There is something exciting about riding a ferry. I spent 30 years in Jacksonville, Florida. Every time we had family or friends visit, taking the ferry out of Mayport was a must. The salt air, the gentle swaying of the boat, the sharp squawks of the seagulls, watching the pelicans snatch fish into their beaks, and the thrill of an occasional dolphin flipping the surface of the water. It has a charm that is hard to explain.
It was no different in Galveston. The Galveston-Port Bolivar Ferry ride was better because it was free and had a much longer duration than the one in Mayport. We were there shortly before sunset and the experience enlisted all five senses.
There was so much to see. The shipping channel ran parallel to the ferry and large cargo ships could be seen. Children giggled and squealed as seagulls dove for their offerings of crackers. The gulls and pelicans took flight and soared by, sometimes so close to us we could almost touch them. Ship horns sounded in the distance and carried on the wind. We could feel the heaviness of salt in the air and taste the tang left on our lips.
When the ride came to an end and we docked on the other side, we had arrived at the Bolivar Peninsula.
The Bolivar Peninsula was totally devastated by Hurricane Ike in 2008 and there has not been much rebuilding since that time. We drove a few miles into it and saw miles of beaches and only scattered home communities. I wish we had more time to explore, but darkness was almost upon us and we needed to get back to the ferry.
Once we drove onto the ferry for the return trip, we again got out of our vehicles and enjoyed the cold evening air on the trip back to Galveston as the sun was fully setting.
It was one of our most memorable evenings in Galveston and we later joined friends for dinner. It was a wonderful way to spend an afternoon, and I highly recommend it for everyone.
Until the next adventure,
Love, Dawn