5/10/2025
The last few days I’ve been just hanging out and driving. I was in the Beaumont, TX area for a couple days. I spent my time at the library, washing clothes, giving plasma, and walking in the parks.
On the 8th I got to Galveston, TX. This was the first time I’ve taken my van on a ferry. It was a short trip just across the bay, but it was still a neat experience. We got super close to a cruise ship. It looked like we were going to hit it for a while.
When I got into town I parked on the seawall and walked along it for a mile or so.
After checking out the seawall I went to Galveston Island Brewing. The air conditioned area of the brewery was laid out really poorly. Only half of the bar was utilized, there were two tiny tables, and they had an entire room dedicated to merchandise that could fit at least two four tops. Outside they had a big playground area. There was more seating in the brewhouse, but it was hot and humid in there. The beer was fantastic though. I had a flight and liked everything that I had.
When I got there I sat at the counter in a side room off the bar until a spot opened up. Once I moved over I started talking to the locals and I met an awesome couple from Iowa. I stayed there talking until they closed.
Yesterday I parked on Broadway and walked around historic Galveston. Galveston is a strange town. It felt like half of the homes were really rundown and in disrepair and the other half were immaculately maintained. With the amount of storms that blow through I’m guessing some of the residents just don’t have the money to rebuild so often. There are also a ton of rental properties. Again, I’m guessing that corporations bought out a lot of residents after storms and made just enough repairs to rent them out.
Once I got out of the residential area I found the other brewery on the island, Naked Iguana Brewery. When I walked in I got flagged down by the wife of the Iowa couple from the day before. I grabbed a beer and hung out with them for an hour or so talking. I found out that they own a dance studio that was destroyed twice by tornadoes and they have been coming to Galveston for six years.
I left the brewery and went downtown and to the piers. Downtown is a very touristy area with museums, tons of restaurants and bars, and the cruise port.There are some cool buildings too.
There aren’t any Planet Fitness’s on the island so I haven’t taken a shower in a couple days. I couldn’t stand myself, especially after walking in the sun all day. I drove to the mainland to clean up and then headed back to Galveston Island Brewing to meet up with everyone for one last night.
This morning I went back downtown to get a pressed penny and check out a couple more things before heading to Houston, TX. At the first two places I tried the machines were broken. I found a working one at a candy store. The store was really cool. They had chocolate, fudge, ice cream, and milkshakes. I almost got a milkshake, but the line was really long. The railroad museum looked kinda interesting, but I could see most of it through the gates and I didn’t want to pay $10 to get in.
I really wanted to see Battleship Texas and the ships at Seawolf park, but the battleship is being renovated and parking for the park was $10. I’m not paying money to take a few pictures and leave again.
I took off toward Houston, TX after that. I went directly to the Houston Space Center. I wanted to check out the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. I was pleasantly surprised that I could see it from the parking lot and didn’t have to fight the crowds to get to just that exhibit. You can see my other post about the space center here. After taking a pic I left to go to Corpus Christi, TX. I stopped in Portland, TX to get supper and watch the UFC fights.
