We Wind the SPI Show Down

Casa de Colores

Never could find where Sadie lives!

Some unique tropical vegetation

During the last three weeks of our stay in SPI, we found our activities largely limited by the weather. Fronts would move through the area bringing cloudiness and the threat of rain, only to be followed unseasonably warm and humid days. None of these conditions motivated us to want to venture out and leave the comfort of our condo. But the one thing that we found most limiting of all was the incessant blowing of strong winds. Why they bothered to develop condos and resorts on the barrier island is a mystery to us, since the land could be more suitably used for wind farms! And when the wind wasn't blowing, advection fog would roll in from the warm gulf waters and envelope the entire island. We were amused by the beach goers that put up umbrellas in heavy fog or windy conditions who likely thought paradise couldn't get much better. We figured these folks didn't know what a good beach day was. We are sure that things get better with warmer weather, and we did constantly remind ourselves that it was always considerably warmer than on the Tickfaw River or Okaloosa Island.

The SPI Birding Center

Redheads and Roseated Spoonbills

Looking for something to eat

Regardless of the weather, we did our usual island-roaming exercise each day, constantly scouting for things to do or events to attend. One day we found ourselves at the South Padre Island Birding Center. This center is dedicated to preserving habitat for local and migrating birds and also serves as an educational resource for anyone interested in birds. The center has a long, elevated walkway that courses over a saltwater marsh ending at the Laguna Madre Bay. During our hour-long birdwatching walk, we saw a number of different bird and duck species, but due to our spur-of-the-moment decision to visit the center, we arrived without our camera and telephoto lenses and had to rely on our phone cameras for pictures. After our walking tour, we viewed a movie about SPI and then toured the center's museum before heading home. Next to the Sea Turtle Rescue Center, the Birding Center was a favorite wildlife exhibit.

Just when Capt. Larry thought that there was nothing else to do except wait to go home, Jane decides it's time to do some more shopping. We had heard about a large mall in Brownsville that we couldn't find the last time we were there. When we finally did find it, we were surprised at how large it was. Jane was in heaven and found some shops that had items with her name on it. Capt. Larry found a kitchen store that had some bannetons that he'd been looking for for his sourdough bread. On the way back to the condo, we decided to try the "Old Port Isabel Road" as an alternative to the way we came, but ended up getting lost and adding another 10-12 miles to our return trip.

No deer here

We spent one Sunday afternoon trying to drive to the Port Mansfield area after hearing that there was a very large whitetail deer population there with lots of good viewing opportunities. We probably didn't listen to the details when the directions were given, because we ended up on some really terrible, washed-out roads that we couldn't possibly imagine were the way that people went. Thinking that the deer were located in a preserve, we finally made our way to the Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge. Talk about a remote location! We stopped at the visitor's center and read some signs that gave information about the refuge only to find that the refuge's biggest attraction was the wild ocelots. The place we were looking for was "swarming" with deer and in the 20 or so minutes we spent driving into and out of the park, we never saw one deer. The refuge is known for it's diverse habitat and number of bird species that can be found there. We found out later that the deer were actually in Port Mansfield.

Jane likes the pine trees

We had one more Winter Texan potluck at the complex and we served up a non-spicy jambalaya for the northerners. It was a hit with the 50% that tried it, and probably still too spicy for the other half. We're not sure what the potluck organizers are going to do next year, because that want us to return and cook it as the main dish. Capt. Larry gave them the recipe and told them to serve it up during Lent, so those that don't eat it have something they can sacrifice while they starve. We understand that this is the group that has insisted on pulled-pork for 9 years running. We met Ernst and Hildegarde Brombacher from Minnesota who were staying in the condo next to use. We really enjoyed visiting with them during our happy hours together and went out to dinner with them once. They were a lot of fun.

So, after two months on SPI, we head back to Louisiana tomorrow. We will be happy to get back home for however long that will be.

A cherry vintage Porsche