GALVESTON -- For about 48 hours, Galveston appeared to be in store for a direct hit from Tropical Storm Edouard. Except for heavy surf and stronger breezes, the island appeared to all but dodge the tropical storm.

That was good news for the tourist based community. Even with the threat of the storm, though, it appeared most of the island visitors decided to ride out the storm.

Those taking the most advantage of the system in Galveston were surfers who in the early morning hours were cutting through the surf and small curls.

"It’s been decent, but we’re waiting for it to get real big once (Edouard) hits,” said one surfer hours before the storm came ashore well to the east of Galveston.

Others were having too much fun in the surf despite the warnings and lifeguards were on high alert up and down the seawall as beach goers returned.

There is also a high surf warning and the Galveston Beach Patrol was urging swimmers -- and surfers -- to stay out of the waters until the storm had moved well inland.

The tropical storm rolled in early Tuesday morning with 30 mph winds and some rain. But not much more.

Galveston City Manager Steve LeBlanc said the only damage on the island was that a tree was knocked over at the Moody Gardens Golf Course.

11 News did find some damaged boats, though, where sailors had tied up in Offatts Bayou hoping to keep their vessels safe. But the winds knocked the boats against the pier.

“If you’re pinned up against the dock, they don’t have enough power to get the boat turned around and the bow into the wind,” said boater Dwain Denfip.