For five days now, I’ve been at a campground on Padre Island Nat’l Seashore near Corpus Christi, TX. It’s a nice little campground right on the beach, cool in daytime because of the ocean breeze and mild at night for the same reason. I have taken many walks along the shore.
I can’t say this is the nicest beach – or even close to the nicest beach – I’ve been on. The Gulf Stream picks up trash from all over the world and deposits it in the Gulf on Mexico, littering the beaches with the worst dregs of urban waste. They try to clean it up but it’s a daunting task.
When I arrived in Corpus Christi, I learned that the Blue Angels were in town for a weekend air-show at the Naval Air Station. Those of you that know me, know that I will go quite far out of my way to experience the Thunderbirds or the Blue Angels demonstration teams, and that is why I’ve been in Texas for so long. I spent most of today browsing military aircraft on display, watching old warplanes and supersonic jets demonstrate their performance, and jostling crowds for a spot in the front of the flight line.
But disappointingly, the clouds rolled in from the ocean, closing down the required minimum ceiling for safety, causing a last minute cancelation of the Navy’s flight demonstration. If the weather looks better tomorrow, I may try and catch the show then.
I don’t think I blogged about stopping in San Antonio at the Alamo. I stopped in San Antonio at the Alamo. Like so many historical places around the country, no one knew that these places would be so cherished by later generations to come, and so, ages ago, communities and businesses tore most of the old structures down. They mostly wanted to forget the tragedy on those sites. Today, there is little left except rebuilt walls and rooms with artifacts on display. The grounds are dotted with plaques memorializing the brave men that gave their lives for Texas freedom, wall-size signs tell the history, speakers add a personal tale of the story, and a movie gives you a feel for what it may have looked like during the battle. It was all quite interesting and I didn’t even mind the gymnasium-size gift shop – there was no admission fee.
Neat places. Have you gone to tour the Lexington yet? It is a great way to spend a day.
Did you go to the River Walk while at the Alamo?
I hope you got to see the Blue Angels; your dad always loved them,too. We stayed on Padre Island quite a while, too. We had to wash the truck every day, due to salt water.