Almost Paradise, Merlin, Silhouette, Renaissance, Remedy, and Cool Air
rafted Eliza,
rafted New Life,
Sheral Jones, the proprietor of
Double Bayou Landing, did everything to make our stay memorable. He has
installed both 30 and 50 amp service around the perimeter of his large
deck. His restaurant features "The Greatest Food on Trinity Bay". I had
the Cheeseburger and Marion had the Catfish Sandwich. Both were
Enormous and Very Good. John and Peggy ordered Sheral's Special
Seafood Platter for two. It was a Mountain of Shrimp, Stuffed Crabs,
Fried Fish, Stuffed Peppers, Tater Tots, Hush Puppies, and Fried
Jalapeneos. They could not eat it all so several others helped to
reduce the mountan to a flat plain.
Dining Deck
This was followed by an adventurous dinghy ride up the left fork of Double Bayou. See Marion to the Rescue.
After the Rescue Operation it was time to get some rest. Bayou Baby was on her way to the vet and the next event was not scheduled until 3 PM.
We were having a cool one relaxing in the cockpit when a woman, Jeanette, and a young girl, Ingrid, came alongside our boat on the deck. Ingrid was curious about boats so I offered to show her aboard. Jeanette came along for the tour. She was not her mother but either a cousin or an aunt. Both were impressed and asked the right questions. As the were getting ready to leave "The Bad Guy" started walking across the dock toward our boat.
"Boy does this guy have nerve", I thought. " How could he come back here after what he did to Bayou Baby".
As he approached he called to Jeanette, his wife. I looked him in the eye, made a hostile gesture toward him and quietly said "Get out of here." Marion did not see any of this happen. She would have killed him.
Quickly he backed off and went into the restaraunt. As graciously as I could, I made farewells to Jeanette and Ingrid and they left too.
It was about time to head for the Hay Ride to the Winery. Sheral had a tractor and a wagon with bales of hay parked out in front. Its a half mile ride to the local Winery. Fifteen of us climbed aboard for the trip. We all bought the wines we liked the best. Marion liked the Merlot, I liked the Chardonay, Marion also bought a souvenier glass. It was lots of fun.
When we returned there was just enough time to get freshend up before Docktails. As we gathered around the outside bar who should arrive but Jeanette and The Bad Guy.
I said to Marion, "Do you see who just arrived?"
She was shocked and quickly spread the word among the other ladies in our little group.
"I can't believe he is back here," she said.
All the ladies recognized him as Rick.
I explained, "The woman he is with is his wife; she and the little girl visited on our boat."
They were taking tours on all the boats. What nerve, I thought.
After a while Jeanette came by and made proper introductions... It was not Rick, The Bad Guy, but he looked to be his twin. It was her husband Bo. He wore the same dark glasses, same moustache, same build, same military style haircut, and dressed the same..
After introduction Marion pointed out he had a different Tattoo on his arm, and was missing a cut on his cheek bone.
I appologized for my rude behavior earlier, he graciously listened to my recital of all of the Bad Guy's deeds, and accepted my appology.
"You are lucky we got this all straighted out." I said, "Because the ladies were about rip you apart. It would not have been a pretty sight."
Bo and Jeanette Kellar then joined our party. They live in Abeline Texas and have a small spread where they have five horses. Bo is in the Air Force and Jeanette does Rodeo Barrel Racing. They had a very long drive ahead so they left early for Abeline.
Having discovered how large the portions were, Marion and I split the regular sized Seafood Platter. It was still plenty.
Day Three the Fourth of July
Dining Deck
 More deck with party in the shade
 Marion, Jim Hall, Robin Blaire, Ronica Hall, Peggy & John Allison |
 Resort Atmosphere Jim Lee, Philip Kropf in foreground |
Day Two
Sheral started our day with a complimentary Buffet Breakfast. Eggs, bacon, sausage, ham, biscuits and gravy and Bottomless Coffee.This was followed by an adventurous dinghy ride up the left fork of Double Bayou. See Marion to the Rescue.
After the Rescue Operation it was time to get some rest. Bayou Baby was on her way to the vet and the next event was not scheduled until 3 PM.
We were having a cool one relaxing in the cockpit when a woman, Jeanette, and a young girl, Ingrid, came alongside our boat on the deck. Ingrid was curious about boats so I offered to show her aboard. Jeanette came along for the tour. She was not her mother but either a cousin or an aunt. Both were impressed and asked the right questions. As the were getting ready to leave "The Bad Guy" started walking across the dock toward our boat.
"Boy does this guy have nerve", I thought. " How could he come back here after what he did to Bayou Baby".
As he approached he called to Jeanette, his wife. I looked him in the eye, made a hostile gesture toward him and quietly said "Get out of here." Marion did not see any of this happen. She would have killed him.
Quickly he backed off and went into the restaraunt. As graciously as I could, I made farewells to Jeanette and Ingrid and they left too.
It was about time to head for the Hay Ride to the Winery. Sheral had a tractor and a wagon with bales of hay parked out in front. Its a half mile ride to the local Winery. Fifteen of us climbed aboard for the trip. We all bought the wines we liked the best. Marion liked the Merlot, I liked the Chardonay, Marion also bought a souvenier glass. It was lots of fun.
  Hay Ride |
  Wine Tasting |
When we returned there was just enough time to get freshend up before Docktails. As we gathered around the outside bar who should arrive but Jeanette and The Bad Guy.
I said to Marion, "Do you see who just arrived?"
She was shocked and quickly spread the word among the other ladies in our little group.
"I can't believe he is back here," she said.
All the ladies recognized him as Rick.
I explained, "The woman he is with is his wife; she and the little girl visited on our boat."
They were taking tours on all the boats. What nerve, I thought.
After a while Jeanette came by and made proper introductions... It was not Rick, The Bad Guy, but he looked to be his twin. It was her husband Bo. He wore the same dark glasses, same moustache, same build, same military style haircut, and dressed the same..
After introduction Marion pointed out he had a different Tattoo on his arm, and was missing a cut on his cheek bone.
I appologized for my rude behavior earlier, he graciously listened to my recital of all of the Bad Guy's deeds, and accepted my appology.
"You are lucky we got this all straighted out." I said, "Because the ladies were about rip you apart. It would not have been a pretty sight."
Bo and Jeanette Kellar then joined our party. They live in Abeline Texas and have a small spread where they have five horses. Bo is in the Air Force and Jeanette does Rodeo Barrel Racing. They had a very long drive ahead so they left early for Abeline.
Having discovered how large the portions were, Marion and I split the regular sized Seafood Platter. It was still plenty.
Day Three the Fourth of July 
| Again
Sheral treated us to
Breakfast... this time Burritos. The winds were piping up for a great sail back to Clear Lake. We stowed dinghys, engines and all of our gear. The departure plan was organized to minimize the risks of collision. Cool Air, Remedy, New Life, Eliza, Almost Paradise, Merlin, Silhouette and finally Renaissance. Remedy's lead was threatened for a while by Renaissance but in the end we triumphed. It took a lot of special trimming. Winds were 12 to 18 kts and SE to SSW so there were plenty of opportunities for adjustment. We did 7.1 most of the way. We sailed all the way into Clear Lake and then followed the Fireworks Barge down the lake and picked a prime spot for Fireworks watching. We anchored right near Marker 18, Mid Lake in 6.0 feet of water. The weekend turned out better than if it had all been planned. We met new and interesting Friends and shared Great adventures... That's what Cruising is all about. |
 Remedy passing Cool Air.
Photo by ROBERT REEVES |
 Fireworks Composite  |