Brrrr......it was cloudy, windy, and not a pleasant day when we were getting ready to leave for South Padre this morning. Jean and Dave arrived in their car to go with us and Doug/Diane to the Kite Festival.....this is the 10th Kite Festival at South Padre......and then we all loaded up into my truck, chairs and coolers into the back of the truck.....and off we went.
We arrived there about 11:15.....only an hour's trip from here in Mercedes.....and quickly were shown where to park on the packed sand of the eastern side of S. Padre close to the Convention Center. There were hundreds of vehicles there already......and the performances were underway by this time. Unloading our "stuff", we walked over to the south end of the performance area....and made our "camp". BRRRRRRRR.....those winds were coming out of the north and were damn cold......highs to be only in the 50's on this windy island.
I went out to get some shots of the balloons up in the sky.....the very, very large ones that are not for performing, but for just the interest and beauty of these colorful creatures flying high above the Festival area. Always soooo much fun to look up and see them and the movements of them made by the winds of today!!!
Returning to our area....the 1st Lady had gone for a short walk and found that we could get to a warmer place by joining the many thousands of people along the eastern side of the performance area.....and our friends, Charlie/Katherine and Tom/Pat were there with space for us to join them. Soooooo, we "decamped" and carried our stuff through the tons of people sitting and standing and found a place for us to be more comfortable.
Along the way during this transfer....I ran into several friends and others who know me by reading this blog most days. Bob/Donna, Randy/Debbie(our next door neighbors at the resort), and "The Mystery Woman" who has made comments on my blog frequently!!! I had not met her to my knowledge, but she recognized me....yelled out "JOHN!!!"....and then said that she was that person: "The Mystery Woman"!!!!! GREAT to see her!!!!
Sooo, we made our new "camp" and enjoyed the camaraderie and laughs with our friends that we joined with our "stuff". And soooo, the hours began to pass by as we enjoyed the performances to music by these amazing kite handlers/fliers!!!!!!!! THIS is such a wonderful event and draws such huge crowds over the two day Festival......and if you didn't get down here to see this.....well, you missed a wonderful, but cold, experience!!!!!!!!!
The performances of multi kites all in synchronization and choreographed with the music to visually express the highs and the lows, the rhythmic and the flowing of the music.......spectacular!!!!! Just can't say enough about this Kite Festival!!!!! WOW....WOW....WOW!!!!!!!
After the last large performance, ending at 3pm.......we loaded up and drove down to the southern end of the island.....to eat at: DIRTY AL'S!!!!!!!!! This is THE place to eat shrimp in the entire RGV/Tip of Texas!!!!!!! The shrimp are HUGE, the batter is light and crispy, and the fresh shrimp are beyond a doubt the best there is in this area......as well as many other areas of this country of great seafood!!!! Just sooooooo marvelous to bite into one these butterflied shrimp...they are sooo huge.......they are soooo fresh....they are soooo tasty......WOW!!!!!! I just cannot recommend this place enough!!!!!! Oh yeah....you might have to wait 30 minutes....perhaps 60 minutes in line, but just enjoy the wait, visit with everyone else standing there, and remember that you are going to have the best shrimp dinner available....OK!!!! GET THYSELF THERE QUICKLY!!!!!!! (not a paid advertisement!)
And, while we were in DIRTY AL'S, I ran into two more couples that are readers of this blog....both of whom are also staying in LLANO GRANDE RV RESORT. Good to see to of them again, and to meet the other couple!!!!!!!
Leaving there reluctantly, after 2 large pitchers of beer to accompany the shrimp...and, OH YES...the incredible crunchy/crispy fries!!!!......we loaded up and drove back to the Resort. A quick unloading of the truck and then we all met again....all 10 of us...over in Doug/Diane's coach for some hot coffee and some Mexican made candy....hmmmm. But.....the conversation was hilarious.....soooo much fun.....tears streaming down faces as the laughter rang through the coach and probably out across our resort neighborhood!!!! No one has more fun than this group of friends....trust me....this is a unique group with such a close relationship between all of us!!!!!!
WHAT a day!!!!!! We are now in our home on wheels, it is raining softly outside and the temps are cooling down into the 40's. Not the best weather for down here, but with the warmth of our friends.....we are feeling no pain from this weather. Tomorrow???? A dance in the morning...and then some work needs to be done by me to complete this biography that is to be put on the upcoming website for the Howser Music Fest.....the reunion of all...repeat, ALL....of my former students from the 30 years of teaching that I did.
And....my good friends, those that I know and those that are daily readers that I don't know......as always........
LIFE IS JUST REALLY AMAZINGLY GREAT!!!!!!!......And, I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!!!!
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