South Padre Island, TX

     On Wednesday, 2/10, we drove over from Mission. TX and arrived at our next destination at South Padre Island, TX.  We've never been here before, but our mission has shifted, and we're looking for warmer weather.  The last few weeks have been a little on the cool side, and we were determined to find some nice warm weather.  As we worked our way toward this bottom corner of Texas, palm trees started appearing along the roadway, and we soon became confident in our decision to continue south.  We had one other factor in our decision to visit Padre Island, and that was a desire to get near some water again.  The deserts of Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas are all very diverse, and in there own way, unique.  But there's no water!  And having a little water around, seems to add another flavor to our trip.
     Crossing over the Laguna Madre Bay, we approached the village of South Padre Island.  This sign welcomes all visitors on the east end of the bridge, and if you're not careful, this will be your first opportunity to meet the SPIPD!  The speed limit is 30 around the village, and they appear to be emphasizing speed enforcement throughout the village.  Bearing south off of the bridge, we soon located a massive KOA Campground billboard welcoming us to the KOA South Padre Island.

After some initial confusion in locating the entrance, we settled in to our spot #72, and stretched out enjoying a calm island breeze and nice warm temperatures.  It took Debbie about 3 minutes to decide that she liked SPI.    The sites are a little tight, but they are level and ours is all a nice white stone.  There is a county park right down the street with over 600 sites, but they seem to be all out in the open. As you can see, I have 2 wonderful shade palm trees in my backyard, which come in very handy with that afternoon sun.  If I could figure out how to eliminate those pesky black birds that love to sit in those palm trees and whistle, this place would be nearly perfect.
     Our first few days here we cruised down to Brownsville, and looked at another RV Resort that looked very nice.  On a sad note, we drove past the rusting hulls of the USS Saratoga and USS Forrestal being cut up for scrap in the Brownsville shipyard.  Uncle Jimmy served aboard the USS Saratoga (CV-60) with VA-75 off the coast of Vietnam.  I made two Mediterranean cruises onboard the USS Forrestal (CV-59) with VF-11.  Forrestal was commissioned in 1955, and was the Navy's first "super carrier" class of Carrier.  It was just a little sad to see them being torn apart.  Sailors all seem to have a special bond with the ships they served on.
     One of the treats to being on SPI, is the ability to drive the shoreline north from the village about 25 miles.  The area is part of the Padre Island National Seashore, and it separates the Gulf of Mexico from the Laguna Madre.

     The Park protects about 70 mils of coastline and  is a nesting ground for the Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle, and a haven for hundreds of species of birds.  There are numerous ship wrecks scattered along the coastline, including a few Spanish shipwrecks that still fascinate treasure hunters.  I think tomorrow we'll be driving north to Corpus Christie, and take a look at the federal portion of the National Seashore, which stretches southward from Corpus Christie.  There are supposed to be some shipwrecks visible on the beach, but I don't think Debbie will let me wander that far south on the beach.....in the sand.  Especially if there is any possibility of getting stuck in the sand!
     We've been enjoying the beach everyday, some days just driving north and watching the waves.  The "Winter Texans" that scour the shores each day for shells, are fascinating to watch.

We can't quite figure out what they are going to do with bags full of these shells, but they're out there each morning.  We did speak with one yesterday who advised that she makes paper weights for all her friends.  She must have lots of friends, cause she had lots of seashells.
     While we've been out checking all the local haunts, we've seen lots of "Winter Texans" out on the beach surf fishing.

 I thought that would something I needed to experience, so after purchasing a few necessary articles, we headed for the surf.  You can get really crazy doing this fishing thing.  There are lots of fishermen with chest high waders, working their way out through the pounding surf, trying to get out to the deep water.  And then there are guys like me, who work there way out about knee high, cast as far as we can, and then sit down and enjoy the sun and surf.

   

     Evidently, there's a secret to catching these guys.  I've watched a few videos that have lots of recommendations, but so far, the fish haven't bothered me.  There has been quite a breeze blowing in from the Gulf, and that seems to really push the high tide quite a ways up on the beach.  I'm thinking the rough surf is bothering the fish.  I've tried several different baits that the locals have all recommended.  I first tried some frozen shrimp, but they seemed a little too mushy, and I think the pounding waves knocks them off the hook.  Then I switched to a white squid, and they stay on the hook quite a bit better, but still no fish.

Debbie seems to be enjoying herself, and it doesn't seem to bother her that there are no fish coming ashore.  She loves going for a lengthy stroll up the beach each day, and usually comes back with some tale about what the "idiots" are doing further up the beach.  The other day she watched a truck sneak through a closed gate, and promptly get buried in the sand.  (Probably why the gate was closed!)   Sometimes you can't fix stupid!

      I've gotten a little behind with my tales, but most days I spend on the beach feeding the fish.  Debbie is really settling in, and is enjoying the weather and lack of traffic.   We've extended our stay till the first of March, and then we'll be heading over to Fla.  Gotta get out of here before spring break.  Debbie might see something she doesn't want to see!