Sunday, February 9, 2014

Day 186. February 8, 2014. To South Padre Island, Texas

We packed up and headed south to South Padre Island.  Although both Padre Island and South Padre Islands are barrier islands, they are no longer connected.  So we had to drive inland.  It is about 175 miles farther south.  We aren't far from Brownsville, which is on the Mexico border.

We drove through miles of nothingness....gigantic ranches.  There was even a sign warning that the next gas station was 100 miles.  Once we got closer to civilization, we stopped for lunch in a small town.  The restaurant is a mom-and-pop place with all the customers and waitstaff friends.  The menu was home style, like liver and onions, chicken-fried steak (I have never figured out that name), and meatballs.  The back side of the menu had their Mexican menu.  We split an order of chalupas (delicious with lots of avocado slices).  George topped his lunch off with a piece of homemade apple pie.  Everyone converses effortlessly between Spanish and English.  Neat!

We didn't have reservations, so were a bit nervous about getting a site state at the  county park campgrounds on the island.  Although it is quite crowded, we were able to get a site.  We are right on a marina

The campers are super friendly.  Most are here for the winter, but they say they leave right before the spring break college student invasion in March.  As soon as we arrived, our neighbor introduced himself (from UP Michigan), and invited us to  happy hour outside his RV.  Every day, people gather around and chat.  Today the group was from British Columbia, Michigan,  Washington, and Missouri.  

After grocery shopping, we did our Saturday night ritual....listened to Prairie Home Companion.  When we hear the local MN forecast (15 degrees below), I feel embarrassed that I have been complaining about the weather here.

Dinner turned out to be a real success.  It was a new recipe with rice, orzo, cannellini beans, tomato and tuna.  As a side dish, I sautéed Swiss chard in garlic, and heated it with Gruyere cheese.  Yum!

Still cool and overcast here, but it is supposed to warm up.  We are turning into what they call Winter Texans.  Our license plate holder says it all...


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