Texas - Mustang Island State Park


We are presently on the Gulf of Mexico encamped at Mustang Island State Park.  Unfortunately the wind is out of the north at 25 mph and the outside temp is 55F so it is decidedly cooler than yesterday when we reached a high of 84F.  Like at home the weather changes quickly.

even these Royal Terns were hunkered down



I didn't last long with the wind



can't wait till the wind dies down and we can look for shells



ocean was rough looking



Day 4 and the sun is shining, the sky is clear but still a 20 mph wind blowing so it cools it down.  Got to a high today of 57F and tonight a low of 41F so it shouldn't be too bad.

We went for a walk on the beach, looked for shells for the grandkids and thoroughly enjoyed being on the beach and seeing the waves.

the beach is so hard packed you can drive on it





guys fishing for whiting off the jetty

We went out to Kody's restaurant in Port Aransas with camping friends, Bob and Norma (camped with them at Abeline and Hord's Creek).  It was all you can eat shrimp and it was good :)  We do love the seafood on the Gulf.

Texas - Birds at our feeder/Lake Corpus Christi

We finally got a sunny day and took advantage of it.  We hiked around the lake edges and were amazed at the shallowness of this lake.  The docks and boat ramps are so far from the water that a person can't launch to be on the lake.


lake bed that we walked along



boat ramp quite far from the water's edge



hard to fish when the pier isn't even over the water



some kind of lake creature that probably succumbed to the raccoons - note the teeth



It is sad to see the rivers, streams and lakes so devoid of water.  This lake is 25 - 30 feet low.  So we don't dare complain when there's a few rain days.

We have noticed a lot of bird life, so Clark and I rigged up a couple of makeshift bird feeders.  We have been blessed with cardinals, doves, titmouse, and this morning green jays.  We also have to deal with a squirrel!  Last night at supper we saw six deer grazing in the adjoining field.  Great supper time entertainment.

Green Jay



looks like he was put together by a committee!



Northern Cardinal (male)




female Cardinal

 

Black Capped Titmouse



Texas - Lake Corpus Christi State Park

Moved away from the coast for a week to see if we could dodge the rain but no luck.  I would complain louder but the lakes and land are in dior need of moisture.

kind of hard to fish from this pier



Lake Corpus Christi is 20+ feet low

There was a fire across the lake on Christmas Day that smoldered, went underground on the barren lake bed and reignited causing a 5 mile burn.



liked this sign

Our campsite is spacious and quiet.  We like the state parks that have full hookups.




 We went for a walk around the camp as the sun started to shine and took some pics of the bird life.  We have put out feeders but so far nothing has ventured near.  Maybe tomorrow.

Northern Mockingbird

Cardinal

Great Blue Heron hunched up against the rain

just ducks!

Went looking around the park again and found the old park headquarters built by the Civilian Conservation Corps. between 1933 and 1934.  They built with the local limestone and the buildings are still in good shape.



old park headquarters





steps leading down to the lake



Texas - the "Big Tree"

Weather hasn't been too bad but overcast at times and rain at others.  We take what comes and venture out regardless.
We made our way over to the 'Big Tree' and hoped for a look at whooping cranes. 



this tree is wired and some of the branches are held up on posts

There are other oaks surrounding this mighty giant and their branches are very interesting.

We weren't disappointed as we got to see some whooping cranes.  Some years ago when the whooping cranes came to nest in this area the food was scarce and local residents took it upon themselves to set up feeders to sustain the birds.  After conditions bettered, people were told to let the birds revert back to foraging for themselves but as private citizens on private land some people still maintain feeders for these regal birds.


this shot was taken from a quarter of a mile away as it is on private land

 

Texas - Goose Island State Park

We got here on December 30th and had one day of semi sunshine and the rest of the days have been overcast, rainy and cooler but this is after all the coldest month anywhere so we put up with it.  No choice unless you want to shovel snow!

Brown Pelicans waiting for the ferry

 We took a trip the second day over to Mustang Island just to check out the lay of the land.  Ocean was quite rough but there were still a lot of people walking on the beach and looking for shells.


Great Blue Heron

 

ocean a bit rough for swimming

Drove around the campsite as there is a wooded area and a beach area.  The beach area has parking next to a cement cabana but you get the brunt of the wind. 

each site has these cement cabanas for picnic tables



you get the brunt of the wind on the beach side of this park

There is also a public boat launch and fish cleaning stand.  There were a lot of lookers around the cleaning area hoping for a handout.

waiting for some scraps

The park also has a fishing pier.  As long as you stay on the pier or on land in a Texas State Park you can fish for free.



hearty souls going out fishing dressed in heavy jackets and face protection
these air boats sound like jet planes!



fishing pier for the State Park



We met up with camping friends for brunch yesterday.  We had camped with them at Abeline and Hord's Creek so it was nice to spend the day together.  Bob and Norma are down on the coast spending a month in an rv park not far from us.

We have checked out a few of the seafood places.  Make that more than a few.  We do love seafood!  Nothing better on a cooler day than to spoon into some shrimp gumbo.

 Had to include some sun day pictures.  Moving day on the 7th.


saw lots of jellyfish washed up with the low tide

 


fishing pier at the state park





someone's catch, not ours - the striped ones are Sheepshead fish

 

Texas - 2013

We are presently encamped at Goose Island State Park and once the rain lets up we will go exploring and I will post some pictures.