Mardi Gras Beach Run

Before even more time slips away, I'm checking in to file this tardy "race report" from last Saturday's Mardi Gras Beach Run on Galveston Island. Truthfully, there wasn't much of a race for me to report on. Saddled with a cold heading into the weekend, I ended up splitting the 5K course -- walking the first couple of miles with my girlfriend and then romping through the return mile back to the Stewart Beach pavilion. At the finish line, a cheerful volunteer draped the first beads of the weekend around my neck.

This was my first time to check out this event and it was the first time the local YMCA was able to host it since Hurricane Ike pounded the region two summers ago. Rebuilding and recovery is still an ongoing activity on the coast. For example, last year five Catholic parishes on Galveston Island and the Bolivar Peninsula have consolidated into one. As we arrived to attend Mass at St. Patrick Church on Sunday, I couldn't help but notice the plaque that commemorates the historic building's survival through the 1900 Storm, America's deadliest natural disaster.

After Saturday's 5K, we watched the Mardi Gras parades from a spot on the seawall near where the 61st Street Pier used to be. The plaque gives 1954 as the original construction date:

Here's a pre-Ike picture of the pier:

In this area, a couple of concrete ramps have been constructed that lead down from the seawall and onto the sand. I assume the ramps will be used by trucks and heavy equipment to rebuild the beach and perhaps the pier.

The daytime parade was one of fire trucks, but right in the middle was this one from Carnes Funeral Home, and it seemed a little out of place to me:

The nighttime parade by the Krewe of Gambrinus was larger and a really fun one to watch. The main corporate sponsor was Budweiser, and I finally got an up-close look at the gigantic and gorgeous Clydesdale horses. (As a "Clydesdale" runner, I can only dream about looking that good in motion!) This float made me do a double-take:

I'm not sure what is being implied here. Is Garfield now washing down his lasagna with Bud Light? It might explain why he's always so lethargic and lazy, though....

After the last marching band had passed us and turned the corner, we were ready for some Louisiana flavor for dinner. One block away was Popeye's but they weren't open. What's funny is that right next to their "CLOSED" sign was the Popeye's "Every Day is Mardi Gras" poster.

Well, if they're not open during Mardi Gras. . . .