Ahhhh....the day was warm.....the early morning was cloudy and humid.....and the sun popped out about mid-morning and spent the rest of the day with us!!!
The 1st Lady woke up this morning with that little man inside her head just beginning to pound out the letters for migraine.......but she took her magic meds and managed to knock out that "little man inside" before he really warmed up and pounded all day long!!! Soooo, while she rested and snoozed this morning, I washed the truck. OMG was it ever, ever dirty from our trip to Pepe's on the River!!! The parking pad assigned to us was filthy when I finished and so I had to wash it, also!!! The water is soooooooooo damn hard that before I could get it dried, there were water spots and streaks all over it. Does it look better now??? Well.....at least we can open the door and climb inside without getting dirt/mud all over us in the process.
As she was feeling ok by noon.....and as the sun was still honoring us with it's presence......we hopped in the truck and headed for South Padre Island. NOW.......since there is a F'town resident wintering in Port Isabel......which is on the mainland as you cross the bridge to Padre......well, there wasn't time to call F'town and get her number and then get a call out to her to see if she might want to join us. I HATE that,......but it just didn't work out time-wise.
Anyway.....we arrived there around 2:30....about an hour's trip from here......and we drove around the southern tip of the island looking at the rv parks that are there. There are soooo many new hotels, houses, condos, etc., etc since the 1st Lady and I were here over the Christmas Holidays several years ago. We did recognize some of the restaurants that we had dined and wined at when we were here......imagine that???!!!!! FOOD is always very important and always a priority for us.....hahaha!!
Then we headed north on the island highway....until it ran out!!! Yep.....all of a sudden it just stops and there is a barricade there and on the other side is SAND....SAND....SAND!!!! It just ends in a sand dune. All along the way up those 10 miles there were RV's parked alongside the highway.....not parked, but I should say.....camped. Yep.....you can just "boondock" along the side of the highway in your rv........no hookups, no umbilical cords.......just your battery power to use the necessary items in your rv.
We parked along the side of the road and walked across the sand to the Gulf of Mexico. THOUSANDS of sea shells were on and in...the sand!!!! Don't think I have ever seen sooooooo many in one place. Walking along the foamy surf.......we just ambled in the sun, the warm breeze, and enjoyed the beautiful afternoon. Sure was nice.........
Back to the truck, we headed back south down the island highway.....and then followed a line of cars/trucks into a beach road. We quickly pulled out our cash and paid at the gate to drive on the beach....$3. Yep.......we took off down the beach along with many other vehicles that were running back and forth along the edge of the surf. At one point it narrowed down between some dunes....very soft sand....and the Gulf. Thought it might get a little dicey there, but made it without any problems.
Returning to the beach entrance, we headed on back down the highway to the commercial area. The mother of a good friend of mine, and former student, had recommended a place to get the "best fried shrimp in Texas" to us......Dirty Al's. And sooooo, we found it quite easily because the cars were parked on both sides of the road there.......soooooooo many customers.
We ordered the large order of shrimp.......and OMG!!!!!!! THEY WERE THE BEST SHRIMP THAT I'VE EVER EATEN!!!!!!! They were HUGE......and we were each brought 10 shrimp.......those 10 must have weighed at least 2 pounds if they weighed an ounce!!!!!! WOW.......such a meal......and accompanied by a couple of Corona's with lime......at least for me. The 1st Lady didn't have anything other than a coke due to her meds for her migraine......which was totally gone by early afternoon.
Sooooo, FIRST........go to South Padre Island....turn right after crossing the bridge, go about a block and watch for Dirty Al's.....where all the cars are parked. When we left the restaurant, there were 89 people in line....waiting for a table!!!!! Does that tell you something???? Yep.....it tells you to rush over there and get in line for some of the best fried shrimp you will ever eat....and at a great price: $8.99!!!!!!!
IF....IF only we had time for another run over to the island for some more shrimp......but time is running out for us here in the Valley......damn it!!! Next year.........!!!!
We returned to TheHowserHouse about 7:00pm as we made a detour through east Harlingen to check out another RV park......but it doesn't "hold a candle" to where we are. Guess we are now very spoiled by the amenties here, as well as the wonderful rv sites that are here in the new section!!!!!!
And so......with a sunburned face.....which will make my skin even worse than it seems to be now in my advancing age.....it has been a great afternoon. Tomorrow is another busy day......we have to go to the weekend Flea Market up the road a few miles from here to get some more little knives like the one we bought when we first arrived here. Then we have a gathering/party of online friends that are on the same forum and are also here in the RGV for the winter. Monday....we have to return to Mexico to pick up some items before we leave......and so it goes........ BUSY....but
Life IS GREAT.....and I hope it is for all of you, also!!!! (RUN to Dirty Al's on South Padre!!)
No comments:
Post a Comment