All I really wanted was this beach. We ate and drank wine and shopped and wandered the streets but all I really wanted and all I really needed, was this beach.
Dogs, friends, a glass of wine and the beach = Bliss. You don’t have to have everyone you love in the same place to be happy. Just one happiness trigger will do it. And the edge of the world on a sandy beach is one such trigger for me.
Shrimp boats.
While we had the sun it was bright almost harsh in its insistence.
Later in the afternoon the clouds closed in but I did not care. I was at the beach.
Portuguese Man-o-War – is named for a ship full of men of war. Ships that crossed the oceans under sail in fleets of the thousands. They were designed in the 1500’s – I guess their canons were the sting.
The houses were all very pretty and some quite magnificent – the houses in Pirates Beach, where we are staying, were built from the 60’s on when the rules changed to allow development on this area of land up to the beach so most are contemporary in design.
Many of these tall houses on their sturdy poles are large and beautiful but it was the beach that we walked with great gusty breaths that held my attention, the pretty architecture was tended with the merest of glances.
There are quite a few bylaws. One such By law was interesting – all the houses have to be above the high tide a certain number of feet. Every time there is a storm the beach changes and if the tide decides to come in around the base of your home (and it did this to a row of houses built along the waterfront after Ike the hurricane in 2008) your home is now on State property and will be demolished. (It takes a good year of seasons for this decision to be made) as far as I can see there is no compensation. You just lose your house. The sea (aided by bulldozers) takes it’s property back.
This is a well-documented law and comes as no surprise to the homeowners. This is a volatile coast and the poles and storm shutters are a testimony to the storm readiness of the locals and visitors. I would say that no-one takes their presence here for granted.
Also all the houses have to be built on stilts – very high stilts too. I cannot find the exact height in my research but the nuber has changed over the years so as the houses get higher and higher off the ground the newer they are. I am going to photograph more of these houses for you today.
The house my friends own is set a ways back from the sea – it will never be in danger from the tide but it is storm ready. This is, after all, a Barrier Island and will receive the first hit.
Today my friends and their dogs and I will walk the beaches as often as we can and eat and drink and talk for hours as we have been, then later drive back to the city to go to the movies – I flyback to the farm tomorrow. It is still very cloudy, again no sunrise. But again I slept with the windows open in the night – listening to the rustle and call of the night birds against the backdrop of the confident all-powerful and insidious cat purr of the sea. She is a cruel mistress the sea.
As I write it is 69F/20C. Perfect temperature for wandering the beaches and bayous with all the Beware fo Snake signs.
I hope you have a lovely day.
Celi.
WEATHER in Galveston.
Sunday 03/04 20% / 0 in
Generally cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 76F. Winds ESE at 10 to 20 mph.
Sunday Night 03/04 30% / 0.01 in
Mostly cloudy skies early. Isolated thunderstorms may develop late. Low around 70F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 30%.
WEATHER at the farm.
Sunday 03/04 0% / 0 in
Plentiful sunshine. High near 50F. Winds ESE at 10 to 20 mph.
Sunday Night 03/04 0% / 0 in
Mainly clear. Low 31F. Winds ESE at 10 to 20 mph.
The Kitchen's Garden 
55 responses to “BEACH”
Wow. Just wow, c.
I know – lucky I am
Like words that are deep in my soul. The beach awakens every sense. Enjoy.
I did –
Your thoughts must be back in Kiwiland . . . looking at your beach photos-to-remember just wish there was more thick white sand as there is back home . . . Oh, quite a few Sydney beachside councils now also make one build further back from the shoreline, but that is a looking-ahead project for the effects of global warming and rising of the waters and no houses are appropriated if current storms reach buildings . . .
Yes the sand on this beach is lovely for walking
Love your shots of the sea and love love love that dog! Sooo cute!
She is a beautiful treasure- a recent rescue
We have been incredibly fortunate to have sunshine for the last 4-5 days, it is these consecutive days that I realize how much I miss the sun during our dreary winters. We will be heading down to Arizona soon and it’ll be nice to be able to walk out of the house without having that 10 minutes to prep with boots, coats, hats and scarves!
The lack of clothing is wonderful and being able to walk places without freezing!
Oh poo, I am day late posting, but I love that you love Galveston and it’s shoreline. I feel every muscle relax just thinking about all my wonderful days at the coast. Jan – April are my favorite months on the Texas coast. It is such a private quite time on the beach. Come may – chaos ensues. And spring break in March or April is to be avoided. Safe travels home.
Yes!! I was very careful to avoid spring break!!
So beautiful and you are right. The beach is the cure for anything and everything. Somber, peaceful and full of potential. XOXO – Bacon
And the ability to stretch out your legs and walk at full speed without stopping -I loved it
On a different trip to Galveston I was with a college group. We went to a park where you could walk on wooden piers throughout these tall reeds and waterways. It was really beautiful. At one point I stopped to ponder why there was a huge pile of dark driftwood in the middle of some reeds. When my eyes finally adjusted, I realized I was staring at a pile of baby alligators…not driftwood!
I don’t remember being warned about rattlesnakes at all…that is so interesting! I always associate them with dry land and rocky terrain.
Those are the houses I remember…tall, wooden and on stilts.
I was lucky enough to go to Venice Beach in California last spring. I stood there on the beach bare foot, smelling the sea air and feeling completely transported and mesmerized by the feeling of all those ions flowing around me. It was my most incredible beach experience…your photos took me back there!
Alligators! Wow!
You’re in Texas! You may have flown mostly overhead. I hope the crawfish is treating you well and the sea is giving you the charge you were hoping for.
Celi – at 5pm EAST I but hope and pray that all the people you hold dear were not affected by that horror! Eha
I don’t know what you are referring to
The huge earthquake which affected NZ, Wellington supposedly more than elsewhere . . . ) ! – since you have to ask: obviously all is well – much was made of it here !!
Oh – hmm – you can be specific when you say things like this – it is very easy to panic me when you know I am so far away from my children and out of touch with the news.
So sorry, Celi – much was made of this in the media here y’day pm!! Obviously all is well – happened at 2.40pm NZ time
y’day pm: 30 kms NE of Seddon on S Island opposite Wellington in the Cook Strait . .I get a lot of ‘instant news’ whilst I work – some comes in ‘garbled’ initially . . . . .
It’s worth putting up with the spring breakers and summer tourists for a while so you can have these beaches the rest of the year almost deserted. The sun, sand, birds, wind and water – grounding.
Glad you got to experience The Third Coast
Wonderful images Celi .. the beach shots are special. And a blue bottle thrown in for good measure 🙂
Oh a beach, a beach! How very surprising. I’m catching up on your blogs – 15 so far & 3 to go, and having a good read. I’ve been away too and the internet at my bach is dinosaur slow so I can’t read or comment on blogs. Now I’m have a real treat. I’m so GLAD you found a beach & a brief escape from the mud season.
I’m envious of your beach for however long or short your stay. This post reminded me of a tattoo I saw on a young woman’s shoulder in Road Town, BVI: ” The sea always wins.”