About a month after my Dad died, I quietly obsessed in my mind about going to be the beach. One random morning, Danny sits down for coffee, and says "Let's go back in June. Book it!" We didn't really have the extra money, nor did I feel like I could take any time off work since I had taken a week off just in December, but by the time he came home for lunch that day, I had the process started for staying in the exact same house we had the year before. It felt a little like we were going home, and that is exactly what Tristen blurted out as we turned on Seawall for the first time.
I find it a little funny how a born and raised Kansas girl can love the beach so stinking much. But I can tell you for the first time in 6 months, I felt like I was at peace. Total, beautiful, much missed, peace.
The seaweed was high. I read that its the worst its been for 10 years. And they were not kidding. Some find it gross and annoying. I don't really mind it. It kinda fascinates me, and it helps the ocean Eco-system. It makes fishing from the shore a bit tricky though. Every night there is a crew that comes through in the middle of the night..like a street sweeper, and scoops it into giant piles away from the shore. It will dry out and disappear. Its so important to the ocean life it is illegal to take it OFF the beach.
On the trip up there, my guys had decided a stop in Dallas was a must to Gas Monkey garage,(From FAST AND LOUD, a show on Discovery.) and then on to the Gas Monkey Bar and Grill. I was a little out of my element, and I'm pretty sure the waiters were reading lips taking our orders, because it was LOUD, but everyone had a lot of fun and the food was fabulous!(I may need to wax my chest...I think I spouted some chest hairs while there!!) We also stopped there again on the way back for lunch.
The boys had the Gas Monkey Burger, which they claimed as the "BEST BURGERS-EVER!"
I skipped the burger and had a Backyard Salad. Yum!
Every morning found me up early and on the top deck with my cup of coffee. I watched sun come up, storms roll in, sea gulls looking for food through the seaweed, and pelicans flying overhead. I went on a walk one morning, just as the sun was starting to light things up. Just me and my thoughts and the water..oh..and the seagulls.
One of the "must do's" on our trip this time was to fish off of a pier. So we headed to Galveston Fishing Pier around noon on Friday
It was pretty slow for a while, but then....
We ended up catching 20 fish while were there, which included 3 Black tipped sharks, several cat fish, a couple of croakers and some sand trout! I am THRILLED to be able to say this Kansas girl has caught a shark! =) We ate dinner at a place called Jimmy's on the Pier, with a breathtaking view of the water.
BTW--Jake's not sick..he's texting. ;)
Saturday a friend I graduated with came up and ate lunch with us. Nothing fancy..I made us sandwiches, but it sure was good to see him! Later that afternoon we went into Seawall and tinkered around the cute little shops. We also toured a local cemetery, but I'll have a blog post all for that one later. That evening, Danny and Jacob went down and got several pounds of crawfish. Again..one of those experience things we've always wanted to do. Danny and Jacob LOVED them. Tristen and I...well, we won't be repeating, but can say we have tried them now! I couldn't get over how cockroach like they were, and how they were just boiled whole...guts and poop and all. I ate a few tails, and then made a sandwich.
Sunday we did our traditional vacation putt putt golf. This is the first time I have ever played, but I am happy to say that even though I came in last, I DID score a hole in one, with a rocking pink golf ball, on the second hole!
We left Monday. One our way out of town we toured the Texas Seaport Museum, and got to walk around the stunning 1877 tall ship ELISSA. She was rescued from a scrap yard and was meticulously restored.
Historic high water levels at the museum. See that spot way above my 5 foot 5 inch kid? That was from The Great Storm of 1900. Can you imagine?
We then ate lunch at Joe's Crab Shack...but not just ANY Joe's.. ours was set right on the water, so we watched shrimp boats come in and unload. The bird watcher in me was AWESTRUCK by the birds that swarmed the boats coming in, knowing that a good meal wasn't too far off in the future. After lunch we headed to my Uncle's house, (my mom's brother) to stay the night. We left from there the next morning, and headed home.
Yes..the waitress seriously wrote that on Dan's bib. HAHA
And every night...every single night!!..this happened:
Yes.. Kansas people!. But its so much fun..until you get peed on.
It was a wonderful laid back and peaceful trip! Just what the Dr ordered!
For whatever we lose (like a you or a me) its always ourselves we find at the sea.
~ e.e. cummings
1 comments:
WOW!! you guys did a lot of stuff while you were gone!! Looks like a ton of fun!! And nothing better than eating al fresca right on the water!! Glad you got refreshed. .and I LOVE your curly hair!!
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