From Sea to Dirt Brown Sea?

Texas is not known for it's pristine beaches. Growing up in a rural part of the state far from the coast, I was used to country lakes, murky and often cloudy with a brown hue. As an adult, it totally repulses me to think of some of the lakes I swam in as a kid, but back then a trip to the lake was always a blast.

My husband grew up in the suburbs of Houston, not very far from where we live now. When we started dating and I'd come to visit him, I'd mention occasionally the idea of going to Galveston to the beach. It was always received with laughter. Then, my husband explained that while he might walk along the beach, and he went to a few parties there in high school, he wouldn't swim in that water for the life of him.

I didn't really understand. My father's family lived near Pensacola and Destin in Florida, the area that is known for its gorgeous white sand beaches. The few family vacations we took when I was a child were spent in this area, usually on a private military beach where there was no pollution and some of the most beautiful ocean and sands you can find in our country.

I have great memories of playing on those beaches. It was magical and I spent many summers begging my parents to go back for another visit. My grandmother lived on the water and when I'd wake I'd run down and wade around her small strip of beach by her boat dock. I even almost stepped on a stingray once, its body blending in with the sand as it resting near the edge of the water.

We moved to the Houston area more than five years ago. We have been to the Galveston area maybe three times total. We have never been to the beach. This is something that has bothered me. My kids aren't really keen on the ocean, but I feel like we should be taking advantage of leaving so close to the Texas coast. I love water. I would live on or by the ocean if I could, I think.

So, my beach crop this past weekend, which was at a place called Surfside Beach on the way to Galveston, was something I really looked forward to mainly because I'd get to dip my toe into the ocean. My traveling partner and friend was anxious as well, having grown up in California just miles from the beach.

We were in for a surprise. When we finally made our way to the beach, we did not find the deep blue sea. No, our ocean was more of a dirt brown color. Missing were the pristine white sands I'd buried my toes in as a child. Instead, the beach was lined with tangled brown seaweed that had been dried by the sun. You had to step on this to get to the beach even.

Once we walked over the disgusting seaweed, we found the beach. It was pretty polluted until you got close to the water. We're talking, old shoes, bottle caps and what not. But, right by the water it was fine. Still, nothing I'd be swimming in, I don't think. I was really amazed at the thick brown waves that rolled into the surf. Yes, I said brown. You see, here in Texas we're proud of our oil and our refineries, but the deep brown sea is not something we brag about much!

Dirty beaches aside, my weekend crop went great. I'll share more on that next time. But, for now, if you plan to dip your toes in the Texas gulf, just know that you may walk away with a new copper skintone that doesn't come from the sun's rays at all. Hey, maybe I should have taken a dip--I need a tan!

(If you love Galveston and the Texas beaches, please do not take offense. This was just my experience and I'm sure there are nicer parts of the Gulf too.)