We finished 2023 at Mustang Island, Texas. The weather was perfect to wear summer clothes and wade in the cold surf. Day two here had few waves and the ocean looked lake-like. Overall, the surf was less than last year. Which also means less stuff washing up. Shells were tiny and broken, and we didn’t see any of the…

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We arrived at Isla Blanca park on South Padre Island about a half hour after check-in time, and the line was just a few people deep. Rumor has it about 200 people are checking in some time today. We set up camp this time as we will be here for a longer period. This just means taking the…

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The surf was really active today, and it was difficult to walk into the wind. The wind noise was louder than the surf. White caps were out to the horizon and on the usually calm bay side as we drove over the bridge to Port Isabel to do a little shopping. But we are still wearing shorts and…

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We see lots (hundred+ on a mile stretch) of Portuguese Man of War washed up on the beach after a turbulent day of wind and high surf. These are a very beautiful blue variety. I also found the smallest cannonball jelly yet, and lots of shells. The beach tractors keep it groomed so these things don’t last long.

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We are in the perfect position here on the southern tip of SPI to watch ships come and go from the Port of Brownsville. Sometimes pilot tugboats accompany them, but not always. This is definitely an international port as most are not flying US flags. We have seen tankers and cargo ships so far. Maybe we will get to…

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Play the video (sound on) to see the crazy sidewalk that we ride on for a couple of blocks on our way to the Sunday Farmer’s Market on SPI. The market is small, but has food to eat there and items to take with you like oranges, plants, fresh bread, granola, pecans, etc. It’s a flat, ten-mile…

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Sunsets are really colorful when there are some clouds at sunset. Some nights we have pink all around with more orange and reds in the west. Palm trees in silhouette are especially pretty.

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We often see kites flying at the beach here. A consistent breeze really helps make flying them fun and easy. Kite surfing and using wing foils on surfboards are fun to watch. They move pretty fast and can be far beyond the surf. We also enjoy the beach art left behind before the high tide gets it.

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This weekend was absolutely perfect. We spent our time at the beach here at the park and at beach access points north of here to see different sections. The island road just ends about 10 miles north and vehicles pull off on the side to park or camp. The beach there has LOTS of shells to be collected. Four-wheel…

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It was a windy, cool , 60-degree day for the sea turtle release at Cameron County Beach Access #4 on South Padre Island. The cold snap earlier in the week had stunned almost 1000 sea turtles that had to be rescued. They get too cold and float to the surface where they are in danger from boats…

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