Sea Rim SP, 12/24 - 12/27/2018

Scampsite #3.  We took the ferry from Galveston Island to Bolivar Peninsula - the longest way possible, but the most interesting for sure!  We found out quickly that the mosquitoes hadn't died back yet and LOVED our trailer - our door was away from the wind so they congregated at our door until they could find a way inside - we ended up spraying the inside of the door with bug spray! 
Christmas Day was too foggy in the morning for paddling the trails, so we drove to Sabine Wood, an Audubon site, for some bird-watching - thank goodness we happened to have a  can of bug spray in the truck - the mosquitoes were terrible!  Then we drove to Texas Point National Wildlife Refuge and walked some of the cattle trail there - no mosquitoes, lots of sparrows.  We returned to Sea Rim for lunch and, since the sun came out, a beach walk. 
Wednesday morning the boats weren't available to rent because the duck hunters would be out on the flats shooting, so we walked the dogs down the paved road until the end at McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge and walked the beach back to our Scampsite.  Once we got back to our Scampsite, it was obvious that the forecasted storms were on their way, so we spent some time putting things away and getting the trailer ready for departure in the morning, in case it was pouring down rain as forecasted.  Once it started raining, we spent the rest of our time at Sea Rim in our trailer.  Apparently, Sea Rim didn't get much of the storm - probably the sea breezes helped keep it north of the park. 

Sea Rim has a lovely beach that is available for camping - there are no reservations for beach camping, since availability depends on the weather, tides and other conditions that the park rangers assess on a daily basis.  There is also a cabin that looks really nice and a floating platform, built by University of Texas students, for camping in one of the lakes.  The platform is only accessible by boat, is alligator-proof, and requires a bucket-loo for personal needs.
The boardwalk trails that Sea Rim is known for are currently closed - Hurricanes Harvey and Ike damaged them severely and the money to rebuild them hasn't been available at the right times. 

Armadillo at Sabine Wood.

Texas Point NWR view - oil and gas refineries in the distance in Sabine Pass or Port Arthur.

Foggy Christmas morning.

Sunny Christmas afternoon.

Sunny beach on Christmas day. 

Scampsite 3.

Refinery flame, full moon.

Southern boundary of Sea Rim State Park, near McFaddin NWR. 

Big waves from oncoming storms.

Sea Rim is near Sabine Pass and a little further away is Port Arthur.  We didn't spend any time in either town, but both depend heavily on the oil and gas industry.  Sea Rim is pretty remote and we enjoyed that.