Surfing The Wild West

Texas style surfers are still being pulled behind a truck up and down Padre Island beaches.  Their surfboard transitioned into a smaller “wake board” with a shallow fin.

Surfing In The Wild West

Christopher Orban Sinks Because...

Truck Pulling Surfer Caught In Horse Traffic

Dana was blown away when Edy Valdes asked Dana if he wanted to go skim boarding behind their red truck.  I say skim boarding because there was no fin.  At first, the guys grabbed the rope and pulled Dana like a team of horses … and Dana got up on his feet.  They then hooked up to their truck and away we went.  It was fun, exhilarating, and a bit dangerous.  Thanks guys!—I’m ready to go again!

 Red Truck, "Skim Board"
And 4 Great Guys

Free Camping On Padre Island, Texas

After leaving mile zero on 23 September 2011 we returned to our previous site located about 2 miles south of Bob Hall Pier (still on North Padre Island) just outside and south of Nueces County in Kleberg County, Texas.  We are about ¼ mile south of beach marker 252.  Note:  the pier is at beach marker 232.  Also note beach marker 252 is where the Nueces County/Corpus Christi beach parking permit fee area ends.  So, south of marker 252 parking/camping is FREE.

The word from Kleberg County employees is that people may legally park on the beach for FREE for LONG periods of time in Kleberg County because that section of the beach is isolated from the rest of Kleberg County by the Intracoastal Waterway.  In order to access Kleberg's Padre Island beach one has to pass through Corpus Christi (Nueces County), Texas.

The North Access to the Kleberg County stretch of beach is at the south side of Bob Hall pier in Corpus Christi (on North Padre Island).  Signs on the main road (Park Road 22) make it easy to find Bob Hall pier.

The South Access to the Kleberg County stretch of beach is about a mile inside the North Padre Island National Seashore.  That is, stay on Park Road 22 until just after the National Seashore "Welcome" sign but before the entrance fee area with all the cameras.

Follow the road to the beach on your left (sign marked Beach Access Road To Bob Hall Pier).

Once on the beach you will need to drive north for about a mile until you exit the National Seashore (poles clearly mark exit).  There is a 14 day camping limit if you stay inside the National Seashore.  So, once you leave (go north of) the National Seashore's North Beach you are in the FREE area all the way until beach marker 252.  Again, beach marker 252 and northward is where the $12 beach parking area begins.  So, make a U-turn and go back south and park where you want to park.

Please, always leave the beach a little cleaner than you find it.  Remember, don't overflow beach side trash containers because the coyotes and other animals will spread the trash all over the place making cleanup 10 times harder.  The folks in Kleberg County send a trash pickup truck each Monday morning.  They have to drive 70 miles just to get to the beach and another 70 miles home to Kingsville.  They then have another 20 miles round trip to the land fill for a total of 160 miles and that's not including the 10-20 miles up and then back down the beach.  So, if everybody does a little bit to help this could become one of the cleanest beaches in all of Texas.

Note:  If you are arriving via highway 358 east bound, there is a very big supermarket called "H-E-B" at the last exit before going across the Intercostal Waterway (exit on Waldron Road).  Waldron is the next exit after  Flour Bluff Drive.

High Tides Close Beaches To Camping

High Tide Takes Over Our Camping Spot

Tropical storm Kadia went into Louisiana but churned up the ocean and the Padre Island Park Rangers ordered everybody off the beach Friday night (2 September 2011).  Before leaving we took some nice photos of people with their 4-wheel trucks driving through the water to escape the incoming high tide.  We were permitted to camp in the parking lot of the Malaquite Beach Visitors' Center for the next two nights before returning to mile zero.

Unknown Party From Colorado
Getting Off The Beach In A Hurry

Greg And Pam With Two Large Poodles
Marky And Shadow
Getting Off The Beach In A Hurry

Tom and Sandy also spent two nights in the parking lot.  When they left they gave us 4 blocks of ice and 5 gals of gas.  They were going home to San Antonio early and had a diesel truck.  They had a gasoline generator and didn't use all the gasoline and didn't need it at home.  So, we were more than happy to accept their welcome gift.  Every little bit helps.  The strange thing is, the same day while back at mile zero a total stranger walked up to us and asked a few questions about our journey and handed us $20 and wished us well.  That gave Dad the opportunity to give him an 8 page flyer titled, "The Ascension Of Latin America".

Tom And Sandy Getting Ready To Return To San Antonio, TX

Mile Zero

Photo By: Reiner Wandler

You guessed it, we returned to mile zero North Padre Island National Seashore for another 14 days of kicking back and enjoying "South Beach" (i.e. 26 August to 9 September 2011).  Dana's been brushing up on learning Spanish and helping Dad with a text titled, "The Ascension Of Latin America".  We're hoping something comes of the text.
We obtainted our first photos of Wylee Coyote.  He tip-toes by almost nightly when it's too dark to photograph him.  He actually came within 8 to 10 feet of Dad while Dad was quitely sitting in the driver's seat with the window half closed watching Wylee's antics after dark.  But, as you can see we got lucky.

Wylee Silhouetted Against Setting Sun

Wylee Hunting For A Piece Of The Fisherman's Catch

Michael, a graphic artist, and his son Josiah from San Antonio, Texas posed with their catch of the day.  Thomas and Didymus think it's a Lady Fish.  What say ye?

Un Pescador del Golfo De Mexico y su hijo

Yes, interesting people seem to show up at our campsite on Padre Island.  David and Justin are from north eastern Texas.

Two Texas Oil Men
Now Proud Owners Of Our Book
"Why Die If You Don't Have To Die?"
Available At: BlueNoteBooks.com

Thanks again for the ice, bananas, and new friendship.  These guys drove more than a few miles out of their way after a long day at work just to say good-bye and pick up two copies of our book!