Day 10 #TeslaNashvilleRoadTrip. Galveston

Austin to Galveston. 218 Miles, through Houston.

The Index of all 30 posts from day 1 of our #TeslaRoadTripUSA is HERE.

Left Austin with 300 miles of charge. Small amount of traffic before smooth sailing open roads. Our first charge stop was Houston.

The roads are lined with signs advertising products along the way. Often providing insight into the places they are marketing products to. The Epoch Times appears a lot on billboards as you approach Houston. The Epoch Times is a sinister Christian Apocalypse rag of the most gaslit kind. A far-right international multi-language newspaper and media company affiliated with the Falun Gong new religious movement. Epoch Times platforms far-right politicians in Europe and has supported former President Donald Trump in the U.S; being the second-largest funder of pro-Trump Facebook advertising after the Trump campaign itself. Right Wing Christian gaslight rag ideal for Conservative religious racists. It’s popular in Texas.

Some pictures of the religious imagery visible on this stretch of road. The cemetery in golden flowers is quite stunning.

Galveston is immediately interesting as you cross into the city limits; appearing far less right-wing religious-racist than is usual for Texas. Checking into our Hotel we met a sister who was happy to chat about life here, living in Galveston, after leaving Irvine. We discussed how a sister would deal with the racist religious right here. “It’s a bit sticky. You have to learn how to navigate it.” I told her my impression after visiting Lubbock. She said “You’re brave to go there.”

Galveston is where Juneteenth began. “And Still We Rise…” General Orders, No. 3, was issued on June 19, 1865. The orders, among others read by General Gordon Granger at sites throughout the city, announced to the people of Texas that all enslaved people were free. This day, now known as Juneteenth, Freedom Day, or Emancipation Day, is one of Galveston Island’s most important historical moments and has been marked by remembrance and celebrations almost every year since.

Driving into town we had this song on the car stereo. Galveston by Jimmy Webb. 1972

The harbor is the life blood of Galveston. There is a one hour guided boat tour with dolphins. Here’s my video from the boat.

The Harbor tour is a terrific way to spend an hour and learn about Galveston.
There was a big Civil War battle here. Galveston was the largest port in Texas post Mexican war. Until 1900. A dramatic storm killed over 10,000. The worst recorded storm in the US. That cost Galveston its role as the most important city in Texas. Houston benefited. During prohibition a Sicilian mob family controlled Galveston, making it a safe place to drink and gamble.

Galveston hit the international map when Jimmy Webb wrote Galveston, released on his 1972 album, Letters. The original sounds like this. Years later Glen Campbell heard it and the rest is history.

Jimmy Webb was Baptist preacher's son who grew up traveling between churches in Oklahoma and Texas. The beauty of coastal visits impressed young Jimmy, who'd revisit images of crashing sea waves and soaring sea birds when penning "Galveston." The song crosses Webb's love of seaside Texas with the folk revival's growing catalog of Vietnam War protest songs. Webb wrote Galveston as a slow tempo weeper about a young soldier separated from his first love. In one line that changed over time, the scared and lonely soldier puts down his gun when memories of his partner become overwhelming. It's a moving thought, one that takes the focus off politicians and protesters and puts it on the fears and struggles of the young servicemen plucked right from their hometowns. The Universal soldier who really is to blame.  "It’s about a guy who's caught up in something he doesn't understand and would rather be somewhere else."

One of the first songs I learned to play as a young musician was Glen Campbell’s version of Galveston. That influenced this destination for our route planning. Many American cities are familiar to me from my early musical experience. Almost every city we visit I know about through song.

Galveston, oh Galveston
I still hear your sea winds blowing
I still see her dark eyes glowing
She was 21
When I left Galveston

Galveston, oh Galveston
I still hear your sea waves crashing
While I watch the cannons flashing
I clean my gun
And dream of Galveston

I still see her standing by the water
Standing there looking out to sea
And is she waiting there for me?
On the beach where we used to run

Galveston, oh Galveston
I am so afraid of dying
Before I dry the tears she's crying
Before I watch your sea birds flying in the sun
At Galveston, at Galveston

The War Ship is the US Texas. Three wars. WW1, WW2 and Korea. Being prepared as a museum in Galveston. Some $80 million spent so far.

The way ships are refueled is with these refueling barges. They carry a million gallons of fuel. The ship moorings here cost some $80,000 a day. Which is why the ships moor outside, in the Gulf, before coming in at an exact time to load or offload.

The Oil rig stored here is outdated and may be used as a museum piece. We heard there are many huge Oil rigs offshore from Galveston. Appearing like a long traffic jam line of huge rigs producing an astonishing amount of Oil. Some no longer in use are simply abandoned. The Ocean Star is an old rig now a museum. Video is HERE

There is a Tall ship museum here. The Elissa. The Elissa is 146 years old. Third oldest tall ship still sailing. Bought for forty thousand from a Greek scrapyard. Cost 8 million in restoration. Now a Galveston museum

Walking through Galveston after dinner.

Tomorrow we drive to New Orleans.

The Index of all 30 posts from day 1 of our #TeslaRoadTripUSA is HERE.