PADRE ISLAND NATIONAL SEASHORE

Sunday morning we said goodbye to Tropic Winds, had a nice breakfast at Denny's, filled the tanks at the Flying J and went to an eleven o'clock mass before driving about 230 miles to Padre Island National Seashore.  Fortunately, when we arrived at Malaquite Beach around 4PM there was one site available.  There are 42 sites overlooking the beach ... just beautiful.  Too bad the weather wasn't cooperating but we still enjoyed the area.

It was Denis' idea to have breakfast at Denny's

Holy Family Church was a warm and welcoming family parish

Our favorite place to fill up - Gas prices are a consideration if we're thinking of going from gas to diesel

Snapped a shot of the USS Lexington when we crossed the bridge

Did you know that Padre Island is the longest barrier island in the world?  That's right, 70 miles of undeveloped, wide sand-and-shell beaches.  The National Park is helping to save endangered sea turtles.  Since 1978, it has worked with other agencies in the US and Mexico to bring the Kemp's ridley sea turtle back from the brink of extinction.  The turtle eggs found at the park are removed from the nest site for protected care.  The hatchlings are released on the beach and guarded as they enter the surf.  Denis and I would like to return to the park to watch one of the hatchling releases which occur between May and August every year - bet the weather is much nicer too.

We watched the orientation video and the video about the endangered turtles at the visitor's center, browsed the gift store, walked the shoreline and nature trail.  We would have stayed more than one night if the weather was nicer but decided to leave the next morning.

View from the campground

 

Refreshingly chilly and we wore layers

This little flower brought color to an otherwise gloomy day

That's all folks!  Thanks for stopping in.