Finding WiFi , not easy.

Rain, Rain go away! Wednesday was supposed to be cloudy with no rain till Wednesday evening or Thursday morning. HA!

We went exploring yesterday and found the tiny fishing village of Seadrift and then Port O’Connor which was advertised to be “The Best Kept Secret On the Gulf Coast”. We have not found the secret yet. 2 gas stations, 1 hardware store, ½ dozen restaurants, several marine supply places, lots of condos and fishing boats! This town was totally destroyed by a hurricane in the 1960’s so most of the town is fairly new. The restaurant that was recommended to us turned out to be on winter schedule and will not open till Friday. As we were looking for another restaurant, the heavens opened up and the torrent of rain came down! Everyone else in town had the same thought – get out of the rain and go to lunch. Every working person in town was on their lunch and were all at Cathy’s!!

We found several lakes and salt marshes that were listed as “kayak trails” and some very nice beaches. Coming cross country was a combination of cattle ranches, oil fields and salt marshes.

Today was foggy most of the day and so we drove to town and checked out several of the small shops that are in the “historic” downtown. Pretty soon, their “downtown” is gonna be history! Once back home, Harry decided he would go to the “office”! Since we do not have wifi, he’s been going up the road a block or so, across from another RV park that has free wifi. The park is just around the corner of the bay from us and Harry has found that he can pick up their signal out at the gazebo on the boardwalk! Now he can walk to work!

Port Lavaca Texas

Monday seems to be “Moving Day”! With a Northeast wind of 20-25mph coming at us we crossed over from Port Aransas on the ferry, up route 35, thru Rockport and parked in the city park campground in Port Lavaca. The Lighthouse Beach Bird Sanctuary and Campground has about 60 camp spots and we got the last one that was right next to the beach and the ½ mile boardwalk that takes you out over the water and thru the salt march. Each camping area has a cement cabana that covers your own picnic table. No wifi but Harry has cable TV, so instead of driving me nuts by flipping thru 3 or 4 channels, now he has a multitude to torture me with!

Today was gray and cool so we rode the bikes 5 miles down, around and thru Port Lavaca’s “historic” downtown area. We checked out an eclectic mix of stuff in a really old hardware store. There is also a restored old movie theater which now has plays put on by local actors. Friday we are going to go see “On Golden Pond”!

Since we haven’t found any wifi yet, we’ll be visiting the local library to be sending our blogs and email messages. So – in case we don’t get any messages posted for a few days, here is our BUSY schedule: Wed and Thursday are to be gray and rainy so we are going out to explore the area’s other interesting towns, Port O’Connor, Magnolia Beach (supposed to be good kayaking there) and Seabreeze. We’re hoping for warmer weather so we can put the kayaks in the water on Friday or Saturday. We’ve got beaches to comb too! And then Monday is Moving Day again!

THINGS YOU DON'T SEE AT A RESORT!

Saturday was grey so we went to an indoor flea market and the Home and Garden Show in Corpus Christi with grocery shopping and gas on the way home. ANOTHER cold front came thru with the heavy dark clouds, some rain and plenty of wind. There were a few weather reports of possible tornados but most of the bad stuff went north of us near the Houston area.

Sunday morning brought an absolutely gorgeous day and I met it early with a walk on the beach!

We took a bike ride to town to call Miss Raegan so Gramma Bobbi could wish her a Happy Birthday! Unfortunately, they were not home. I'll send her a Yahoo card and try again on Monday. As the day progressed, the beaches filled up with weekenders and the jetty filled up with fishermen. This jetty goes out into the gulf for 1/2 mile and we dared walk the whole way stepping over fishing tackle and from one giant pink granite square boulder to the next! We watched pelicans, blue heron, seagulls and terns!! 2 large sea turtles and a pod of surf riding dolphins! Just like watching a nature special on TV - - dancing and leaping thru the air on the top of the biggest wave, just like surfers! Ride the waves and then dance back out to pick up another ride!!

Then, when that thrill had settled and we were sitting at the trailer reading, I gave a yelp at Harry and we jumped on the bikes and raced up to the campground building and then up to the 3rd floor to watch this freighter loaded down with a HUGEMONGUS oil rig on it going out the channel to the gulf!! Don't forget to double click on the pictures to enlarge them so you can see them better.

So, now the laundry is done and all my shells are bagged up, the bikes are on the rack and we'll be moving up the coast 72 miles to Port Lavaca in the morning. Again, we've said our Goodbyes. A special goodbye to the fun weekend office lady, CJ from Pennsylvania.

MAGEE PARK, MUSTANG ISLAND

A week on this beach! The first evening was cloudy but the rest have been ALL sun! The forecast for today is cloudy/ windy and Saturday afternoon the next cold front is to come in. Some tv stations are forecasting thunderstorms and possible hail. Just like up home - depends on which station you watch!

We've been out riding our bikes and exploring this nice little town! Lots of fishing piers to sit and watch the dolphins, all the different birds and all the boats. Nice clean harbors and a multitude of little pockets of wildlife sanctuaries stuck in behind housing developments or along the highway. Plenty of restaurants ( which we haven't tried yet) and souvenir shops that are stocking up for the spring breakers. MILES of beaches for me to walk and hunt for "treasures"! This morning I did find a sand dollar and a big bunch of black scallops!

This building was just built last year and houses the resort quality bathroom facilities , a nice clean laundromat and the park offices. The solid part in the middle of the ground level is an elevator that goes to the main floor and also up to the top of the building which is the neatest observation post where you can see up and down the beach and can see the shipping channel where all the ocean going freighters come in and out!

A Happy Camper

LOOK ! H has his picnic table and he's cookin' outside!! He's happy !! We had our coffee and breakfast outside with our backs to the sun! And check out that spiffy wheel cover while you're looking at that picture. Compliments of Bobbi's Machine Shop!

After breakfast we took off on our bikes and wound our way to the ferry dock. Over the intercoastal waterway and then back over again. The odometer said 12 miles when we finally made our way back to the campground. Then the cold front came in and the skys got dark and the rain let loose. The temps went from 80 down to 65.

We've met some interesting folks already. Across from us is a couple from Belleville Mich near Yspilanti! Across the other way is a young couple that H camped next to last February in a county park near Ft Myers Florida and they are from the Flat Rock area! Now what are the chances ?? Then over in the corner was a big old bus that had a trailer with a Jeep , lots of junk and a Route 66 Yamaha motorcycle like H's! And in front of it was parked a Suzuki Samuri!! (neither the Zuki nor the Route 66 were near the good condition of H's)

And - I forgot to tell you that when we pulled out of the campground at the National Seashore - - we saw 2 coyotes !! Way neat ! Of course, all along we've seen lots and lots of different kinds of shorebirds.

CAMPING IS NOT FOR GIRLY RV S

ON THE ROAD AGAIN!

We're on the move !! It's official - - we're camping again! We said our last goodbyes to all of our new friends at Sunshine RV Park and headed north. We had our last Mexican meal on rt77 heading to Corpus Christi. Our voyage ended at the campground at the National Seashore on Padre Island. The price was right - $4! Minimal facilities but again - - some very nice folks! As we pulled in we were invited to join the fish fry that was going on! Several of the men had caught all the fish right out from the beach! Good fish,too! The ladies all brought pot luck! We even met a couple who used to live in Ai, Ohio - out in Fulton County!! The 2 guys had a good time sharing stories.

Now, about this strange vehicle - the Unimog!! The folks are from Germany. They unloaded their vehicle in San Diego and are driving it to Boston, via the entire southern United States, including Florida!! They can only stay in the states for 1 year, according to their visas. From what they've said, they have even toured Africa in it!!

Monday morning we really put on the miles-25. From Padre Island at the southern end of Corpus Christi , north to Mustang Island and the county park in Port Aransas on the northern end of Corpus Christi. This is the same county park that we stayed at on our way down! We'll be here a week! YES - - free wifi!!