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From: Natalie Wiest <wiestn_at_tamug.tamu.edu> subject: [Paddlewise] Paddlin' by Pelican -(long) Mini-trip report Date: Fri, 25 May 2001 10:30:25 -0500 · This archive was generated by hypermail 2.4.0 : Thu Aug 21 2025 - 16:33:22 PDT

Had a lovely after-work paddle last evening, thought I'd share it with you.

I dropped my boat in the water under the bowlines of the T/S Texas Clipper
II, Texas A&M University at Galveston (my employer)'s training ship on
Pelican Island.  We are separated by the Galveston Channel from main
Galveston Island, linked by the 51st Street causeway for wheeled vehicles.
Blue-suited cadets and staff members were scurrying about, prepping the
Clipper for the Shakedown Cruise she always takes before the main summer
training cruise.  We nickname this trip the "Breakdown" cruise for the
frequent happenings thereof.  The Master has a good take on this - "if it
doesn't break down, the cadets will not learn how to fix it and it gives
them an opportunity to learn in a real situation".  There are always good
sea stories from these cruises, but I digress, back to sea kayaking...

I paddled in my favorite summer-time-island-girl mode, cotton t-shirt,
cotton pants, sandals, brimmed hat, sunglasses and of course my pfd.  The
wind was stiff across the port beam, making me wonder if I had erred in not
even packing my sprayskirt.  As I emerged from under the causeway and into
the open waters of Galveston Bay, it felt like the breeze laid down - but I
could still see it whipping through the shore grasses so I confirmed my
directional change.  The Clipper's bow points due West, I was now headed due
North and the prevailing southerlies were  behind me.  No more than 50' -
100' off the shore, the boat flew along before the wind.  No more human
companionship, just the wind, the waves, the water, and thousands of birds.
And Texas City refineries on the skyline.  No sign on the north horizon of
predicted cold front and squall line.  It didn't arrive until 4 a.m. the
next morning.

The rookeries of seabirds and other species are producing tons of new
babies.  At a few protected spots along the banks, mini-flocks of what I
presume to be  fledged babies, all decked out in spotless white with black
hats (laughing gulls), regarded my passage with interest.  I was wondering
when and if I'd get dive-bombed by protective parents, but only a few of the
birds seemed interested in that activity for which I was grateful and I
maintained my distance from shore.  Terns divebombed periodically for an
evening snack.  Perhaps the decreased feeding activities were because of
full bellies.  The shrimp fleet that morning, and again this morning, have
been fishing this area very hard and I hope there was plenty for everybody.
This morning's fleet included a dolphin escort, which I got to watch from
the causeway as the lift bridge tied up traffic for several minutes.

Black skimmers flew around, very distinctive with their undershot beaks.
Willets were there too,  great egrets, and a few dusty-brown white ibises,
most likely immature.  Brown pelicans flew in formation, but only a few and
I expect I'd have seen lots more at their preferred nesting spot farther
out.  Didn't see any roseate spoonbills this trip, but I'll bet they were in
protected bays farther interior to the island.

The Falcon skimmed along with the wind in the waves, occasionally with a
flirtatious sidestep on circulating currents and curious wave patterns.  Too
soon it was time to turn around and head back to the Clipper's shell beach.

Now it was time to catch the full force of the wind in my face.  Waltzing
with the waves accelerated to the tempo of a mazurka.  Occasional gusts
whitecapped the water before me.  The Clipper, surely at due south, was
nowhere to be seen.  Had she slipped out for her cruise?  Couldn't believe
that could happen in such short order and without any tugs in evidence on my
departure.  The no-sprayskirt issue assumed greater proportion.  Where was
my sponge?  I always carry one, and I knew I had put it in the boat.
Probably down by my feet but I don't want to step paddling and fish for it,
but I will if I get too full.  At least the shore is within easy reach.  The
Falcon travels very well with extra weight so I paddled on.  I love this
boat in wind and waves, and  she was singing.  Maybe the birds were smiling
too to see the silly grinning human enjoying the moment.

Too soon I regained the causeway, and the Clipper emerged, all gleaming
white superstructure and maroon smokestack, from the brush that had hidden
her from my waterlevel view.  I pulled up on the shell beach, emptied and
loaded to head for home, licking the salt spray around my lips.  It was a
wonderful evening paddle - wish y'all could have been there too.

Natalie Wiest
 Galveston TX

Conditions for the trip (PORTS system at Bolivar Roads):

Water temperature:  79.0 F
Air temperature:  78.8 F
Wind speed:  13 knots, gusting 16
Wind direction:  southerly, turning slightly to SSW
Blue skies, few clouds on the horizon
Paddle:  feathered   
Sprayskirt:  absent
Torso rotation - who knows?

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