WOW.....what a beautiful morning!!!!! I was up a bit before 7am.....turned on the coffee maker, and raised a couple of shades in the den, and the read some morning newspapers, with that wonderful morning starter in the steaming cup.
Soon the 1st Lady was up and going......and before long we were ready to roll.........down to South Padre Island, about an hour and 15 minutes from here. Taking two trucks so that the other two couples could take their family members(dogs), we were there by 10:45am. The traffic began to back up as we crossed the bridge over to SPI, crossing the bay between the island and the mainland. Following the cars and trucks, we soon found the flat beach area where the SPI International Kite Festival was happening.......AND, happening it was!!!
Many of the HUGE kites were in the air and flowing in the southeastern breezes.....and they WERE huge!!! This entire event is FREE, including parking, so what a great way to spend most of the day. We had all taken chairs, coolers, and jackets/sweatshirts because on the island you never know what the weather will do at any given moment. And....lucky we were that we thought and planned ahead....as the sun lasted only a couple of hours before it turned gray with clouds and cooler temps.
However.......as we munched on our munchies from the coolers, the kites were just amazing!!! Some really expensive ones were in the air......and in the performance area, the kite flying demonstrations...including the synchronized kite flying by three, by four, and by six kites was stunning.....breathtaking. All of these were choreographed to music.....and the incredible stunts of turns, complete stops and holds, and crossing over in the air were really fabulous!!!
Having attended last year.......I must say that this was much better than the great performances we witnessed last year. WOW.........some of these performances were beyond description!!!
By the middle of the afternoon, we decided to go out to the beach on the Gulf of Mexico side.....and so we drove up the highway, found a place to park along the side of the road, and then walked along the beach. Sorting through shells, Jane and the 1st Lady began collecting some of the smaller ones.......and Pete took Jack for a walk across the sand. Buzz/Moe remained in their truck, but we were not gone very long.....15 minutes or so. A great mini-walk on the sandy beach!!
Heading back down to the commercial area of South Padre......we soon arrived at: DIRTY AL'S!!!!!!! Yep.......one of my favorite places to get fried shrimp!!! OK....as usual, the line stretched outside the building, so while Buzz was attempting to find a place to park his truck, I jumped out and got into the line, and worked my way inside to get our names on the seating list. Our wait was only about 30 minutes.......not really that long....and soon we were sipping from a pitcher of beer, and our shrimp/oysters/fish arrived quickly. OMG......they were sooooo large, sooooo tasty, sooooo well cooked!!!!!!!!!! The batter on them was not overwhelming, but light and crispy.......just the way I enjoy my shrimp!!!! And, I had a dozen of these monsters along with some great fries....really, really good fries!!!!!
Dirty Al's is a place no one should miss when on South Padre Island, or for that matter, whenever they are the RGV, or anywhere close to this great fish restaurant!!!!!!! I have never heard of anyone being disappointed there......and I have talked with many friends and unknowns who have eaten there. Soooooo, from this very sagging hulk of Me.......GET THEE THERE ASAP if you are in the area!!!!!!!!
Returning to the mainland across the long bridge, we stopped in Port Isabel at a local fish market and purchased some HUGE shrimp that had just come in on a shrimp boat of their own.....and got a pound of these very large shrimp for $9.99, which included the owner de-veining each one and packing them in ice for us. An amazing purchase!!!!! Can't wait to garlic them, and then get them on the grill......ummmmm, nothing much better than that!!!!! As stuffed as I am now, I can't wait to fix them for another meal!!!!! (Is your mouth watering yet?????)
After one brief stop at a very large shell shop filled with thousands and thousands of island touristy junk souvenirs, we were home a bit after 6pm. Hey.......I hope you readers have been down here, but....if not, again I urge you to think seriously about coming down here.....OK?????? This area of Texas has sooooo much to offer, sooooo much to do, sooooo much to experience, sooooo much to taste and eat!!!!!!!
You know.....this has been another one of those great days....full of fun, great sights, great eats, and great friends. Sooooo, what more can anyone want??? Huh???? Because......
LIFE IS REALLY, REALLY INCREDIBLY GREAT!!!!!!!!.....And, I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!!
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