Summertime Blues.

With our summer vacation done we have settled into the last few weeks before the new school year begins.  And it is hot!

Our county is now under extreme drought conditions and fire warnings are high today.  It has been necessary to water trees.  There has been no appreciable rainfall since April.

Fortunately our stock tanks are , at this point, holding up.  

Pray for rain, y'all!

#Summer2022 - Beach time, seashells, and fine food

Today is our last day in Galveston, and our last day of this summer's RV vacation.  We got up, had a quick breakfast and took a long walk to the back of the Jamaica Beach resort.  I used one of the kayaks and paddled to the back part of the bay.  It connects through; I am anxious to try it with one of the Sea Eagles.

Then to the beach.  Sadie and Stephanie did the beachcomber thing and came back with a bucket of shells. Some were quite unique. And we had the beach practically to ourselves.

Then Lazy River time, followed by supper at Miller's Seawall Restaurant.  No pics because we were too busy eating.  The Shrimp and Grits were awesome, the crab balls better than Benno's, and the pecan brownie ganache was to die for!

Until next time, Texas Coast!  We leave for home tomorrow but we will return!

#Summer2022 - Benno's and The Strand

For 17 years or so I have had fond memories of a little seafood stand in Galveston called Benno's on the Beach.  The original stand is gone, but Benno's is still here... That is where we had lunch!

The temps and humidity are high down here, so before setting out for town we took advantage of some of the amenities at Jamaica Beach - namely Mini-Golf.

After a quick shower, we went to do the tourist thing. Murdock's, then Benno's, and then the Strand.

The Strand is the street Galveston is best known for along with the Seawall.  Think Bourbon Street in New Orleans or Duval Street in Key West (without the questionable morals, in most cases).  A bit of shopping and a visit to famous LaKing's Candy Shop for malts.

Back to camp, an hour in the lazy river, and pork chops for supper.  A fine day all around!

#Summer2022 - Fresh Fish

Island time...

This day was our first full day at Jamaica Beach, and we got off to a slow start.  Breakfast was chorizo quesadillas and eventually we journeyed downtown.

After driving the seawall we sought out Katie's Seafood Market and bought Gulf shrimp and a red fish, filleted by the market workers.  So quess what we had for lunch.

So good!

After that, another few hours on the lazy river and fajitas for supper.

We needed a few things at Walmart, and that was crazy.  While gone, Stephanie explored the bay area of the park with Fergus.  She took some really nice pictures.

#Summer2022 - Travel Day

There is something cathartic about the process of packing up the camper to head to another destination that is not home.  It was hot and humid today, though, without the winds that have been common.  We made it though.  We thanked the staff for the wine and was on the road by mid morning.  Next stop: Galveston.

Around lunchtime we stopped at the little town of Blessing.  Sandwiches in the camper, and then Steph, Sadie and Mom went to a small quilt shop.  Mom found a lost wallet and turned it in there, and then we were on our way.

Google Maps may say it is a 4 hour trip but with the camper you need to add more to that.  We arrived at Jamaica Beach around 3:30, got set up, and tried the lazy river.  Burgers for supper, and a walk around the park.  More pics tomorrow, I am sure.

#Summer202 - Sea Turtles and Padre Island Evenings

This morning was a special event.  About 7 times a year Kemp's Ridley Sea turtle hatchlings are released, and it just so happened that one was while we were here!  So we were up at 4:45 am for the 40 minute drive to the Malaquite Visitors Center.

Dozens of park volunteers and rangers were on hand to facilitate the release and hundreds of spectators cheered them on.  Really cool!

After that, we took the new Sea Eagle out for a paddle in the Bird Basin section of the park.  Very shallow but neat to see the park from a new perspective. 

On the way back to camp we stopped at a souvenir shop and we spent way too much money.  Then a nap!

Sadie is all about shrimp, so we bought a little over a pound of Gulf shrimp at HEB and I cooked it tonight.  So good!  Then off to Padre Island for one last time at the beach.

About midday a grassfire broke out on the lsland.  We could see the smoke from the KOA, but it did not seem to affect the road in, so about 5 pm we drove passed Malaquite this time, parked on the beach and enjoyed a nice stroll.  Fergus joined us.  To wrap it up we sampled the Champaign the staff at the KOA left is for our anniversary!  So nice.

Tomorrow we are off for Galveston for our next leg of our 2022 beach hop!

#Summer2022 - USS Lexington and Horses on the Beach

Today is our 16th wedding anniversary.  Last year we were traveling too.  We were heading to Key West and stopped at Southern Grace Lavendar Farm.  After supper with Florida family at Simpli Seefood, we had wine and a nice evening.

This year, since we are in Corpus Christi we chose something different but equally cool!

Corpus is the home of the USS Lexington, a WWII era carrier that saw service until 1991.  It is also home to one of two F-14 Tomcats used in the original 1986 Top Gun

They also have an F/A-18 Hornet (painted Blue Angel) which is also the aircraft in the new Top Gun: Maverick.  So cool to see!

We spend about 3 hours or so on the self guided tours.  The film concerning the modern super carrier and naval operations was awesome as well.

After that, lunch at Blackbeard's on the Beach for some of the best shrimp tacos ever!

Then a nap and off to the stables.  It was an hour and a half ride along Padre Island.  It was a nice experience.

When we got back we found that the KOA staff had left us a bottle of champagne.  It was not longer cold so we will have it tomorrow night to mark our last evening here.

#Summer 2022 - Padre Island National Seashore

Day 2 had us up early to a beautiful sunrise over the Laguna Madre.

The wind died overnight for the most part, and I was able to cook quesadillas on the Blackstone.  Grades submitted to end Summer 1, and then it was off to Padre Island National Seashore and Malaquite Beach.

There were many similarities to Gulf Islands in that it was not crowded.  We spend several hours in the surf and had a picknick lunch while dodging seagulls.  Especially after they raided our neighbors Cheetos.

On our way back to the RV we scouted an area called Bird Basin that is supposedly good for kayaking.  We may be doing that later in the week.

After showers and getting cleaned up, we went to the Black Diamond Oyster Bar.  Steph and I shared Oysters Rockefeller, I had a fish sandwich, Stephanie the crawfish bisque, and Sadie a gulf shrimp plate. Mom had chicken fried chicken and Dad had stuffed fish filet.  

The desire for more seafood was strong so we stopped by HEB Plus again and spent too much money.  We bought Gulf shrimp and skewers to try our hand at shrimp on the barbie one night soon.

A bit of ocean watching and a few drinks closed this one out.

Another day on the Gulf coast done.  Tomorrow promises to be a busy one as well.

#Summer2022 - Corpus Christi KOA, Day 1

So with the Disney trip cancelled, we set out early for our Texas coastal trip.

Google maps said it was a bit over 5 hours, but with the camper it was a bit over seven.

Our first destination of two was the KOA Journey at Corpus Christ. It is located on a long peninsula with a canal on one side and the Laguna Madre on the other.  Across the water is Padre Island and the national sea shore.

After setting up we walked Fergus then went to a nearby HEB Plus for some items (Mojitos, anyone?) and filled up with gas.  We rolled into Corpus 40 miles to empty.  The cost of fuel seems to be going down but it still hurts 

And then came back to try to cook.  The wind off the water was too strong to light the grill, however, so we warmed leftovers from our July 4 cookout.

We did manage a short walked and explored the campground.  They have recently finished a beach sitting area, tiki hut, and pool.  It is a neat little KOA. 

New adventures tomorrow, but it has been a long days.  Good night everyone!