Padre Island & Is it just coincidence, or...?!!!

First...
So one afternoon we drove out to Padre Island, a long thin strip of islands that runs from Corpus south to the border with Mexico. It was a stormy, moody day when we visited. And another interesting day, music-wise. But to get the whole picture, we need to go backwards and then ahead...
When Bill and I and the doggies did our 3 week road trip out to SC and back a couple years ago, we were surprised to hear country singer Marty Robbin's song "El Paso" come on our XM radio AS we were driving into El Paso, TX. Pretty cool, eh? Good timing! (http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3tyoq_marty-robbins-el-paso_music)
But to hear Marty Robbin's song "Padre" come on when we drove onto Padre Island was just too much!!! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6q44v6PfAk)
And now to jump into the future (the parts I haven't covered on the blog yet) just a bit - while we were in the panhandle, I did a day drive to Apalachicola, FL, and you'll never guess what song came on! No, it wasn't Marty Robbin's Apalachicola song - he doesn't have one (that I know of)! But it was Tim McGraw's "Southern Voice:"
Smooth as the hickory wind
that blows from Memphis
down to Apalachicola
It's, "Hi y'all, did ya eat? well
c'mon in, I'm sure glad to know ya."
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DXSq0atJ74)
So what do you think? Oh c'mon. There aren't THAT many songs with Apalachicola in them - that's the only one I know of!!! And same for the Padre song.
And then there's the time just a bit ago when Bill asked what I wanted to listen to. He has installed a whole music library on his computer, having copied over all our CDs. And we have quite the eclectic CD collection!!!! Most genres are covered. Anyway, I told him "whatever you want" and was astonished when he proceeded to put on THE artist I was actually thinking of - Don Edwards, a cowboy singer (see/hear him perform my favorite song of his: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGGEfl8GzK8&feature=related).
OK, so now that you know our most recent weird music things, and you're all tuned-in...

Old Padres pilings.

A nice surprise - a fly-by from a flock of white ibis.

Stormy but peaceful beach.

Sprays being blown off the waves.

Bill and the doggies explore the sandy bluff (in "homemade" Photshop sepia).

The dogs are really diggin' it! (groan...)

Finally! A place to run free! Senny's 11 years old, but you'd never know it to watch her!!

Closer to the northern/Port Aransas end of Padre Island: colorful coastal houses.

OK, yeah, the touristy section!

Instead of a condo ad, it should've said something like "Follow us to the beach!"

Things are getting fishy - or horsey...!

ooooooo, scary!!!! :)

Scary too! Just kidding! Although it was a cloudy, coolish spring day, you can tell this must be a popular summer destination!

Storm clouds - Texas style!

On the morning of the 20th, we woke up to see these clouds - not too far off. At first, they just looked cool! Esp. to THIS southern Californian native, who has so rarely gotten to experience any REAL weather!!

But the closer they got, the more weird they looked - and intimidating! Can you see the weird color cast down lower?

OK, can you see it NOW?!!

That color's not my white balance out of whack - that's a weird green-blue cast the clouds had! Something I've never seen before! Kind of cool, kind of creepy...

It passes over and on out to sea. Other than a bit of rain, there wasn't much action! Sure looked "promising" though...

Corpus Christi

The bridge on the way to Corpus.

More proof of all the windy weather here - lots of huge windmill parts!!

Texas is definitely oil country! Oil rigs everywhere. There are many areas - esp. north of Galveston (our next stop!), in Texas City - where you can drive around at night and see these little "oil cities" everywhere, all lit up (they have to keep going round the clock). They're kind of pretty - at night.

Heading towards downtown.

oops! Think we found it... :(

Corpus has a nice part, with fancy homes along the water. It has a busy, crowded strip mall part, along the freeway. And it has a touristy part...

While I didn't get any good drive-bys of the nice homes part, here is a cute public gazebo along the water.

Going Coastal!

On March 18th we moved to Portland, near Corpus Christi, TX. It had been a long time since Bill had been to Corpus (and even longer for me - never!), so we put it on the route.

Every now and then, Billy needs a little extra company while driving. Senny is more than happy to oblige!

Forgive these two drive-by shootings, but these are, sadly, my only offerings regarding the famous Texas hill country blooms. We were there about 2-3 weeks too early and missed what was probably the "bloom of the century" (or close to it at least). Having suffered bad drought for years, they finally got the rain they needed this past winter (hmm, sound familiar So. Cal.?!). Nice orangey-red yard here (maybe paintbrush?).

Pretty light lavender-blue yard...

OK, so this is a photo of what we missed... Our friends - pretty lady, Sandy, with (bored!?!) doggy, Lucy, photographed by hubby, Kent - in front of massive explosion of bluebonnets and paintbrush!

Out on the dock, looking back at our Portland ("Sea Breeze") RV Park. We're way back, on the left.


Introducing Tracky to another new experience! He's not too sure, but he's a real trooper and willing to give it a try! Daddy coaxes, and son obliges.


As is apparently typical of the coastline around here, it was fairly windy for our whole stay. The Corpus Christi Bay was rockin' with little waves, and Ouray wasn't too sure about getting too close to such watery chaos!

Looking back towards our RV Park (down the right side). Pretty big agave-like-looking plants.

Tracky doing some of his Agility Cat training.

I spy! Tractor checks out what lies past the palm!

Last stop - Lake Travis and the Hill Climb

Lake Travis, where Bill's folks had a house right on the lake.

Below the dam. We walked the dogs across the bridge to one of the spots where Bill and his sports car enthusiast buddies used to race.

Doing the slower, bipedal version of the "hill climb." The road is closed off now to all but hikes and bikes.

Back across the bridge, which seems to be mostly used for fishing nowadays.

It's warming up, and Ouray needs a cool-down!

We go by Bill Sr., Orpha Maye, and Bill Jr.'s home. Designed and built by William Maynard Barton, Sr. in 1960, it's still standing and with only a few slight modifications (like probably the paint color!).

Mt. Bonnell...

is considered Austin's highest point at 775 feet! At the top is a park, where people have been viewing Lake Austin and the city since the 1800s.


If you like living near the water/have a boat/like still being close to neighbors and city living - well, I doubt it can get much better than this! Doesn't look like the low-rent district though, so bring a big wallet!

They look like packed-in mansions!

With their own boat houses and parks!

The capitol of T-E-X-A-S

Texas has to have one of the most beautiful capitol buildings. Not overly ornate, but simply elegant. And as with so much else in Texas, visitors were granted almost total freedom to explore it. There was a security presence (with a uniform of boots and cowboy hats - I love it!), but they were obviously there more to help than harrass. For more good photos and info. on the capitol/state, see this guy's website: http://www.retireearlylifestyle.com/texas_capital.htm

A young girl does the same thing all of us (who don't have neck problems...!) do first thing - look up!!

And this is part of what she was looking up at: one more thing revolving around the star and those 5 letters: T-E-X-A-S!!

A beautiful bride has chosen a stunning location for her wedding photos. And believe it or not, this building is so big, they were able to get some great settings with no one else in the photos!

Senate chambers.

House of Represenatives.

Audie Murphy. A very famous guy, for his wartime, acting, and singing achievements. If you're like me and had only heard his name before, you might want to read up more on this incredible person: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audie_Murphy

It was too dark for a good shot without flash (and in a hurry!), but I just loved the photo collections of house and senate members - and their "mascots" (their kids!)! Too cute!!

The beauty's also in the details.

The view out from an upstairs window - you can see it was a drizzly day.

Bill passes by some of the pretty blooming trees gracing the capitol lawn.