Rocky's

~1260 Hwy 87, P.O. Box 110, Gilchrist, Texas 77617~

 IKE has come and gone. Updated details and pictures below. (9/23) 

Thank you for checking our website, we know many of you have wondered and have questioned the extent of the damages to Rocky's. How we hoped we would have little to no major damages to report but we now know everything is gone except for 300 ft. of pylons. We were allowed to visit our property and up to the east of Roll Over Saturday the 20th, our hearts sank as we approached the south side of High Island, there are no more sand dunes to block the view of the water, what we saw and what we felt is hard to describe, we had seen everything the news had to show but to actually stand there and feel the same wind, see the same water and hear the familiar sounds but yet the sight you behold just doesnt make sense to your brain. HOW! WHY! Can this be? GONE! for miles all you see is destruction and ugliness. Below are some pictures, I wish I could tell you they say it all but in fact they fall short. It wont be until you stand there in person and your 5 senses all agree, its gone...........BUT in saying all of that please know, please understand Rocky and I believe God knows what He has allowed and He will help us find the right path. Will we rebuild? The state has one year to decide if we can so as of right now we are just taking it one day at a time, the next big decision in our future is, When can we put a rod in the water. Life stops for no one and we are no exceptions so we will go forth and live each day the best we can.

Rocky and I will be calling High Island home for now. We want to say Thank You to everyone who has called ,emailed or text to check on us. We pray for those who were and are touched by this horrible storm. We are thankful for all the wonderful people we met, the freinds we made and the memories we built. As hurt as we are at the thought of not having anything to go back to we know our Lord will make a new path and allow us to build new memories.

Our email address is still up and going Thank God! We would love to hear from you,

rocky@rockysrvparkandfishingpier.com

The pictures below were our first view of the Peninsula

crystalbeach3.jpg crystal beach 3 picture by rockysfishingpier   crystalbeach1.jpg crystal beach 2 picture by rockysfishingpier  crystalbeach2.jpg crystal beach picture by rockysfishingpier

 

bigstore.jpg the Big Store picture by rockysfishingpier

The before shots were taken staring around 9ish on Thursday as we were moving trailers off the property, the waves were already knocking on the dunes before sun up.

 IMG_0653.jpg Thursday 2 days before the storm picture by rockysfishingpier     IMG_0672.jpg more waves later in the day picture by rockysfishingpier  IMG_0669.jpg waves crashing on thursday picture by rockysfishingpier

 

IMG_0719.jpg locking it down picture by rockysfishingpier  IMG_0724.jpg Heaven on earth picture by rockysfishingpier  IMG_0697.jpg the last time on our deck picture by rockysfishingpier

 Below is what we found as we entered the beach at the curve Hwy 124/87 and our property:

 IMG_0746.jpg blacks pier picture by rockysfishingpier  IMG_0748.jpg picture by rockysfishingpier  IMG_0749.jpg the enterance picture by rockysfishingpier

 The first piture is the old High Island Pier pylons, next is the west side of Rockys, then the enterance.

IMG_0767.jpg picture by rockysfishingpier  IMG_0766.jpg picture by rockysfishingpier  IMG_0761.jpg the west to middle of the property picture by rockysfishingpier

Above is two shots of what we have left of the pier, then the west side of our property.

IMG_0775.jpg the beach picture by rockysfishingpier  IMG_0776.jpg standing on the deck picture by rockysfishingpier  IMG_0785.jpg picture by rockysfishingpier

Most of the beach has lost the sand, next Rocky standing on our deck, we think!, next the angel I'm holding was a gift from Roc several years ago I thought it was gone but he found it just barely sticking out of the sand. (and yes, I cried)

IMG_0772.jpg the picture says it all picture by rockysfishingpier  IMG_0781.jpg picture by rockysfishingpier  IMG_0763.jpg under the pier picture by rockysfishingpier

 The next several pictures are what we saw on the drive to Roll Over Pass:

IMG_0786.jpg picture by rockysfishingpier  IMG_0787.jpg picture by rockysfishingpier  IMG_0790.jpg picture by rockysfishingpier

IMG_0791.jpg a childs chair picture by rockysfishingpier  IMG_0792.jpg a childs toy picture by rockysfishingpier  IMG_0797.jpg picture by rockysfishingpier

IMG_0799.jpg picture by rockysfishingpier  IMG_0800.jpg Pelican pier picture by rockysfishingpier  IMG_0802.jpg remaining bird houses picture by rockysfishingpier

IMG_0804.jpg roll over southeast side picture by rockysfishingpier  IMG_0793.jpg picture by rockysfishingpier  IMG_0805.jpg roll over pass picture by rockysfishingpier

I believe the pictures above speak for themselves, they will say different things to different ones, may each one who views have a better understanding of those who lost so much.

 

 

 

WE LOOK FORWARD TO BUILDING NEW MEMORIES

Here is a birds eye view of the pier taken just days after the storm.

http://ngs.woc.noaa.gov/storms/ike/geo-C25884049.jpg

Here is a link to a website that has several pictures, video and information on the peninsula.

http://jakeabby.com/cb/

 

 

Rocky and L'dell's Blog

 

Notes on the evening of the 14th: Today we headed to Austin to pick up the generator my mother-in-law and sister-in-law stood in line for at midnight last night and purchased for us. Thank you seems so small when you truly appreciate the trouble they went through. As for our moods, feelings or thoughts it has been tough at times. Mid-day our eldest daughter Amanda called to say she had contacted a Winnie official and was told the town of Winnie is all but gone, L'dell's heart sank at that time, how I hated to see the hurt she was feeling but I understood. We both HATE the unknowing and yet we started the RV park and fishing pier knowing it could all be gone with one storm.......... we just hoped it wouldn't come. I will report to work Tuesday morning thankful I have a job to report to. In tow will be my home, my wife and our memories of a wonderful year. L'dell and I are going to be just fine maybe a little stronger, more determined and thankful for all the blessings in the midst of the unknown.

 

Thursday the 18th, we are now in Beaumont, our immediate plan is to clean up the land in Beaumont and move our travel trailer there. I still have had no luck in finding out how to get our mail, seeing as how the post office in Gilchrist is no longer there. Yesterday I was able to visit High Island, its a long story but it was a legal visit and couldn't have happened without Marie and Batman. I have to say I was happy to see Winnie is far from gone, dont get me wrong they have a lot of rebuilding ahead of them but it could have been so much worse. Hwy 124 is a scary sight, miles of broken or missing telephone poles, lots of water and still over the road in a couple of spots, broken and fallen trees, dead cows and the smell! Yuk! its a combination of death, swamp water and oil. High Island itself was a lot of damage but I think its far from over! The few people I saw were for the most part in good spirits and determined....... they love their home and are more than willing to do whatever it takes to rebuild. They are worried about the county judge in Galveston who is working to force them out. For the life of me I can't understand, yes there is damage but its nowhere close to the Crystal Beach kind of damage. The store is still standing, most of the houses have some kind of roof damage, I'm sure there were some that are unlivable that I didn't see. But why this judge is not wanting to help these folks out is beyond me. Please if you would send an email the Lt. Governor and question him on the lack of concern and help towards High Island. I will post pictures later today.

Tuesday the 23rd: I want to apologize  for not posting pictures and information sooner but we are still without electricity and while we do have the generator you have to be wise with when and how you use it. As for High Island, they are now getting some state help. Just as an FYI did you know the prepackaged  food or MRE's they hand out have tons of calories?  I'm talking 1500 or more per meal! Its my understanding in the military they get one a day, in the field they would get breakfast and one of these meals to be eaten sometime before bed...... plus they come with a laxative! Okay, on to better things........ Many have asked if we will rebuild, it is our understanding the government has one year to decide anyone gets to go back. Just looking yesterday at high tide, the water was up to the road, is that a bad sign, I don't know but I don't think its a good one either. Rocky and I are good, we miss our beach, we have some choices to make some things to decide but its all good and we are trusting the Lord will give us wisdom.

Sunday evening the 28th: It was a hard weekend, we find ourselves at a lose and we reach for each other just needed a touch, a hug, a smile something to confirm we are okay, thank goodness for Marie and Bat when we are with them we laugh a lot and just as the bible says laughter is good for the soul and it truly is. We had friends out to see us Saturday and Sunday and it was sad to see the hurt they felt as they looked at our property and the realization of the damage hit them. There is no quick fix! We are glad to be as close to the beach as the law allows at this time but its still not the same. While on the beach this afternoon I looked around and in all the destruction you can see where new life/growth is trying to start and that gives you hope, to me its Gods way of saying it not over until He says its over. and speaking of life, High Island is a bit of a country town, simple, laid back and since the storm we have been sharing the roads with a few free roaming cows! Yes cows, they just kinda walk around and help keep the grass cut. Until last night! As I was walking back to our trailer in the dark mind you cause we have no electricity I hear a snort! followed by the sound of hoofs running on the street headed at me! The bull was as dark as the night and all I could think to do since I couldnt see him was scream and fling my arms in the air............. the bull heads for the ditch and I ran for the trailer! Once my trusty flashilight was in my shakey hand I wondered back out to find this killer bull........ as I landed the light in his face he just looks at me as if to say, "it was all a miss understanding!". I then called my hero who jump on his lawn mower and guided our new friend down the road....... thanks Babe you are always there for me.. ;)

Monday Oct. 6, this will most likely be my lost tell-all. There comes a time when you are just ready to get on with the next step in life and I guess we are there. It was a busy but good weekend, Saturday evening we hung out on the beach all night with some friends, we had a blast it was good to just laugh, sing, goof-off and be happy. Bait was more than just hard to get it was close to impossible. We were glad to see Blake pull in 5 keeper reds. The sand is returning to the beach but man the beach is in need of some attention, you really have to watch your step, the debris is everywhere, and its sad, we found a lid to a laudry basket that had the words "Boys Room" written on it and your heart sinks. I spoke with Sean Welsh who is with Galveston county and according to Sean he is pretty sure the state will be taking the property.......... YUCK......... but it could always be worse. So we wait and we go on with our lives knowing we are blessed and trusting the Lord knows what He is doing. May you find peace and happiness in all you do and may all your memories be good ones.

 

 

 Photos of fish caught under the Contact Us ~ Photo tab.