05/16/2009, Kemah, Texas
Nautical Miles Traveled: 3181
Days of cruising: 155
Nights in a Marina: 14
Gallons of Diesel: 318
Gallons fo Gas: 25
Fish caught: 25
Fish released 8
Pictures taken: 1036
New Friends: Numerous
Books Read: Dozens
New items on the Wish/To-Do list: 49
Collisions with Oil Rigs: 0 (that is ZERO!)
We end where we began. Our last anchorage of our cruise was at the South East corner of Galveston Bay. The same place we anchored when we left last December.
Our Gulf of Mexico crossing was as our friend Captain Mark would say, "Uneventful". Which is the best kind.
After leaving Key West last Thursday the 7th, we arrived at Fort Jefferson in the Dry Tortugas and stayed the night. We left Friday the 8th, around noon after walking the Fort and a short swim in the morning. It wasn't long before the tuna where jumping into the cockpit. 3 Blackfins.
The winds were as expected light. We motored for several days worrying about the quick depletion of our fuel supply. In the late evening hours of Tuesday the wind finally picked up, filling our sails so they could do their job. Giving the engine a much needed break. We filled our days and nights doing few things...eating, reading, watching DVD's, computer work for Richard and SLEEPING. The winds continued to do their job in the evenings while dieing down a bit in the light of day. We were able to surf the following seas into Galveston, passing through the jetties Thursday the 14th, setting anchor by 5PM. We once again congratulated ourselves on our accomplishment with a high five and a "We did it Baby". We were looking forward to a full night of sleep.
Friday morning I began to make phone calls to marinas. The assumption was that I would need to call two or three marinas before finding a boat slip. After Hurricane Ike, available slips became few and demand high. In 2002-2004 we stayed in Marina Del Sol after purchasing Hello Texas and bringing her to Texas. We were estatic to learn with our first call that Marina Del Sol, did infact have a slip for us and even more excited to learn it is the exact same slip we had several years ago. It is karma!
Our dear friend Joan met us on board and bought us Whataburger, our favorite fast food. OMG, it was the best! Thanks Joan!
So, this brings an end to our Winter cruise of 2008-2009. We look forward to working on our wish and to do list and making Hello Texas even more comfortable than she already is. We look forward to seeing family and friends we have missed over the past five months. Mainly our daughter, Robyn and son-in-law, Ray.
Thanks to Mom for handling our mail. Thanks to all that have read our blog and took an interest in our adventures. The blog will continue, it will just be different. We plan and look forward to another cruise in the Fall of 2010...to where? Who knows.
For now, Fair winds and cheers.
Richard and Nicki
S/V Hello Texas...Clear.
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05/15/2009, Gulf of Mexico
I counted 17 dolphins in this picture!!!
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05/15/2009, Gulf of Mexico
Very playful.
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