It’s a dreary day but we’re walking the beach line anyways.
Birds…
We pass many fishermen doing a “look Mom no hands”method of fishing. Google says they are Shore/Surf fishing. rAfter about 2 h walk we cut through to the road in search of food/drink. We’ve now walked the width of the island.
End up at Louie’s Backyard. Fun bar with good entertainment.
View from our seats The little rascal got the fry!Oh look!! What/who that in the centre of the ferris wheel? It’s a him!!
I know it doesn’t look good but Cactus Salad for dinner was so yummy. Suspect we won’t have that again for a bit.
First: Step on a sand burr, those little things really hurt!
Next a wee walk on the beach We spot what turns out to be kiteboarding, too scary for me but fun to watch! Interested? Private lessons a mere $275 for 2 hours
Today’s main adventure Dirty Al’s for dinner. Many at Tropic Star said this was a must do. This is their seafood counter. I have the blackened shrimpAllan, who will not allow seafood to cross his lips settles on the blackened chicken 🙂
First, breakfast including a grapefruit.Much to my surprise the deformed grapefruit, pictured next to a regular size one, was delicious once again proving you can’t judge a book by its cover.
Another of Allan’s mouthwatering breakfast creations! We discover we are sharing our space with ants 🙁
South Padre Island is about 30 miles long, running north and south and only 1/2 mile across at it’s widest point. It’s difficult for even me to get lost, my kind of town. This is interesting.
We learn the town offers a free, yes free, bus shuttle service, Metro Island, up and down Padre Blvd. There are bus shelters but it is more of a Wave service; wave the bus down and it will pick you up anywhere along the boulevard.
Also learn, this was the place to be for Spring Break. This year’s lineup, I don’t know any of them. So glad we are not here for that.
We walk to the beach, it’s a dreary day but any day with no snow is good.
Like any tourist town this one is full of gift shops, very large gift shops. After you’ve been in two or three you know what to expect. The cool thing is you can rent a golf cart, and an assortment of funky vehicles. They are permitted to be driven on the streets. We thought we may rent a jeep as you can take it to the undeveloped portions of the island and on the beach. We rethink when we find out they want about $400 for 4 hours. At home we can rent one for $40 a day.
We wanted to grab a drink and a rest, so much walking, we stopped into a restaurant but it was fast food ie no beer/wine. The helpful lady directed us to Laguna Bob’s, keep walking about 1 or so miles turn left at the Dairy Queen and voila! It is her favourite bar in town but she wasn’t sure it was open on Sunday. We walk and walk, no DQ but across the street Jake’s Restaurant & Bar, it’s open and has a patio.
While sitting on the patio, Allan googles where Laguna Bob’s is would have only been another 5 minute walk. We finish our drinks (margarita wasn’t so good and no amber beer) and head out.
Laguna Bob’s is a colourful place right by the water meaning the seagull are anxious to assist with your meal.#margarita being made Tecate being poured
Some of the patrons. Who looks happiest to be here??
Me!!Walk by a pizza joint, cute name
There are many sand sculptures, such talent.
Of course the water tower
Come home rest a bit. I love the tropical trees reflected in Bailey’s hub caps A little walk to the beach. Yes that is Allan double fisting (OK not really, he’s holding mine so I can take the photo)
No swimming today, it has been red since we arrived.
Think you are required to pick up what shoots out. Some one is watching!
The Birds, the scariest movie of my childhood still makes me clench my neck when in a swarm of birds like theseThis guy looks friendly enough cause he’s flying away from me.
After all today’s walking, sight seeing and stuff a well deserved cheers!
We are leaving Pharr today and heading to South Padre Island for seven days. First pick some grapefruits. The humongous, deformed one will likely not be good but don’t have the heart to leave it behind.
The day starts off with lots of clear skies and sunshine.
We pack up, say our goodbyes to the wonderful folks we met. Circle check done close the door AND the stairs do not retract. Allan does the fuse check, all good. A google search advises checking the sensor – Allan does, stairs now retract. Off we go at noon, 61,169 k
Not long into our drive we are held up by road construction.
On our way again, we are taking the scenic route which is well, scenic. To add to the excitement, we take a wrong turn but quickly u-turn and are back on track.
We spot portions of the wall that separates USA from Mexico.
More wind turbines. Doesn’t Allan look like he’s fully concentrating?In the distance, South Padre Island.
We were told about the “Queen Isabella Causeway” to the island; it is more spectacular and much longer at 2-1/2 miles, than we thought.
We see an entrance gate with RVs on the other side. That must be it! It is BUT first you must check in at the white building 3 crosswalks back. “Can we park on the side and walk back?” “No, make a U-turn”. U-turn made, drive back and enter the building to register. We say we drove by the first time and had to circle back. Their response “Lots of people miss it”. You’d think they’d put up better signage then!
First site they gave us was so narrow we couldn’t open our large slide. We tried, Allan giggled and wiggled Bailey to make it work but just couldn’t. We walk back to the office to see about getting a different site, but they are so booked we doubted we could.
They find us one option! Lucky us, it was right by the washrooms we don’t use. Get set up, plug into power, no power! Allan calls the repair dude who arrived quickly and had us working. Tomorrow will be more fun!
We awake to a warm morning, 66F Sweatshirt not required to walk to stretch class but I wear mine anyways. Allan doesn’t. It’s getting windier and windier. Stretch class done, now at aerobics. Instructor says how the weather is changing. Class done, now it’s 55F, Allan has extra pep in this step walking home.
Temp stays at about 55 all day, zero sun. Sharon & Ron, our neighbours are coming to Costco with us today a good inside thing to do. The ride is appreciated because we have to get Traeger pellets
Finally! Sharon knows about the birds on the wire, they are Grackles! It’s amazing how many sit on a wire and they return nightly.
The Grackle gathering reminds me of the scariest movie of my childhood, The Birds
We have some unexplained, very itchy bites. Sharon to the rescue again, they are Chiggers Some thing are better to not know!
Off to hot tub. Hoping for a milder day tomorrow as it’s block party night. Night all!
This should have been added last month but here goes:
Allan trades police badges so on Friday, January 17th we walked to the Pharr Police Station After a rocky start trying to tell the receptionist what we were there to “trade badges” not “train badges” we leave in defeat. We make it a few steps out the door when she comes dashing out. “Wait! Trade badges, come back and I’ll get you an officer that does trades.” Yes, it’s a real thing!
We wait for a bit and through the door comes the Assistant Chief of Police with 2 badges and a challenge coin Allan made out very well! The New Orleans badge we broke down and bought, at the police station there because the trading officers were in another division and we didn’t want to walk there. As happy as Allan is when getting new badges to me it means I get to sew them on Allan’s cub blanket.
But wait! Our neighbour, Jo, is an avid sewer and is happy to sew the new badges on. YAHOO Jo!!! Thank you!!!I figured out the tree next to us that doesn’t look too healthy is a grapefruit tree. I cut one up that was on the ground and it is so juicy and tastes delicious.
The fruits are mainly out of my reach so I enlist Allan’s help
Grapefruit for breakfast!
Today’s Allan project. Swap out the outdoor entertainment radio. The current one doesn’t turn off. Allan did the research and determined the $19.67 Walmart radio complete with blue tooth capabilities will work size wise. OK here goes! The much researched, totally organized, tool box springs into action!Allan’s at it! Removing the kaput radio.A little bit of panic sets in for me, way too many wires!Me of little faith, Allan reconnects the new radio
We pass many fishermen doing a “look Mom no hands”method of fishing. Google says they are Shore/Surf fishing. 
rAfter about 2 h walk we cut through to the road in search of food/drink. We’ve now walked the width of the island.
The little rascal got the fry!
Oh look!! What/who that in the centre of the ferris wheel? 
It’s a him!!
