Saturday in Texas

Saturday morning arrived. We planned to start for Galveston about 8:00 am. I think we were packed and loaded and driving away from the base by 8:20. The first thing - breakfast! The girls talked quite fast and furious to persuade Ellis that Chick Fil A has very delicious breakfast food. There was a groan when we saw the long line in the drive through. But they have a system! Waitresses are standing in the line taking the orders, sending the order directly to the kitchen and by the time you drive up and pay the food is ready. We parked close by to look inside the bag and make sure we each got what we ordered. And we did, as well as napkins and salt and pepper and ketchup and salsa. Yummy breakfast! 

As we drove toward Galveston we tried to plan our day. It was not going to be long enough to do everything. 

And here are my notes from that day ... 

copy and pasted to this page! 

Wonderful technology 

*Left Beaumont around 8:20. Breakfast at Chick Filet ... a speedy drive thru!!

Drove through Anahuac National wildlife refuge. Birds, gators, water, sky, clouds.*

There was a flock of birds that we thought were flamingos because they were pink. Instead they were Roseate Spoonbills, quite a few of them in a bunch.

We drove through Winnie so Deanne could see the base where Allen and Krysta stayed last year. Also drove past a couple houses they worked on in 2020.

Arrived at the ferry at 1:11 p.m. playing "when I go to Paris" to while away the time! 💕 This is the list of things we put on that ship to Paris. Reminds me of Noah's Ark. 

 Apples, Beau, cauliflower, dragonflies, ermine, flowers, gum, hats, ice cream, jackal, kites, limes, marmalade, nilgai, o'possum, Paddington, quilt, rooster, sucker (candy), tapir, umbrella, valentine, wiggly worm, x -ray, yellow jackets, and zebra.

Drove onto the ferry at 2:15 p.m. yeah!
Got out of the vehicle and watched gigantic ships go past, orange, green, blue. On the back of the blue ship Nordic ______ (something,  I couldn't read the letters)

under that Monrovia. 

A fishing boat pulling a seine, pelicans flying all around, 3 dolphins following the boat, up and swooshing back down!

*The historical harbor tour is full for today. We can come back tomorrow. The dolphin tours are full at least for our group. Only 3 tickets left. We checked at 2 booths. Site seeing *

Since we couldn't go on either tours we changed our plans and decided on an early supper. Both Allen and Ellis wanted crayfish. We drove around until we found a restaurant that looked promising. There was a wait of 15 - 20 minutes so we gave name and phone number... they would text us when our turn came. 

Ellis and I went to an antique store down the street. We found some books! Imagine that! A first edition My Friend Flicka printed in 1941 by Mary O'hara. A Junior Deluxe Editions of My Friend Flicka with line drawings by Don Sibly. Four Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder, hard back copies. Little House in the Big Woods, On the Prairie, On the Banks of Plum Creek and By the Shores of Silver Lake. And by that time Allen texted to say we were next in line for our supper.

The guys ordered their crayfish. The girls ordered sandwiches made of something that used to say, "Moo!" and "Cluck cluck!"

My sisters and Mom called while we were eating so I sent them some pictures.  One comment from them, "So it's like eating grubs?!" Deanne was brave and tried one.  

We drove around town a bit and showed Dea the Mansion we toured last year. By then we decided the gulf must be visited. Did I mention this little fact? 

It was Spring Break. 

Texas was crawling with people. 

We got into traffic. 

We went west instead of east because Ellis thought we'd get to a spot he thought he remembered from last year. 

Instead - we came close to WalMart! 

We found a parking spot close to a safe traffic light where Allen, Krysta and Dea could cross the main highway and get to the gulf. 

Ellis and I donned our masks and braved the aisles of WalMart, buying breakfast and lunch for Sunday. 

We loaded all food and picnic items in the van and drove off to our AirBnB. We felt fortunate to have found this spot and reserve it before our arrival since it was spring break and the town was full.

Unpacked, filled the fridge, explored our roomy area then settled down for a game of Scattergories and snacks. It was a full day!

*Did you notice anything in the list of animals, stuffed animals, insects and inanimate items to be taken to Paris? 

There is a name mentioned. 

Go back and look. 

Drum roll please!

The nickname of our new grandchild -

Beau. So nicknamed because Allen and Krysta were at Beaumont this year.

Last year Pearl was nicknamed Winnie

until we met her. 

We are all over the moon excited!