30 November 2006
Almost there! We’d been on the road toward Galveston all afternoon, by the time I snapped this photo. The drive began in the most incredible sleet storm I’ve seen in years! The little balls of sleet looked like the weird styrofoam they sometimes pack into beanbags or those odd little pillows. They were actually round and would not melt on contact. As we were packing the last of the weekend’s stuff, we had to keep brushing the little ice balls off the car seats–it was strange! Kyle said it’s typical of Texas sleet, but it seemed odd to this little New Yorker.
We dealt with the falling ice pellets for about an hour, then gusts of wind that nearly blew us of the road and made us glad for every bit of ballast we were carrying! By the time we reached Fairfield (our halfway mark for TRF, but not for Galveston!) the weather had cleared and the roads were dry. We lunched in Madisonville where Ginger and Mary (I mean Prudence–or was it Frances?) met us at the Subway and then continued south, stopping in Clear Lake for some last minute supplies from the local Mart-de-Wal. We arrived in Galveston, got moved into our room at the Tremont, and then went for a fabulous dinner at a place just a few blocks’ walk from here–Paco’s. It came highly recommended by the desk clerk at the hotel, and we were not to be disappointed. Their kitchen closes at 9:30 p.m. but they somewhat happily seated us at 9:05. Our service was superb and our food was even better! We all vowed we’d be back–maybe as early as Monday for lunch! Dinner was followed by a few hands of Mah Jongg, and I actually withdrew from the game first, due to heavy eyelid syndrome. Of course, that was over an hour ago, and I’m still up!
Anyway, during the drive through Houston, I had the camera out and was taking pictures of the amazing sunset–totally Maxfield Parrish–when I conceived the idea of shooting the highway sign reading “Galveston” for my photo of the day. Some of the sunset photos are really pretty, but this is the photo I had in my head! I love it when that works out so well!
I am impressed that the sign came out so clearly, when the tail lights and other things in the photo are so blurry. It looks totally cool, but I really am not sure how I got so lucky! If I could, I’d eliminate the reflection of the teddy bear–but in reality, he’s part of the experience, so I guess he deserves to be a part of the photo!
So, it’s Dickens on the Strand for us this weekend! We’re in Galveston, now, as I write this, and we’re looking forward to a wonderful weekend. I’ve got fourteen more buttons to sew on trousers for braces, and then I’m totally done! I’m pretty tired now, though. The buttons may simply have to wait until tomorrow!
~MB
