3/15/07 - It was spooky quiet last night - nothing moved, but after yesterday it was very welcome sile
nce and being fogged in this morning added a special hush. Once it burned off we slipped out of Adam’s Bayou back into the GIWW. The waterways cut across the top of Sabine Lake which caused some unruly conditions; winds and currents. We learned to watch the barge ahead of us and when he started to turn sideways, we knew - caution strong current ahead. This mode of operation continued each time we passed any river or large body of water. At the intersection of GIWW, Turning Basin and Neches River there is what’s called the Texaco Tank Farm. This is the starting place or filling station for many of these barges we’ve been coming in contact with these past few days. Vigilance again became our position as we maneuvered around tied-up barges and tugs either picking up or dropping off. It also appeared
to be the destination for a few of the larger vessels which had come in via the Houston Shipping Cannel. Interesting how some of the homes tucked behind a solid patch work of granite levee built their own decks to watch the parade on the GIWW. This levee continued on for many miles. As we passed Port Arthur we found it entertaining to actually recognize many of the landmarks from this side of the water we had seen on land a few years ago. Once past Port Arthur we again found ourselves in the quiet countryside with cows, and more cows. Islands and homes began to spring up around us as we approached the East Bay of Galveston. We found dockage at Stingarees Restaurant and Landing in the city of Crystal Beach right on the GIWW. (Restaurant, means no cooking for me tonight – yee haw) We were told to not go beyond the Bait Shop otherwise we’d find ourselves in shallow water. Our depth finder blinked at 4ft when we finally cut our engines for the night. Needless to say we decided to back out the next morning rather than try to turn around.
nce and being fogged in this morning added a special hush. Once it burned off we slipped out of Adam’s Bayou back into the GIWW. The waterways cut across the top of Sabine Lake which caused some unruly conditions; winds and currents. We learned to watch the barge ahead of us and when he started to turn sideways, we knew - caution strong current ahead. This mode of operation continued each time we passed any river or large body of water. At the intersection of GIWW, Turning Basin and Neches River there is what’s called the Texaco Tank Farm. This is the starting place or filling station for many of these barges we’ve been coming in contact with these past few days. Vigilance again became our position as we maneuvered around tied-up barges and tugs either picking up or dropping off. It also appeared 
to be the destination for a few of the larger vessels which had come in via the Houston Shipping Cannel. Interesting how some of the homes tucked behind a solid patch work of granite levee built their own decks to watch the parade on the GIWW. This levee continued on for many miles. As we passed Port Arthur we found it entertaining to actually recognize many of the landmarks from this side of the water we had seen on land a few years ago. Once past Port Arthur we again found ourselves in the quiet countryside with cows, and more cows. Islands and homes began to spring up around us as we approached the East Bay of Galveston. We found dockage at Stingarees Restaurant and Landing in the city of Crystal Beach right on the GIWW. (Restaurant, means no cooking for me tonight – yee haw) We were told to not go beyond the Bait Shop otherwise we’d find ourselves in shallow water. Our depth finder blinked at 4ft when we finally cut our engines for the night. Needless to say we decided to back out the next morning rather than try to turn around.
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