Trip to Padre Island National Seashore

[10ftTall&BulletPrf]

July 10th, the wife and I escaped from the kiddo and ran to our favorite Port Aransas bar, Hooks. This trip, we decided to head down to visit the Padre Island National Seashore so I could collect another Junior Ranger badge and so we could see the Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle hatchling release.

WHAT A BLAST!

I didn't have high expectations for watching turtles race to the sea, but it surprised me how much fun it was! When the first/fastest little booger made it to the sea, you woulda thought someone scored the winning touchdown in the superbowl!

It was neat and I highly recommend it.

BTW, an additional travel note: While chatting with the locals in the bar, they stated that this was the gulf coast's biggest year ever due to all the staycationers from Austin, San Antonio and Houston. I can speak from my experience that the weekend after a holiday weekend found every hotel between Port A and Corpus completely booked.

A benefit to high gas prices...no one is flying anywhere?

[RichardM]

What? No Pictures!!! 

Interesting contrast with the weekend before July 4th when every place we saw in Port A had the vacancy sign out. The property management firm we rented a beachhouse from was offering a fourth night free. Naturally, my folks had booked the house last fall so we missed out on the free night. We probably could have renogotiated, but everyone's schedules were already set.

I will say that the beaches down in Galveston have been as crowded as I've seen them the past few weekends.

[Red Hawk]

Lets hope all those little boogers make it off the beach by Thursday Morning. Hello Dolly. spc

[SHANEA]

Padre Island National Seashore to close some beaches today

National Weather Service: 30% chance of category 3 hurricane

[homerboy2u]

What? No Pictures!!!  

 You took the words, out of my mouth.

[Buck]

...and it looks like Dolly could drop some precip in the Bend as well. 

[Roy]

Here's one of the little guys from a few years back.  It's neat watching them;  the Ridley's don't move as fast as some you see in the documentaries.  The staff and volunteers have to get down in the sand and push to keep them moving (before the gulls get wise to what's happening).  Reminded me of kids playing with Tonka toys in a huge sandbox.

[10ftTall&BulletPrf]

That is a great photo! Our camera wouldn't zoom in beyond "speck" mode so the only half decent pics are from our camcorder.

And, you're right, they better get WAY off the beach before Dolly hits. Otherwise we'll be doing another release!