Thanks to everyone so much for your kind words of encouragement by phone and email.  If I haven’t returned your email or call, I hope to soon,.  Here’s an update for you about our properties on the Bolivar Peninsula as I know them as of about 11PM, Tuesday, September 16, 2008.  I apologize if there are grammatical or spelling errors in my letter, but I wanted to get it out as fast as possible. 

 The best news is that Jeanne and Bill are OK.  They unintentionally got stranded on the peninsula when the water rose faster than forecast.  If you don’t know remember them, they have been taking care of our properties for almost the full 10 years that we have had the pleasure to allow guests to enjoy them.  They rode out the storm at a bayside house (Murphy’s) near The Ship’s Wheel.  I spoke to Jeanne this afternoon.  According to Bob Anderson, who built Caplen Shores, it appears that Sandy, who rents a house from Jeanne, works at Rancho Carribe and sometimes helps with cleaning our properties, was at the Rancho Carribe Golf Course club house, and was washed away during the night when the clubhouse broke up.  We have not heard from her.  Jeanne and Bill left their dog and cat at Caplen Shores, so they have been lost as well.  I really thought Caplen Shores had a good chance of survival, but obviously not.  I spoke to Jeanne around 10AM on Friday morning and told her I really thought she should get out.  She said they had planned to, but the water came up much faster than anticipated and they could not get out.  They drove to Rollover, but it was already covered with water at 2PM, about 5 hours before the first real increase of the storm surge in Galveston.   As you probably have figured out for yourself, Hurricane Ike has made Ray Nagin’s “storm of the century” a couple of weeks ago, look like an afternoon thundershower.  Of course I do not want to belittle what Hurricane Katrina brought to poor Waveland, MS. In both cases, the vast destruction in Waveland, Crystal Beach and Gilchrist were overshadowed by their larger, more “newsworthy” neighbors of New Orleans and Galveston.  What most people haven’t realized yet, is the total destruction of Waveland is much the same as the Bolivar Peninsula, except about double.  My personal estimate is that at least 2000 homes were totally destroyed.  And yes, many, such as mine, were personal residences, not “second” homes as many in the media proclaim.  I haven’t been able to get onto the peninsula yet, but hopefully will later next week.  I lost many personal items in the storm.  One of the things I regret the most is a little brown teddy bear that a child left years ago that I was hoping would be returned to its rightful owner someday when they returned.  Due to it’s wear and tear, it was obvious that it was well loved.  Most of the items I had were replaceable except one picture of my daughter Jennifer, which is not replaceable, as was the Rowe Jukebox at Caplen Shores which garnered hundreds of favorable comments.  

 I have not been able to find any photos or videos of Caplen Shores anywhere until today (Tuesday).   I have posted them on www.danjacobs.net  I have seen a few shots of where Stingaree and Gulfview were, but as far as I can tell, they are gone.  The best video (kind of eerie) is http://setxhomepage.com/content/fulltext/?cid=20921

Let's look on a brighter side for a moment, OK? Go to

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=io4oOBOpfeA  (Hayes Carll)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGLck42anbo  (Ezra Charles)
 

Jeanne said before they were evacuated by helicopter, on Sunday, they walked from Ship’s Wheel to Caplen Shores (about 7 miles).  She said all of the houses in Caplen Shores are gone.  One of the best parts about the Bolivar Peninsula is the friendliness and camaraderie we have with our neighbors.  We all accept that hurricanes are a part of living in what many, including myself, consider to be paradise.  Rebuilding will obviously be a challenge, but rebuild I will.  I love The Bolivar Peninsula and have since I first visited there as a child more than 50 years ago.  As I have told many of you, I have visited 107 countries in my career as a pilot, and one of my favorite places on the planet is Bolivar.  Although my philosophies have been challenged somewhat, I still consider it to be my home.  Just like Thailand after the tsunamis and the Gulf Coast after previous hurricanes, we will rebuild bigger and better.  The best news is that I am partially covered for my loan amounts by both flood and windstorm insurance, something that I cannot say for many who have lost everything, so I should have no issues that many persons have faced with their insurance companies in a debate over whether their damage was caused by wind or flood.  Unfortunately, the appreciation we have enjoyed in the past 4 or 5 years wasn’t covered, but that’s just part of having homes in what I consider to be paradise.  Many were not covered by flood insurance due to its cost. I have filed my preliminary claims and hopefully they will be processed in a nominal amount of time. 

 In my lifetime, there has been an order of enjoyment.  In my case, it was being there for the birth of my daughter, Jennifer, and watching her grow into a wonderful young lady.  Second has been spending time with Teresa, Third was rolling down the runway at 180 MPH as captain of a Boeing 747 Jumbo Jet to fly halfway around the world with 500 people onboard, and the fourth was a tie between listening to a Rolling Stones album on the deck at Caplen Shores and reading the guest books for our beach properties. 

 We have become personal friends with many of our guests through the years, some in person when you arrive, and most by phone.   I know that Jeanne has met most who have been our guests at Caplen Shores.    There is good reason to believe that I may be able to rebuild a property that will satisfy your requirements before next summer  Again, I have no reason not to rebuild.  I really enjoy being able to even have a tiny part in bringing families together. 

  I welcome your phone calls or emails at any time; however, I may take a couple of days to return some during the next week or so. 

 Your Friend,

Dan  Jacobs

281-772-1650