Wow! One of the most amazing dates we’ve had. Only one week from our first date and Keith asked me to spend the day with him along the coast. Crazy thing…..Keith had never been to the coast. He asked for some suggestions and I started planning. It was hard for me to believe that someone had never put their toes in the sand, smelled the ocean air or felt the breeze.
I have had a long time dream of living on a boat and enjoying all the things living by the water offers. In fact, it was so exciting to show Keith all the things I love so much about the water. We had no plans, so I suggested we start at Surfside Beach and enjoy what the day had in store.
First things first….we stopped to have breakfast at my favorite place, Panera Bread Co. (@panerabread). I love Panera! Having breakfast at Panera for me is almost every Saturday (be sure to read about it here). We decided to stop here first and sit outside on the patio. It was a beautiful, peaceful morning. We ate, had some coffee (Keith did..I hate the stuff) and had some bagels. Our sweet duck family came to join us and share some breakfast. Our bellies were full, and it was time to head out for the day.
Surfside Beach Bound
We headed out to make the drive to Surfside Beach. One of the things I found incredible about Keith and I from the very beginning was how easy it was for us to talk. The drive down was full of conversation and laughs. Keith was so sweet to give me a special gift. He had found out through his “research” my favorite book and brought me a copy of “Charlotte’s Web”. To this day, it is my favorite, and it meant a lot to me that he was so thoughtful. With all that conversation, we missed our exit and instead ended up in Galveston. I really wanted him to see Surfside, so we headed over that way from Galveston.
Surfside Beach Bound Again
Out of Galveston towards Surfside Beach we drove. Keith was amazed at how gorgeous it was by the water. The Seahorse Bar & Grill (@sbgsurfside) was on the water and the food looked good. There are tables on an amazing deck to see the water and watch the waves come in, so we found one and took a seat. Keith wasn’t keen on fish, but I convinced him to try the snapper. He loved it! The sound of the water and the smell of the ocean was amazing.
After lunch, we headed to the beach. We took off our shoes and started walking. Remember this was the first time Keith had ever walked in the sand. I could tell he was enjoying himself. He would tell you this is where he really got to see how the water affected me. The peace it brought to my soul was obvious.
Galveston
Time to leave one of my favorite places and head to Galveston. I wanted to show Keith the Seawall and The Strand. He was amazed at all the sites to see and the beauty of looking out over the ocean. Next stop was The Strand.
The Strand is a long stretch on the harborside of Galveston Island. It has shops and restaurants. The architecture of the old buildings is incredibly beautiful to me. Our stroll was relaxing and, for the first time, Keith asked to hold my hand. Did I tell you he was a gentleman? It was romantic and sweet and touched my heart. We walked hand in hand and stopped at my favorite chocolate shop….Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory (@RockyMountainChocolateFactoryGalvestonTX). This day so far was one I knew I would always remember.
Off to Kemah
Our day continued and as I sat in the truck taking it in I felt so blessed to have met this man. If he truly was like I was seeing, then I had happened upon one of the most amazing men on the planet. The drive to Kemah was full of laughs and fun stories. We talked about Keith’s grandbabies and how much he loves being a “papa”.
As we drove we happened upon a store on the side of the road that sold yard ornaments and decor named Frazier’s By the Bay (@fraziersconcrete). We saw baby dinosaurs and as the “papa” of a granddaughter who loves dinosaurs, we had to stop. He picked out the cutest one and on our way we went. It was midafternoon and we arrived at the Kemah Boardwalk (@KemahBoardwalk).
I love Kemah! I wanted Keith to love it too. We parked and headed to the shops on the boardwalk. There are a variety of shops, and we enjoyed talking and looking at the different places. It’s surprising what conversations came up while walking through different stores. In one day, I had learned so much about this awesome man.
We decided we would get something to eat. Mexican food once again…..I love Mexican food. The Cadillac Bar had tasty food and great drinks. We sat on the patio having drinks, eating and watching the boats in the bay. It was here we talked at length about past relationships and future desires. We both felt the pull for one another, and I knew I felt more comfortable with this man than any other.
The Marina
I wanted Keith to see the reason I loved the coast and why I wanted to live on a boat. It has been a dream of mine for as long as I can remember. The peace of the water, the sunrises and sunsets, and the tranquility of the life. Don’t get me wrong, I know it won’t be without hard work and time, but it brings such an amazing life. I had done research and had a notebook of my ideas and I wanted Keith to see it with his own eyes. We headed to a local marina that I had visited before.
The Waterford Harbor Marina has gorgeous views and is enclosed in an inlet. It is quiet, and the boats there are breathtaking. We walked the paths taking in the water and the scenery. The boats were amazing! I could tell that Keith understood my love now. We spoke with a couple, and they confirmed they loved the life and would recommend it to anyone. We walked and talked some more and realized it was time to head back.
Heading Home
It was the end of the day and the drive back was nice. Comfortable. I felt like we had been together forever. We sat chatting about the day and enjoying the company. I didn’t want the night to end but knew it had to. I knew I wanted to give this a shot. My gut said he was the man of my prayers. We arrived at my house, and he walked me to the door. We talked some more, trying to gain some more time together. He gave me a hug, and it just felt right. Off to home he headed and I smiled all the way to bed.
