Celebrating Wayne's Birthday at South Padre Island

Wayne had his 56th birthday yesterday.  We decided to spend the day at the beach.  It is about a 1 1/2 hour drive from Mission to the Gulf of Mexico.  The weather was wonderful - 78 F or 26 C.  So we set out after breakfast not exactly sure what to expect.

 This is the bridge to the island.  Yes there were lots of pelicans.  However, I couldn't get a photo.  By the time my camera focused the pelicans had flown out of the frame.  They are huge birds.  Of course everyone knows that a pelican's beak can hold more than his belly can. lol

Birthday boy perusing the ocean.  Which way to go?

Scoping out some beachfront real estate. 

Never had a birthday at the beach before.

Life is Good

We walked over 2 miles up and down the beach and didn't cover it all.  Nice hard packed flat sand for the most part.  The tide turned and was coming back in by the time we finished our hike.

 Lots of waves.  The red flag was up so we couldn't go swimming.  I understand that there is quite an undertow at times.  We saw a couple of kids boogy boarding or playing in the surf and a man fishing  in water up to his hips.  I don't think that any of the people at the beach were Texans.  All out of state tourists.

Lots of shore birds and sea gulls.

After we had a delicious lunch of the hugest shrimp I have ever eaten, we visited a turtle rehabilitation sanctuary on the inland  side of the island.  Water was much calmer and the shore marshy with a boardwalk and birding refuge.

We didn't check out the birds or boardwalk this trip.  Next time.

 Many of the turtles are missing all or parts of their flippers.  They get caught up in fishing lines and other garbage.  The sanctuary nurses them back to health and then releases the turtles back into the ocean.

Each card represents a turtle saved and released back to the wild.

Loggerhead turtle skull - very large

Checking out some turtle facts

 Another place to visit next time - Bobz World.  Looks like a huge tourist trap on the way to the beach.  Can't wait to check it out.  What do you think Kathy?  Shall we go to the beach during your visit?

Other news on the Texan Front:

This huge tumbleweed blew onto our patio last week.  Texas size.

A question in closing:  Which grocery item would not be advertised in a President's Choice flyer?


Merry Christmas to All!  Have a safe, healthy and happy holiday.  Love Kim and Wayne

PS  We'll think of you while we lounge around the pool.

Festival of Lights at Hidalgo, Texas

Last evening, a large group of Chimney RV campers enjoyed a unique outing. First we dined on a roast beef meal on the veranda of the Hidalgo Chamber of Commerce. After dinner some of our party stayed behind and were treated to a concert performed by a Mexican choir. They wore Elizabethan style costumes including neck ruffs. The rest of us climbed aboard a trolley for a ride through the streets of Hidalgo. There are over 3 million lights on display for the festival. What a blast! So beautiful.

Ready for a fun night

Santa and his sleigh

Some overheated Eskimos

The reindeer stables

Texas sized bug

Ferris wheel at the carnival

Gingerbread men

Christmas Tree and palms

Police car

Hot air balloons

Santa surfing

Yellow rose of Texas

Hippo

Butterfly

Parting view of a great night

The Big Guns

Last week, we told you about the truck that was dumped in the Rio Grande River. Today it was successfully removed from the water. The water was too murky last week.

Fire Department Divers

The fire department divers do the initial search.  The water was so murky last week that no recovery was possible.  Today more equipment including bigger guns were brought in to aid in the recovery efforts.

Search efforts

Watching from Mexico

Texas Highway Patrol - Note the big guns

Truck surfacing

Success

We had a Welcome Back Luncheon scheduled for today.  Good thing the search and recovery wrapped up by about 11 am.

|Linda (activities coordinator) and Lloyd (chef)

Lots of hungry campers

We had a great lunch of brisket, sausage, cole slaw and potato salad.  It was yummy.  We have a lot of community meals.  On Christmas Day, I am cooking the turkey for our table of 18 diners.  Should be another good meal.

Other Activities This Past Week:

Wayne playing water volleyball

Dining Out for Chinese

Wendi being pampered

Many of the park ladies went to an esthetics school to have manicures, pedicures or facials. We also went out for lunch and did some shopping. Good time for all.

It's cold!

Welcome To Our Winter Texan Home - Casa KWK

Living Room

Dining Area

Kitchen

Our Bedroom

Kathy's Room

We are pretty much settled in.  We put up our Christmas lights and decorations today.  Beginning to feel like home.  Finishing touches will be done when Kathy comes down in February. 

Lots of excitement in the park today.  Somebody roared into the park and ditched a pickup truck in the Rio Grande River.  He was followed by at least 22 various law enforcement vehicles.  (Wayne counted)  The driver escaped from the sinking truck and swam across to Mexico where he was met by an SUV and several other men.  As far as I know the truck is still in the river.  It is 25 to 30 feet deep.  Apparently the fire department will send divers to recover it.  Usually when a vehicle is ditched it is stolen or full of drugs.