I found a little bayou cut down the way from the Dow Chemical refinery. Ample vegetation offers cover from the 20mph winds, the cold front having dragged the mercury to 37F.

"They call it stormy Monday, but Tuesday is just as bad"

Went down to the Gulf in the town of Freeport, picked up some groceries then cruised over to the Bryan Beach, a public access beach beyond the oil refineries.  The wind blew heavy through the night casting sand over my sleeping bag and onto my gear. Not willing to bother, I pulled my hat low over my eyes and fell fast asleep. By morning it would be 20F cooler and sprinkling through the day. I've got some cool and wet days to kill and know just where the local library is.

In Surfside Beach I reach the Gulf of Mexico once more.

I met some fabulous people in Marble Falls and Austin on my travels. Once more, I find myself in the company of such hospitality and friendliness that one cannot help but return in the future.   The sound of the road sings me like a siren from the east. I cross 200 MI of Texas passing through the campus of Texas A&M and into green fields of hay, wheat and cattle. Pine forests begin to appear and I set up camp in the Sam Houston NF for a few days of hiking and enjoying the mild 70 degree days.

I hiked over 6 miles yesterday along both OHV trails and hiking only trails.  The smells and feeling of a pine forest brought back so many fond memories of the east and the south, so familiar.  I'm now scooting along into a cold front bringing a 30 degree swing in Temps and some rain. A common trend these past few weeks in TX.