Small Home – Big Yard

Sunset over Laguna Madre, South Padre Island

It’s April 30^th and we’ve just crossed the Queen Isabella Causeway on our way back to Harlingen from South Padre Island.  We’ve been on SPI for 30 days, and have thoroughly enjoyed exploring familiar as well as some new island hangouts.  For 2 weeks during our stay, family from Washington state joined us on the island for fishing, relaxing and more good times.  We visited Boca Chica to check out the progress at SpaceX, explored some of Brownsville & Port Isabel, cruised the Brownsville Ship Channel and enjoyed our time on the island.

Lunch Atop a Skyscraper, Sergio Furnari at Space X Boca Chica, TX

Space X Starbase Launch pad, Boca Chica, TX

As in years past, we stayed at Isla Blanca Park, this time occupying end sites C282 and C321,  These end sites provide a bit more space,  privacy and good views of the Brownsville ship channel as well as the SpaceX manufacturing and launch facility across in Boca Chica.

Boardwalk, Isla Blanca Park, South Padre Island, TX

Isla Blanca Park, South Padre Island, TX

The Cameron County Amphitheatre and Event Center is literally across the street from our sites.  On April 9^th, Clint Black was to perform, so we were anxious to enjoy an evening concert right in the RV park.  However, the weather had other plans.  By mid-afternoon winds were gusting over 30 MPH. And, by showtime, gusts were topping out around 40MPH.  As expected, the concert was cancelled due to these winds and never rescheduled during our stay.

Clint Black at Cameron County Event Center

A highlight of the trip was a Port of Brownsville tour on Breakaway cruises.  We last sailed with Breakaway in 2015 on this same tour which includes cruising the 13 miles from the outer jetties through the deep water ship channel to the port.  The Brownsville port serves as the southern most gulf port establishing it as a lead carrier for products bound for both US and Mexican destinations.  They also have a huge shipbreaking operation and large shrimp fleet.

Port of Brownsville, first ever LNG fueled container ship.

Also during our stay on the island, Sea Turtle Inc. hosted a public release of patient turtles.  Among the Atlantic Green sea turtles released were Sublime, Tumble, Blessed, Mushroom, Ciabatta, and Cowgirl.

Sea Turtle Inc. patient release

And as usual we explored various restaurants and bars on the island.  Old favorites included Painted Marlin, Longboard Bar & Grill, Meatballs Café, South Padre Island Brewing Company, Mahi Nicks, Pelican Station, Tequila Sunset and several others.  New this year was the wonderful breakfast or brunch spot, Yummies Bistro, a new find of Cobbleheads Bar & Grill in Brownsville and Josephine’s Kitchen, another delicious breakfast restaurant on the island.

Meatball Cafe, South Padre Island, TX

We’ll be at Tropic Winds in Harlingen for a few days before starting our trip north.  From Harlingen we’ll be visiting a favorite park, Goliad State Park in Goliad, TX.  More from Goliad…