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Galveston Ferry - Galveston, Texas Places visited: Texas: Galveston Ferry - Galveston, Texas The first exciting thing we did in Texas was take the free ferry across the Galveston Ship Channel. Now that was fun in the motorhome with our little Saturn in tow. The Galveston-Port Bolivar ferry is the bridge between two segments of State Highway 87. South of IH-10, State Highway 87 is the only highway around Galveston Bay. The free ferry service provided by TxDOT is the only way motorists can cross the waterway between Bolivar Peninsula and Galveston Island. The ferry service is critical to the residents of Bolivar Peninsula when a hurricane threatens. The ferries are the primary means of evacuation through Galveston to the causeway and the mainland. Ferries continue crossing the channel until high winds and tides make their mission unsafe. The boats are then secured in their moorings at the Galveston landing facility. Loading motorhome on the Galveston Ship Channel Ferry
We are approaching the ferry in this pic. That is the pilot house of the ferry in the middle of the pic. The actual crossover from land to ferry takes place between those two towers at the end of that narrow funnel onto the ferry. Once on the ferry workers guide you to either side of the pilot house where there are three rows of vehicles. The pic on the right is taken from our motorhome windowshield as we are making the crossing. People in the automobiles were able to exit their vehicle and roam aournd the deck. Many occupied their time feeding seagulls. We were so tightly packed we could not get out of our door.
View from our motorhome on the Galveston Ship Channel Ferry
This is the view from our motorhome as the ferry crossed the Galveston Ship Channel. Ship passing our ferry in the Galveston Ship Channel
We passed by a variety of vessels on our way across the busy Galveston Ship Channel.
Ship passing our ferry in the Galveston Ship Channel
The 2.7 mile trip takes approximately 18 minutes to cross one of the busiest waterways in the world. Through the Bolivar Roads Channel flows the commerce of the Port of Houston, the nations largest inland port, as well as other Galveston and Trinity Bay communities. Approximately 7,000 ships visit the Port of Houston each year.
Tug boat passing our ferry in the Galveston Ship Channel
Sister ferry passing our ferry in the Galveston Ship Channel
The ferry operation consists of five boats, each of which can carry approximately 70 vehicles, 500 passengers and six crewmembers. Each ferry is capable of carrying eight 18-wheel trucks weighing 80,000 pounds each. All of the boats are double-ended with a pilothouse on each end, and the Captain changes from one pilothouse to the other to go in the opposite direction.
Exiting our ferry in Galveston, Texas
Finally we are docked and the vehicles ahead of me and on the sides have exited the ferry. We are starting to roll, it is our turn to exit. Just after bouncing off the ferry we are on a wide boulevard in Galveston headed for the famous Seawall Boulevard a few blocks away. Exiting the ferry in Galveston, Texas with our Saturn tow car behind our motorhome. Truly exciting. Boulevard in Galveston, Texas that the Galveston, Ferry emptys on to
Traveling in Galveston, Texas.
Until next time remember how good life is. More Texas AdventuresAdventures by State ** More 2005 Travel Adventures
Mike & Joyce Hendrix
Mike & Joyce Hendrix who we are We hope you liked this page. If you do you might be interested in some of our other Travel Adventures: Mike & Joyce Hendrix's home page Travel Adventures by Year ** Travel Adventures by State ** Plants ** Marine-Boats ** Geology ** Exciting Drives ** Cute Signs ** RV Subjects ** Miscellaneous Subjects
We would love to hear from you......just put "info" in the place of "FAKE" in this address: FAKE@travellogs.us Until next time remember how good life is.
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