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Thursday, November 15, 2001 - Coasting, If Only We Could
49 miles. Port Bolivar, TX to Winnie Inn and RV Park, Winnie TX
We started out from Port Bolivar with our constant
companion, a headwind. Today it was very strong and it would take us all morning
to pedal up T-87 to our turnoff to north T-124. Even at our snails pace we were
just able to outrun a heavy rain shower that came in off the Gulf. We caught a
few light drops from its eastward edge.
On this stretch we passed thru Crystal Beach (pop.
787), Gilchrist (pop. 750) home of the "poorest of the poor", and High
Island (pop. 500). This entire area must swell dramatically during the summer
high season but things are quiet now. The ocean was pounding just to the south
for the last ten miles on 87 and the houses remind me of the Florida Keys, up on
stilts to avoid storm surges.
In Florida the construction seems more solid than here.
T-87 is closed from T-124 east. Apparently a hurricane came thru and the road
has not been repaired yet. Turning north on 124 we passed thru High Island,
named so because it does not flood during hurricanes. Then we climbed over a
bridge across the Intracoastal Waterway, a pathway for barges and pleasure
boats. It stretches from Maine to Mexico. From atop the bridge it is possible to
see the curve of the earth on the far off horizon. The terrain is a bit like the
Everglades' "river of grass". Grazing cattle are common and we were
able to start several modest stampedes.
We wanted to go farther but for spacing reasons decided
to stay in Winnie, TX (pop. 2683). It is a strange campground in back of a motel
but the price is right, $5. We cleaned up by going for a swim in the motel pool.
Dinner was bean dip with crackers, Swiss cheese, a ham sandwich, apple and the
beverage of choice for astronauts: Tang.
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