9:59 am depart Blue Water Marina. Stopped at 3 Amigos to purchase 100 gallons of fuel, Yikes!!! $415. 12:35 we are at Texas City Dike and intra-coastal Fog was gathered around us but 1/2 mile visability was OK. Turned into ICW and a barge had run a ground and was sideways across the ICW. Lucky for us he got off and we were able to go passed him without much delay. Saw a couple of Dolphins playing in front of us for a few minutes. I noticed coming down that I was getting cold and checked the weather. It was showing 79 degrees in Nassau Bay and 66 in Galveston. We had wind breakers on but then about 12:30 we turned going west and no more fog and the temp not as cool. Now it is sunny with light winds. We are getting close to going under the Galveston Causeway Bridge. 2:15 pm - We just went through an area on the ICW where we saw about 12-15 Dolphins swimming all around our boat. That is so fun to see. 4:15 and we are getting a little bit of fog coming. We should be about an hour away from Freeport. 5:30 in Freeport. Cleaned the boat, caught our breath, helped the sailboats into their slips when they came in from offshore, had a glass of wine then we all went to dinner at "On the River" restaurant in Freeport about a mile away from the marina. A local church van volunteered to shuttle us to/from the restaurant for "tips" as that was the closest restaurant in the immediate area. We appreciated the ride as we were all so tired by 8:00 pm. We had about 24 people in our group at the restaurant. Everyone was tired especially the sailors as it was a much longer trip for them. We came back to Puffin and turned in early. We wanted to see the large moon tonight BUT the fog is back and there is no way to see the moon tonight.
Mile Marker on the Houston Ship Channel
We slept in this morning but the rest of the TMCA (Texas Mariner Cruising Assocoation) left about 8:00 a.m. to go back home to Clear Lake/Houston area. We got our bicycles off the boat but the marina manager said we could take the golf cart into town. We had a fun time with the cart going to Dollar General then to breakfast at the Port Cafe. After breakfast we drove around the town. We went down one street and there was an older couple (older than us!) moving some file cabinets out of building so we stopped and helped them load it in their truck. They were so happy we came by when we did. They told us they were about to give up and we saved them a lot of time and a few soar muscles. Back to boat. I gave Puffin a good scrubbing to get off the salt spray and the dirt from the winter. Edward did a little of the work also. We are taking a break listening to music and reading the Houston Chronicle we bought at the convenience store in town. It is really quiet around here since this is a new marina and not completely open for business. They don't have restrooms, only a port-a-potty, or shower (have to wait to get a good shower). Puffin has showers but they are a little small. There are 150 slips here and 15 boats. We are the only people here now other than the manager and maintenance guy. WOW, a boat is coming in at this moment! A couple on a 40 ft Hunter sailboat from our area. a few minutes later another couple came from Dickinson in a 28 ft trawler. Later that evening after dinner we all gathered on Puffin and had cocktails.
Morning at Freeport TX
Puffin at Freeport TX marina
Edward at Freeport TX Marina
Breakfast at the Port Cafe - we got to use the Marina Golf Cart
3/21/2011
10:00am departed Freeport TX to Matagorda.
11:00 we had to wait for the flood gate to open at the Brazos River. They were also working on the gate. There was a barge on the side we had to go as slow as possible through the gate.
2:25 pm about 6 miles east of Matagorda we got push over to the starvoard side and ran a ground when passing a barge coming toward us. We were able to back off without a problem. Good thing for a sandy bottom. Tow Captain told us that it silts in over there since the bearer island broke through.
3:30 arrived Matagorda Marina. Time for a glass of wine!
6:00 pm We were tired so we went to the restaurant at the marina. It didn't appear to be open but we went up the stairs and suprisingly it was open. They told us they are closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays which was good to know. We did have a good meal there - grilled shrimp with crab on top. They called it Grilled Stuffed Shrimp but it was just shrimp with crab grilled on top (bread stuffing)
Pontoon Bridge on the way to Matagorda, TX
Leaving Pontoon Bridge
House on the ICW near Matagorda, TX
3/22/2011
Lazy day today. We have our bicycles with us so we road into Matagorda. It is just over the levee and about 1/2 mile to the main street. There is not much here. A couple of convenience stores with fishing equipment, a couple of restaurants (I really mean a couple). There is only 1 restaurant that serves a sit down, full breakfast. They also serve lunch, dinner and it is also a pizza place and a beer bar. Oh, did I mention it is in a former convenience store with nothing changed in it except the shelves/aisles had been taken out and replaced with about 4 or 5 tables and it was also the beer bar with pool table and darts, etc. and the pizza place was on the other side with a few tables. We just got a grilled ham and cheese as a snack. It was ok but nothing special --- like I was expecting so much more! There is another restaurant they told us about that is a real gourmet type and kind of expensive called Spoonbills. it was about 2 blocks away so we went to see what that was like. It was about noon but they are not open until 5:30 pm. It is in a cute house with large deck on the side. If we stop here on the way back maybe we will check it out.
It is now 3:45pm, maybe I will take a little nap. We can't get any TV reception on our boat and there is no WI-FI available so I have not been able to download any pictures or info on our blog.
6:00 pm started dinner on the boat. Edward is making a salad and I started the pot boiling for pasta and sauce with Italian sausage. After dinner we read a little and went to bed. Going to leave in the morning.
Seagulls following Puffin on the ICW.
3/23/2011
Matagorda -we just got underway at 9:39 am. Wind much lighter today. Makes the ride smooth and comfortable. Temp is just right. We have decided to head back today. A couple of mechanical problems have come up and we feel it would be better to get closer to our home port than further away. We plan to stop again at Freeport tonight. Arrive 3:30 pm. Ate on the boat blue cheese and spinach slidders.
Looking down the ICW.
3/24/2011
Freeport - Departed 9:37 a.m. to Galveston. It is actally a little cool today. We have closed all the plastic on the back and all but the front on the bridge. Also put on warm suit. 20 knot winds blowing across 69 degree water can actually be uncomfortable. I'm sure when we get into Galveston Yacht Club it will be warmer.
Note: Pelican Island Bridge closed 6:00-8:40 a.m. 12 noon to 1:00 p.m. and 4:15-6:40 p.m. except holidays.
After getting more fuel about 4:00 p.m. we docked at GYC.
3/25/2011
Edward is checking to see about wi-fi. no luck finding any.
3/26/2011
Got up got on our bicycles and had a breakfast buffet at the local diner near the Yacht Club. After breakfast we continued our ride down to the Galveston Strand area (downtown Galveston and the Cruise Ship Terminals). Stopped by Colonel Bubbies miltary "crap" store that Edward loves to go see what they have and they have a lot. Next, I heard they were having a high school tennis tournment in Galveston and they were playing on courts all over town. Well, that was Friday. We finally found the high school and they were playing only at the high school today with the finals. We watch for a couple of hours. Saw Duncanville, Rockwall, Astascita, and Bellaire others we didn't figure out where they were from. We are going to meet Joseph and Dianne for dinner tonight. Joseph's daughter lives in Galveston and they are going to be at her house today for a grand kids birthday party. We ate at the Black Pearl Oyster Bar and Grill. We had a really great meal. The food was really good.
3/27/2011 - went for another bike ride this time along Seawall Blvd. Stopped at the Ocean Star Museum, a drilling rig. It was interesting to see all the things on a drilling platform and how they are set up, etc.
Shrimp Boats in Galveston, TX
3/28/2011 - took the bike again and went to the Railroad Museum. They had just got a lot of train cars reverbished and the museum open and "Ike" hit in 2008. The train cars were all severely damaged. Ate dinner at Gumbos. They really only have gumbo and po boys. It was good BUT gumbo is not my favorite.
Galveston Train Museum
3/29/2011
We have some fog again but can still see a few miles. Departed Galveston 10:30 am arrived Moody Gardens Marina 12:15pm.m Forecast is for rain this afternoon. We are docked! We should be able to check email here in the hotel. Guess what, the lobby bar has half price appetizers and $4 well drinks and $5 wine. We decided to have lunch/dinner with the appetizers - boiled shimp, fried zucchini, crab balls and buffalo wings. Too much!!!! it was all delicious!! What a deal.
After we got back to the boat the winds really picked up.
Houses on Offatt's Bayou next to the Marina at Moody Gardens.
3/30/2011
About 4:00 a.m. I thought the boat would jump over the docks. REALLY, the wind was about 30 kts with gusts of who knows?? There was so much up and down, side to side motion and noise I was sure we must be hitting the dock in front of us. I woke Edward up to help me check out the situation. Thankfully, Edward did a very good job of tying the boat to the dock and putting out extra fenders so Puffin was fine. I, on the other hand did not get much slleep after that ordeal. Since the winds were so high and it was only 59 degrees we didn't want to go too far on the bikes today. The Hotel said we could use the Health Center so we went there and took a nice HOT SHOWER. After that we just went over to the Pyarmids at Moody Gardens and looked around than had some lunch. Decided since we didn't have a restful night we were going back to the boat and now we are watching TV, writing this blog and Edward is reading emails and his Kindle. I might snooze off once in a while! 3:30 and the wind has dropped off to about 15 kts. If weather is good we will probably head back up north toward Clear Lake Area.
