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We were greeted with the familiar, woody scent of teak oil as we opened the door to our favorite weekend getaway spot, "The Ark." The Ark is a bed and breakfast located in Kemah, Texas. It is built like a beach cottage and it is located at the water's edge of Galveston Bay. This bed and breakfast differs from most in that the residents don't stay there when it is rented to guests, and it is a totally new, modern home. The house sits on stilts, it has two bedrooms and one bathroom downstairs and a private loft upstairs with it's own bathroom. A hot tub is located at ground level, facing the bay. Wood is used everywhere inside. The interior walls are made from tongue and groove wood plank paneling. The huge dining table is made from heavy timber salvaged from the original "Ark." The original "Ark" was severely damaged by one of the hurricanes which visited the area several years ago. Every furnishing and fixture is of top grade, making it a very comfortable and luxurious place to stay. We were excited. It was our seventh wedding anniversary and we had a long weekend to spend together, without kids. We quickly unpacked our bags and met out on the elevated deck for cocktails. Sailboats tacked back and forth. Offshore powerboats thundered across the bay. Seagulls swarmed behind a shrimp boat lumbering its way towards the channel. Gail and I sipped our cocktails, soaked up the scenery, and settled into "island time." We strolled through the Kemah waterfront area. It consists of several old homes converted into antique and gift shops, a huge marina, and a row of several restaurants. The restaurants are located along the channel which feeds into Galveston Bay. The waterfront section is still under re-construction. An amusement park, a waterfront hotel/shopping center, and a new restaurant with an aquarium in its center are all under construction. It is a fun place to visit. The landscaping is beautiful and the atmosphere is that of a world-class resort. The sun woke us up the next morning. I sipped coffee and read a book to start my rigorous day of vacationing. The waves reflected the morning sun to make patterns of light dance off the walls of the living room. I cracked open the sliding door to let in some of the smell and sound of the bay. Ducks waddled around the yard. One duck decided to stop and preen a bit, "Snap snap snap, jiggle jiggle snap." His head jerked about spastically. White puffy clouds floated lazily across the deep blue sky. I finished my coffee and stepped out onto the deck. It was late March and a perfect 75 degrees. The breeze was light and fresh. It was going to be another boring day in paradise. The rest of our mini-vacation was just as demanding. Here are a few photos to give you more of a flavor of the Kemah area and the "Ark." |
 The "Ark" |
 The inside of the "Ark" |
 Fishing boats in the channel |
 Gail and I ready to go out for dinner |
 The Antique and Gift Shops |
 One of the more famous waterfront restaurants |
 More scenery |
 Offshore powerboats...a common item here. |