Nor-Wester!

A huge black sky rolled in as we were hitching up to leave the island just now. The temperature dropped from a muggy and hot 80 F down to a crisp and cool 60 F in less than a minute, accompanied by huge drops of driving rain blowing at a 45-degree angle! Hasta luego, Mistang Island!

Bye, Bye, Beach

Heading out from Mustang Island tomorrow. Been here 3 weeks in 95% tropical humidity (latitude is the same as the bottom third of the Baja). We were here later last year and the humidity was not a problem. We're going back to Kerrville, Texas, so we can dry out! Gonna miss the nice 25-degree days, though!

Above:  Helloooo?

Above:  That's what I'M talkin' about!

Above:  This one's for Dave

Above: My future retirement home

Antelope Dinner

Our friends from South Dakota arrived here at the park on Mustang Island last week. We met them last year in Kerrville, Texas, and they are the ones who told us about this place.

Last night we had a real treat. They invited us across to their spot for dinner. We had antelope steaks which Tom had got hunting a few months ago. We barbecued them and wow, super tender and juicy and flavorful! First time we've tasted it, and we're giving it two thumbs up!

It was about 90 F yesterday and very muggy. Then the wind came up last night and cooled it right down to about 41 F this morning. It heated up nicely with the sun to about 66 F, but now some clouds have rolled in and the wind feels a bit brisk again.

We are thinking about heading out of here on February 5th because we really would like to explore new frontiers. Just trying to decide where to go -- maybe the Rio Grande Valley, about 4 hours south of here. We'll see ...

We're Heeeere!

Pulled into Pioneer Park on Mustang Island on Monday around 5:00 pm, just after a big storm had passes through earlier on that dumped the only hard rain they've had here in about a year and a half. It was extremely windy all night and into Tuesday afternoon, but the 20-mile-an-hour breeze died down to nothing by 4:00, and the sun shone brightly through it all.

The dogs are noticeably happy to be back at the beach, too. We have a great spot with lots of green space all around. The pelicans are already decked out in their finest plumage for breeding season and were fishing only a few feet from the shore yesterday before dusk.

Above:  Outdoor cooking at Guadalupe RV in Kerrville, Texas

Above: According to a Kerrville cop, this is one of the three things that Texans hate to see (a Yankee with a U-haul).  Can't tell you the other two cuz this is a family show...

Above: At a local Mexican eatery on Mustang Island

Above: Some weird little town names in southeast Texas, like Peggy and Swinney Switch

Above: This trucker also had a big stuffed Foghorn Leghorn riding shotgun in the tractor cab, too :)

Mustang Island, Texas

We have decided to stay here for another couple of weeks since the weather is perfect and it's fun to be by such a nice beach!  As mentioned before, you can drive your vehicle on the beaches here, so it would follow that they also grade them with a grader! 

Above:  Grader at work

People also camp on the beach with their RVs and in tents for free.  It's definitely a different lifestyle down here.  It's about at the same latitude as the lower end of the Baja Peninsula, so that would explain the warm, humid, tropical temperatures and palm trees, which are so reminiscent of Mexico, it's no wonder this is our favourite spot of the trip and where we will be returning again next winter. 

Above:  Lone tent on the beach near Port Aransas, TX

The temperature hardly fluctuates from day to night, with about 20 to 25 degrees C. daytime (that's above zero, BTW, ha ha) to around 17 degrees C. at night.  Always balmy with a nice sea breeze blowing, it's positively delicious!

Lots of migratory birds in this area, including flocks of whooping cranes, brown pelicans, pink spoonbills, herons of many colours, ibises, etc.  Mustang Island is apparently home to coyotes, wild rabbits, and diamond back rattlesnakes that inhabit the dunes, although we've yet to see any.

Above/Below:  These beautiful cobalt-blue anemones have been washing up on the beach the last few days of rough surf

There is a white public works truck that regularly cruises up and down the beach with "Turtle Monitor" written on the side.  I need to research this to find out if/when sea turtles arrive on the beaches here to lay eggs!

However, the cats are finding the full-timing in the fiver to be somewhat exhausting!

Above:  Norris using D&G sunglasses as a pillow (good thing they're knock-offs!)

Nat has developed a huge following of admirers here in the park.  He was legend after our first walk on the beach with him, and during the first week here people came out from their RVs to meet him and talk about him.  There are people who save treats for him now, and when we have him tied outside our RV, people congregate in groups to see him, take photos of him, and generally gush over him.  He is a true star and is taking it all in stride.  He looks very moth-eaten right now due to most of his coat parting company with him because of the warm, humid environment.  Apparently he still looks gorgeous to those who have not seen him in his full glory of a winter coat!

There will not be many blog entries until we leave to go north because the WiFi here is very pathetic, plus who has time to spend on the computer when living in such a gorgeous location!  Beachcombing has become the new pastime, with many different and colourful varieties of shells already collected, and the crown jewel of them all, the baby sand dollar I found a couple of days ago!  Pix to follow...

Above:  Just another day in paradise -- beachcombing is ever fascinating!

Above:  Nearing the end of another perfect day on Mustang Island -- Wish you were here!