Day 95 - Galveston oh Galveston!

Best day yet!  We went down by the pier this morning and did some sun time.   We had the beach to ourselves.

It was hot and muggy but there was a constant breeze that made it like sitting in front of an air conditioner.

We spent a couple of hours with Martha reading and me dozing and....

watching the surfer and the cargo ships.

Then we put our beach gear in the truck and walked the Boardwalk over to the Pier.

Ready for some lunch we checked out a place Joe recommended to us.   He said it was great food but a bit pricey.   I am sure the food is good, but that other part was a bit rich for a couple of travelers.  More of an anniversary place for us.

So we took the recommendation of some people Martha met and went over to Tortuga for some Mexican food.

It turned out to be a great choice of places as the food was awesome!

There are bikes everywhere as we made our way to Tortuga and back into town to check out the Rally.

This is the 15th year for this Lone Star Rally.   We really had a great time.   We both agreed that it is more fun than Sturgis.   It draws 40,000 people and I think every one of them had at least one bike.  Bikes are truly in every possible spot.

This Biker Babe caught my eye, stole my heart, and has accompanied me on the ride of a lifetime.

This is Geico's salute to the military bike.  Very cool.

Tons of food everywhere, I couldn't help but think of my Son In Law Brent when we passed this place offering one of his favorites, Turkey Legs.

Yummm.

And then below is one of my favorites as well.  Hot day? Iced coffee time.

There is easily at least six blocks of vendors both left and right off of this Main Street.

After walking up and down every one of the vendor side streets which along with booths included seeing some women wearing pasties, bartender chicks in leather garb that covered just the essential spots, tons of vendors with all kinds of T-shirts and bike accessories, and every other kind of person and tattoo imaginable, we went over to the dock for a break.

The buildings around the 'bike' and vendor streets blocked the breeze and it was pretty humid.  Sitting on the wall on the water's edge the breeze was once again like an air conditioner and very welcomed.  Carnival had a Cruise Ship docked.  We do love cruises.

There were also a few cool cars around.

And a bad ass pick up.

Time to go home.  We had such a great day.  I would come back to this Rally anytime.

(If there is a next time, we'll bring the bike)

We passed a bar on the way home, there must have been at least 300 bikes parked there.

This is where the sister of the Old Lady Who Lived In A Shoe lives.   

She is known as the Chick That Lives In a Soup Bowl.

Or maybe, the Witch that lives in a Porridge Bowl.

We had a toast to you guys for reading our BLOG and making these trip days with us.  Thanks.

Tomorrow we have a four hour drive to Corpus Christi.  

Day 94 - Jamaica Beach RV Park

This RV Park is really nice.  A clear blue sky today, a hot sun, and a great cool ocean breeze.   We're not going anywhere.   Hung out by the pool.

It has a swim up bar and bar stools that keep you submerged and cool.   It's covered and a waterfall drips down from all of the sides.   I have never been in one of these, really relaxing.

Heading back to the RV we stopped by the spa room.   A huge indoor hot tub spa.

Real nice.   Martha read a book.  I fell asleep.  When I woke I had one of those five second "Where am I" moments.   Thought for a second maybe I was dead.

When we got back to the trailer the breeze was so nice we couldn't go inside.

This is one of the best days yet.  Just hanging out.

There is a Harley Rally called the Lone Star Rally starting today.   Downtown Galveston is transformed into a Sturgis of sorts.   We'll check it out tomorrow.   

Saturday we move on to Corpus Christi for two days.   Hoping to see our friend Joe Wigley there. 

We added Texas to our map.

Monday we go to San Antonio to the River Walk RV Park for Election Day.  

Only one state left to put onto our map, New Mexico.  A stop at Carlsbad, then Dening to see our friend Gary Simpson.

We wish you were here today to sit around that pool bar with us.   You might need to plan a trip to Tahoe this summer to make up for your absence.  We will be taking attendance.

Day 93 - Into Texas

We woke early, and to our Son Matt's Birthday.   Sorry we aren't there to cut some cake Matt.  

Matt was always a fast learner, good at sports, and he questions and looks at things with a different view.  

The seven and a half hour drive was without incident.   Slow downs approaching Baton Rouge as it was rush hour, but after that 70 and 75mph freeway with light traffic.

Our RV Park is real resort like.   The Ocean right across the street.

Great pool with a swim up bar.

Huge hot tub indoors in a Spa Room.

Beach parking here is literal.

We will be here a couple of days.  No big plans.  Maybe you can take the day and suntan a bit tomorrow with us?

Day 92 - Bayou Boat Ride

We went for a swamp and Bayou boat cruise.   Very different from the airboat ride.   It was slow, quiet, and very nice.  We saw a lot of Alligators, dozens.   The Captain was very knowledgeable about the Bayou.   He grew up a short distance from the boat ramp.  He took some college professors on a tour a few weeks ago, they said he would be a great professor because of his knowledge and told him he should come to the University and talk about a job.   He told them he didn't even have a high school diploma!   He loves what he does and has been a real student of the Bayou.

I knew going into alligator country I would have to be prepared to defend Martha and possibly wrestle one of these beasts.  Then just before departure, there he was.  I was ready and I think it was my confident demeanor that got him to back down and depart.  I was relieved.

We set off for our hour and a half cruise at 9:30am.

The pictures do not begin to do justice to the area.

Lots of Alligators.

And a Raccoon.

The Captain fed a few.

The crosses mark a spot where a village once stood.  It was wiped out by a storm.

This cabin has been in some music videos.   Guns and Roses took the cruise a few weeks ago to check out this cabin for a video they are planning to make.

Martha got to hold a gator.  This one is three years old.

We really enjoyed it.

The gators stand so still.  We saw lots of them that really took a looking eye to see.  If we learned anything from the trip, it is that when you are in the Bayou, you need to pay attention to where you are walking and sitting.  

From the boat ride we ventured back downtown as Martha wanted another beignet. 

We took a few to go as well.

Then back to the trailer through downtown New Orleans.

Past the Superdome.

A long seven hour drive tomorrow to Jamaica Beach near Galveston, Texas.  We will try to get started early, hopefully around 7am.  Give us a 6am wake up call, or come by and have a beignet and a cup!