Stuart is useless with surprises. I told him we were going away but we would be staying in Texas (I couldn't face flying again). So after a week of him trying to get it out of me we left to go east along I10 - well since he knew we were staying in Texas he could not work out what was to the east! But then I turned south down Sam Houston and there was even more confusion. Finally he got it when we were on 59 heading SW to Corpus Christi.
It was a much less painful journey than I expected just 3.5 hours. I had managed a run in the morning with Amy and her running group so we got down in time for late lunch. Corpus is on the coast so it was a beach holiday Texas style. I booked the Hilton which was fine but in hindsight I would have preferred something near the mariner and near all the restaurants and bars.
We went down to North Padre Island National Park - and although we had to wait in a queue of cars to get in, it was worth it. You 10 bucks gets you access to the park for 7 days and you then have 60 miles of beach to drive on if so wish. It is basically a spit with the gulf on one side 
and Laguna Madre on the other. We soon established we could hire kayaks and wind surfers in the park on the lagoon side so that was Sundays plan sort. I then said we just had to drive on the beach something I have never done and no better time to do it than with a company car :) the visitors centre was a little dull but one of the really exciting things about the park is the turtles. Unfortunately we were a little early for hatching season. With 60 miles of beach you expect to find a small amount of privacy, but not when most of Houston descends on small (population some 270,000 compared to greater Houston 5 million). Cars lined the well cut road in the sand and people came so well prepared with everything including the kitchen sinks. 
There we vehicles ranging from beach buggies, to regular cars to Winnebago's! I was driving first and it was like you are on snow only better. We decided to go for low ratio considering the speed limit was only 15 mph and the park ranges were hanging around to catch anyone miss behaving. I only nearly got stuck when I ground to a halt in a deep portion of sand. After nearly twenty minutes of driving we still couldn't see the end to vehicles lining the road way so we found a gap and parked up. The beach (we were on the gulf side - should say) was covered in seaweed right up to the sea edge but that didn't seem to put folk off. We tip toed across it to paddle in the water. The water was like a bath and it was very clear - unlike muddy Galveston Bay (and obviously no oil down that way - yet!). Even when we ventured deeper it was still warm. The wind was warm as well nothing like going t
o the beach in Scotland! There were flocks of pelicans flying overhead - they were huge. Most people down there looked as though they were staying for the night but we weren't so Stu drove us out dying to put down the power to do donuts- now wonder the park ranges were keeping a watchful eye!
That night we ended up at the wrong restaurant (blame the GPS), but it was busy and sold seafood on the menu so not too bad. We were back to the hotel pretty early so we had plenty of time to try out the sleep setting mattress i.e. you could turn a dial to make the mat
tress firmer or softer on your own side of the bed. I think it was a scam as we couldn't tell the difference!
We had decided to go windsurfing but since the place did not open until 11am there was no rush in the morning. There was already a queue to the park in the morning, but it was less than the night before and less than it was later in the day as we heard. The wind was stronger than the day before and apparently this Laguna Madre was called 'world winds' and renowned for its windsurfing because it always has stead breeze. I convinced Stuart we should do the lesson which entailed an hour of tuition and then two hours on your own trying to miss all the other windsurfers. It was fun and we both achieved goin
g backwards and forwards whilst occasionally falling off or ramming another windsurfer. The water was of course warm and it was never too deep to stand in so when you had enough you could walk back in! By the end of my three hours the muscles in my hands were
Killing me. We had thought to go kayaking after but we were both tired and Stuart had drunk enough salt water for one day:) 
We walked along the marina that has a view of the USS Lexington, a decommissioned aircraft carrier, and also a replica of one of Columbus' ships, the Nina. That night we ended up at one of the recommend restaurants on our list on Water Street. It was a fab seafood res
taurant and topped the night before with Stu having something called Triple tail and I had blackened Mahi Mahi. Once again we were back tot the hotel early except we had seen Applebees next door had a bar open until 2am so we went there for a drink. Nothing too exciting as it is a chain restaurant and much less of a bar but it beat the desolate hotel 'bar' - I say it like that because it really wasn't a bar at all with only a couple of bottles behind some glass doors!
The weather was great to whole weekend and to Stuart's liking it was even humid wit
h the constant sea breeze. We explored the USS Lexington first thing. There were very helpful retired folk wanting to answer questions. I was glad I didn't wear a skirt as it could have been embarrassing on the ladders! we spent 45 minutes watching a film about fighter pilot training which was good and a nice break from the heat! I would say it is worth a visit and for the price worth it. Surprisingly there was nothing for Memorial Day on at the ship. We then walked over to the T
exas State Aquarium which was maybe less worth the money but I did enjoy watching the turtles being fed. We missed the dolphin show but we have seen quite a few of them recently. There were heaps of kids so maybe we should have done that first thing!
Now we are home and it is hot and humid - not to mention the pool is green because the pool man has done a vanishing act again! I will speak to him, again, tomorrow!
