Rockport, Port Aransas, Padre Island National Seashore, Corpus Christi

We took the jeep on a ferry to Port Aransas where you can
drive on the beach all the way down to and
including Padre Island National Seashore.  With a permit
you can camp with your motorhome, next time were
in this area we are going do that.

Oil platforms are every where  in the water.

We had a small sight in Rockport but there was so much to do
around here we were never home, so all good.

There were so many oyster boats and they would line up and
empty their sacks of oysters at the dock then right into semi trucks.

Lining up to get to the docks.  There were about 30 working boats.

The Fulton Mansion which is being repaired from Hurricane Harvey in August 2017.
This whole area was hit hard they are still recovering and rebuilding.
Some businesses were just reopening after 15 months.

Leisure boats and oil rigs.

Another picture showing the road of shoreline, it's wide in this picture
however in some areas it was only about 20 feet wide and
completely gone sometimes with the tide.

This 11 foot wide oak tree is 1,000 years old.

The last rays of sun before we left the Gulf Coast headed for San Antonio.

Galveston, 1877 Elissa Tall Ship, Moody Mansion, Texas

There are 31 rooms in the house.

Restored to its 20th Century splendor, the 1895 Moody Mansion depicts the history of Galveston and the life of W.L. Moody, Jr. and his family.  Moody was the son of Col. William L Moody, a decorated Civil War veteran who owned highly succcessful cotton and mercantile businesses.  The younger Moody grew up in Galveston and in the early 1900's built one of the nation's great business empires - he was among America's 10 wealthiest people in 1950.

The elegant light fixtures and furniture were the latest  styles of their time.  Each room had wall sconces and over head fixtures in matching designs made for each individual room. 

Each room had it's own character andcolors.

This was damaged in a Hurricane but restored to it's original design. 
It is about 4 feet wide and 12 feet tall. 
It was placed on the landing as you came half way up the stairs.

Seems were going back to this style with free standing tubs.  The tin container on the wall was for heating water
for the bath tub, guess what?  It was made in Kalamazoo Michigan.  

Lots of  furniture made in wood have claw feet, this combination of stone and metal with claw feet is unique.

The windows went down to the floor something I've never seen in houses.
Each room had so much natural light.  

The 1877 Ellisa is a restored tall ship that is actually sailed to events by volunteers dedicated to keeping
the ship functioning., they spend months learning how to sail her.

She sits at dock in Galveston a working harbor.

Coming up to the deck.

The amount of rigging and ropes was unbelievable, it takes volunteers 3 months to
learn about the sails and ropes.

Every where you look there is rigging.

Can you imagine standing there in a storm trying to steer and read the gauges.

Texas

Arriving in Texas.

We arrived at our new digs, Deck's sister's house in Houston.  See what awaits, as you walk through the front door.  This place is cool, we had a great week visiting, eating, relaxing and some sight seeing.

After entering the front door to the left was our guest room. 
The Main house is in the next picture.

 

This was to the right of the front doors leading into the main house.

From The Florida Panhandle to Lafayette Louisiana

We traveled out of the western panhandle of Florida into Mobile Alabama, through Mississippi then onto Lafayette Louisiana seeking some warmer dryer times. The weather wasn't much warmer but we had a great time touring the USS Alabama and the USS Drum in Mobile Alabama. The Tour of both ships were self guided but well worth the time. The Alabama was a 680 foot battleship commissioned in 1942, as you will see in the accompanying photos it was heavily armed for World War 11. The USS Drum is in the process of being restored with some areas complete  and gave you a real feel for the cramped conditions of a submarine of that era.  We moved on to Lafayette Louisiana touring the Alexandre Mouton House, also called the Lafayette Museum, this home was built in 1800 and added onto over time to accommodate the family. There were many artifacts of the time and a tremendous amount of history for the era.  

Our Travel Map 

USS Alabama Battle ship, it was so large you couldn't get it in one photo

Inside one of the large gun turrets

From the bow looking back at the 16" guns

Anti aircraft 5" gun turrets

5" gun turrets 

Large projectiles for the 16" guns

Entering the Aircraft Pavilion on the way to the USS Drum Submarine

USS Drum Submarine

USS Drum from bow looking back

USS Drum torpedo tubes

Small hatch style doors

Crews bunks

Engine room

Welcome to Louisiana

Alexandre Mouton House, also called the Lafayette Museum

Ivory daily note pad

Harp in the music room

This staircase is actually straight up with no curve, The rungs are angled to give the illusion of a curve.

House from the rear, failed to get a shot from the front

Still in Florida

Update on our travels as of January 15, 2019.

3,510 Miles

21 Campgrounds

97 Days

11 States

Daily camping cost to date:  $28.12

Great state park in Niceville, Florida.  Just South over the toll bridge is Destin.  A realy great area.

Rocky Bayou was on a lake.

Our campsite was very spacious.

This is in Destin on the West end, but there were miles upon miles of resorts, restaurants, beaches and fun things to do all along the coast here. 

Isn't he cute!

 Another view of the boardwalk.

Fort Picken's National Park shoreline near the entrance of the park.  We had reservation's to stay at this beautiful park, we weren't able to, the park is closed for the shut down.  This is also near Destin Florida and as you can see this is truly white sand and beautiful blue water on the Gulf Coast.