28 Apr 2023 - Padre Island and the Padre Island National Seashore

 

Today we headed south from Corpus Christi across the John F Kennedy Memorial Causeway to Padre Island.  We can see the causeway and the bridge from our campground. 

As we crossed the bridge, we were greeted by this sign.   

The area we entered as we departed the bridge is still considered Corpus Christi but it is on Padre Island.  There are shops, hotels, restaurants, gas stations and anything else you need.  

A souvenir shop topped with a lighthouse cupola 

From there you can either bear left (north) and head to Mustang Island State Park, or bear right (south) and down to the Padre Island National Seashore area, which is where we went today.

If you continue on past the Malaquite Visitor Center, and have a four wheel drive vehicle (based on the warnings as you enter the park), you will enter South Beach.  This area is a 60-mile long remote beach open to driving.  They say that two  wheel drive vehicle can proceed to mile post 5 and then four wheel drive is required for the remaining 55 miles.  At the end of the 60-mile beach drive there is the Mansfield Channel and vehicles cannot pass there.  Beyond that is South Padre Island.

So today we headed south with the ultimate goal of reaching the Malaquite Beach.  As we passed through the National Park Service checkpoint either our Access Pass or military ID allows admission without any fees.  A few miles down the road we arrived at the Malaquite Visitor Center.

The visitor center includes a pavilion with a book store, exhibits, bathrooms, an observation deck, and a ramp down to the beautiful beach.  

Our park ranger today!

As we headed down the ramp and stepped off into the ultra fine sand, it was so relaxing.  The beach was not crowded at all.  We walked down the beach a ways and really enjoyed the sounds and sights.  

A fly-over in formation!

Beautiful sand beach as far as you can see!

We remembered from our last visit here there were not many sea shells along this stretch of beach, but we really enjoyed the beach stroll. 

Doreen picking up a few small shells  

 

As we left the pavilion we stopped at a shaved ice trailer for a cool treat.

After returning to the campground we walked Liberty around the park, had some dinner and settled in for the evening.  Again tonight the storms rolled in and rocked things a round a bit.  We had winds approaching 55 mph, lightning and a lot of rain.  

This rolled through tonight, and another one right behind it.

No flags or awnings here!!

Tomorrow we will likely do some laundry, fuel the truck and prepare to bug-out Sunday morning for Galveston.