SOUTH PADRE ISLAND

South Padre Island is more of a tourist spot on line with Myrtle Beach.

Port Isabel Lighthouse just before the Island

Stop and hang out with the Locals at Pirates Landing

 Take the bridge over to Padre Island.  In summer we are told it can take a couple of hours to cross - and I thought the Sagamore Bridge got backed up in Summer!

Sand Sculpture at the Visitor's Center

Opt to leave the mainstream and drive out to the end of the Island

Till we can drive no further

Time to head home after a day at the Beach!

PADRE ISLAND NATIONAL SEASHORE

The ocean beckons me so we head to Padre Island National Seashore and stay 3 days by the Beach.

We can drive the Tracker on the Beach

 The currents bring in trash from all over.  I did my best to pick up the trash I came across in my walks but sometimes they just didn't fit in the bag!

San Antonio Texas

Loved San Antonio the 1st time thru in 2000 decided to do it again!

Remember the  Alamo

Following a 13-day siege, Mexican troops under President General Antonio López de Santa Anna launched an assault on the Alamo Mission near San Antonio de Béxar (modern-day San Antonio, Texas). A mere 189 men bravely defended the mission walls against Santa Anna's army of up to 4,000 soldiers. All but two of the Texian defenders were killed

Mission San Jose y San Miguel De Aguaya
Considered the "Queen of Missions" it is both a State and National Historic Site.  Founded in 1720 the Church was built between 1768 and 1782.  We were lucky to see it before it will be closed for restoration over a 1-2 year period.

Of course San Antonio's draw is it's famous "River Walk"

One level below the downtown streets the river walk is edged by restaurants, hotels, cafes, and boutiques.

The riverwalk was expanded recently by 3 miles after adding locks.



Waco and Austin Texas

Stop for a lunch break in Waco, Texas had a hankering for some Beef!

Stopped at a place called Homestead Heritage Village which is touted as a working farm with Craftsman and Arts and Crafts.  It sort of had that kool-aid feel about it but they did do some nice woodworking building beautiful pieces of furniture with only hand tools.  The goats were cute too!

Hey!  Look who's steering!

The Waco Suspension Bridge Built in 1870 is still used as a pedestrian crossing over the Brazos River

Austin, Texas is next.

Visit the Elisabet Ney Museum.  National Historic Site and Studio of the famed German sculptress who immigrated to Texas in the 1870's.  Her works stand in European Palaces, US Capitols and the Smithsonian.

Our "Hike a Day" is in the Zilker Botanical Gardens which contains a phenomenal Japanese Garden with bridges and stone paths across numerous koi ponds.

No evening in Austin is complete without a trip to the Ann Richards Congress Avenue Bridge - Home to 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats.  They exit in mass from under the bridge just after sunset from March thru October.