just in time for frigid temperatures.

Of course had we stayed in Freeport, it would not have been much better.  We have had temps from 17-22 degrees at night with daytime highs any where from 35-42 degrees.  Things are looking up though...no more 32 or below at night and a nice mid 60s for the daytime.

Before we move on, I wanted to include a few more pictures from Destin and South Walton Beach.  

Visiting the Marina in Destin is always at the top of the list. 









Walking the planks and taking in all the personality one finds there...




...provides lots of opportunities for photographs.  The piers/docks are full with a wide variety of working and pleasure boats.  

And I can always count on seeing pelicans perched along the dock pillars.

   

A Heron was also visiting while we were there.  

I love watching them !  




Shhh !  Standing motionless, statue-like or wading ever so slowly with not even a splash totally focused on the next catch.  

There is another reason I enjoy the Harborwalk.  Some will say yuck and others will say yum,  it's oysters...raw oysters !



Another day, Joe and I decided to go back and check out the bald eagles at Topsail SP.  This time I (ummm Joe) took the big lens for a better zoom.  

The main drag in South Walton is referred to as 30A.  It boasts 26 miles of sugar-white sand beaches, turquoise water and 16 acclaimed beachside neighborhoods.  

Grayton Beach is my favorite of the neighborhoods.  This quirky little beach town with narrow roads lined with magnolia trees and moss draped oaks is mostly nestled inside Grayton SP. 


Because of state owned property, there are no high rises...yes, some newer homes are on stilts, but no unsightly towers.





A nice blend of old and new... 

A few of the older homes remaining date back to the turn of the century.  Back in the day, it was a day long trip from DuFuniak Springs (a mere 30 miles away) due to no bridges and sand trails through pine forests.

A popular restaurant and bar in Grayton is Red Bar which is supposedly located in the oldest building still standing...1930s-1940s...was the village's only store and Saturday night dance hall.  

I love the beach, the quiet little neighborhoods, the seafood, the birds and the easy going pace in South Walton..a place I always look forward to returning to.  Until next time...

 HAPPY TRAILS !