Moody Garden Festival of Lights detour to Pier 21 - Galveston Texas
John and Kay Hohman visit
December 22 - 23, 2007
Our original float plan was to go to Moody Gardens to see the "Festival of Lights." We had a slip reserved and reservations for dinner at Sherns.
But we didn't make it to Moody as planned.
As we approached the Galveston Causeway, the tows were chatting about the causeway being closed. The Coast Guard indicated that there was an obstruction in the water. Rumor mill on the air suggested that there had been an accident, boat sunk and that there were divers in the water.
We proceeded toward the railroad bridge, albeit at a slower pace. The bridge tender said the divers were out of the water and they were just waiting for the Coast Guard to certify "all clear." Some tows called the CG and got individual clearance. We called the bridge tender and asked if we could follow a "special tow" through and the answer was, NO. If you do not have clearance from the USCG for your boat, do not come through, period. Testy little guy.
Word came that the causeway would not be open for the rest of the day.
We got the message and headed for Pier 21. We are the only boat here. $1.75 per foot. Will stay till Sunday. Works out well as we were planning on taking the shuttle to town from Moody anyway. Moody is $2.00 per foot.
Skipper Kem takes us into the Galveston Ship Channel
As we approach the Pelican Island Bridge I call for an opening. The bridge tender responds and the sirens sound. The bridge slowly opens.
Meanwhile the tide is running fast creating eddies and whirlpools. Kem maneuvers Spirit Dancer with helm and engines to keep her on course through the swirling waters and nails it dead center channel between the pilings and under the bridge.
Photo of Harbor House and Willie G's scanned from Mitchell Properties Brochure
The USCG Cutter "Man-of-war" (87-foot Coastal Patrol Boat (WPB) - Marine Protector Class) came across form the Halliburton dock and tied up at Pier 21 for the night (on the channel side). That was a fun photo op. Chatted with them.
When they got under way around 8 PM (they came back later for the night) one of their lines got snagged on the pier. A coastie got off and unsnagged it. The wind hit the cutter and they were underway leaving the coastie stranded on the dock. Within 30 seconds, they had their dinghy launched right out of the tatter box (new term) on the stern. They were in the harbor, picked him up, shot back to the ship and drove right back up the tatter box from whence they came. Pretty exciting.
That was about a 12 foot dinghy with an inboard engine. Wow, talk about get up and go.
Coast Guard Cutter Dauntless (210-foot Medium Endurance Cutter (WMEC) - Reliance Class) aka "The Dirty D"; "White Needle of Death".
They hailed us to let us know that they were maneuvering to where we were so they could enter their berth. We were slowly moving past the CG station.
"White pleasure craft with green strip this is the Coast Guard Cutter Dauntless over."
I asked Kem, Do you think they're calling us?
"Coast Guard Cutter Dauntless this is the pleasure craft with the green strip, Spirit Dancer, over" I responded.
"Pleasure craft, this is the Dauntless. We're moving into our berthing area so if you would please continue on your present course captain we'll enter behind you."
"Aha, Dauntless, I was wondering what you were doing. I copy, proceeding on present course and should be out of your way momentarily..."
So, the rpms when up and we flew forward at an impressive 8 knots (9.5 mph).
Trip back from Galveston was exciting. We crossed paths with at least 30 vessels of all sizes and shapes, ships, tows, interesting ship channel digger dredge,
Another interesting item is that we heard a number of female captains this trip on both the big ships and the tows.
