Daily Archives: August 28, 2022

Launch, travel

Coffee and Deet in the morning

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We are staying two nights at the Galveston Island State Park Bayside in the electric access campsite and then 2 nights at a house Airbnb at Jamaica Beach. Our first afternoon on the bay was a learning experience about the high priority of deet and air flow. The mosquitos find you and swarm as soon as there is no breeze. That includes any surface turned away from the breeze. Until you spray, you can’t get away. Running away seems impossible in the high humidity and heat here. Also, the more you sweat, the more you dilute your deet. It’s easy to get into into a foul mood if you aren’t prepared.

Sunset at the Bayside campground Galveston Island State Park, Texas

This morning I woke up after a great night of breezes through the camper. There was a rainbow in the clouds over the bay. I put on deet and made coffee, pleasure was mine. Getting up before the sun rises above the clouds is key to being able to think and organize the day here. The heat is oppressive despite the sweet breeze. It’s only 88 degrees, but a heat index of 100 makes thinking impossible for this Montana girl. And the humidity!

I watched the white Ibis, GBH and taller white fishing birds stand in the grasses by their fishery.

Out on the bay, the State Park has designated kayak trails labeled with numbered metal signs stuck in the water. Paddling along the trails was so beautiful, especially at sunset. We saw herons, Ibis, jumping fish, mysterious risings that were bigger than fish, and dragon flies. The mosquitos weren’t out that far in the water and we escaped the heat by being out there.

The bay water is brown from sediments of the Mississippi and two other rivers, but it’s salty from mixing with the Gulf of Mexico. Don’t ask how I know, there is a sign cautioning Bayside campers that there are high levels of bacteria in the water. So, you shouldn’t know it’s salty.

Gypsy is a happy dog when out on the water.

On our third day, we went to the beachside camp and waited out the hours before our Airbnb was ready. The water is warm and the waves are gentle. We ran for the trucks when a deluge storm came up on us.

This section of beach was all ours.
See clouds in the background?

Now, we are showered, feed and sooo comfortable in our air conditioned Airbnb. Tomorrow, we drive to Houston to meet Kate Thompson who will get us in to see a weather balloon launching associated with NASA and the study of volatile tracers in the air of Houston: https://www.arm.gov/research/campaigns/amf2021tracer

And, we hope to hear about the shipping paperwork needed to confirm our vehicle shipping to Buenos Aires, Argentina. I’m also hopeful I’ll be able to connect with Cousin Chris. This is all just a dream come true. Pinch me.

travel

Bryan Museum on Galveston Island, Texas

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While camping on Galveston Island we found this museum about Texas history set in what was originally an orphanage.  Key facts for why we stopped: it’s air conditioned and after driving across Texas I have a new respect for why people who are culturally invested here say “Don’t mess with Texas”.
The Bryan Museum was originally an orphanage, then shortly was a private residence for a succession of couples then the Bryan Museum. The original orphanage was destroyed by the 1900 hurricane that hit Galveston.
Parking here
Next to the glass pavilion used for weddins, this beautiful mother and child statue. I don’t know if it was originally here when an orphanage.
This beautiful museum is affordable, and again may I say, air conditioned. The building is full of finely preserved woodwork and architecturally interesting. There are several rooms featuring Texas history, art of Texas, Texas birds, the establishment of San Felipe of Austin colony and the battles surrounding its establishment and the history of the orphanage.
First, the love of horse culture: I loved the parade saddles. So much silver, and you can feel the pride that must have been felt by horse and rider with so much style.
Silver and leather.
This revolver/violin music box played Dixie for us as we walked by. If you are a Yank, take heed, it may be the last song you hear. See below.
The Bryan Museum had several prominent women cowgirls and artists featured, one was Vivian White. Below her, you can see a saddle ring given to a bride as a wedding ring.
Saddle Wedding Ring
Socios (partners) by Lea
We have a love for Frieda Kahlo in our house. Diego Rivera and Frieda influenced so many.
I loved this painting but didn’t note the artist.
There was a room dedicated to the contracts used to determine the fate of Texas and the battles of the Texas Revolution. Here, the Mexican Army fight Texas Colonists. The San Felipe de Austin colonists burned their town down rather than let the Mexicans take it. I didn’t understand the overlap of Spanish Catholic influence of this area all the way into New Mexico until this museum.