May 6th, 2011

Gulf Coast Hideaway         Bolivar Ferry Ever since my children were young our family has endeavored to have an annual beach week vacation on the Texas Gulf coast. At first it was just our immediate family. Then as the girls grew older, some of their friends were included in the annual trips. And as the kids began to have families of their own, it became an extended-family vacation, sometimes with friends invited. Nature didn’t always cooperate. In June 1986, we were in Galveston when a small hurricane—Bonnie—made land fall at High Island, Texas. It wasn’t a major storm, but we packed up and went inland to Austin, San Marcos, and San Antonio for a few days, then went back to the beach and had a great time. A few years later in 2008, because of different family member’s activities, beach week was scheduled for mid-September. That year, Hurricane Ike, a major storm, destroyed the upper Texas coast on the day before the week when our beach house reservations were scheduled. And there were a few times when bad economies, layoffs, and other things beyond our control intervened. But most years, despite the reputation we have among our friends for attracting bad weather, we have been lucky and the annual event has gone according to plan. We have a favorite place on the coast, and it is one of Texas’ big secrets. It is the Bolivar Peninsula, and it is the strip of land that along with Galveston Island, protects Galveston Bay from the Gulf of Mexico. It is a popular destination for beach goers from both the Houston and Beaumont areas of the state. If you are driving, there are really only two ways to get there. From the northeast, and the Beaumont area, make your way to state highway 87. From Houston, the best way to get to highway 87 is via the free Bolivar Ferry from Galveston.

When you do get there, you will find yourself at the sea shore and in small town, rural Texas at the same time. It is amazing.

The community is Crystal Beach right there on highway 87. On the Gulf side are neighborhoods of beach homes, dunes and the beautiful broad beach. On the opposite side is East Bay with its canal homes, marina, and access to the Intercoastal Waterway.

Listen to the Crystal Beach songs

Swedes Real Estate The most trusted name for beach house rentals on the Bolivar Peninsula. Vacation property rentals Residential and commercial real estate sales Vacation rental investment property Property managing vacation rentals

CrystalBeach.com   •   Crystal Beach Live Web Cams

The old Bolivar Point Light House protected refugees in the 1900 hurricane and was the visual setting for the 1970 film “My Sweet Charlie” starring Patty Duke and Al Freeman, Jr.

It’s coastal Texas and Texas music The following two songs are both inspired by the Bolivar Peninsula in Texas. (No charted oldies this time.) The artists are Texans too. First, the Houston based Fowler Brothers are longing for their Gulf Coast Hideaway. Then Beaumont native and Texas blues piano master Ezra Charles takes us for a cruise on the Bolivar Ferry.

Gulf coast hideaway I should go down to Crystal Beach I’ll board the ferry on to Bolivar, feed the sea gulls on the way, and I’ll be waiting on that sunrise in my Gulf coast hideaway. Gulf Coast Hideaway The Fowler Brothers · 2008   Play the song. Read the lyrics.

Most of the sea gulls that accompany the Galveston / Bolivar ferries on day trips across the channel (while begging for hand-outs) are Laughing Gulls, (Larus atricilla.)     Listen to the “song” of Laughing Gulls

The Fowler Brothers trio are Jim Fowler, Steve Fowler, and Tony Kozel.

Buy their cds at MyTexasMusic.com   •   TheFowlerBrothers.com

“Bolivar Ferry” by the Houston based Ezra Charles band is on the collectible cd “Beaumont Boy“.

Download MP3   •   Ezra Charles CDs   •   Ezra Charles .MP3s   •   EzraCharles.com

That Bolivar Ferry was my love boat cruise that didn’t cost a single dime. "When asked what my favorite song is that I've written, I usually say this one, because it's such a complete mini-movie in its story, and seems very unified musically to me, with a tip of the hat to Professor Longhair." Bolivar Ferry · Ezra Charles · 2001   Play the song.       Read the lyrics.

Past Articles SPF 20 20 Summer Party Favorites (June 10, 2008)

Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days Of Summer · Nat King Cole · 1963 · #6 Summertime · Rick Nelson · 1962 The Tide Is High · Blondie · 1980 · #1 Theme From “A Summer Place” · The Lettermen · 1965 · #16 The Seashores of Old Mexico · George Strait · 2006 · #11 (Country) Margaritaville · Jimmy Buffett · 1977 · #8 Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka-dot Bikini · Brian Hyland · 1960 · #1 Kokomo · The Beach Boys · 1988 · #1 Vacation · Connie Francis · 1962 · #9 Under The Boardwalk · The Drifters · 1964 · #4

A Summer Song · Chad & Jeremy · 1964 · #7 Evangeline · Chad Brock · 1998 · #51 (Country) Marianne · The Hilltoppers · 1957 · #3 An American Dream · Nitty Gritty Dirt Band · 1980 · #13 Summer In The City · The Lovin’ Spoonful · 1966 · #1 Surf City · Jan and Dean · 1963 · #1 The Lady In The Blue Mercedes · Johnny Duncan · 1979 Love In The Hot Afternoon · Gene Watson · 1975 In The Summertime · Mungo Jerry · 1970 · #3 Some Beach · Blake Shelton · 2004 · #1 (Country)

I should go down to Crystal Beach.
I should be making plans today.
It’s getting crazy here in Houston.
I really need to break away.

And there’s a beach house on the front row,
and I should be there spending time.
I’m talking midnight on the gulf coast
with the windows open wide.

And doing 65 on 45,
well, it won’t take me very long
’til I’ll be crusin’ into Galveston.
I’ll hit the Strand and have some fun.

I’ll board the ferry on to Bolivar,
feed the sea gulls on the way,
and I’ll be waiting on that sunrise
in my gulf coast hideaway.

I need to sit out on that balcony
and hear the rhythm of the waves.
There’s not a lot that I will do there,
but I’ve been counting down the days.

A book or two in case it rains:
Leon, Heller, Hemmingway,
my old guitar, a fishing pole.
I’m packing up to go away.

And doing 65 on 45,
well, it won’t take me very long
’til I’ll be crusin’ into Galveston.
I’ll hit the Strand and have some fun.

I’ll board the ferry on to Bolivar,
feed the sea gulls on the way,
and I’ll be waiting on that sunrise
in my gulf coast hideaway.

I’ll board the ferry on to Bolivar,
feed the sea gulls on the way,
and I’ll be waiting on that sunrise
in my gulf coast hideaway.

Yes, I can almost see that sunrise
in my gulf coast hideaway.

The weather hung heavy in a low gray cloud
like a woman just about to cry.
I said, “Why don’t we go out for the afternoon
down to Galveston and give it a try.”
So I threw all her things in the back of my car,
and we headed off down to the beach.
I had the beer on ice, and the top was down,
and paradise was in our reach.

Now when you go down to the Island on a holiday
you’re bound to find quite a crowd.
The freeway was clogged, and the beach was too.
And the seawall was way too loud.
But I knew to keep on driving to the end of the road
’til I spotted a familiar sight.
It was a line of cars waiting single file
for the ferry coming in on the right.

That Bolivar Ferry was my love boat cruise
that didn’t cost a single dime.
A twenty minute ride off to Crystal Beach,
and she’d be ready for a grand old time.

So we laid out on the sand and we drank those brews
’til the sun was headed west.
I never got her out of that wet t-shirt,
but you know I must have tried my best.
Now when we headed off to home, and I cranked the key,
there was nothing but a clicking sound.
With that radio blasting all afternoon long,
I musta run the battery down!

Now by the time I found a wrecker who could jump us off
I’d have to say we lost the mood.
Yeah, my die-hard had been drained to the very last drop,
and I knew her parents could get rude.
Well it was way after dark when she pay-phoned home,
and we still had the channel to cross.
But we made the most of that cruise back home,
So it wouldn’t be a total loss.

Yeah, that Bolivar Ferry was my love boat cruise
that didn’t cost a single dime.
A twenty minute ride off to Crystal Beach,
and she’d be ready for a grand old time.

So won’t you throw all your things in the back of my car,
and we’ll head off down to the beach.
We’ll put the beer on ice, and the top goes down.
And paradise is in our reach.
Yeah, we’ll put the beer on ice, and the top goes down.
And paradise is in our reach.