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From: Robert C. Cline <rcline_at_onramp.net>
subject: RE: [Paddlewise] "Trip report"
Date: Sat, 6 Jun 1998 14:14:34 -0500 (CDT)
Kirby Stevens wrote:

>Unfortunately I have some limited knowledge of paddling down your way.
>Are there lots of interesting places to visit?

Kirby:

There are some wide open spaces down here with places to camp along the
Texas gulf coast.  You can camp up to the vegetation line, even on private
lands.  There is a state park off of Port O'conner, Texas (Matagorda Is.).
That is my next planned adventure.  The beach begins about 7 to 9 miles
south around what is called Pass Cavallo.  That was once used by the
Spanish to enter into Matagorda Bay (West bay).  One of LaSalle's ships was
recovered from there recently.  However, the Corp of Engineers re-routed
the Colorado river many years ago, and the Pass Cavallo silted/sanded-in.
Ships can no longer pass through there, however the Corp of Enginees, once
again, dug a channel with jetties out to the sea there, just east of the
Pass Cavallo.

I went diving on one of the ships down there that was said to be built in
the late 1500's.  It was a "mud dive" done by "braile."  I got bumped by a
large object.  It bumped my chest and my calf at the same time. (I was kind
of spead eagle down near the bottom digging through the mud. I thought
another diver bumped me.  I reached out, but no one was there.  I then
surfaced and found everyone had been in the boat for about 20 minutes
except me... and no one had seen any porpoise!  I decided it was time to
join my fellow divers in the boat.

More about this later.  I am still packing for my trip to Seattle.  I will
write more when I get back.

The only big caveat this time of year is the heat.  It is indeed hot!  And
there is virtually no shade unless you bring your own.

I look forward to discussing the area with you further.  I am actually a
neophyte paddler.  John Sommers who posts to this list knows the area much
better than I do.  I have quite a bit of experience on the Texas coast in
powerboats and with Sail and scuba diving... as for Kayaks... well, I'm
pretty green, but expecting to get "saltier" as time passes.

Robert


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