Mountain Bike Riding on the Beach?

Thursday, March 20, 2014:  Mustang Island, Texas

So last night when we pulled in we decided that it was time to spend a few days in one place.  There was lots to do here and we needed a break from the traveling and such.  So we made reservations for a few more nights and decided to stay here for a bit.  First on the agenda was to get out the mountain bikes and hit the beach with Sheba in tow!

Don is getting the bikes ready for a ride

Riding on the beach was a first for all of us.  It was something neither of us expected to do, but it sure was fun!  However since Sheba was with us we couldn't go too far so we road about 3 miles down the beach...played for bit and headed back to camp.

Back at camp we made a quick lunch of PB&J sandwiches....which have pretty much become a staple for us on this trip.  And then we spit up.  Don went back out for a ride and Julie went for a walk on the beach.

 

The beach was only a short walk from camp and there were a few granite rock jetties just down the beach.  Julie explored them a bit on her own but then we all went out there after dinner for a moonlight walk on the beach!  It was a beautiful setting!

Back at camp Don  befriended our new neighbor.  Seems he had a trailer (2 feet longer) that he too had converted into a camper trailer.  They were showing off their individual trailers and sharing ideas.    Don then decided it was time to get the shower out.  We hadn't used it yet on the trip so he set it up for its inaugural use.  Must say that is was nicer than many of the showers we had used in the campgrounds.

Overall our first day on Mustang Island was a success.  Mountain biking and hanging out on the beach, sunburns and an exciting dinner of tuna mac and salad.   It was our first full day of fun, no driving and no work per se.  Just a day to soak it up and realize why we were doing this!   

Don trying some of Sheba's banana treats!

SOUTH PADRE ISLAND

Wednesday, March 19, 2014 – S. Padre Island

This morning we woke up on South Padre Island in an overly large, no frills RV park that is on the beach.  Don’s comment for the day was…..”we are bringing down the RV values..."  Honestly it was the worst place that we camped so far, the worst facilities and one of the most expensive sites.  Guess we are paying for being on Padre Isalnd.

 

Sunrise at Isla Blanca RV Park

Here comes the sun... 

So after a quick cold shower and breakfast we decided we needed to find the beach for a walk before we left because we were both jonesing to see the ocean and anxious to introduce Sheba to the sand and ocean waters for the first time.

Then we were off to explore South Padre before heading to North Padre.  For those of you that don’t know much about Padre Island.   It is the world's longest barrier island.  It is famous for its long white beaches and large sand dunes and it is 113 miles long and usually no more than one or two miles wide.  South Padre Island is a resort town and about 10 miles out of town the paved road ends and you can drive down the beach.  North Padre Island is located just south of Corpus Christi and for the most part is a National Seashore and the longest stretch of undeveloped barrier island in the world, of which at the end of the paved road(again another 10 miles) you have another 60 plus miles of beach that you can drive down.   The center of the island is accessed by 4-wheel driving on the beach only.





So the first thing we wanted to go do is check out the end of the road on South Padre.  

Some flavor of the architecture on Padre.

End of the Road...  

Beach at the end of the Road...

It's a highway...what is the speed limit?

Horses too...

Sheba getting in some frisbee time!

Beach as far as you can see at the end of the Road!

Exploring the dunes...

What's on the other side?

 

One tired pup!

Once back at the car we made some smoothies and hit the road again......We were off to North Padre Island, back over Queen Isabella Bridge, into Port Isabel and it would be a couple hundred miles to get up to Corpus Christi and over the next bridge…..but first, unbeknownst to us, we had a border patrol to go through.  I will say this.  It was a bit intimidating for sure.  Guns, dogs, cameras and lights everywhere.  All that and all they did was ask us each if we were American citizen, Sheba too, and we were off again. 

We had made no reservations on North Padre so Julie did some research and learned that most of the camping on North Padre was on the beach, those areas that are not on the beach were free, but already full.  Hence we needed a plan B.  Julie found Mustang Isand Beach Park....very close to North Padre and offered kayaking trails too....score!

Our new campsite!
 

Don, working on the frig...

After pulling in we needed to work on the refrigerator.  Don worked on the electrical and Julie got to clean it out.  Seems there was a leftover salmon stink!  We had a mellow night and even started a movie in the trailer...called it a night because we had a big day tomorrow!