It’s been another busy year, but not quite the same as the last three. This year was more about family and less about new destinations to discover. The majority of the year was spent getting to know our new grandson Graham and spending time with our granddaughter Mayven. We didn’t put as many miles on The Pearl but we did mange to cover a lot of ground. We returned to the boat in February and moved it from Myrtle Beach where she was docked for the winter to Charleston. We spent a month in our favorite town enjoying some of our favorite hangouts and catching up with our friends on Gallivant.
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Nov. 29 – Rockport, TX
Rockport Harbor
“At the beach, life is different. Time doesn’t move hour to hour but mood to moment. We live by the currents, plan by the tides and follow the sun.” —Unknown
A little work and a little play…that’s what’s been keeping us busy these days. We’ve been getting a few project done on the boat between playing with our grand wonders and visiting with friends. Besides doing a little decorating and a lot of enjoying of our new home, the following projects have been completed:
Nov. 9 – Our New Neighborhood
Rockport Harbor
“The ocean has been singing to me, and the song is that of our life together…”—Nicholas Sparks
We’ve been in our new home for a week and it feels wonderful. Not only is it close to family but the marina is located in a great area of town, with all kinds of activities and amenities close by. Located around the harbor is the a Texas Maritime Museum, Rockport Art Center and Sculpture Garden, Aquarium at Rockport Harbor, the Bay Education Center, Rockport Beach, four bait stands that sell fresh shrimp, oysters and crab, a fishing pier, and the Festival Grounds where a lot of the festivals and Market Days are held.
Nov. 2 – Rockport, TX
“It’s better to sit in a boat thinking about God than to sit in church thinking about fishing” – Kevin McGarr
We made it! 1707 miles from Jacksonville, FL to Rockport, TX in 25 straight travel days. We had fantastic weather…mostly clear blue skies and light winds. The last two days were the windiest, but still very comfortable and we only had rain one evening after we docked. We couldn’t have asked or dreamed for better. Now that it is over it seems like a blur of activity and it’s hard to remember where we’ve been…that’s one reason I keep this blog.
Nov. 1 – Port O’Connor, TX
The Sanctuary
Miles to Rockport, TX – 46
We’re home! Back to where we began our cruise in 2011…well ok, that’s not quite true. We didn’t return to the exact spot, but we are in the same county and that feels wonderful. It truly felt like we were home cruising across the bay…we’re in familiar waters where we’ve explored for a lifetime.
Oct. 31 – Matagorda, TX
Matagorda Harbor Marina
Miles to Rockport, TX – 79
“Unless you walk out into the unknown, the odds of making a profound difference in your life are pretty low” –Tom Peters
We’re getting close…tonight we are docked close enough to our home town that friends, Joan and Jim Auld drove up and had dinner with us. They travel in a RV and have tried to meet up with us several times in the past years on the east coast, but timing just hasn’t worked out. It was fun having them aboard and going out to eat. We also had time to visit with an old high school friend and his wife who are moving their sailboat back to the Houston area. This trip has definitely been different than the trip going east on The Pearl in 2011.
Oct. 30 – Galveston, TX
Offatts Bayou – Anchorage
Miles to Rockport, TX – 164
“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.” –Steve Jobs
The ICW from Port Arthur to Port Bolivar is in a man made canal…wide, plenty deep and very busy. Barge traffic was heavy again today…if this is any indication, the economy is doing well. Once we passed Bolivar we were in Galveston Bay and crossed the Houston Ship Channel. It’s also a busy place, but after dealing with New York Harbor this seemed mild.
Oct. 29 – Port Arthur, TX
Taylor Bayou – Anchorage
Miles to Rockport, TX – 231
“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.” ―Albert Einstein
We’re home…well almost. Just being back in Texas feels like home. We could be in Rockport by Saturday, but may take an extra day depending on the wind coming in with another cold front. We have quite a few large bays to cross before docking in Rockport.
Oct. 28 – Lake Arthur, LA
Mermentau River – Anchorage
Miles to Rockport, TX – 319
“The biggest adventure you can ever take is to live the life of your dreams.” ―Oprah Winfrey
We left Morgan City at sunrise and traveled 110 miles west. The only signs of civilization today were a fuel dock and small grocery in Intercoastal City, where we stopped for diesel (we paid $2.97 a gallon). There may not have been any towns, but we saw plenty of barges and smaller boats that check the gas wells that cover this part of Louisiana. Our youngest son worked the wells in this area the summer after he graduated from high school.
Oct. 27 – Morgan City, LA
City Dock
Miles to Rockport, TX – 430
“For one minute, walk outside, stand there in silence. Look up at the sky and contemplate how amazing life is.” – Author Unknown
We left Houma later than normal since we were just going 38 miles today. At one time we considered that a good days travel, but in that past few years we’ve gotten use to longer days. We had a chance to visit this morning with Kathy and Terry off of Green Door again and enjoy our coffee as we waited for the fog to lift. The scenery today changed from swamps to woods and was a lot less industrial. It was a beautiful remote area of Louisiana and we spotted 20 eagles along the way…a new personal record for us. Today was a great day for pictures, so I’ll let them show the rest of our day.
