After the parade in Bandera we headed for 1000 Trails Colorado River Park in Columbus TX for one night. The park map showed pecan groves so in the morning I went exploring with no idea about what a pecan looks like on the tree. A fellow camper was very helpful and showed me the trees and found some nuts on the ground. I was so busy learning about pecans that I forgot to take pictures but I hope I remember enough to recognize them another time.
Texas also has rocky hills.
As we headed to Galveston we realized the countryside was flat – no hills, no valleys just flat. The altitude was anywhere from 10 feet to 30 feet. We were approaching the Gulf of Mexico. Low marshy areas welcomed us to Galveston Island.
Galveston has endured many major storms and hurricanes and has rebuilt each time. Many residents and businesses have learned to build on stilts.
From 1983 to 1987 we lived in Edmonton in a round (geodesic dome) house. We were tickled to see a geodesic dome on stilts along the beach.
We stayed in Jamaica Beach at the same park as Al and Gail are enjoying for their second winter. It is a great park just across the road from the Gulf of Mexico.
When we arrived on Sunday Al and Gail had just returned from a cruise. We all went for groceries and supper and started to catch up with our activities.
The next day we wandered along the Strand downtown and admired the old buildings that have survived the extreme weather on the Gulf.
We watched a video about the hurricane in 1900 that took 6,000 to 8,000 lives. The devastation is impossible to comprehend.
This is a cruise ship port and we caught the old and new cruisers.
There are pelicans everywhere, both white and brown ones.
We toured the Ocean Star, a decommissioned offshore drilling rig.
We have seen the rigs in California and now here and have always wondered what they looked like up close.
There was a great deal of detail in the presentations. We could not absorb all the info but grasped a general idea about how many people contribute to the safety and success of the rigs.
This drawing of the rig above an aquarium shows the top and bottom of the installation.
This link is a replica of a link in an anchor chain under the rig.
We came away with an appreciation of the technology and commitment of the people involved in pulling our resources from below the ocean.
Every time I see or think of Galveston , I think of Glen Campbell. This is a great post. Really felt the vastness. I can hear Don Knotts ( in character) saying the the "Owwiiiilllll" ( Oil). Cool.
ReplyDeleteDid you go on an ArtWalk while you were in Galveston? They happen every six weeks and they’re amazing. There are shows and exhibits all over town, and art on display in coffee shops. There was even an art market when my husband and I went. I recommend going on one if you visit again.
ReplyDeleteRefugia Stein @ Container Domes