Saturday, March 20, 2010

Mustang Island Spring Break







Padre Island





Padre Island National Seashore, TX, Mustang Island
We decided to spend the month of March in Southern Texas. Mustang Island which is in Port Aransas is where we are camping. This is next to Padre Island and the National Seashore which are both outside of Corpus Christi. They say that there are 160 miles of beach along the area from Port Aransas to South Padre Island. They allow vehicles to drive on the beach here. The National Seashore has over 60 miles that you can drive on. On part of the beach area camping is allowed. We were able to drive on part of the beach and it was nice to see people with their campers along the dunes. Camping is only allowed from the water’s edge to the dunes. When the tide is right this area may all be underwater so you have to know what you are doing.
This stretch of the Gulf of Mexico has a current that brings trash to the shoreline. There is a continuous effort by the National Park and volunteers to keep the shoreline clean of debris. It has been an extremely cold winter, in this area, as well as in many parts of the country, so the water is cold with temperatures in the high 50’s where normally it would be in the 70’s. Bob has kayaked in the bay and has enjoyed it. The campground that we are in has many activities for the ‘snowbirds.’ The site that we are on has a 3 sided shelter which helps with the wind factor. As one camper who says, as he’s been coming for 11 years that “the wind always blows in Southern Texas.” It’s either off of the Gulf or off of the mainland. This area draws many spring breakers and it is nice to see the young people enjoying themselves on the beach.