Daily Archives: December 9, 2012
Sunflowers and Ferris Wheels . . .
Today was a “Get Up and Head Out Early” morning, but it was worth it. We got more Landon time.
We left the rig a little before 8am to meet Lowell, Brandi, and Landon at The Sunflower Café down in Galveston.
Landon really loves the fresh fruit they have here, and was scavenging off everyone’s plate.
Jan and I are really proud of the great job Brandi and Lowell are doing raising Landon. He’s always so good when we’re out with him, even with other screaming kids seated around him.
After a great breakfast at The Sunflower Café (we’ll definitely go back) we got our goodbye hugs from everyone and all headed out. But before we went home, Jan and I decided to drive along the Seawall to check out any new additions to the area.
One place we were interested in checking out was the new Galveston Island Pleasure Pier. Basically it’s a amusement park/restaurant complex built on an 1100 foot pier out in the Gulf of Mexico.
Originally built as a recreation area by the military during WWII, it was turned over to the city after the war and called the Pleasure Pier.
Up until 1961, it was a well-known family entertainment destination on the Gulf of Mexico. Top dance bands played the enormous ballroom, while an open air movie theater, concessions, rides, and even an aquarium added to the fun. But Hurricane Carla damaged it beyond repair in 1961.
Then in 1965 the Flagship Hotel opened in its place.
Earning a place in history as the only hotel in North America built entirely over the water, it lasted until 2008 when it was severely damaged by Hurricane Ike.
Then in May 2012, a new Pleasure Pier opened. Developed by Tilman Fertitta, CEO and owner of Landry’s, a corporation that owns and operates over 35 restaurant chains, it’s now a prime tourist attraction in Galveston.
With a 100 foot high Ferris Wheel, and a 1250
foot long roller coaster that features a 100 foot high vertical climb, a 100 foot high over-vertical drop, and 4 full inversions, it’s a real thrill.
sadf
But the one I’m looking forward to riding is the 230 foot high Texas Star Flyer, the tallest swing ride in Texas. Each spoke holds two open chairs that let you seei in all directions as you turn.
I can’t wait.
It finally looks like our winter weather is finally coming in. Today’s high was 80, and tonight’s low is supposed to be 50. And tomorrow’s high is supposed to be 50 too. And tomorrow night’s low is going to be 35. Nice.
For most of the last couple of weeks, the low at night has been in the high 60’s, so this will be a nice change.
Thought of the Day:
Self-respect: the secure feeling that no one, as yet, is suspicious.
sadf
