Some East Texas History Uncovered A story by Kevin Gavin

I went to High Island (the north end of Bolivar) with Reiko and Lilly (Reiko's friend) during the Thanksgiving break and we found some awesome shells. I also found a few bones and what looked to me to be a fossil (see toe bone attached) included in our findings were geodes which are usually formed in limestone beds and should not be anywhere near that location. A few weeks later we went to a rock shop and found that the bones were indeed fossils some of the shells were also fossils (the rock shop guy was very impressed with a clam shell that Reiko found not in the pix) and the geodes although low grade were indeed the real thing. We vow to go back but weeks go by and I'm thinking that the place is probably picked clean by now (everything that we found being exposed by the historical forces of hurricane Ike) and there would be little to nothing left on the beach. Anyhow last Saturday leaving John and Kelly's house after watching the UFC fight a little after midnight. Not having Reiko that weekend and no plans for Sunday with a cooler of beer and another cooler of live oysters in the back of my truck I decide to make the trip. So I'm up at 5:30 am packed and need fuel, go to the gas station at Wal-Mart there are about 12 pumps only two of which are diesel. There’s one other vehicle at the station a truck parked in front of one diesel pump and there's a gas can in front of the other. I pull in next to the unmanned gas can and find out both truck (not pumping gas) and can (also not pumping gas) belong to the same person. This very strange man slowly starts walking my way from the night teller window (I think he was trying to pay for the fuel in Martian flipton coin) and starts explaining why he happens to be blocking up both diesel pumps at the same time. This guy has no intention of moving can or truck (after noticing the machete sticking out of the back of his truck I decide not to try to move either myself) or any since of time or courtesy so showing my frustration but minding the machete I leave and go to the next more inconvenient gas station. The diesel pump is open and my card is accepted and all is well. No. No fuel will pump and after jacking with buttons and switches for a minute or two who do I see drive by. I go back to the original station an fuel up thinking I should just go home (being a somewhat believer in bad karma) but instead I press on my mood definitely dampened my expectation of a people and issue free early morning drive shot to hell. But the drive to the Island proves to be one of the nicest in recent memory even with the 32 degree 20 mph winds accompanying the cold front of that morning. I get to the Island and find it mostly deserted. This is exactly what I hoped for but it was also surreal knowing of all the lives lost and dreams destroyed by Ike. I let the Pokey loose to chase birds on the beach and break out the metal detector hopping to find some pirates long lost treasure but have no luck (ended the day with 36c). I decide to go further north 4x4 territory. The highway long gone from hurricanes past and end up finding what you see in the pictures above. On my way back down the beach I came across a man taking pictures of a piece of concrete. Turns out he was a geologist documenting benchmarks that were destroyed by the storm. He asked me what I was finding I told him geodes. I could see the look at the pore uneducated dumbass look on his face as he asked me "you mean mud balls" (east Texas being almost entirely formed of a clay base strata there are constantly balls of mud/clay formed on the beaches) I said here take a look. I showed him one of the geodes I had found and he came to the conclusion that they must have been imported from the road bed of the old highway and informed me of the absence of limestone in the region which I already knew I might add. We said goodbye and I went home tired from the cold of the day but extremely satisfied at my finds. After doing some research on the net I found a few very interesting facts. 1: Some of the descriptions of my finds listed in the picture titles attached 2:The area that I was finding the fossils in is a part of "the Beaumont clay" known for preserving Pleistocene "Ice age" fossils. And 3: that High Island is one of if not the only tectonic limestone outcropping in east Texas formed by a bunch of earth pressures that if I would have stayed in school past the ninth grade I might understand (at least Reiko knows) maybe thus the geodes? OK to make a very, very long story not end. Reiko and I are going back this weekend to see what others treasures are out there. Maybe lost doubloons or possibly a Clovis Point that have been found in that area and believed to be one of the most ancient of Indian artifacts found in the new world. Who knows what's lying around in your backyard. Sorry for writing a book and I'll keep you posted.
Kevin.