South Padre Island, Beach & Christ of the Fishermen

Feb 21/13  Windy, Windy, Windy - Sunny - 80 and only 69 at night
Did I say Windy????  The wind just never stops and it is more than a breeze its gusty up to 35mph.

view from Isla Blanca towards the city center

With this wind the kite surfers and regular surfers just love it here.  Everyday they are out and the Red Flag on the beach is too, so you need to be a serious surfer to contend with the Riptide.  All the beaches are public and allow dogs.  

At the south end of the island there is a state park; Isla Blanca - it is the largest State Camping Park in Texas, with over 600 sites.  In the park there is a memorial  El Cristo de los Pescadores; which means Christ of the Fishermen.  The base of the statue has an inscription in spanish and english: "Father! Receive the souls of these brave fishermen who have sailed through this pass and never returned." Plaques inserted into the statue's base provide the names of all the fisherman who never returned.  The location is beautiful, right on the beach with amazing views from your motorhome; but be forewarned of the winds.  Since we are so cautious we did not want to camp there in the winter months you will take the brunt of the weather and last year we had to replace a topper awning from winds so add that $ risk into your decision to stay there.

 

South Padre Island, Texas

Feb 15 - 22/2013  Windy, Windy, Windy + warm 75 to 80, night only down to 60's

Bridge onto the island

 South Padre Island is a spit of sand that follows the Gulf of Mexico all along the border of Texax.  When I say a spit its not much more... in the city you can see from one side of the island to the other.  It might be about 6 city blocks.  

One side of the island to the other

 We road out of the city center to the National Seashore which start out ok, just a paved road with sand dunes on each side.  But then a few miles farther we found the sand encroaching onto the highway.

And then..... "Road Closed".   It becomes completely covered over with sand.  So it was time to turn around and head back to civilization.    The ride back into the wind surprised us with sand blowing into our faces, it can really sting!

time to turn around

It is always always windy.  And so there are many kite boarders and surfers and wind boarders out on the sandy seashores.  We hear it gets pretty crazy for March Spring break too!   Our campground was full for the week but you could see where the bars and restaurants and condos were getting ready for the big party.

is that a salad in your Ceasar?

Taking the Kids on the Road

Feb 15/13

Classroom + us in the middle + Family motorhome

We pulled into a KOA in South Padre Island, Texas to find ourselves wedged between two campers.  We have not been to the Keys in Florida with the motorhome but we imagine it is the same type of scenario from what we have heard - they cram as many rv's into the park as possible.  But that is the not the big news.... what we find out from our neighbours is that the motorhome is the Family ride and the truck and trailer on our other side is the Classroom and teachers quarters.  We asked them if they were homeschooling when they explained they come equipped with a young elementary teacher to school the children (3 of them from kindergarten to grade 4) on the road.  The parents from New Jersey decided to take the family cross their country for the next 6 months.  Each morning the kids go to school in the trailer while the parents have their quiet time. 
When we contemplated this later we realized what an expensive proposition this is since they have their unit + the salary of the teacher + her unit.   This is the first we have come across this arrangement in our travels!!!