Jan 30 - Feb 4 Port Aransas, Texas
Our friends found this great campground right on the beach and they didn't have to ask us twice to join them! This is how it looks on Google Maps...our campground is on the upper left.
Padre Island National Seashore separates the Gulf of Mexico from the Laguna Madre, one of a few hypersaline lagoons in the world. The park protects 70 miles of coastline, dunes, prairies, and wind tidal flats teeming with life. It is a safe nesting ground for the Kemp’s ridley sea turtle and a haven for 380 bird species. It also has a rich history, including the Spanish shipwrecks of 1554.
We are on Mustang Island which is 18 miles long and connects to Padre Island to the South by roadway. You can drive your cars pretty much anywhere on the beach, the roads are packed sand, it is easily accessible but with a true undeveloped feeling.
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| Going down the drive, we are 2nd and 3rd on the left. |
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| There is a pass where huge ships look like they will hit land! |
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| It didn't take long for us to find these burrs...boy, they are tiny but pack a punch! We spent our first 20 minutes picking them out of Scout's paws. It is the only drawback to this awesome place. |
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| The kids picked right up where they left off! |
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| Always happy when Jack joins me on a sunrise shoot...we came across a coyote this morning! |
Except for a lingering cough, we are all feeling so much better. The beach was the perfect remedy...warm, fresh salt air and a chance to air out the tin can! Biking, fishing, playing in the sand then celebrating the Chinese New Year with an awesome dinner that Jason and his sous chef Melissa made...crispy chicken with fried rice.
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| We had to stop this big boy on the beach. Meet Dante 130lbs of Alaskan Malamute! |
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| The owner said, "Sometimes Dante's Inferno, most times Divine Comedy." My friend Carol said he looks like Jack Nicholson, I see it, do you? |
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| Katie reminds me of my niece Effie! |
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| Here is Anna...our boys love this metal detector too! |
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| breakfast...fried egg sandwiches |
I had my zoom lens on and grabbed a couple of closeups so Nana and Grandpa could see their boys up close! Looking pretty ragged after 3 months! haha but still the cutest guys ever!
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| here is another cutie patootie! |
The rest of the day the kids played and we were just hanging out so I asked Melissa to open up shop!
The guys keep trying to outdo each other in the cooking department! Scott has met his match. Jason loves to cook, grill and make fresh bread. They put on another great spread last night with Scott's pork tenderloin with a sage cream sauce made to perfection outside on the grill...in the dark...along with roasted fingerling potatoes, broccoli and Jason's salt bread. Dinner is getting later and later....9pm last night!
I can't wait to see what they cook up for Superbowl Sunday. None of us really even knew who was playing in the Superbowl...I did know that the Patriots were out. We are just not a football or sports watching family (except golf)...sorry folks! They aren't a big on it either so we will watch the commercials and eat well anyway!
Superbowl Sunday
The guys went out and did the grocery shopping and are now busy making the bread dough for one of my recipes and some home made pizza for tonight. I am not quite sure that Scott has EVER shared his super secret dough recipe with anyone, but, I know that Jason has proved himself worthy of it.
First up, Spinach and artichoke dip made in a cast iron surrounded by homemade bread, green olive cheese balls (remember making those, Mom?), bacon, mushroom & ricotta pizza, and chocolate eclair for dessert.
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| Tyler and his new buddy JAK |
We are packing it up today for our next destination. I don't think we will find much warm weather until FL and we might have to spend some extra time there while we get our RV water tank replaced before the final trip home.
Even with only one nice beach day here, we have had a great time hanging out with Melissa & Jason and all the kiddos.
~Linda |
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