Padre Island National Seashore

Padre Island has been the pinnacle of this trip. Although the Formula 1 event was the reason we are in Texas, Padre Island is the furthest point East (and South) we will travel. It is the turn-around point after nearly 3100 miles traveled from Colorado… 2000 from Mom’s house in California.

The plan, for years now, was to camp on the beach… literally, right on the sand while enjoying the warm winter temperatures and the Gulf of Mexico waters. When we arrived on Tuesday we went straight to the main RV camping area where there are bathrooms, luke-warm showers, and ‘civilized’ camping near the beach.However, the thorny bushes were a major problem with Belle and our camp rugs collecting hundreds of these little suckers every day. Poor Belle had to pee on the asphalt to prevent some really awkward pain in all the wrong places.

Still, the beach itself is amazing. Unlike the Pacific beaches that I am accustomed too with their sand-like sand, or even Cancun with it’s seashell-like sand, Padre Island’s sand is more like wet-flour; very fine and dough-like when wet. It makes for a very comfortable bare foot walk but it isn’t so easy to dig a hole. The plus side is that the sand compacts so tightly that you can drive a heavy RV right onto it with minimal risk of digging in and getting beached. Belle is in love with the sand. She hops around like a little girl for a few minutes before tiring herself out. She wants nothing to do with the water though.

Birds and crabs are everywhere, although the crabs are a bit shy at times. I did run across a one-eyed crab while jogging, who ran circles around me to keep me in sight. He was large enough to eat, but ugly enough to leave alone. Jelly-fish are common enough here to keep a close eye where you step, both in and out of the water. I really do not want to experience a sting from a jelly-fish.

Although we enjoyed two days there, it was not what I wanted from Padre Island. Although we were only a short walk to the beach, we were not camping ON the beach… so that is where we are going today.