Christmas Bay, Galveston Kayak Paddle
Christmas Bay is a large enclosed area south of Houston and southwest of the Galveston Island area. There is a Texas Parks and Wildlife Division paddling trail here (available on the TPWD website), but the route above is a bit different. The launch here is at a ‘Kayak Launch’ off the 257 Bluewater Highway. The route goes northeast, through Churchill Bayou, tracks west, and finally follows the shore back down towards the launch. I took a short detour to watch a boat or two grinding along the Intracoastal Waterway as well. In some spots the bay is actually quite shallow, and people can be standing and fishing way out in what looks like deep water. The experience of gulf coast kayaking took a bit getting used to, that is, how the wind and waves and water feel. After the trip I still had a pretty strong ‘on the water’ motion feeling. At some spots there were shallow shell reefs that can scratch a boat pretty good. When I stopped for a shore break coming back down the west side of the bay on the return leg the mosquitoes were as bad as I have ever experienced. But overall this is a great place; the smell and feel of the ocean is terrific.
Above: This makes it look like I’m way out in the ocean with no land in sight. Which is not true.
Above: These are sharp.
Above: I gave a blood donation at this exact spot, to the mosquitoes.
Above: The kayak launch on Christmas Bay. A few other guys in fishing kayaks were there as well.
