SUPER LOOP 2009

Hi Jim,

In the morning I looked for the signs you spoke of and did not see them. There was a big sign at the bebining of the port that said no net fishing. Up at the end where I was a small boat came in there just after dark and was fishing. Anyway, at sun rise I headed out.

Port Isabel is a great place. I stayed two days there. I could see myself living there. Thanks again for the local tips. I headed back East yesterday. I stopped for the night just West of Baffin Bay. No internet and no cell phone coverage.

CUL

Roger
 
Hi Roger,

We found our way to Port Isabel about 15 years ago. It was more of a fishing/shrimping village than what it is now. Between higher fuel prices, lower market prices, and imported shrimp, the shrimping industry has taken a real hit. Port Isabel is a community in transition, with tourism becoming more important. The sub-tropical weather, the proximity of South Padre Island, and all that water are a real draw. What's missing that you have in Florida is closer places to go for easy cruising. Since you've now left PI, I'm sure you get what I'm saying... anywhere you go is a LONG ways. :wink:

As you head north, one of our favorite places is Port Aransas - the city marina is located well for getting around on land, the price there is reasonable, and there is a trolley that runs all around town for $.25. Port A is more of an older beach town that South Padre Island/Port Isabel; funky in a pleasant way. Also, across the bay and up a bit is Rockport - nice art galleries, a good marine museum, and plenty of restaurant options.

Have fun and keep us posted - it's a real treat to read about your travels.

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
Good suggestions from Jim, the native guide. For us travelers-by, Rockport was our favorite town to visit along the entire Texas Gulf coast, and we heartily recommend a stop.
 
JamesTXSD":3f8rxkka said:
Hi Roger,

We found our way to Port Isabel about 15 years ago. It was more of a fishing/shrimping village than what it is now. Between higher fuel prices, lower market prices, and imported shrimp, the shrimping industry has taken a real hit. Port Isabel is a community in transition, with tourism becoming more important. The sub-tropical weather, the proximity of South Padre Island, and all that water are a real draw. What's missing that you have in Florida is closer places to go for easy cruising. Since you've now left PI, I'm sure you get what I'm saying... anywhere you go is a LONG ways. :wink:

As you head north, one of our favorite places is Port Aransas - the city marina is located well for getting around on land, the price there is reasonable, and there is a trolley that runs all around town for $.25. Port A is more of an older beach town that South Padre Island/Port Isabel; funky in a pleasant way. Also, across the bay and up a bit is Rockport - nice art galleries, a good marine museum, and plenty of restaurant options.

Have fun and keep us posted - it's a real treat to read about your travels.

Best wishes,
Jim B.
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Sounds like Rockport is where it will be tomorrow. It's just around the bend. I'm in Cove Harbor right now. I could of and would of gone into Rockport today but wasn't use about gas I called Rockport Harbor and they said no gas. Like you said there is not much East of Port Isabel if you like "places" It has been one of my favorite legs. I just love the
the "nothingness." On the way down I saw a couple of Whooping cranes and thought it was in that area but could not find them on the way back.

Also have got to recommend Snoopy's Restaurant. It's at about 553 WHL . Next door to Marker 37 Marina. Both which are on the West side of the JFK Causeway bridge. Ernie Butler owns the place and has since 1979. Quite a fellow. He has all the stories about the fishing industry in the area. He also has the best fish I've had in a restaurant for as long has I can remember.

Crossing Corpus Christi Bay was a bear again today. Do the wind ever blow less than 25kt here? Well it's on to clean the boat again.

Roger
 
Hey Roger!

Looks like you have found a spot out of the winds for a spell, inside of Navigation Circle......get some fuel, and maybe clean the boat so you can get it dirty again. :mrgreen:

It is crazy how much clutter we can make when traveling alone, but ain't it great!

Enjoying the travel on SPOT with you. I have ordered some calmer winds....and about a week with no rains in our area.

The Cumberland River was flowing at a rate of 1,127,500 + gallons a second thru the dams. Now, that is bucket the size of a square acre, about 26 stories tall..... a second. The wind ain't been all bad.

Enjoy your journey....

Byrdman
 
Yes Byrdman,

Rockport seemed like a good to holdup for the day and a break from the winds. Spent the day walking the town. They have nice marine museum and art gallery. I also strolled down the East end to the cut into Key Allegro. There is some nice areas around Key Allegro that would make a good place to anchor. There is a sign at the boat ramp that says anchoring is limited to 96 hours.

I also found a nice meat market on the main road. Pat, just for you I bought a split chicken to cook on the Cobb Grill. Granted it won't be as good as cooked in the smoker :)

wind report from the airport is 20k with gust to 28k. The winds are not as bad in the mornings so, the plan is is to get off early and get across the 10 mile stretch of Aransas Bay.

Roger
 
You are inside the eastern edge point...and still moving. Hope the trip was not all bad with the winds.

Looking forward to your post.

Byrdman ....tracking and traveling with you. Crossing Matagorda Bay on Friday????....or are you going to poke around in there and see some of the smaller bay areas. First look via sat view it looked like there was a nice carrier or battle ship set up back in the bay in the Point Comfort area....but, upon closer view.....NOT... just a big ol island made up of dredge materials.....and even the name to the island is named.... you guessed it.... Dredge Island Road. You have to appreciate the simplicity.....and....you may want to just keep'er headed east to some more inspiring sight seeing stops. Ya gotta love a rookie in the area.


HERE GOES ROGER: TRACK HIM ON THE LINK BELOW

http://share.findmespot.com/shared/face ... TefHXmSrvi
 
Pat Anderson":2ofm7081 said:
OK, Adventure Boy, fire up that Microsoft blogging software you were bragging about and point us all to your blog. I see the entry for today: "C-Lover in the Forbidden Land" - the Port of Brownsville. Jim - is Roger going to have to write this entry from a holding cell? :lol:
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Just for you PAT

http://superloop2009.blogspot.com/

I need to get it up to date.

Roger
 
Well, Roger reached Galveston this afternoon and tied up in Offat's Bayou. I visited with him and we shared stories over a couple of shrimp po-boys. Roger has done a lot of things in his life and is great fun to talk to.

His boat is set up nicely for long-distance cruising- simple, but adequate. Contrary to what he might have said in his posts, it quite neat and well-organized!

The SPOT really helped me keep track of his whereabouts- I was able to get to his boat at just about the right time.
 
Alok":3pqejn66 said:
Well, Roger reached Galveston this afternoon and tied up in Offat's Bayou. I visited with him and we shared stories over a couple of shrimp po-boys. Roger has done a lot of things in his life and is great fun to talk to.

His boat is set up nicely for long-distance cruising- simple, but adequate. Contrary to what he might have said in his posts, it quite neat and well-organized!

The SPOT really helped me keep track of his whereabouts- I was able to get to his boat at just about the right time.
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Alok,

Thank you for the great afternoon and tour of some of the spots in Galveston. Did I mention the shrimp po-boy and don't forget the bread pudding. :) Thanks again.

One of the motivating factors of this trip was I THOUGHT I would be on a forced diet and lose a few pounds. It's not happening. Even on a boat I'm finding too much to eat.


Roger
 
Im loving this travelogue Roger .You will get a grand reception when you get over here , you can count on it......... Someday.....................
Thanks
Marc
 
Marc, on Monday there is a care package of cured loin on its way you to share with our good friend Roger when he gets to Apalachicola! It is the best yet!



Wefings":3xdir8wx said:
Im loving this travelogue Roger .You will get a grand reception when you get over here , you can count on it......... Someday.....................
Thanks
Marc
Click to expand...
 
Looks as if you are closing in on the TX- LA border thru Sabine Pass/Sabine Lake area. Looks like some neat wildlife areas there too...and a possible little side trip north up the river....?

Unless the water gets warm enough to swim the boat about a 1/2 mile a day....I would not worry about the weight loss until after the trip and all the great diverse food opportunities in your path... Tell you what ..... I'll go walk an extra 3 miles this morning...just so you can enjoy a larger portion of the gumbo's in your path.

Fun tracking.

Byrdman
 
Byrdman":2f90mcr3 said:
Looks as if you are closing in on the TX- LA border thru Sabine Pass/Sabine Lake area. Looks like some neat wildlife areas there too...and a possible little side trip north up the river....?

Unless the water gets warm enough to swim the boat about a 1/2 mile a day....I would not worry about the weight loss until after the trip and all the great diverse food opportunities in your path... Tell you what ..... I'll go walk an extra 3 miles this morning...just so you can enjoy a larger portion of the gumbo's in your path.

Fun tracking.

Byrdman
Click to expand...

Hi Byrdman,

It is a beautiful day today. I am so enjoying going at a slow bell and taking in the sights. A ton of traffic around the Galveston Ship Channel. There were 5 tugs w/ barges 3 in coming ships, 6 shrimp boat and too many to count pleasure/fishing boats.

I complained about the wind in south Texas but it did keep the bugs at bay. I'm starting to get those man eating horse files. Damn those things bite an itch afterward. I think they are drinking the Cutter bug spray.

Roger
 
Don’t know if anyone was watching but I went up the Franklin Canal and spent a couple of days up there. Then if you followed SPOT I was in the swamp all day. May Jo is from Franklin and still has uncles, cousins, etc there. I dropped in for a visit. One of her cousins has a shrimp boat plus he is a real Cajun crawfisherman. I went out with him to run his traps. We went to 150 traps and got five 40lb sacks of crawdads. He sold four of them and then he steamed up a sack for us. We were going to go out on a three day shrimping trip starting today but the weather was just not with us and not expected to be any better for the next few days. So I’m headed East again.

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Hi Roger,

Great trip log! I just went through what you have posted so far. I seem to have missed where you lost your anchor. Did I miss it in the blog?

You better keep eating those poor-boys so there is enough left after the bugs have their fill.

The trip across the one bay sounded like an endurance contest. Glad it was just uncomfortable and not dangerous. Make sure to keep that kayak tied down good.

I will be watching your blog for more postings. Hope you have less bugs, more great food, and clam water.

Steve
 
I notice that the last "spot" was in Gulfport MS (looks like he made some tracks!) on Thursday. But the weather has been a bit nasty around here, so hopefully he will let us know if he ran on home, or is holed up there--or if Mary Jo came and picked him up.
 
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