March 6, 7 & 8, Padre Island National Seashore.

Padre island National Seashore extends along a barrier island off the coast near Corpus Christi, TX. There are no houses, no development, nothing but sand, water, animals, shells and the accumulated trash of thoughtless beach goers. One can drive the entire 55-mile length of the island, assuming one has the vehicle and fortitude to attempt that excursion. We had 4WD van and let some air out of the tires to provide more surface to float over the fluffy sand. We only got a little past the 20-mile marker but it wasn’t because of the van’s limitations. We set up camp just south of the 15-mile marker and stayed there for three days and two nights. The only people we saw during that time were the occasional pickup truckloads of Texas fishermen heading up or down the beach. The photos below show the view of our spot looking N, E, S and W, respectively. The one with Lorri is looking to the north.

 The weather on the second day was perfect; the only really good warm sunny weather we’ve had so far. I took advantage of it as best I could and ended up having a very successful and highly productive day. To those of you (and you know who you are) who have said that I have too much time on my hands, I offer the following photos, which will prove beyond the shadow of a doubt that I use my time wisely and efficiently.

The first photo is me building a sand castle, a tiring and backbreaking chore, which requires frequent resting periods and the consumptions of large amounts of liquids, preferably beer. The next photo is the finished product: a sand castle in the Jack Hill style that is quickly becoming world-famous. The next photo is of my abandoned footwear collection, found entirely on the beach. I was thinking of entering this collection in the Del Mar Fair this year, but I accidentally threw it away. Collecting fine footwear on the beach takes dedication, a sharp eye, and discriminating taste. The next photo is cocktail time. After a day of hard work and exertion, wouldn’t you agree that I deserve a little reward in the way of a cold, dry martini? I thought so.