Matagorda Bay to Freeport May 23

We awoke to find the small generator had quit working, probably just before dawn.  We got underway about 0700 from our delightful anchorage near Phillips Bayou in the northern end of Matagorda Bay.  Returning to the ICW, we were in the cut between land on both sides by 0740.  A concern has been the reported closures of the locks at the Colorado River, and the floodgates at the Brazos River.  We noted both today and yesterday a paucity of tows compared to the usual volume, and on our 0910 arrival at the West Colorado River Lock we found a sign proclaiming that locks would open only on the hour for pleasure craft.  However, since a tow was coming through westbound, we asked the lockmaster if we could scoot through eastbound as soon as the tow cleared, and he agreed.  Therefore, we had only about 10 minutes of delay. 

We cleared out of the East Lock about 0930, and continued on.  After passing through the quaint village of Caney Creek with its public park on the very narrow stretch of barrier island and Gulf of Mexico visible from our boat in the ICW, we hailed the Caney Creek Swing Bridge, which opened with precise timing for our passage at noon. 

We called the Brazos River floodgates to ascertain their operational status, and were told that they were always open for pleasure craft, but closed to tow traffic from 0700 to 1530 daily for repairs to the East floodgate.  On arrival at the West floodgate at 1400 we proceeded through, and then after crossing the Brazos River and warily watching for floating trees and limbs that are common, we slowly passed through the East floodgate.  Moored in the floodgate was a very thick-walled aluminum skiff of about 18 feet.  Two men were out on the walls conducting repairs.   There were 12 tows, many with multiple barges, stacked up west of the Brazos awaiting the commercial opening, and 11 east of the river.  What is even more complex is that many of these push multiple barges down the ICW, but must break them apart and take them through the floodgates one at a time.  The tug then returns back through, retrieves another barge, passes through with it, and eventually rebuilds its entire tow.  Most were not just idling, however; at least one-half had some type of scraping or painting of their vessels in process as they waited pushed up against one bank of the ICW or the other. 

We then passed the Freeport ship channel intersection, a somewhat complex junction with blind corners.  AIS is wonderful!  About 1500 we arrived at our destination for the evening—Surfside Marina.  After backing into our slip, attaching power, and checking in, it was time for a long shower!   This small marina is right on the ICW—you turn from the ICW into the space between rows of slips.  We see more dolphins playing at the end of their pier than almost anywhere else, and every tow that passes seems to stir up the fish that interest the dolphins, renewing their activity and performances.  The restroom/shower facilities are great, wi-fi is open, and the small convenience store on premises carries most of the small items you may have forgotten.