Island Life

30 04 2023

After arriving on April 1st, our first full weekend on South Padre Island falls during Holy Week and as expected, the crowds are large and it becomes difficult to get into restaurants or even drive around the island. We’re once again parked in premium sites S19 & S20 at Isla Blanca park, with perfect views of the Brownsville Ship Channel and beyond to Boca Chica where SpaceX is building Starbase.

With “rumors” about a possible SpaceX launch within the next few weeks, we opt to take a trip over to Boca Chica so that we can see the progress including a fully stacked Starship. The total configuration is nearly 400 feet tall, the Super Heavy Booster at 230 feet and the Starship at 160 feet.  The booster combines 33 Raptor engines to produce more thrust than any other rocket ever built.  And with 6 additional Raptors under Starship, this vehicle is being developed to fly to the moon, mars and possibly beyond.

Spaceport, Boca Chica, TX, Starship on launch pad

During the first two weeks of our stay on the Island, friends from Colorado joined us for lots of fun meals, cocktails and exploring.  We had a great time BnB, hope we can do it again!  Perhaps the highlight of these first two weeks were two terrific birthday dinners.  We celebrated on Friday night the 7th at a favorite, Dirty Al’s at Pelican Station, across the causeway bridge in Port Isabel.  And then on 14th, we celebrated another birthday at Viva’s, a new restaurant on the Island in the location of the former Painted Marlin.  The Painted Marlin was always one of our favorites, and happy to report that Viva (same owners as Yummies Bistro) didn’t disappoint.

Isla Blanca RV Park, South Padre Island, TX

SpaceX finally confirms a possible launch window on the morning of April 17th.  Roads are closed, airspace is regulated and a notice to mariners is issued for an area off the coast of Texas and Mexico as well as another area off the coast of Hawaii.  If all goes as planned, the Super Heavy Booster will burn for about 4 minutes, separate from the Starship and make a non-recoverable splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico.  Meanwhile, Starship will continue around the globe, with a planned reentry and non-recoverable splashdown off the north coast of Hawaii.  However, just a few minutes prior to launch, this attempt is scrapped due to some type of valve issue.

SpaceX facilities from Isla Blanca, South Padre Island, TX

4/20, launch day!

Elon Musk has joked about a “4/20” launch for days, perhaps he’ll get his wish.  On the 19th, it’s official – roads, airspace and marine areas are all once again ordered closed as SpaceX sets a launch date of 4/20/23.  This time, at 8:33AM, the massive rocket roars to life and begins it’s trip to orbit.  We’re exactly 5.1 miles due north of the launch pad, and it seems to take forever for the sound to catch up with the sight we’re seeing.  However, once it arrives, it’s an earth shaking rumble like nothing we’ve ever experienced.  It’s not all that loud, but you can tell immediately the beast has awakened and is slowly climbing into the Texas sky.

The ascent appears to go as planned, and in fact we lose sight of the rocket as it reaches nearly 25 miles high.  But, in the next moment, two huge explosions are visible as the onboard Flight Termination System detonates, resulting in the famous SpaceX euphemism, “Rapid Unscheduled Disassembly” or RUD.  As it turns out, the rocket had started end over end cartwheeling, the booster unable to separate from the Starship and losing control of trajectory management.  So, just 4 minutes into the flight of the largest rocket ever launched, it’s turned into a pile of rubble at the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico.  But, this is the way at SpaceX, Starship #25 and Booster #9 are already on site, ready to be stacked and hurtled toward space in the coming months.

Margaritaville, LandShark Bar and Grill, South Padre Island, TX

In addition to the excitement created by SpaceX, we’ve enjoyed a few new restaurants and of course returned to old favorites.  Perhaps the nicest new place is at the Margaritaville Beach Resort in the former Pearl Hotel.  The restaurant menu is filled with classic Jimmy Buffet favorites, and sits at the back of the resort with great indoor and outdoor beach side dining.  We also visited Longboard Bar & Grill several times – we think their food and selections are getting even better!  Meatballs Café for pizza and other Italian specialties was consistently great, as was Yummies Bistro – “the place” on the island for breakfast!

Longboard Bar & Grill, South Padre Island, TX

It’s now April 30th and we’re packing up and will be returning to Harlingen for 3 nights.  On Wednesday we’ll head north, via Laredo, Del Rio, Big Spring and Amarillo.  From Amarillo we’re meeting friends at Lake Conchas State Park and will travel with them to Santa Fe before arriving home on the 14th.  More from New Mexico!


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Categories : Spring Road Trip 2023

South Padre Island

30 04 2022

Sunset over Laguna Madre, South Padre Island

It’s April 30th 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 9th, 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…

 


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South Padre Island

1 05 2021

SpaceX Starship SN15

We’ve just departed South Padre Island after spending nearly a month on the island. We were originally scheduled to depart around the 28th, but SpaceX has continued to “tease” us with the possibility of a launch of Starship prototype 15. After two static fires last week to test the Raptor ignition system, we were hoping that the launch was imminent. But, sadly, as we cross the Isabela Memorial Causeway bridge, SN15 is still standing at-the-ready on the launch pad at Boca Chica.

We were parked in sites C405 and C363. C405 is a back-in site that overlooks the new Cameron County Event Center and C363 is a convenient pull-thru end site with plenty of space. We’ve been in these sites before. And, while they don’t provide ground-level views of the SpaceX launch pad, any launch would quickly be viewable above the event center.

Isla Blanca Site C405 with USS Nassau being towed to Brrow

After last year’s Covid shutdown, we were anxious to enjoy the restaurants and beach-front grills of the island. Upon arrival we’re still almost 2 weeks until our 2nd vax appointment – so, we’re focused on outdoor dining venues. The good news is that this presents a whole new list of possibilities. Our first “discovery”, actually a recommendation from a friend, is Pelican Station in Port Isabel. This upscale restaurant has a nice patio overlooking the laguna & bridge and features wonderful fresh seafood, steaks and burgers. We also found Mahi Nic’s – a small outdoor dining venue between Dirty Al’s and Sea Ranch very near the campground. Nic’s features burgers and fish tacos all serviced with a massive amount of delicious fries. Their beer & wine license reduces the drink options, but what more do you need with fish tacos than a cold Dos XX?

South Padre Island Sand Sculpture Trail

And, speaking of Dirty Al’s. We also enjoyed an evening on their marina-side patio. Great food, good service and even live music! For beach “dives”, we checked out Boomerang Billy’s at the Surf Motel and Seaside Bar & Grill at the Holiday Inn Beach Resort. While we can’t recommend the food at Billy’s, we did enjoy the Gulf view and the cold margaritas. The Seaside Bar & Grill was a total “do-not-return” experience. While the drinks weren’t bad, the environment is completely gross. The ever present gulls and grackles are allowed to steal anything they can find from behind the bar – sugar packets, jelly containers and left-over food – then scatter the remains around the restaurant. And, with combo locks inoperative, the restrooms have been turned into public facilities and that are some of the dirtiest we’ve ever seen. This place needs to be visited by the local health inspectors – they’d probably get shut down!

South Padre Island Sand Sculpture Trail

Following our typical tradition of Sunday Pizza Night, we enjoyed great pizza from both Russo’s and Meatball Café. And, in a return to an old favorite, we enjoyed the open air dining at Painted Marlin – twice!. We still think this is perhaps the best restaurant on the island!

From the island, we’ll spend 1 night in Tropic Winds in Harlingen and then start our trip home. Currently we’re planning to visit By the River in Kerrville, San Angelo State Park near San Angelo, the new Retreat RV Resort in Lubbock and Clayton Lake State Park outside of Clayton, NM. More from the road home…

AFTERWORD: On May 5th, 4 days after we left South Padre, SpaceX launched SN15 and had the first successful flight and landing of a Starship!  Maybe next year!


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Categories : Spring Road Trip 2021

Departing South Padre Island

1 05 2019

We’ve just spent 2 weeks on South Padre Island enjoying nearly all of our favorite eateries on the Island: Lobo del Mar (formerly Palm Street Pier), Tom & Jerry’s, Painted Marlin, Padre Island Brewing, and the Café on the Beach at The Palms Resort.  We also enjoyed two evenings at one of the newest establishments, Long Board Grill & Bar right across from Lobo del Mare on Palm Street.  This new venue is all about entertainment with an over-water stage providing the audience great views across the Laguna. Covered and uncovered decks with comfortable seating and a typical “island” menu of fish, tacos and burgers made this new place one of our favorites.

The new construction at Isla Blanca Park is progressing.  The new amphitheater looks nearly ready to open, the new north beach pavilion has working lights and landscaping and the new south pavilion was just getting it’s roof.  The new boardwalk area connecting the two pavilions is about half way complete.  New roadways and parking lots are under construction.  With Easter on the first weekend we arrived, these new parking lots and the beach was packed for the Semana Santa holiday.  The old bait & beer shop is still standing at the jetty, and the original bathhouse and boat launch is still in place, now right behind the new Cameron Country Event Center (and amphitheater).  Nearly all other shower houses in the RV park are closed for remodeling.

Across the Brownsville ship channel, work continues to progress on the new SpaceX facility.  Gleaming in the sunlight, quite visible from South Padre, is a test version of the Star Hopper – a short tethered rocket being used to test the Raptor engines.  We kept a close eye on the ‘hopper, hoping to view some sort of rocket test.  We even drove over to Boca Chica one afternoon to see the progress of the SpaceX facility.

Our sites this year were perhaps the best ever – #C400 and #C401.  These sites overlook the ship channel and the new events center & amphitheater.  They have lots of sandbur avoiding concrete, as well as a garden area providing privacy and wind break.  And, as it turns out, best view of the Starhopper across at Boca Chica!

 


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Categories : Spring Road Trip 2019