We began our day with some made-to-order omelettes and super-fresh berries at the Hotel Galvez. SUCH a classy hotel....le grande dame of all Galveston hotels. A National Historic Landmark, it was completed in 1911 after civic leaders decided they needed something to bring back tourists after the devastating 1900 hurricane. The loggia in the lobby channels the 1910s.
Our bay fishing trip started at 1:30, so we didn't have a lot of time in the morning. Decided to drive around and get the lay of the land. For the most part, I'm pleased to report that "GALVESTON IS BACK!!!" We only saw the occasional beat-up building. Most hotels, restaurants, stores, etc., have rebuilt and are open for business, so come on down! I know there are areas of town that have not been so fortunate; we just haven't seen them yet.
In a happy coincidence, Bruce's brother, sister, and her husband picked this weekend to visit their parents in Conroe, and they booked a bay fishing trip for Saturday. We joined Steve, Sandy and Dom for an afternoon of fishing.
We benefitted from the morning bay fishing outing, which had to make two stops before landing on a school of red drum. Our captain beelined for the spot, and the boat ended up taking a whopping 37 drum! If yours is longer than 28" (and most are), you must use the "red drum tag" on your fishing license. Bruce bagged a 30" and one just under 28". They're beautiful fish. I also caught the biggest fish I've ever reeled in.... an 18" gaff-fin catfish, which the deckhand helpfully unhooked for me. (Them gaff-fins HURT. Bruce got pegged with a wee one several years ago and chummed the water for half an hour. Anticoagulants, don't you know.) Sandy and Steve pulled in a couple of good-sized catfish, and Dom got his own red near the end of the trip. We also saw a couple of sharks and an enormous stingray...have no idea how he got it on board.
Paid a nice fellow to clean our fish (we have a lot of red drum to eat!) and headed back to the hotel to clean up a bit. (Dead-squid-bait has a gift of scent that just keeps on giving.) We heard someone recommend Fishtales for dinner, just down the street from our hotel. Enjoyed a couple of lovely beverages, some fresh Gulf oysters, and my crawfish po-boy. Bruce's Mahi disappointed, as did the service.
We're looking forward to Moody Gardens tomorrow (I've never been) and perhaps other indoor activities, given the weather forecast.
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